.45 auto handguns - Gunivore https://gunivore.com Bringing You Honest, Reliable, and Engaging Firearm News and Reviews Tue, 03 Sep 2019 14:21:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.10 https://gunivore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-Bullet-Icon-32x32.jpg .45 auto handguns - Gunivore https://gunivore.com 32 32 Glock 36 Review: Gotta Get Glocked! https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-36-review-2016/ https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-36-review-2016/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2016 08:05:01 +0000 https://gunivore.com/?p=2877 Lots of people want to have their cake and eat it too these days, and with gun owners, this comes down to wanting a powerful, yet compact handgun. The .45 auto Glock 36 is one of the best options you'll find when it comes to wanting a gun that can do it all - check out our review on it now!

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Here at Gunivore, we’re no strangers to the .45 auto line of Glock handguns, having previously covered the Glock 21 and the Glock 30. Things get really fun when it comes to the .45 auto line, however, with the Glock 36 – the subcompact slimline .45 auto model from Glock. With the Glock 36, the appeal of the gun lies in the three C’s: concealment, concealment, and concealment. The Glock 36 is of a size that makes it absolutely ideal for concealed carrying and for storing on your person, perhaps the best concealed carry firearm in the Glock lineup. It’s funny, I’ve seen the gun likened to the comically small Walther PPK/S used by Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies, but the truth is that depending on your hand size, the gun is not impractically small.

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Austin Powers, Gun in Hand

Yes, your results may vary as far as comfort depending on your hand size, but the reality of the situation is such that the more concealed a gun needs to be, the smaller it must be. Any gun that can easily accommodate larger hand sizes can only be so small. More so, Glock makes a point of fleshing out its line as much as it possibly can, in order to accommodate the needs of all handgun owners. For example, for 9×19 guns, Glock offers the G19 (also covered here) and its slimmer model, the G26, as well as the subcompact slimline G43. Same goes for the .357 caliber Glock 31 – smaller models of the same caliber are offered so that any kind of gun owner can find any caliber of handgun produced by Glock accessible. This is a result of the Glock philosophy, really. Glock is all about cornering the handgun market to the benefit of the consumer, and one corner that is firmly occupied by Glock is the .45 auto compact gun one – by the Glock 36.

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Glock 36

Glock 36 Specs

Caliber / System

  • .45 Auto / Safe Action

Dimensions

  • Length: 177 mm / 6.96 in.
  • Height: 121 mm / 4.76 in.
  • Width: 28.00 mm / 1.10 in.
  • Barrel Height: 32 mm / 1.26 in.
  • Length Between Sights: 150 mm / 5.91 in.
  • Barrel Length: 96 mm / 3.77 in.

Weights

  • Unloaded: 635 g / 22.42 oz.
  • Loaded: 765 g / 27.00 oz.

Trigger Pull / Travel

  • Trigger Pull: ~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs.
  • Trigger Travel: ~12.5 mm/ ~0.49

Barrel Rifling / Length of Twist

  • Barrel Rifling: right hand, octagonal
  • Length of Twist: 400 mm / 15.75 in.

Magazine Capacity

  • Standard: 6

Glock 36 Build

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Polymer Build of the G36

The Glock 36 is unsurprisingly well-made, and this is apparent from the moment the gun is picked up. I find the familiar polymer makeup of the gun so satisfying, though I am an admitted Glock enthusiast, so this may not be the reaction everyone has to Gaston Glock’s revolutionary plastic-like build. The G36 uses a composite frame with a metallic slide and barrel, each of which feature a tenifer finish, which makes for a solid, durable gun.

I have been carrying my G36 for over a year and fired hundreds of rounds with it – besides for some malfunction which was a result of foolishly trying to use rounds which were not fully compatible, I’ve had no problems with the gun. Ultimately, the G36 more than lives up to its “Slimline” billing – the minimalist frame of the gun keeps protrusions to an absolute minimum, and the 1.1-inch width of the weapon is about as slim as you’re going to find in a .45 auto. The gun looks sleek and feels comfortable to boot – it is light weight, but offers enough substance to make you feel like you’re carrying a powerful firearm.

Glock 36 Shooting

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Glock 36 in Action

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: this Glock gun fires surprisingly steadily for a gun of its size. This has been a recurring theme in our Glock reviews – compact Glock guns and their deceptive stopping power and controllability – but a theme that is perhaps felt strongest in the G36. It almost took me aback when I initially fired the G36 at the range. Fearing the combination of a .45 auto in a “subcompact, slimline” might be too much for my wrist to handle, I braced for the worst, and was pleasantly surprised at the lack of recoil felt in the gun when fired.

With that being said, it is still important as ever to practice proper technique when firing the G36 – you will pay the price if you don’t! The G36 offers good balance with a full mag, and the grip is comfortably textured. Your comfort when holding the gun will be at least somewhat dependent on hand size, however.

