First Impressions
My first thoughts when I grabbed this gun from the FFL was that Glock made it a chunky brick. It wasn’t overly awkward in the hand. But there is no denying this .45 ACP pistol is a thick but concealable handgun.
That said, it’s not that much bigger than the .40 S&W Glock 27 or the 9mm Glock 26. It’s boxy, to be sure, but it still handled well right out of the case. I’ve really enjoyed some past range time with a used Glock 26 that I can compare it to from that perspective.
I found that 9mm G26 to be a great shooter and fine carry companion while I had it for testing. I kick myself for sending it back to the Guns.com Vault. However, it did have me wondering how the only slightly larger G30 chambered for the big-bore .45 ACP would handle on the range.
Specs & Features
There’s not much left to be said about the Glock line of pistols as far as how they function. These striker-fired, semi-auto, single-action-only guns are simply as reliable and time tested as they come. This particular .45 ACP Glock 30 Gen 4 is just a bit larger than it’s 9mm Glock 26 Gen 4 cousin.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the specs for this Glock 30 Gen 4:
Weight: 1.48 pounds (empty)
Length: 7 inches
Width: 1.31 inches
Height: 4.21 inches
Sight Radius: 5.94 inches
Trigger Pull: 5.5 pounds
Capacity: 10+1 (standard), 13-round extended option
At right around a half inch longer and just 0.05 inches wider than the 9mm G26, it seems a bit melodramatic to say the Glock 30 feels like a much chunkier gun. Yet, it really did to me when I picked it up for the first time.
Related: Glock 26 Review – Still a Concealed Carry Champ?
I also don’t think that chunky feel comes from the added weight, which is only 0.1 pounds greater on the G30. Perhaps the heftier feel is simply the psychological effect of knowing the gun is chambered for the good ol’ .45 ACP? That ... or it’s the considerable 0.17-inch increase in the length of the grip between the back of your hand and your fingers.
This pushes your trigger reach out to around 2.85 inches from the base of your grip. By comparison, my larger Glock 19 Gen 4 has a trigger reach of 2.8 inches. The added grip length was to accommodate the longer and fatter .45 ACP.
Basically, the gun is longer in your hand, but not so much so that it really impacts your trigger reach very much. It’s more about how the grip feels.
Range Report
You would think a compact .45 ACP would be snappy in the hand. Yet, this gun shoots with a rather smooth roll to the recoil. It’s hardly unpleasant. You will notice the recoil with a gun this size, but it’s very controllable for my largish hands.
The big win for me was the shootability. The gun is a chunky beast, but it is also a nice shooter. I had few issues making groups at various ranges that normally challenge my skills with guns this size. I think the targets speak for themselves, and this gun shot about as well as I can pull off with my daily carry 9mm pistols.
While it does feel bulky in the hand, that bulk seems to help with my grip quite a bit. I shoot it at least as well as the Glock 26 I tested. That was a gun I shot well enough to nearly buy even though I honestly didn’t need it.
Pros & Cons
Here’s my short list of the pros and cons for a used Glock 30 Gen 4:
Pros:
- Affordable
- Reliable
- .45 ACP chambering
- Compact
- Concealable
- Accurate
- Controllable
Cons:
- Bulky
- Brick-like feel in the hand
- Lower capacity than micro 9mm pistols
-
Heavy for its size
Final Thoughts
I expected to hate this gun when I first got it for testing if I'm being fully truthful. I like the chambering, but it’s just a bulky firearm. Then I shot it, and it was controllable and even enjoyable on the range. Just as importantly, it was accurate.
For the cost – and the .45 ACP chambering – I was wrong. This gun kind of rocks. I think it might be a great option for a stash gun, bug-out bag, daily carry firearm, or even the zombie apocalypse.
I would feel well armed with one when the flesh-eating horde arrives.
