Since it came out over 2 years ago nobody else did. I read in comments that recently the S&W 30SC pistols got sold very cheap because nobody wants them.
@@Gieszkanne I just double-checked and the only results I see when trying to look up any firearms in .30 SC on Gallery of Guns and on Lipsey's is a carbine that Hi-Point made in in the chambering. the S&Ws no longer appear.
My Shield Plus 9mm with the Swampfox Sentinel is a tremendously accurate pistol. I'm 74 years old and still consistently make head shots at 25 yard hostage targets. It's my edc over a variety of other pistols. Over 1,000 rounds and zero malfunctions. The magazines still suck to load so I use the Uplula loader for the last few rounds. Thanks
I literally picked up one of these pistols about a month ago. I already have a couple of "micro 9s", but was curious about the Shield Plus. This Shield Plus offered not only a different pistol to try out, but a different caliber as well. And at $299 with night sights and optics ready, it seemed like a good purchase. And just because I own a BUNCH of 9mm pistols, doesn't mean I can't enjoy trying something different once in a while.
I’ve got 150 rounds thru my shield plus in 30 super carry with no malfunctions till date , I was able to get 14 rounds in the flush fit magazine… ran it like that the whole 150 with one in the chamber for a 15 round set up plus the 16 round mag as a spare… great offering from smith & Wesson ! Hope it catches on .
Get a magguts +3 for the 9mm Shield Plus 10rd magazine and install that in your 13rd 30sc magazine. It gives you 17rds of 30sc in a still small footprint magazine. That's what I did and it functioned flawlessly after 200+ rounds at the range.
Regarding 14:10 and 36:00 The 30 SC actually has similar ballistics to 9mm. It's documented in many videos and tests on TH-cam. What they found was that the penetration of 30 SC was higher than 9mm but the KE was lower. Overall, in terms of damage to a flesh target, it performed nearly identical to 9mm. What you're saying that it is midway between 30 ACP and 9mm is incorrect. With the ballistics being nearly identical, the difference is 13 0mm rounds vs. 16 30 SC rounds and a cheap round vs. an expensive round. The 30 SC from a physics and engineering standpoint is better. It's problem right now is economics and laws against 16 round handgun mags.
30sc is a great addition to the US caliber family... I love it just like I love the 327 mag....If some of these you Tuber reviewers had their way it would be all about the 9mm. Glock and 5.56
Re magazines. S&W has some QC issues with Shield Plus mags both in 9 and 30SC. There is a video online that shows the little plastic base where they forgot to trim it a little more. You can compare it to the factory mags that let you add all rounds comfortably and see where the plastic needs trimming. I’ll post the link of a video that shows the trimming process.
I personally really like 30 super carry and wish more companies made guns in it. I like having the highest capacity possible
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agreed. i love the 30 SC. The shield+ in 30 SC is amazing. Sure, i pay a bit more for ammo but 17 rounds in such a small package? Heck yeah! and getting the pistol for $250 after taxes, yep, I'll take it!
a bright colored ball I've found is super nice for a small carry pistol front sight; I love how easy it is to pick up the bright green on my P365XL; it's comforting to know in case my dot's battery is out or the lens is dirty or it's super bright outside that I can quickly pick that up. Cheers Chief, and happy father's day!
I looked at this for my wife's CC, but I'm not the one to go for new cartridges as I have seen them become obsolete, or, at least, have limited availability. The 9mm Luger used to be an odd ball, as when I was a kid, I only saw it in a Luger pistol that a friend's dad had brought back from WW2. I even considered the 25-06 as something new, until I realized it really originated in between 1912 and 1920s, LOL. Now, its my favorite.
I carry the 9mm Plus since its introduction, replacing my Shield 2.0 and original Shield. I agree with the review on the improvement to the triggers from one variant to the next.
In the early 1970's in SE Asia, I observed the effectiveness of the NVA's very capable 7.65mm French Long. I expect that the .30 Super Carry would be capable of Journeyman work out of that platform.
The 30 Super Carry is really just 32 ACP magnum, and yes, quite similar to the French Long. I believe they would have had better success if they hadn't gone for broke. A beefed up 32 ACP that could still be used in 32 and 380 size pistols, that somewhat outstripped the 380 might have had a lot of appeal. 50K psi is just too much.
