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HK p30sk review

7,223 Views | 15 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by powerbelly
TheEyeGuy
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As I get things rolling full steam here, I do want to take some time to put some reviews out there of guns that are hitting the market. To keep with the advertising agreement, I will mention what MSRP is but I won't talk about what I have in stock and what my price on things are. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know but I'd like to try to keep the thread about the p30sk instead of what is in eyeguy's gun shop. Because these are new guns, I don't get the chance to shoot them so I won't get to review that side of things.

One of the coolest things about having the shop is getting to see a plethora of new toys. I've already had Glock 43s and Savage A17s rock through here. The newest of the new is the HK p30sk that just rolled out. MSRP on these bad boys is $719 and the model I got in was the P30SK V1 LEM.



I'll go ahead and say it, even though I don't own any, I love H&K. Generally because they are out of my price range for something that I'm not going to just shoot a ton. I plan on adding a few to my own personal inventory as soon as I can start paying myself, but in the meantime, I get to live vicariously through the store.

As with anything H&K, the box/case is nice. This gun comes with a spare mag and both are of the same design, unlike a lot of other subcompacts that include an extended magazine. This isn't a big deal to me, as the entire point of these guns is to be able to conceal much easier so a longer mag makes that more difficult, but it is definitely more comfortable at the range to use.

Ergonomics wise, I love this gun. It just fits and feels great. When compared to the Glock 26 and the Springfield XD Mod 2, it beats both of them, hands down. The my hand just wraps around the HK in a smooth, natural way. The Mod 2 is not too bad, just a bit blocky feeling and the 26 just isn't comfortable comparatively. None of them have a place for my pinky to rest, but that is expected with any sub compact. The standard mag for the P30SK holds 10 rounds.

Size wise, it is very similar to both the Glock and the Springfield. Overall length, the Mod 2 is the shortest at 6.25" and the HK and Glock are nearly tied at 6.42" and 6.41" respectively. Height, the Glock wins at 4.17" with the HK in the middle at 4.57" and the Mod 2 being 4.75". Thickness, the Glock and XD are very thin at 1.18" and 1.19" with the HK being 1.37". Because of the way the gun fits, the added thickness is not really noticed. In addition, the overly square profiles of both the Mod 2 and the G26 made them harder to conceal than the softer edges of the slightly thicker HK. As with most newer guns, it does have changeable back straps, but the p30sk goes a step further with changeable side panels as well.



Something unique to the HK vs the other two mentioned is fully ambidextrous controls. Pretty sure Glock hates lefties and the Mod 2 has a ambi mag release but righty only slide release. The HK has both on both sides making this gun much better for the south paws. Admittedly, I do not like the slide release latch on the trigger guard. From those I know that run Walthers and HKs, it's something you love after you get used to it, but it still feels alien to me. I can grop a glock mag in a heartbeat and never even think about it. The HK was awkward for me.



Not so awkward is the trigger. The LEM trigger is awesome. For those that don't know much about it, HK calls it a double action only design, but I really feel that it's a hybrid between single action and double action. Reason being, on a normal DAO trigger, it takes a full heavy trigger pull on each pull to release the hammer. The LEM is designed to have a full heavy trigger if not cocked, but once cocked there is still a double action movement, but it is much much smoother and lighter until it gets back to where a single action trigger would break. I'd still put an SAO or SA/DA trigger ahead of this for competition use, but as a duty or carry pistol, this is a great system. As mentioned, yes, it does have a real hammer. I don't know what it is, but I nearly have a disdain for striker fire guns. Yes, I use them and enjoy them, but having a hammer is a big deal for me. So with the HK having a hammer, it makes me happy.

In addition, the installed sights are absolutely nails. They aren't adjustable (sorry target shooter coming out in me) but they are considered luminous. I haven't been able to compare them directly to the night sights installed on some models, but I have been very impressed with these as a stock system.

