HK P30 Reliability and Durability

[sigarms228]

H&K part #s
209296 Firing Pin Block Spring - New Style Light
234389 Light Trigger Return Spring

note both those parts are the same as in the V1 light LEM setup, so if the part numbers don't work any longer just call HK customer service and ask for them by name.
the FPBS was used on the P30, P2000, P2000SK, HK45, and HK45c

also note I didn't change to any different power hammer spring, since the lowest listed was 12# and was already in my guns from the factory.

I am pretty sure that the DA/SA P30 already has the light trigger spring already installed from the factory and same one as light LEM. The operator manual shows 234389 also.

https://hkusa.s3.amazonaws.com/20140509153029/P-Series-Operators-Manual-05302013.pdf

Another handy reference.

https://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-refe...g-reference-chart-different-lem-variants.html

Many have also been happy installing the Lazy Wolf 11LB hammer spring in their P30/P30L pistols, though I have not personally tried it as I have been using the Wolff 10LB hammer spring with great success in both my P30L and HK45.

https://hkparts.net/product/hk-reduced-power-hammer-spring-11-lb-p18147.htm

 

[sota]

Of the 3 P30's I own, the L was the only one that might have had the lighter trigger spring installed. I know the two AK dated P30 non L's I have did not. Also, the trigger spring is the first wear item (at like 25k rounds mind you) that might need replacing, and I'd have to go look through all the articles bit I think it was the one bit that broke early in ToddG's big test that everyone loves. (including me.) Having an extra one or two of those on hand seems like a good idea.

As for the Wolf springs, I know they're a good company (I have a spring kit of theirs in my S&W 442, and it makes a WORLD of difference in shootability), but when it comes to the guns I choose to carry, I prefer to keep them as stock as possible, or at least only in parts that the factory supplied at some point, like springs and sights; which is why all my HKs have Meprolight sights installed now, even though they came stock with the dayglow sights, as Meprolight sights were a factory option. I admit, i'm paranoid about giving the lawyers some edge to hook on to if i'm ever in the whole court situation.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I handled a P30SK and now desire one for a carry gun. The fit and feel amazed me. I currently carry Sig P365XL that I really like. The the other day I went and held a P30 and now I'm conflicted. I can see one of those in my future too.

 

[foxmoor]

WheelGunMan - I have a P30SK with the LEM trigger and also a P365XL. Both are great guns, though I shoot the 365XL a bit better, but that’s the Indian, not the arrow. Of course, the P30SK is a bigger gun, but I don’t find it easier to shoot than the 365XL - they’re equally solid in that regard. Others have rightfully praised the qualities of the P30SK. The LEM trigger is an acquired taste, but certainly a good choice for CCW.

 

[WheelGunMan]

WheelGunMan - I have a P30SK with the LEM trigger and also a P365XL. Both are great guns, though I shoot the 365XL a bit better, but that’s the Indian, not the arrow. Of course, the P30SK is a bigger gun, but I don’t find it easier to shoot than the 365XL - they’re equally solid in that regard. Others have rightfully praised the qualities of the P30SK. The LEM trigger is an acquired taste, but certainly a good choice for CCW.

I have and do carry a DAO LCR357 revolver that has a long trigger pull...I'm wondering if that LEM trigger is similar to that? Regarding the P365XL...I shoot mine exceptionally well too...just have an itch for a P30/P30SK.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Thanks for the input. Helped me decide. Picked up a NIB P30 V3 with a safety today

 

[Eugen]

Good choice. That was mine as well: a P30s V3.

 

[el Godfather]

The more I hear about LEM trigger the more I get interested in it. I watched a bunch of videos on it as well.

I think, especially, for sd / hd it is very practical. I am of the school of thought that there is NO one gun do it all sort of thing (for do it optimally). There are different roles for the handguns you buy. Sd / hd handguns although practiced on the range- they are not, personally speaking, for target shooting etc. for that role I have others.

 

[CopperFouling]

I think, especially, for sd / hd it is very practical. I am of the school of thought that there is NO one gun do it all sort of thing (for do it optimally). There are different roles for the handguns you buy. Sd / hd handguns although practiced on the range- they are not, personally speaking, for target shooting etc. for that role I have others.

That is true. However, if you are concealing a handgun as well as keeping it for HD, it helps to be able to purchase a compact version of the handgun as well as a full-size one. The more that I shoot, the more I am convinced that it doesn't matter if that is an Smith & Wesson or a Glock or (my choice) an HK (seriously, they all have drawbacks; pick one and stick with it), but it does matter that you have a high level of competence with one type of handgun rather than a middling level of competence with two dozen.

 

[WheelGunMan]

That is true. However, if you are concealing a handgun as well as keeping it for HD, it helps to be able to purchase a compact version of the handgun as well as a full-size one. The more that I shoot, the more I am convinced that it doesn't matter if that is an Smith & Wesson or a Glock or (my choice) an HK (seriously, they all have drawbacks; pick one and stick with it), but it does matter that you have a high level of competence with one type of handgun rather than a middling level of competence with two dozen.