The Shield Plus is an excellent weapon. The 30 Super Carry, as of right now, is DOA. There is SOOOOOO much competition in both 9mm and .380. Of course, that could always change.....😊
The more calibers the better off we are as consumers. One of the points in favor of 9mm in the 9mm verse 40S&W debate is the extra 2 or 3 rounds in the magazine. You get more rounds in the subcompact guns for the same size with 30 SC. Anti-gun advocates may one day get the gov to ban "military calibers" from civilians, like in Mexico & some other countries. 9mm, 45ACP, 380 were all issued to the US military. Having defensive guns/ammo in other calibers already on the market are good. We never know what the future holds. If firearms owners don't get politically active in protecting the 2A we will get ridiculous restrictions. I don't want our only choices to be 30 SC,40S&W, 45GAP or 357 SIG but they do work and we have guns in those calibers available.
I would like to see a revival of 45 gap. Full size Glock 17 mags in 45 gap are 10 rounds, making them restricted state compliant. Ca is 3 weeks away from another tax ontop of rationing. If you can find one for sale dirt cheap, disassemble and send an upper to a homie in a crappy state. I found mags for 5 bucks but no barrels
I think the shield plus is a great carry pistol. After watching your video, I'm not so sure about it in 30 super carry. You were very accurate with the pistol. Thanks for this great video and review.
Another thing about the 30 super carry is going to be ammunition price and availability, obviously 9mm will have more options for ammunition and at lower prices and availability will be better.
Picked up a 9mm Shield Plus three months ago - with a four inch barrel ! Very easy compact pistol to shoot. 1,120 fps from 124 gr HST. It’s now my EDC.
Hey i just wanted to say because of your informative video, i went ahead and bought this exact weapon with the same cartridge. I also made it a loadout and bought a Hi poit 3095 which is a carbine chambered in .30 sc. This round is a burner in a carbine. Keep up the great work
To be fair, I would like to see advertised vs actual velocities with 380 and 9mm out of Shields. I would bet that those are actually below advertised figures as well, and would show that the 30 SC is much closer to 9mm in power than it is to 380. I live on the west coast (I'm conservative, go figure) and I purchased the Shield Plus in 30 SC specifically for mountain lion defense. Those cats are sneaky and fast. A few years ago, a lady was eaten by one on a mountain trail some 20 miles from my home. So I needed a sneaky and fast gun to match. I've seen enough gel blocks to convince me that 30 SC does, in fact, usually penetrate deeper than 9mm, so this gun fits this niche perfectly. I now have 4 Shields (two 9s, a 30 and a 40) and they routinely outshoot some of my bigger pistols. And in case I come across a black bear, I'll be carrying a 686 357 as backup. Bottom line is, I was as hesitant as you were at first about 30 SC, but now I really like it. Just to prove I'm totally nuts, I also really like 40 S&W. And 41 Mag. And 327 Federal. And 45 GAP..
Just FYI, the published ballistics for the 30 SC indicated the results were obtained with a 3.5” barrel. 9mm ballistics are usually measured with a longer barrel. Out of the 3.1” barrel of the Shield, I would not expect 120-130 fps less than the published figures. In the case of the 9mm, I would be less surprised.
I've got that pistol and I shoot it very well. I don't know if it's the sights but it's really accurate for it's size. You're right about the mags, but they do loosen up a bit as one would expect. I still use a loader though.
A fair evaluation of both pistol and cartridge. A friend has a Shield Plus in 9mm and I rather like it. When the 30 Super Carry was announced, my first thought was "Here we go again; a re-invention of the 30 Luger, only in a straight wall cartridge". (I like the 30 Luger) Your chronograph readings show that the 30 Luger with a 93 grain bullet at 1210 fps actually has more energy. Even so, IMO the 30 SC isn't bad. It's just that the 9mm is better.
I have been watching for a couple of years Mr Funk, Have learned alot and enjoy every bit… I have been catching up due to my mother she has been in the hospital since April 12th.. I hope you and the family are doing well Sir, as always thank you for your service and God bless 🙏🏻🇺🇸
As always thank you for another enjoyable and informative video. I've never seen 30 super carry pistols or the ammo available in the greater Pittsburgh area. Also I really don't need to add another caliber to my inventory. I'm thinking about a Shield Plus in 9mm to add to my collection. I've owned my Shield 1.0 since they were first introduced and have no problems with the hinged trigger or it's pull characteristics. Keep up the good work.