At the end of the day, I absolutely love this gun. Yes, I'd need to hit the range with it to be 100% sure I'd carry it a lot, but I can easily see it competing with the other double stacks for market share.
txyaloo
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Does that one have the light LEM or regular?

I run the light LEM in my USPs and HK45CT. It's a great trigger once you're used to it but takes some work if you're used to shooting Glocks or 1911s.

I'm bringing in a VP9 next time I see one in stock at the distributors.
TheEyeGuy
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quote:
Does that one have the light LEM or regular?

I run the light LEM in my USPs and HK45CT. It's a great trigger once you're used to it but takes some work if you're used to shooting Glocks or 1911s.

I'm bringing in a VP9 next time I see one in stock at the distributors.
Had a VP9 rock in here recently. Very impressed with it.
TheEyeGuy
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And to the trigger, I honestly am not 100% sure. The "2 stage" cycle feels pretty good however... If there is a lighter one, I'm really intrigued.
A2
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V1 is light lem
The_Thinker
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How do you feel the grip compares to a Sig p226 MK25? I am hoping to find something with a similar grip that is MUCH smaller. The Sig is a pain to carry.
DTrain
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AG
Great info. Thanks.

Someone needs to buy it and let you do a range review. I can see it now, our very own Hickock45. Eyeguy45?
gibberish
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quote:
How do you feel the grip compares to a Sig p226 MK25? I am hoping to find something with a similar grip that is MUCH smaller. The Sig is a pain to carry.

P229, P239, M11-A1?

P239 would be the easiest to carry and similar(ish) to the p226.

But if you just need any excuse to get an H&K, I am not gonna argue with that. Great firearms!
HvilleAggie
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Great write up, thanks EyeGuy!
KY AG
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Excellent write-up EyeGuy, I look forward to more of these; this is very value-add to the board.

I like the P30 but not enough to lay down the skrilla for one. I'm very interested in this little guy though, didn't even know it existed.

MasterAggie
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If you ever do lay down the money for a P30 you will regret taking so long to do so.
TheEyeGuy
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And Im a dumbass... I posted the pics I took of a springfield sight... doh!
agfan2013
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If HK ever came out with a single stack 9 sub compact that was as skinny as a glock or more so, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Not a bad looking pistol but my CCW really cant be that wide, just not comfortable for me to carry IWB
Puryear Playboy
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The V1 is the Light trigger. Great review. I own lots of handguns but my P30S is my all the time carry gun, occasionally a G34, but the P30 is the one I reach for almost every morning.

In my opinion the P30S is the finest combat handgun made for an experienced shooter. Not the finest target pistol, or the best competition gun. But for the that other stuff there just isnt a better option...IMO. The SK should be more of the same in a shorter package.

You said Slide Release in the review above, but I think meant to say Mag Release on the trigger guard...its something you have to work on, but dont use your thumb to trigger the mag release, use your trigger finger. It's very fast once you get used to it and you dont have to change your grip reaching for the mag release button which is an issue for almost anyone that doesn't have really long fingers.
Puryear Playboy
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On the night sights...you charge them with a quick hit of a flash light or the sun and they are very bright. Tritium night sights are illegal to manufacture and illegal to own for civilians in Germany, and most of Europe, so HK uses that design instead.

TRUGLO in Ft Worth is finishing up their TFX sight design now for the P30/VP9 series and I hope to have a set of pre-production to show soon. Those are outstanding sights by the way, the owners son is an Aggie, and the company is very supportive of the shooting sports.
NRH ag 10
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Puryear is right on the mag release. Use your index finger and it's just as fast if not faster than a traditional button.

A lot of people (me included) have trouble with their thumb holding the slide release down, keeping the slide from locking back when the mag is empty. You can switch to a slide release from a p30s model (shorter to accommodate the manual safety) or a p2000 (shorter and slimmer). I just took a dremel cutting wheel to mine.

edited for accuracy
powerbelly
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My HK P30 is my favorite pistol.

I will have to check this out.
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