The new Glock 30SF follows the path started by the Glock 21. Shown at the 2008 SHOT Show was the all new .45 ACP polymer pistol from the Austrians.
Based on the original model 30, the SF is a compact, double-stack pistol chambered for the cartridge John Moses Browning made legendary. This version of the pistol shaves about 3mm from the backstrap to improve the overall girth of the pistol. This fits the hand of more people than the seemingly oversized grip on the standard Glock 30.
This handgun has the standard Glock rail (not a Picatinny rail). Additionally, it has the standard left-side-only magazine release. The Glock 21SF introduced an ambidextrous safety, but this model does not have the ambi-safety.
Glock advised pricing would be in line with their other models and they expect to start shipping these guns to dealers around “mid-year.” I expect that this will be a popular firearm, but time will tell. Glock suggests this pistol will be a favorite of plainclothes officers and security forces in the United States. While this may be true, I expect just as many – of not more – citizens with concealed carry permits will like this handgun.
Glock 30SF
| caliber | .45 ACP |
| standard magazine capacity | 10 |
| barrel length | 3.77" |
| overall length | 6.88" |
| width | 1.27" |
| weight (unloaded) | 20.28 ounces |
| trigger pull | 5.5 pounds |
Update (January 2013): Glock introduced the new model 30S, which uses the 30SF frame with the slide from the model 36. The idea is to provide the ergonomics and capacity of the 30SF with the overall thinner slide of the 36. This is a modification done by a number of Glock fans in the field. The company decided to borrow the idea and make a new model using the existing, off-the-shelf parts they had on hand already. I suspect this will be a good seller for the company.
At the current time, there is not a Gen 4 update for this pistol. No word from Glock as to when (or even if) the company plans to update this handgun.
Shaved backstraps and hicker handguns are not what Glock needs to spend time on. If they were to release a model with a decocker (think Walther P99), double action and an actual safety, their populatrity would increase. While I own a Glock 23 and do not need those features on said handgun, it would be nice to see a model that was friendly to the amature shooters out there. Compete in functionality with Walther, Sig and H&K.
It IS double action, and there is no need to decock because it doesn’t actually cock until you pull the trigger.
Catamount
First of all, decokers are going by way of Russia due to many LE personnel returning cocked pistols to their holsters both in training and post firefight. For this reason SIG is easing out of the decocker designs. As an instructor of many years, friend and colleague John Farnam and I have often discussed this problem and have both noted that SIG’s DAK trigger is a valid attempt to fix a very real problem. GLOCKS are simplistic designs with no bells & whistles, thingamabobs, gadgets amd gizmos to further muddy dark waters. Point and press. Trigger finger in register until the decision to shoot is made. Safety lies between the ears moreso than between the hands. I’ve had officers in training fail to fire due to gloved hands wrapped around H&KP7’s squeeze cockers. GLOCKS offer a natural transition for revolver shooters (no external safeties on DA or DAO) when exchanging wheelguns for pistols. As far as popularity goes, since GLOCKS still own the lion’s share of the LE community, I doubt your suggestions would increase popularity. There are plenty of makes and models available possessing the features that you cite. Were GLOCKS to possess such features they would cease being GLOCKS. One final note based on decades of training thousands. The most difficult factor for shooters to master on traditional DA/SA pistols is the transition between the first long DA trigger and the subsequent SA trigger. For this reason, DAO pistols are becoming the latest state of the art. One trigger for all shots.