The P30 is a polymer framed semi-automatic handgun by Heckler & Koch, available in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W.
Heckler & Koch P30 | |
---|---|
Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
Place of origin | Germany |
Service history | |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designer | Frank Henninger[citation needed] |
Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
Produced | 2006–present |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 647 g (22.8 oz) P30 (without magazine) 687 g (24.2 oz) P30L (without magazine) 598 g (21.1 oz) P30SK (without magazine) |
Length | 181 mm (7.1 in) P30 196 mm (7.7 in) P30L 163 mm (6.4 in) P30SK |
Barrel length | 98 mm (3.9 in) P30 113 mm (4.4 in) P30L 83 mm (3.3 in) P30SK |
Width | 34.8 mm (1.37 in) P30(L) 38.8 mm (1.53 in) P30(L)S 34.8 mm (1.37 in) P30SK |
Height | 138 mm (5.4 in) P30(L) 116 mm (4.6 in) P30SK |
Cartridge |
|
Action | Short recoil operated, Browning-type tilting barrel, locked breech |
Muzzle velocity |
|
Effective firing range | 50 m (55 yd) |
Feed system | Detachable box magazine; capacities:
|
Sights | Iron sights (luminescent or tritium) |
History
editEarly prototypes of the P30 were referred to as the P3000. The P30 is marketed by the manufacturer as a law enforcement service pistol.
In 2006 the first customer of the P30, the German Federal Customs Administration procured 13,500 P30s for its forces. The Norwegian Police Service ordered about 7,000 P30s.[2]
In October 2008, the cantonal police of Zurich, Switzerland purchased an undisclosed number of P30s for 1.6 million CHF (US$1.35 million), replacing the previously used SIG P228.[3]
In late November 2008, the German Bundespolizei ordered 30,000 P30s with the option for another 5,000. Deliveries took place between summer 2009 and 2011.[4]
In April 2010, the state police of Hessen (Germany) ordered the P30 V2. This model was also supplied to Hessen prison officers.[5]
In 2011 the P30 NL (H3) variant was among a few pistols under consideration for Dutch police service.[6][7][8] However in October 2012 the Walther P99Q NL (H3) was selected to succeed the Walther P5 and Glock 17 pistols previously in use, in 2013-2014.[9][10]
Variants
editThe P30L is a P30 featuring a longer slide and barrel. (The L stands for long slide)
The P30SK is a subcompact P30 featuring a shorter slide and barrel.[11] (SK stands for "subkompakt")
The P30S, P30LS and P30SKS variants feature an optional external ambidextrous thumb safety. This manual safety is available for most trigger variants. The variants with the optional external ambidextrous thumb safety have similar dimensions compared to the variants without this feature, but weigh approximately 50 g (1.8 oz) more and the safety levers add 3.66 mm (0.144 in) width resulting in an overall width of 38.46 mm (1.514 in).[12]
The P30, P30L and P30SK pistols offer multiple trigger configurations. It is possible to change the (original) trigger configuration of a P30 series pistol to another trigger configuration.
P30 trigger and model configurations
editIn addition to classic DA/SA trigger (V3) variants, Heckler and Koch features a proprietary Combat Defensive Action (CDA) or Law Enforcement Modification (LEM) in their P30 line, which is a variant of conventional Double Action Only (DAO) triggers.
The LEM mechanism operates via a combination of a cocking piece inside the hammer and an elbow spring to create a condition 0 or 1, while the hammer is placed in a hammer-down position. After racking the slide to chamber a round, the LEM versions produce a long Double Action trigger pull with the pull weight comparable to a Single Action.
Variant | Action | Trigger pull | Trigger travel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
V0 | CDA aka LEM | 51 N (11.5 lbf) (DA) 20 N (4.5 lbf) (CDA) |
14 mm (0.55 in) | Combat Defensive Action (CDA) aka Law Enforcement Modification (LEM):
Exposed two-piece hammer with spur. It uses a V1-type "light" Trigger Return Spring (TRS). The cocking piece can be decocked by pressing the decocker button, located at the rear of the slide, next to the hammer. This spurred hammer-version was designed for the European market. |
V1 | CDA aka LEM | 20 N (4.5 lbf) | 14 mm (0.55 in) | Same as V0, but the hammer has no spur, and there is no decocker button; therefore, the only way to release the cocked mainspring is to pull the trigger over the empty chamber.
Employing a light Trigger Return Spring (TRS), it is referred to as "light LEM." |
V2 | CDA aka LEM | 32.5 N (7.3 lbf) | 14 mm (0.55 in) | Same as V1, with a heavy Trigger Return Spring (TRS)
Employing a heavy Trigger Return Spring (TRS), it is referred to as "heavy LEM." The heavier TRS provides a more clean trigger reset while providing comfort to people concerned about accidentally discharging their firearm under stress. This version is no longer directly purchasable in the USA. |
V3 | DA/SA | 51 N (11.5 lbf) (DA) 20 N (4.5 lbf) (SA) |
14 mm (0.55 in) (DA) 7 mm (0.28 in) (SA) |
Conventional DA/SA unit with single-piece, spurred hammer and decocker button at the rear of the slide, next to the hammer. |
V4 | CDA aka LEM | 27.5 N (6.2 lbf) | 14 mm (0.55 in) | Same as V1, but it uses a medium Trigger Return Spring.
