Question for the HK P30 (9MM) Shooters...

[knljr]

Going to pick mine up tomorrow from McBride's in Austin...

Looking for any insight on what range rounds you guys are using. Obviously looking for the best bang for the buck as I intend to put several hundred through before using this gun to qualify for my CHL.

Also, what cleaning procedure did you go through before using your weapon for the first time? A barrell cleaning or a full field strip?

McBride's had something on sale - $11 or so for 50 rounds, which I thought was a pretty good deal - may pick some more up when I stop by to pick up my piece tomorrow. I was reading up on the subject (and don't have the HK P30 manual as of yet) and there is some contention on +P/grain size that 'should' be used. Curious what other folks have found out and/or using in their own P30's?

Any advice on the weapon system, tips and tricks, etc... would be appreciated as well...

[rubiconjp]

On a new gun, I usually clean the bore, and apply more oil to the rails, and other contact points before heading out to the range.

Winchester 100-round pack is usually the cheapest (Walmart).

[Beiruty]

Any FMJ 115gr wil do ust fine for the range.Federal are like 10.50 per 50 rds. For carry load, i use speer gold dots 124gr +P rd. Do not worry about +P loads. Dont shoot 1000"s of it.

Tip: keep you fingers away from the slide release or you will notice that the slide is not held back on last rd. Also, slaming a fresh magazine will suto release the slide for you and load a fresh rd.

[Fisherman74]

Basically it should handle pretty well anything you want to feed it within reason.

It should also handle +p+. They all like to put those warnings on them, because they don't know what someone might try to shoot.

Of course that is just my 2 cents, and everyone has to make their choices and take their chances.

[RECIT]

My Dad owns and carries one daily. He loves his (he is a lefty) and there are some nice lefty friendly features on this gun...He shoots all types of FMJ rounds with not one problem. Brands like S&B, Winchester, Remington UMC, Fiochi, and Federal. No problems. I think he carries Hornaday critical defense loads.

As far as cleaning prior to shooting, I would run a swab down the barrel and have at it. Lube it a clean really well when your done.

[comp73]

I can't speak for the P30, but I've owned a few HKs including 2 USPs and a USP Compact. They all have had quite a bit of packing grease inside the slide and on the barrel. Enough to make me WANT to clean them before I took them to the range the first time.

[knljr]

Thanks guys. I did a swatch through the barrel and that was it. Went 200 rounds with it (started with some Winch NATO 124g to break in that recoil spring then switched to 115g) and didn't have a single problem. I love this thing. I opted for the bigger right side and back plates to keep my finger out of that trough in the trigger guard...and it just feels better to me. Damn nice pistol though - no doubt about that.

When I got it home, I broke it down and cleaned it out - it was pretty gunky. I have some WeaponShield oil on order but used some Hoppes I already had in the interim. I used some Breakfree CLP to clean it up - worked great.

I'm really going to love this thing - as soon as I get my CHL I'm going to order a Crossbreed SuperTuck for it and start looking for a sub-compact that's a little more practical to carry (and a Crossbreed to match that as well).

Anyone that's shooting P30's have any recommendations on sub-compacts? There's so many out there...I was thinking the P2000...but I think I want something even smaller than that...Maybe a Kahr PM9 or a Walther PPS?

[Beiruty]

Try P2000SK, it the subcompact of the P30. I have the PX4 SC and I like it. Smaller than that and it would be single stack 9mm pocket gun.