Despite the recent introduction of the striker-fired VP9 semiautomatic pistol (known as the SFP9 in Europe) the P30 line is still the mainstay of the Heckler & Koch pistols catalogue.
One of the latest incarnations of the now legendary USP selfloading pistol, not only the P30 retains the quality and the technical features that made the USP famous as the years went by, but if compared with its predecessor, it has been clearly enhanced and uphauled to become one of the world's most reliable and performing handguns currently available on the global civilian and professional markets.
Previously counting only a standard (P30) variant and a long-barrel, long-slide version (P30L), the Heckler & Koch P30 series of handguns now also includes a subcompact model. At the 2015 edition of the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits − held in Nashville (Tennessee, U.S.A.) from April 10th thru 12th − HK-USA, the north-American branch of the well known German group, introduced the new P30SK semiautomatic pistol.
A 16.3 centimetres (6.42") long piece, sporting an 83 mm (3.27") barrel, the Heckler & Koch P30SK is a subcompact handgun conceived for civilian defensive open carry and for back-up, off-duty and undercover use by law enforcement agencies.
Sporting a totally ambidextrous magazine release lever, located on the rear lower portion of the trigger guard, and an ambidextrous slide stop, the Heckler & Koch P30SK is configured to remain totally user-friendly to left-handed and right-handed shooters alike.
Currently available only in 9x19mm (a.k.a. 9mm "Luger", 9mm "Parabellum" or 9mm NATO), the Heckler & Koch P30SK subcompact pistol is 34.8 mm (1.37") or 38.8mm (1.53") depending from its version, and feeds through a double-stack metal magazine, featuring a polymer base and follower, holding up to ten rounds due to the small size of the grip (the total height of the gun stands at 116 mm, or 4.57 inches). Its overall weight ranges around 680 grams (approximately 24 oz) with an empty magazine.
The Heckler & Koch P30SK is built basically following the same criteria of the standard P30 and of the longslide P30L: the slide is blued and machined out of a stainless steel block, while the frame is manufactured out of high-strength, high technology reinforced polymer.
The Heckler & Koch P30SK retains the same working system of its predecessors, from the full-size and long-slide P30 variants to the P2000 series, all the way down to the USP: that meaning, it is a locked-breech, short recoil operated semiautomatic pistol based on a modified Browning linkless locking system.
The slide of the Heckler & Koch P30SK sports front and rear slide serrations for easier ambidextrous racking and to provide quicker and more practical chamber check capabilities.
A set of three-dot night sights is dovetailed on the slide, and both the front and the rear sights can be adjusted for windage.
The frame of the P30SK subcompact pistol features a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail under the dust cover − providing a quick attachment point for tactical accessories of any sort − as well as an ergonomically-contoured grip whose backstrap and side panels can be changed to suit the palm size of any shooter.
The barrel of the Heckler & Koch P30SK semiautomatic subcompact pistol is polygon-rifled, and features six right-handed grooves; it is precision-manufactured, conceived to provide what should be one of the highest accuracy levels in its market segment.
As of today, the Heckler & Koch P30SK is available in two main variants: the V1 LEM model (where LEM stands for "Law Enforcement Model") comes with a spurless hammer and a light double action trigger with a 24 Newtons/5.4lbf pull and a 14mm/0.55" trigger travel.
The Heckler & Koch P30SK V3 model comes instead with a standard hammer and a SA/DA trigger, whose double action weight and trigger travel are the same as above, while at the same time offering a 20 Newtons/4.5lbf and a 7mm/0.27" trigger travel in single-action.
The P30SK V3 model also features a rear-mounted decocking button, and is optionally available with a frame-mounted ambidextrous manual safety. Both the Heckler & Koch P30SK V1 LEM and V3 models also feature an automatic hammer and firing pin safety system.
The Heckler & Koch P30SK will be available in the United States starting June 2014, offered at a manufacturer's suggested retail price ranging between $719.00 and $819.00 depending from the variant and optionals.
No word yet on distribution outside of the United States; prospective non-US customers will thus have to wait a few more months.
Of course we will keep you posted as soon as European distribution kicks off, so stay tuned!