It's funny you say that. I was just thinking that very same thing myself. The first P30 style pistol that I held was a Umarex airsoft pistol that I picked up as a training aid for my CPL classes in lieu of the overly expensive blue guns. I was so taken by the fit and feel of this replica that I had to put the real thing in my hand. I visited my LGS and did just that and was again amazed at how comfortable it was to hold, point and aim. Thus started my love affair with HK pistols. I liked it so much that I purchased my real P30 yesterday. I brought it home last night and thoroughly inspected every inch of it, read the manual from cover to cover, disassembled it (field stripped), fit the proper grip panel to my hand and caressed the gun for the remainder of the evening. I truly like this firearm...more so than any other firearm that I have ever purchased. I currently EDC a Sig P365XL that I have decided to sell and procure a HK P30SK to replace it for the very reasons specified by JudgeHolden10.

 

[Archer]

There’s a laundry list of things you can do to improve a P30 V3 trigger, some of which has been documented on this thread. But fundamentally, if you really understand a proper trigger press, there’s nothing practical you can’t do with an out of the box P30 V3. In particular, the DA shot is of no consequence if you have a proper press. In fact it’s a useful training exercise to shoot every shot/dry press from DA for a while, if you have press issues.

My 10-yard Bill Drill split times, clean runs, with the first round in DA, with two out of the box, recently built P30‘S, averaged 0.24 over multiple clean runs. That time dropped to 0.22 with the 11 lb Lone Wolf trigger, Grayguns SR system, and light HK (not the even lighter GG) FPB spring in each, which also reduced the DA weight to just around 8 lbs and SA to about 3.5 lbs. The more recently built pistols already have the light TRS from the factory. SA reset dropped by about 40% with the GG kit.

That work, which is fully reversible and can be done in about 10 minutes if you understand the pistol and have the correct tools, makes it a slightly better game gun but does arguably nothing to improve its utility as a defensive arm. However, no one I know would criticize the P30 trigger with this particular work. It’s as good as my SIG SAO 226 and 229 GG triggers.

 

[JDR]

But fundamentally, if you really understand a proper trigger press, there’s nothing practical you can’t do with an out of the box P30 V3. In particular, the DA shot is of no consequence if you have a proper press. In fact it’s a useful training exercise to shoot every shot/dry press from DA for a while, if you have press issues.

I have an HK P30 and P2000 with V3 triggers and I have been shooting the P2000 a lot lately. This gun is totally stock out of the box, and I’ve gotten over the urge to do trigger work on it. In fact I had it out at the range yesterday. I practice trigger control with the DA trigger and I practice thumb cocking the hammer out of my holster and shooting it SA, and I practice decocking & reholstering the gun with my thumb covering the hammer. I think the system works if you make it work by practicing with it, and I’ll argue the reliability, accuracy, and carryability of this setup with anybody. This is a really good polymer-framed, hammer-fired carry gun without a thumb safety and with a decocker I really like, and with sights I like, and a trigger I’ve learned to live with.

 

[cslinger]

I have an HK P30 and P2000 with V3 triggers and I have been shooting the P2000 a lot lately. This gun is totally stock out of the box, and I’ve gotten over the urge to do trigger work on it. In fact I had it out at the range yesterday. I practice trigger control with the DA trigger and I practice thumb cocking the hammer out of my holster and shooting it SA, and I practice decocking & reholstering the gun with my thumb covering the hammer. I think the system works if you make it work by practicing with it, and I’ll argue the reliability, accuracy, and carryability of this setup with anybody. This is a really good polymer-framed, hammer-fired carry gun without a thumb safety and with a decocker I really like, and with sights I like, and a trigger I’ve learned to live with.

Word!

 

[WheelGunMan]

There’s a laundry list of things you can do to improve a P30 V3 trigger, some of which has been documented on this thread. But fundamentally, if you really understand a proper trigger press, there’s nothing practical you can’t do with an out of the box P30 V3. In particular, the DA shot is of no consequence if you have a proper press. In fact it’s a useful training exercise to shoot every shot/dry press from DA for a while, if you have press issues.

My 10-yard Bill Drill split times, clean runs, with the first round in DA, with two out of the box, recently built P30‘S, averaged 0.24 over multiple clean runs. That time dropped to 0.22 with the 11 lb Lone Wolf trigger, Graygunis SR system, and light HK (not the even lighter GG) FPB spring in each, which also reduced the DA weight to just around 8 lbs and SA to about 3.5 lbs. The more recently built pistols already have the light TRS from the factory. SA reset dropped by about 40% with the GG kit.

That work, which is fully reversible and can be done in about 10 minutes if you understand the pistol and have the correct tools, makes it a slightly better game gun but does arguably nothing to improve its utility as a defensive arm. However, no one I know would criticize the P30 trigger with this particular work. It’s as good as my SIG SAO 226 and 229 GG triggers.

For years my EDC was a Ruger LCR357 DAO or a SP101DAO...so I'm quite comfortable with steady, even trigger press. I shot both pretty accurately.