The shield plus 30sc is an excellent edc pistol. The comparison to 9mm is totally asinine. If you want a High capacity, easily concealable,reliable pistol with plenty of knockdown power it's a Solid choice. The ammo is a little expensive but you dont need to stockpile a huge amount of edc ammo anyway. Its an accurate pistol as well. I hold my thumb on my firing hand tight to the side of the pistol and it can be fired rapidly and stays center mass for me. I frequently use .45 acp, 9 mm and I really like my 30 sc for edc, I like all 3 calibers.
It's my understanding that Smith basically went to their own version of the Apex trigger for the Shield Plus. Between my Shield Plus(9mm) & my Hellcat, the Shield is a bit more accurate but not enough to matter for self defense. The Shield Plus grip is just enough bigger than the Shield to fit my hand & the only complaint I ever had with it was the backstrap was narrower than the Hellcat & tended to fatigue my hand more with range sessions over 100 rounds. Even so, my accuracy didn't deteriorate with either gun. I still have both but decided to carry the Hellcat because it's slightly smaller & easier to work on if/when needed. The Shield Plus is held together with roll pins that will wear out much quicker if it's taken apart much. The Hellcat has floating pins held in by springs in grooves much like Glock pins. Obviously this wouldn't be a concern unless you shoot them enough to need extensive maintenance but my engineering education tends to push me to the more durable design. Be careful moving the rear sight on the Shield as it also holds down the plunger & spring for the striker safety. I agree about the 30 super: possibly good for someone just getting started but offers nothing over the 9mm's I already have. And I refuse to own a striker pistol with a manual safety. Good review sir.
I carry the 9mm S&W Shield Plus Performance edition. Great trigger. The magazines WILL loosen up shortly. I used a mag loader for a bit to cram the rounds in there, and soon I could load mags by hand. Great presentation, thanks!
New to the channel. Were you a DI? you got that very crisp look that only marine corp DIs can achieve. Semper Fi if so. Great review. I've been enjoying my shield + in 30 SC. I agree, if the average "nightstand gun" gun owner is already invested in 9mm, no reason to change, but i love firearms and the shield+ in 30SC, in my opinion is a great addition. 17 rounds in such a small package is pretty impressive.
the .30sc is one of those interesting rounds that needlessly gets people's panties in a bunch. lol. before I got mine (the shield ez) i already had 6 of my 9 handguns chambered in 9mm and never once thought i'd be buying the s&w to replace the 9's. that's just silly. matter of fact, i've gotten 3 more 9's since the .30sc purchase. both are nice rounds. i really don't shoot factory stuff in any of my guns. my .30sc handloads with the 100 xtp moves along 1300 fps. my 9mm handloads average that 1097 - 1140 fps with a 124 xtp depending on the gun i'm using. both small rounds compared to other stuff in the safe but both would certainly serve the purpose. kor
The question 30SC answers is more rounds in the same ize package as 9mm without loss of effectiveness. If you believe that you will find yourself in a situation where you will need more rounds than your typical 9mm carry gun has to successfully defend yourself 30SC is a good cartridge option.
Thanks for another great video. The Shield Plus in 9mm has been my daily carry for about tge last 12 months. Magazines and trigger continue to improve. My opposition to the 30 Super Carry is cost. I clearly stockpile a number of calibers and don't want to add another pistol caliber.
Good video HR. I don't see the utility for 30sc over 9mm given that 30sc seems to be more like a watered down 9mm and given how supported and viable 9mm already is. It sounds like you don't subscribe to the philosophy of never selling guns you buy. I recently traded a lightly used Walther PPS M2 I got used a few months months prior for a lightly used P365. The P365 is smaller and holds 4-6 more rounds in the mag, so it seemed like a no brainer. The problem now is that I'm starting to wonder if the P365 has replaced the need for my Glock 26 which has been my CCW gun for years. Part of me says to not get rid of whats been a dependable pistol for me, but part of me is starting to think that life is short and if I'm not going to shoot/carry a gun very much anymore, I might as well free up the safe space and apply that cash to something useful. Its a dilemma! Thanks for all your great content.
My 9mm Shield plus was very difficult to load with bare hands on the last one or two rounds but it changed after having loaded the magazine several times and now I can load them by hand fairly well. I used a mag loader initially but it does change after several loadings. I find this pistol to be completely reliable on the range. As far as the super carry goes, I am afraid that the round will get hard to find or go away more than its performance.
