The P30 is a polymer framed semi-automatic handgun by Heckler & Koch, available in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W.

Heckler & Koch P30
The Heckler & Koch P30L.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
DesignerFrank Henninger[citation needed]
ManufacturerHeckler & Koch
Produced2006–present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass647 g (22.8 oz) P30 (without magazine)
687 g (24.2 oz) P30L (without magazine)
598 g (21.1 oz) P30SK (without magazine)
Length181 mm (7.1 in) P30
196 mm (7.7 in) P30L
163 mm (6.4 in) P30SK
Barrel length98 mm (3.9 in) P30
113 mm (4.4 in) P30L
83 mm (3.3 in) P30SK
Width34.8 mm (1.37 in) P30(L)
38.8 mm (1.53 in) P30(L)S
34.8 mm (1.37 in) P30SK
Height138 mm (5.4 in) P30(L)
116 mm (4.6 in) P30SK

Cartridge
ActionShort recoil operated, Browning-type tilting barrel, locked breech
Muzzle velocity
Effective firing range50 m (55 yd)
Feed systemDetachable box magazine; capacities:
  • 17 rounds (9×19mm) P30(L)
  • 15 rounds (9×19mm)
  • 10 rounds (9×19mm)
  • 13 rounds (9×19mm) P30SK
  • 10 rounds (.40 S&W) P30(L)
  • 13 rounds (.40 S&W) P30(L)
SightsIron sights (luminescent or tritium)

History

edit

Early 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

edit
 
Heckler & Koch P30L

The 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

edit

In 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

edit
 
Map with users of the P30 in blue

Current users

edit

Former users

edit

Failed bids

edit

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
  1. ^ a b with RUAG 9mmx19 SX NATO Ball 124gr German Army (DM51) service ammunition[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b "Sicherheitsdirektion". Ds.zh.ch. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b Federal Police to receive new service pistol Archived 19 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Heckler & Koch, Nov 26, 2008
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Nieuw politiepistool afgekeurd (Dutch)". 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Nieuw pistool voor Nederlandse politie (Dutch)". 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "P30 SK at HK USA". Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  12. ^ 'P30 Series' user manual, includes the P30 Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Heckler & Koch :: Welcome". Heckler-koch.de. 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  14. ^ https://www.bundespolizei.de/Web/DE/Service/Mediathek/Jahresberichte/jahresbericht_2018_file.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=5 [bare URL PDF]
  15. ^ "Streitkräftebasis". Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine | PhotoBW.info". www.photobw.info. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Singapore issues P30 pistol as new sidearm | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Heckler & Koch P30L: Border Patrol's Adopted Beauty". 3 November 2014.
  24. ^ "Heckler & Koch on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  25. ^ https://sheriff.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/60287/H-and-K-P30-Pistols-04-05-12 [bare URL PDF]
  26. ^ https://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/119757/RFQ-372?bidId= [bare URL PDF]
  27. ^ "SIG Sauer Settles Lawsuit Alleging Gun Discharged Without Trigger Pull". 3 June 2019.
edit