Out of the box...this P30 has nice trigger press. I put it through a dry fire regimen where I aim at the red on light on the stereo amp to see if there is any lateral movement as I pull the trigger... I've found that grip has to do with just about everything when it comes to muzzle movement. The grip is so comfortable that I've been able to hold dead on that light during the entire squeeze cycle. Hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to put some lead down range to verify that it doable with live fire.

 

[Hasaf]

My daughter was reading this thread and commented that she was not aware that the gun she took was "a good one." That said, it isn't back in my safe.

Note, I am not bothered. A friend of mine, who has an incredible number of pistols, and I took her to shoot a lot of different pistols. That way I could see what she wanted. It happened that she latched onto my P30. In some ways that is good, if it had been one of my friend's guns I would have had to get a new pistol, the bad part is that I didn't have an excuse to get another pistol.

 

[sota]

your daughter has excellent taste in firearms.
may she be as equally excellent in choosing men.

 

[WheelGunMan]

The first magazine full down the pipe. Shooting a tad left, but that's all me. I'll work that out with dry fire practice.

First impressions... it's a keeper. Ejects slightly right and straight back. One dropped right down the top of my glasses and hung up... burned my face at the base of the glasses. Found a couple in my shirt pocket. I'm a reloader so they were easy to find. LOL

Recoil is minimal. Getting back on target is quick. Love the standard sights (more than the night sights on my Sig P365XL) found them easy to pick up and align quickly

Operation was glass smooth with no hiccups.

All in all a pretty impressive shooter. In the hunt for a P30SK and am putting the Sig up on the auction block.

 

[sota]

if the brass isn't falling at 3 or 4 o'clock consistently, your ammo is probably a bit weak.
all of mine will park CCI 5200 and 5201 so consistently that I can practically put a home depot bucket about 6 feet away and they'll all land in it.
They might suck at cars lately, but damn these german guns are awesome.

 

[Hookeye]

I have a P30L
Is it perfect? Nope.
It is good though.

It and my old Commander are my go to rigs.

With the nonsense of today, higher cap eases my mind.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I handled a P30SK and now desire one for a carry gun. The fit and feel amazed me. I currently carry Sig P365XL that I really like. The the other day I went and held a P30 and now I'm conflicted. I can see one of those in my future too.

Love mine. Carry it in winter.

 

[roque5]

I have the P30L and a P30s LEM V9 , I had the short reset done by Bill Springfield and it is now my fav. I carry it all the time. I reload and all of my H&Ks eat everything I give them except when I go to light on the powder, still looking for a good lite load, IMO the P30 is the best feeling weapon in my hand and I can , and do, shoot them all day long. If I could only have 1 gun it would be a P30.

 

[Jaywalker]

I tried the P30SK LEM for a year or so and couldn't make it shoot well for me. I understand some people have to practice with it exclusively - no other pistols - and I wasn't ready to do that. I sold it and bought the P30S DA/SA, the one with the safety and decocker. I carry it either chamber empty (rarely) or cocked and locked, but its real mission is in the bedside table - the chamber is empty there, too, and I'll chamber a round when needed and apply the safety when the threat diminishes.

I think there are only three things that aren't quite perfect out of the box. First, the safety is oddly positioned - easy to take it off safe, but difficult to reset to safe. Second, the stock sights are "cover the target" rather than zero across the top of the sights. Third, the really idiotic groove H&K puts in the bottom of the inside of the trigger guard that really irritates my trigger finger on the DA stroke, and is the reason I carry it cocked and locked. (If a manual safety weren't available I'd buy something else.)

 

[WheelGunMan]

I tried the P30SK LEM for a year or so and couldn't make it shoot well for me. I understand some people have to practice with it exclusively - no other pistols - and I wasn't ready to do that. I sold it and bought the P30S DA/SA, the one with the safety and decocker. I carry it either chamber empty (rarely) or cocked and locked, but its real mission is in the bedside table - the chamber is empty there, too, and I'll chamber a round when needed and apply the safety when the threat diminishes.

I think there are only three things that aren't quite perfect out of the box. First, the safety is oddly positioned - easy to take it off safe, but difficult to reset to safe. Second, the stock sights are "cover the target" rather than zero across the top of the sights. Third, the really idiotic groove H&K puts in the bottom of the inside of the trigger guard that really irritates my trigger finger on the DA stroke, and is the reason I carry it cocked and locked. (If a manual safety weren't available I'd buy something else.)

I've heard a lot of complaints about that groove in the trigger guard. For some reason it doesn't bother me. When carrying or in the nightstand it's cocked and locked. I got it with the safety for that very reason. My sights are dead on. I zero across the top and cover the target. I was taught that way and have always adjusted sights for that picture. I have two Sig P365’s that are set up the same way. That's how they came from the factory. I've been practicing a lot with a laser trainer lately.. probably pulled the trigger 300 time in both DA and SA. That sight picture puts me right on a door knob some 30 foot away consistently.

 

[sota]

The groove is so your gloves don't get snagged between the trigger and guard in the winter.
I know, some people have problems with it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

tried the P30SK LEM for a year or so and couldn't make it shoot well for me.

The LEM trigger definitely isn't for everyone.