Very nice review! One comment: the advertised energy and velocity statistics you showed were for the 100 grain Federal HST. You fired Hornady and American Eagle which I think are 115 grain? Before you send back the pistol, maybe see if the HST lives up to the adverted velocity and energy? Full disclosure: I carry the 100 grain HST in my Shield Plus.
The photo came from the S&W website, but the data on the Federal and Hornady sites showed the same ballistics. Just to clarify, both of the loads I shot in the video had 100 grain bullets.
Good work as usual HR. I don't have anything to say about the S&W. The 30 super however... The Tokarev is a much spicier 30 cal. I'd much rather carry a Tokarev if I actually wanted to carry a 30 cal. Cost of the ammo for 30 super carry is a major distraction, especially for new shooters. If someone is recoil shy, get a 380. If you want the most economic and available, get 9mm. If I want to carry and shoot expensive cartridges I'll stick with my 357 Sig or 38 Super or 10mm. The 30 super was the answer to the question no one asked. It was only a scheme for Federal to generate revenue or at minimum, exposure. The fact that so many more 380 guns have come out since the 30 super tells you everything you need to know, ie the new Beretta 80x, the Taurus etc.
Good review, very good shooting. The Shield Plus seems to work. My view of the .30 Super Carry; If you look around and shop sales, you can get factory 9mm ball ammo for about $15 for 50 round boxes. I really don't expect that you will ever see .30SC go on sale at all! I'd expect a price of at least $30 for a box of 50. Probably more. That's twice as much money, or half as much practice.
0.4 inches makes a big difference at lower length barrels. I would revisit it with a barrel to barrel comparison between 30SC and 9mm. With 30SC, the capacity improvements outweigh whatever ballistic difference there is between the 30SC and 9mm and they are very similar in ballistics. That's basically where it all counts in these smaller EDC handguns.
Got the Shield (not the Plus) in 30SC. 100 rounds with no issues. A gun I could take or leave. As far as the 30SC cartridge in today's world there isn't much there to write home about. It will be a range gun and that's about it. Like you I would not want to be shot it either.
am a shield guy for sure, have both the 2.0 and a plus in 9mm and am never without one . I think one of the reasons the 30sc has lagged is the 50psi chamber pressure. I think the smaller companies dont want to deal with it.And Sig learned a lesson with the 357 sig. thanks for a great review
I was interested in this idea mainly for the capacity increase but never got one because of ammo availability. I always thought it would be a fun gun to have a modern gun like this converted to 7.62x25 Tokarev and run the hot military rounds in it. Great presentation here!
even though I love high capacity anything beyond 13-14 rounds is good enough for me GIVEN THE OVERALL RELIABILITY DURABILITY AND ERGONOMICS. I trust Your judgment and objectivity regarding 30 Super Carry albeit not super excited. Even though when I was young I liked that hot Tokarev / Mauser 96 ammo very much................
Chambering this in 7.62 Tokarev would have been even better than the .30 Luger that I suggested here. In any case, Smith & Wesson could have done collectors a favor by giving new life to a classic round, rather than pushing a so-so imitation that no one had.
Maybe it's because I'm a revolver shooter and thus don't have "a stake in the game", but the Shield Plus in .30 SC sounds like a very attractive package. I am a big fan of .32 caliber cartridges in a revolver; especially the .32 H&R Magnum.
Everyone is mentioning how its hard to find ammo for 30sc but they are currently online going for $389 for 1k rounds from Blazers. Thats very comparable to 9mm price ranges. I just ordered this firearm and I'm definitely going to load up on the 30sc.
Still carrying the original Shield, have been since 2014. Have tried Sigs and various others but always go back to the Shield, guess it’s just comfortable for me. Going to upgrade this year and get the plus with optics cut.
@@greengoblin93I'm a revolver guy, but if I get semi-auto, a gun chambered in this caliber is up for strong consideration, just to get away from the uniformity of our 9mm world. It's just like not believing in globalism.
