By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
Not long ago the granddaughter’s and I visited a supposedly haunted hotel, and while I don’t believe in haints and the like, human reaction to the tour is always interesting.
It was well documented that there had been two murders in the building. My younger granddaughter remarked that she would have been surprised if there had not been murders during the long history of such an old building.
Another likes hiking- after progressing from bird watching- so off we go often. The Appalachian Trail isn’t dangerous as a fall from a waterfall claims more lives. But there are folks sighted from time to time that barely pass for human and there have been murders. Animals, feral dogs rather than wild life, are a concern. One famous incident involved a fellow who hurt people with an edged weapon, was given probation, and subsequently committed a murder, as is often the case.
I carry enough food, water, and first aid for the trip and like the feel of the backstraps on my shoulder. By the end of the trail the food is in my belly, my preferred storage, and the hiking gun has somehow gained a few ounces!
I have noted that quite a few friends have a .22-caliber revolver, a .32 H&R Magnum, or even a .22 Magnum as their day trip handgun. Experience leads me to something heavier. I have no qualm with the .357 Magnum. I simply like the .45 ACP and have quite a bit of ammunition including handloads put up for the .45. Having been in fights with bipeds and quadrupeds during my long life I don’t trust small calibers.
That said the Colt Government Model has become heavier than I remember from my youth and seldom travels with me. Moving those hiking boots a few thousand repetitions, along with carrying the back pack and sometimes a nine-year-old and an old canine (a quasi-dog, a wog you would call her) my total weight is pretty stout. I don’t expect an airlift and Lucy the aboriginal canine lupus dingo wont pull a sled. I think I have found among the best all around carry pieces available for my specific needs.
The Glock pistol is a model of durability and reliability. The problem with the big frame Glock pistols has always been hand fit. Sure the Glock .45 is reliable, and accurate enough. But firing the pistol on the range and controlling the piece in every firing condition is different. I am not as in control of the Glock 21 as I would like. Polymers are easy to work with and Glock created the Small Frame (SF) pistols a decade ago. This gives those of us with average size digits a much better pistol to use and fire. For large hands the difference isn’t as noticeable. For the rest of us the difference is just what was needed.
The Glock features a double action only trigger. The trigger is set by racking the slide. The striker is partially prepped to the rear, a press of the trigger continues pressing the striker to the rear as it breaks against the sear and the pistol fires. The Glock doesn’t fire unless a lever set in the trigger is fully pressed to the rear.
The Glock 30 SF pistol illustrated features a trigger break of 5.6 pounds even. It is manageable in rapid fire and reset is very fast. Press the trigger, fire, the trigger resets as you control recoil. The short sight radius of the Glock 30 SF allows the shooter to get on target quickly, and the pistol has never failed to feed, chamber, fire, or eject.
I don’t use +P loads or handloads in this pistol. Polygonal rifling isn’t friendly to lead bullets and the forgiving barrel feed ramp that always feeds doesn’t support the case head as well as some pistols. So I use the ammunition specified for use in this handgun and have no trouble.
Let’s look at important dimensions:
Length 7.0 in.
Width 1.38 in.
Height 4.8 in.
Trigger Span 2.8 in.
Weight 26 ounces
Magazine capacity 10 rounds
Option Glock 21 magazine, 13 rounds
It is good to have on hand a pistol that always works and serves well. I have added a set of TruGlo fiber optics to the pistol. Combining radioactive Tritium with light gathering fiber optic makes an ideal all around sight set. The pistol is usually carried in a Galco StoNGO leather inside the waistband holster.
I don’t like open carry even where legal. I like to have an edge and concealment is an important factor in my plan. The pistol is carried with Black Hills Ammunition 230 grain FMJ loads when in the wild. There is nothing wrong with 230-grain Hardball ammunition for personal defense or against animals. This load is reliable and accurate enough for any foreseeable use. Sometimes I use the Black Hills 230-grain JHP. Having some expansion is worthwhile and this is among the most accurate .45 ACP loads.
The Glock 30 isn’t for everyone. For all around use when traveling and when hiking it fits the bill for my needs nicely. At times there is another Glock on the hip, but the Model 41 is another story.