Glock 36 Magazines and Sights

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Glock 36 Magazine

Anyone investigating the Glock 36 should know right off the bat that they’re not going to be re-enacting the last scene of Scarface with this gun. The factory magazine capacity is 6, and there aren’t many options available in terms of equipping it with a higher capacity (an extended mag might add a round or two, depending on the brand). Still, it’s tough to call this a shortcoming of a firearm that exists to be easy to carry and conceal – it’s just impossible to feature both a compact form and a high magazine capacity, until rounds become much smaller in some distant future.

The factory sights of the G36 are not much to write home about, but they’re not terrible either. The front-end sight features a white dot and the rear a dovetail sight with white inserts – not bad, but not as practical as night sights when looking for a self-defense weapon. There are plenty of different sights available for those who are dissatisfied with the factory ones – I recommend Trijicon Night Sights.

Glock 36 Safety, Assembly, and Accessories

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Holstered Glock 36

It’s that time again! In every feature on a newer Glock model, we need to talk about safety, and that means it’s time to talk about Glock’s incredible and patented ‘Safe Action System’ – the very best in gun safety from the very best handgun manufacturer (in my opinion). The Safe Action System is a three-part system designed to comprehensively cover the most important aspects of handgun safety by accounting for the most risk-associated elements of handguns.

Firstly, the Glock trigger features a built in safety which prevents the trigger from being pulled unless it is simultaneously engaged with the trigger. Secondly, there is the firing pin safety, which sets the firing pin in a safe position from which it is only activated by engaging the trigger safety. Lastly, the built-in drop safety of the G36 ensures that there will be no unwanted or accidental firings of the weapon. The G36 is easily disassembled and reassembled, a task made even easier by the Glock disassembly tool accessory. Speaking of accessories, there are a lot of options to play with when you own a G36. A good holster is almost a pre-requisite, but there is a wealth of other options out there if you want to ‘trick out’ or modify your Glock – try different sights, grips, lasers, lights, magazines, and more.

Conclusion

The Glock 36 does exactly what it and the other models in Glock’s extensive handgun line are supposed to do – it fills a niche for gun owners, and it fills it well. As far as .45 auto guns which are intended for concealed carry purposes, you will not find better than the Glock 36 – guaranteed. The G36 won’t be perfect for everyone, however. Your best bet is heading down to the range and trying out the 36 to see if it works well for you. Happy shooting!

Want more of the best gun content on the web? Looking for some fresh Glock 17 and 19 reviews? We’ve got it all for you right here at Gunivore.

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]]> https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-36-review-2016/feed/ 3 Glock 30 Gen 4 Review https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-30-gen-4-review-2016/ https://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-30-gen-4-review-2016/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:44:10 +0000 https://gunivore.com/?p=2846 These days, gun owners can have their cake and eat it, too! The Glock 30 is a .45 auto handgun which brings the heat in a small package - Check out our Glock 30 Gen 4 Review 2018 feature to learn about the Glock 30 here at Gunivore!

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Glock is arguably the most beloved handgun manufacturer in the world, and for good reason. In addition to introducing the world to their high-quality polymer build, Glock has gradually built an ever-increasing catalog of diverse handguns, all of which are designed to fit the needs of specific gun owners. Glock doesn’t just manufacture handguns of different calibers – they produce handguns of different sizes within certain calibers, offering greater specialization and more options than any other handgun manufacturing company. One of the best examples of this is Glock’s development of subcompact guns – accompanying guns to standard Glock lines which serve as subcompact, smaller versions of the standardized Glock entry.

The Glock 21, as we have covered in the past, is a highly successful .45 auto handgun, and its accompanying subcompact brother is the Glock 30. Combining big-bore caliber with precision and a more compact size, the Glock 30 has become a favorite of many in the gun-loving community – the .45 auto cartridge combines power with accuracy, which, paired with the smaller form that doesn’t compromise on handling ability, makes for a damn good handgun. Again, this isn’t the first time Glock has found success introducing a subcompact version of an already successful gun, as it did with the Glock 17 and 19 (also covered here), which feature even more compact models in the Glock 26 and 43.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Specs

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The Glock 30

Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 10+1
Barrel Length: 3.8″
Overall Length: 6.9″
Height: 4.8″
Width: 1.27″
Weight: 26 oz. (unloaded
MSRP: $545

Glock 30 Gen 4 Build

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The Glock 30 Features a Premium Build

The Glock 30 features the classic and revolutionary polymer design and build that has become the trademark of Glock guns – it’s pretty funny to think that no one took Gaston Glock and his design seriously back in the day. The nylon-based, plastic-like substance provides increased durability and resiliency in the G30. The ergonomics and aesthetics of the G30 are unsurprisingly excellent, at least in my opinion. Ultimately, preference comes down to the opinion of the individual. Like all Gen 4 Glock guns, the G30 comes with interchangeable backstraps, which means that everyone is going to be able to find something that they like in terms of grip.