I believe the reason for all the 30 super Carry fanfare was that many people believed they would come out with a Ruger LCP size small Pocket gun in 30 super Carry... Of course it's not technically possible.. in a gun that small also where are we looking for the holy Grail in a cartridge.... I think 9 mm has got us covered especially with the small compact available nowadays... And if people want something smaller they can go to like a LCP Max 380... If someone for some reason cannot handle the recoil of a 9 mm that can go to a full size 380.. or 380 shield.. Ruger has a nice 380 larger size pistol out there.. so my opinion is there is really no market for the 30 super carry .. and like the 45 Gap it will go the way of the dodo bird just my opinion....PS .. it's a shame the 32 ACP was not developed to be more powerful.. as I really like that caliber and I micro pocket pistol.. I do carry my Taurus TCP 380 daily. . but every once in awhile while wearing lightweight shorts I will take my Kel-Tec p32 gen 1.. and place it in the pocket holster in my right front pocket... It's even lighter... I carry Underwood cavitators in that gun.. but I wouldn't hesitate carrying hardball...32 ... As hollow points in 32 ACP out of a tiny barrel never expand.. just some thoughts wish they would have developed a more powerful 32 ACP for people who don't like The recoil of a pocket pistol in 380
I was in Richmond today and therefore these brief comments have been delayed. I wholly agree with HR’s concluding remarks and would offer two thoughts: 1. Re the Shield Plus: It’s a very good micro-compact, some will favor other options in this class of semiautomatic😢 (and that’s just fine), I personally prefer barrel lengths in excess of 3.5 inches for improved velocity and sight radius. 2. Re the .30 Super Carry: I can’t figure out what deficiencies the cartridge solves, especially in comparison to the 9x19mm. While its size may mean marginally more capacity, when was the last time a lawfully armed citizen required a second 9mm magazine to successfully resolve a decisive confrontation? I respectfully suggest its recoil mitigation is too slight to be meaningful. And how easily will .30 Super Carry be found in the average county store, when compared to 9x19mm? Perhaps (??) this round provides solutions to non-existent problems?
I also think it wont take up. In comparison 45 GAP was even a good idea. Shorten the case of the popular 45 ACP load it with a bit more pressure that the average load is even on 45 ACP +p level but you can build guns for it with a smaller grip frame from front to back.The only problem was, it came to late. 40S&W was fully established when 45 GAP came out 2003. But 45 GAP is even still in use in some police departments. I have read that some switched back to 45 ACP just because of better ammo supply. I also think that Glocks fail was not to convert the 21 to 45 GAP so you get a capacity of 13 rounds with a smaller grip from front to back. The G37 is just the G17 frame with a thicker slide and 10 round capacity. But still a good option for states with 10 round limit.
Always remember "youare not a tack-driver when shooting the shield plus". Thanks for the varity of distances. I think the .30 caliber is good for niche shooting. Very good for certain applications, but not necessarily for all carry applications. But,,, a defensive carry firearm is better than no defensive weapon. Thanks for the review.
Even though it failed the tack test, I think it's evident that it's an extremely accurate handgun. Mine in 9 mm is one of the most accurate pistols I own, even with garbage ammo.
I love that Smith and Wesson is practically giving away the 30 super carry guns, but I don't know if it's worth getting one if the ammo ever ends up being discontinued or very expensive.
I liked the feel of the grip on the original Shield. I put Talon grips on, and liked it even more. I didn't downgrade it for less capacity and still like it.
Hey Howard excellent content as usual ! Super carry never took off . I’d rather have a 380 ppk. But I’ll take an m@p 9 over both for certain ! Good video though with the comparison.
I think they missed the best class of gun for the 30 super carry, I believe it should have been brought out in the mid to larger size 380 guns as it was marketed as a bridge caliber between 380 and 9.
Howard, here's a trick for loading stiff magazines: Smack the magazine bottom against a hard table AS you push the round down into the feed lips. It also helps to first use the old trick of rapping the back against a hard surface, to move the rounds all the way back in the magazine, before trying to load those last one or two difficult rounds. And, don't you have an UpLULA yet? If not, get thee to a gun store and buy a couple ASAP. Sooner or later you're gonna have to put up with the same old guy ribbing the rest of us do, might as well get some benefit out of it!! ;-)
I'm curious on this gun. Prices seem to be cheap currently. I'd like to see a full size pistol as well, mag would probably fit 22 rounds or so in a glock 17 or equivalent
@@hrfunk Nighthawk I believe. A nice pistol but it is definitely an expensive collector's piece. If Glock would make 30sc versions of their models that would be a big boost to the caliber. Glock fans/fanatics would add them to their collections which might move the needle on ammo cost/availability. It is a shame S&W didn't release a ported 30sc with their newest releases. Maybe even a ported equalizer in 9mm and 30sc. It is an interesting caliber to me but I tend to like odd things, 9mm and 327 magnum revolvers look like fun shooting.