The medium Trigger Return Spring (TRS) strikes a compromise for a cleaner trigger reset like the V2 version while providing a trigger pull weight in between V1 and V2. |
V4.1/CH | CDA aka LEM | 27.5 N (6.2 lbf) | 10 mm (0.39 in) | Same as V4, but, with the catch being slightly longer, the hammer slightly sticks out in the cocked position. The hammer is internally more recessed to accommodate the longer catch when decocked.
V4 and CH are used interchangeably due to this version being designed for Swiss law enforcement to reduce pretravel by roughly 1/3 of the other LEM versions. The shorter pretravel is associated with a reduced risk for trigger jerking. |
Users
editCurrent users
edit- Finland: Used by Police Rapid Response Unit (Finland).[citation needed]
- Germany:
- German Federal Customs Administration: 13,500 pistols were purchased.[2][13]
- Federal Police: 30,000 V2 pistols were purchased with an option for another 5,000.[4] 38 455 pistols in use as of 2019[14]
- Approx. 16,000 P30 V2 pistols were ordered for the Hesse State Police and Hessian corrections officers.[5]
- German Army: Used by the Feldjäger and commando soldiers of the Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Command; abbreviated KSK)[15]
- German Navy: Used by operators of the Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine/Kampfschwimmer ("Naval Special Forces Command"; "Combat Swimmers"; abbreviated KSM)[16]
- Hungary: Used by Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration [citation needed]
- Malaysia: Used by Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) counter-terrorism forces of the Royal Malaysian Navy.[17]
- Norway: Norwegian Police Service.[2]
- Portugal: Used by Portuguese Army, Public Security Police and Republican National Guard since 2009.[18]
- Singapore: Standard issue pistol for the Singapore Army, replacing the SIG Sauer P226 as of 2018 [19]
- Spain: Mossos d'Esquadra.[20]
- Switzerland: Swiss Border Guard,[21] at least six Cantonal police forces like the Kantonspolizei Zürich[3][22] and at least one municipal police department (municipal police of Winterthur).[22]
- United States: P30L V1 used by Border Patrol Tactical Unit.[23][24]
Former users
edit- United States: Used by Loudoun County Sheriff's Office 2012-2016; replaced by SIG Sauer P320[25][26][27]
Failed bids
edit- United Kingdom: 19 pistols evaluated as a replacement for the Browning L9A1 pistol, lost to the Glock 17.
See also
edit- Heckler & Koch HK45—Chambered in .45 ACP, it shares HK's current design aesthetic with the P30, as well as similar design principles.
References
edit- ^ a b with RUAG 9mmx19 SX NATO Ball 124gr German Army (DM51) service ammunition[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c P30-The new Service Pistol of the German Federal Customs Administration. Originally from http://www.heckler-koch.de, restored by web.archive.org
- ^ a b "Sicherheitsdirektion". Ds.zh.ch. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ a b Federal Police to receive new service pistol Archived 19 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Heckler & Koch, Nov 26, 2008
- ^ a b "Super-Pistole: Hessens Polizisten bekommen HK P30 - Frankfurt" (in German). Bild.de. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ "Opstelten besluit overeenkomst SIG-Sauer over nieuw politiepistool te beëindigen (press release) (Dutch)". 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Ontbinding overeenkomst aanschaf nieuw dienstpistool politie (letter to the Dutch parliament) (Dutch)" (PDF). 8 November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Nieuw politiepistool afgekeurd (Dutch)". 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Nieuw pistool voor Nederlandse politie (Dutch)". 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "Brief Tweede Kamer Voorlopige gunning nieuw dienstpistool politie (Dutch)" (PDF). 25 October 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
- ^ "P30 SK at HK USA". Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ 'P30 Series' user manual, includes the P30 Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Heckler & Koch :: Welcome". Heckler-koch.de. 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ https://www.bundespolizei.de/Web/DE/Service/Mediathek/Jahresberichte/jahresbericht_2018_file.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=5 [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Streitkräftebasis". Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
- ^ "Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine | PhotoBW.info". www.photobw.info. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ Dan, Alex (9 February 2016). "PASKAL Malaysian Special Forces Weapons". Military Factory (Small Arms). Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Pistolas novas já durante este ano - Portugal - Correio da Manhã". Cmjornal.xl.pt. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ "Singapore issues P30 pistol as new sidearm | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ Defensa.com (18 July 2019). "Pistolas P30 de Heckler & Koch para los Mossos d'Esquadra - Noticias Defensa Homeland Security". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Neue HK-Pistole P30 für das Grenzwachkorps in der Schweiz (german)". 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Polizist (37) schiesst sich durch die Hand". blick.ch (in German). Ringier AG. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Heckler & Koch P30L: Border Patrol's Adopted Beauty". 3 November 2014.
- ^ "Heckler & Koch on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[user-generated source]
- ^ https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/60287/H-and-K-P30-Pistols-04-05-12 [bare URL PDF]
- ^ https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/119757/RFQ-372?bidId= [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "SIG Sauer Settles Lawsuit Alleging Gun Discharged Without Trigger Pull". 3 June 2019.
External links
edit- P30 page from the Heckler & Koch Group website
- Official P30L page from the Heckler & Koch Group website
- 'P30 Series' user manual, includes the P30
- 2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure
- HKPro page on the P30
- Home Page of HK USA, which has a link to the P30 and P30L
- Modern Firearms - Heckler & Koch HK P30 pistol (Germany)
- Reports on a Heckler & Koch P30 9x19mm Parabellum endurance test over 91,322 rounds conducted by pistol-training.com Archived 17 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- Die Pistole P30 (German)