A reversible magazine well and a new dual recoil spring assembly system represent two other Gen 4 features, which make for a gun that holds up and suffers from less wear and tear than its less-advanced Glock predecessors. Again, the Glock 30 is the subcompact version of the G21, which was Glock’s entry into the .45 auto category. With superior stopping power and force, .45 auto handguns tend to come in on the larger side, which makes the G30 and its relatively slim build (6.88 x 4.80 x 1.27 as compared to the 8.03 x 5.47 x 1.27 dimensions of the Glock 21) an excellent option for concealed carriers who do not wish to compromise on firepower by settling for a 9×19 or .40 gun. The small form of the G30 does not necessarily leave the gun vulnerable to excessive recoil or difficult handling while shooting, however, which we will cover shortly.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Shooting

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Glock 30 in Action

One word which I would use to describe the Glock 30 in terms of its shooting is ‘surprising’. As my hands come in on the larger side, I did have a slight problem with handling the gun, although it is an undeniably excellent and easily concealable self-defense weapon. With that being said, despite its size and caliber combination – one that would seemingly make for a ‘bumpy ride’ when firing – the Glock 30 features minimal kick, or recoil, and fires as accurately as the most popular models in the Glock lineup. It had about the same accuracy for me when firing from 30 yards as my trusty Glock 21, which is an achievement in and of itself.

The gun is easily controllable, and although the compact form may prove problematic for some, I had no issues with the gun after installing some basic finger extensions for the mags of my G30. A plug for the rear of the gun would serve a similar purpose, although I have found that the extensions were sufficient, the point is that there do exist options for tailoring the G30 to the individual. If you’re going to start accessorizing your gun in order to achieve a more comfortable grip, to begin with, it may make sense to purchase a bigger gun altogether, but it doesn’t take much to find the perfect fit with your Glock 30.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Magazine

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Glock 30 Magazines

The Glock 30 magazine is of a standard 10-round capacity, but there are options to upgrade the magazine to a capacity of as many as 13. The magazine of the gun makes up part of the ‘give’ in the ‘give and take’ associated with a small-form handgun – it’s nice to have a stealthy, easily concealed weapon, but this dictates that the magazine only reaches a certain size and capacity. As previously mentioned, in the Gen 4 model of the G30 the magazine well is reversible, which makes for some idiot-proof usage, and a new magazine release button is easy to use as well.

Extended mag options are always available for Glock guns, and the G30 is no exception. Keep in mind that extended mags basically ruin the appeal of the subcompact design. Look for a gun that can accommodate it with factory mags if capacity is a priority.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Sights

One aspect of Glock guns that even I have a hard time getting behind are their factory sights. I find this is a weak choice in subcompacts which are intended for self-defense. Many folks buying the G30 have nighttime use in mind, so night sights would be a smart move. Luckily, there are tons of different replaceable sights to choose from when accessorizing your Glock 30. I just look forward to the day when replacing Glock sights will be just an option as opposed to a prerequisite to using.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Safety and Assembly

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Glock Safe-Action System

The Glock brand has become synonymous with a number of terms in the gun industry – quality, polymer, and yes, safety. One of the reasons I like Glocks is that they’re surprisingly safe. Many argue that they’re the safest handguns that civilians and law enforcement officials could be using. The G30 utilizes Glock’s ‘3-part safe-action system’, designed to provide comprehensive safety measures. The trigger safety, firing pin safety, and drop safety were designed to cover the firearm’s three integral components. I’ve encountered trigger, firing pin, and drop problems with many guns but never with a Gen 4.

Glock 30 Gen 4 Accessories and Customization

The advantages to owning a Glock don’t stop in the design and build of Glock guns themselves. The popularity and prevalence of Glock guns has prompted an excellent expanding aftermarket community. Some of the more popular Glock 30 accessories include, unsurprisingly, Pearce Grip Extensions, TALON grips, Trijicon Night Sights, lasers, attachable lights, and, of course, holsters for easy concealed carrying.

Glock 30S and Glock 30SF

Glock offers two alternate Glock 30 models – the Glock 30 SF and the Glock 30S. The 30SF (Short Frame) only differs in that the front-to-rear grip profile is diminished. The circumference of the receiver, or the back strap, offers increased comfort and control. This is especially useful for shooters with small hands. The Glock 30S, the S denoting “slide”, is built on the 30 SF frame but features a slimmer slide. Both of these models are just a taste of the wealth of specification options offered by Glock.

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Glock 30 SF (left) and Glock 30 S (right)

Conclusion

The reach of the Glock empire is furthering, and it has a choke hold to the .45 cal market. The Glock 30 is not a perfect handgun. The sights are a bit underwhelming, and the subcompact build might not work best for everyone. It will, however, serve as the perfect handgun for some folks, and therein lies the beauty of Glock. It’s impossible to produce one gun that will satisfy everyone. Yet if Glock keeps pumping out gems like the G30, they’ll eventually have a gun for every kind of shooter.

Thanks for reading our Glock 30 feature here at Gunivore – check out our Glock 31 feature to read about another great handgun!

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