Honestly with the 30 SC performing on-par with the 9mm on ballistics, the only downside is the cost. If you can get a Shield Plus in 30 SC on a discount, that's a big savings for that more expensive 30 SC ammo. A 9mm Shield Plus in the long run is cheaper, but those 3 extra rounds with nearly identical performance makes the 30 SC the better round.
i think the price of ammo held it back being more in price then 380 or 9 mm, and at that tme having a ammo crisis and bad economy with lock downs and work restrictions, was a bad time to introduce a new cartridge and guns, Federal wanted its oun cartridge and may seem not needed but same can be said about 9 mm diameter or cartridges or close to it wich are many yet all about the same diamenter, 9mm, 380, 357 sig, 38 super, 38, 357 magnum, 9x25 dillon, we love all those so allowing another of what is basically a 32 its not a big deal given we have so many 9 mm diameter cartidges we could have said why add another one to it as well, if a 9 mm got a hotter cartridge why not a 32, a man and wife couple on youtube chose independently the 30 super as being faster accurate follow up shots and then some of us dont notice a difference, so once again its more about cost of ammo as a issue and as far as capacity some dont train like we do so maybe if they dont shoot as well having a couple extra rounds some may need in a stuation that most of us who train where lower capacity isnt a issue and we are profficient on mag changes. as 30 super lowers its price and adds more bullet options it could become alive again and may, we just dont know. in testing we have to remember its not box velocity and energy but same length barrels of 9 mm vs 30 super and even though the 30 super is considered hot they may have a +p maybe in the future, buffalo bore, underwood and reloaders may gravitate to it if prices come down to 9 mm or below that
I was under the impression that in some European countries would not allow citizens to carry 9mm guns, thus the birth of 380 acp. If those countries still have that law in place, I would think the 30 super carry would be a great alternative. I wonder if Beretta could make a 30 super carry pocket pistol?
Your barrel may be a little slow or you got a slow batch of ammo. I average 1190 with Remington 100 FMJ and various defensive loads of similar weight. Handloads do better. This in the same gun as yours. Other reports on the Tube seem similar to mine. Bottom line is , power is not an issue. If you have a slow lot of ammo try another brand. Hornady is often off the pace a bit. How about a thinner slide variant in 3.6” with plus four or more over a 9mm? Skinnier cartridge could enable helpfully thinner gun. I’m suggesting the most proper gun has not been made for the cartridge to date.
Just forwarding a consensus opinion on what would be needed to separate it from 9mm, which is to offer an additional choice 9mm does not provide. If one can make a thinner gun as well as more capacious to boot, several commentators I know say this is sufficient to enable reconsideration of the cartridge. I agree. You may not, but this is an obvious possibility to pursue that would bring substantial value to many. The gun cannot be lighter, but near “380 thin” would have appeal over current 9mm variants. If there is any way forward, this is probably what exists. Just stating the obvious path forward rather than simply disparaging it. There is a way to make a 30 SC more desirable to the public. Whether they do it or not will determine the cartridge’s fate.
One of those commentators, for reference, is John Correia (ASP channel) offering his thoughts to the Federal rep at SHOT Show. His comment on a thinner high capacity variant was “yes please!” I am of the same opinion as previously noted.
Good morning HR. I think I'll stick with 9mm. Aside from a couple more rounds in the magazine their doesn't seem to be any advantage for the 30SC. Availability and price of ammo could also be a factor to consider. I like seeing the shop and range testing together, 2 videos for the price of 1.😂 I've seen a couple of other channels talking about new restrictions on firearm videos on TH-cam. Even interpreting weighing trigger pull as forbidden hair triggers.
I’m just not going to worry about every new TH-cam rule. Eventually they’re going to throw me off this platform.in the mean time I’m going to produce videos the way I want to.
.30 SC by the "Taylor KO Factor" is 5.9 KO. 9mm NATO is 7.2 .45 ACP is 12.6 10mm is 13 This is another reason why I feel 9mm is the minimum acceptable defensive round, and only because of magazine capacity. If you live in a 10-round-magazine state, I see no point in 9mm (and definitely not in .30 SC).
I'm sorry, but .30 SC makes about as much sense to me as developing a new .43 Magnum rimmed revolver cartridge...just because! As for the S&W M&P Shield Plus...I'm a big fan.
Howdy Chief, The main thing I have against this firearm isn't the actual gun itself, it's the caliber it is chambered in. I won't even argue the virtues of the Shield+, the potency or effectiveness of the .30 SC, but something that is always on my mind and is a concern is the availability of the new and expensive ammunition. After all, no gun, no matter how great it is make much sense without the proper ammunition readily available. If someone does purchase one in .30 SC I sincerely hope they purchase enough ammo in the proper configuration (for its intended purpose) for the long haul. I have seen many many "wonder calibers" pretty much disappear from the marketplace. Try and find some .357 Maximum, .357 Sig and many others in local gun or big box sporting goods stores. Gun companies and ammo manufacturers constantly look for a "new mouse trap" to invigorate the industry as well as new sales. Splitting hairs on calibers like this one may temporarily increase their sales, but as always...... let the buyer beware! I ALWAYS think, LONG HAUL when purchasing a product. Again, the best advise is to stay away from this caliber until and IF it ever becomes common. Stick to the calibers one can walk into a gun store or big box store and walk out with at a somewhat reasonable price.
cooper did the same thing being in between calibers like 9 mm and 45 for 10 mm so the 30 super is a in between other small calibers but a boost just as cooper did with a longer case 10 mm
I don't want or need 30SC, but if it had attracted new people to shooting it would have been worth it. As I understand it, it has the same recoil as 9mm.
I genuinely hope that 30 super carry is able to take off. I'm not fond of the hand feel of the Shield Plus personally, and I'm disappointed S&W has yet to release a Performance Center model in 30 SC, despite 30 SC ballistic data being based off a 4 inch barrel, such as found in the Shield EZ.
I really don’t get the 30 super carry. TFB TV did a segment where they took a couple of shooters and had them fire two identical pistols (one 9mm, one 30SC) without them knowing which one was which and they couldn’t tell the difference.
theyre almost the same performance but you get extra rounds with the 30 super carry. i actually wish they got rid of 9mm and everyone started producing it. but thats not gonna happen and i dont want to pay twice as much per round so im sticking with 9mm
I wouldn’t touch the sights. All your rounds are well centered at all distances on that type of target with no distinct aiming point to really focus your sights on. A little drift up or down is nothing to worry about on a pistol with a short sight radius like that. By trying to drift sights that are that well centered already your going to create more problems than it was worth as tiny amount of movement equals a whole lot on target. But you know that. This was a great review. I like your presentation style. I am going to sub to your channel.
I have the 9mm optic ready model. I'm around 2500 rounds in. I had to buy an Amazon push speed loader to help break my mags in. I've heard the bottom of the follower has a bit too much material that you technically could just file down.
.30 super carry is a great cartridge imho hope more manufacturers start making guns chambered in .30 super carry
its fairly easy , mag needs a new follower and a new barrel avidity arms did it with the pd10
It would be nice if they made a full sized pistol. 6 inch barrel. This would be a crazy tractor pistol!😂
Since it came out over 2 years ago nobody else did. I read in comments that recently the S&W 30SC pistols got sold very cheap because nobody wants them.
@@Gieszkanne I just double-checked and the only results I see when trying to look up any firearms in .30 SC on Gallery of Guns and on Lipsey's is a carbine that Hi-Point made in in the chambering. the S&Ws no longer appear.
@@woodroez you can still buy both of the smith and wessons at buds gun shop. Smith still makes them
My Shield Plus 9mm with the Swampfox Sentinel is a tremendously accurate pistol. I'm 74 years old and still consistently make head shots at 25 yard hostage targets. It's my edc over a variety of other pistols. Over 1,000 rounds and zero malfunctions. The magazines still suck to load so I use the Uplula loader for the last few rounds. Thanks
Did you bore sight it??
Glad to hear. 👍
I literally picked up one of these pistols about a month ago. I already have a couple of "micro 9s", but was curious about the Shield Plus. This Shield Plus offered not only a different pistol to try out, but a different caliber as well. And at $299 with night sights and optics ready, it seemed like a good purchase. And just because I own a BUNCH of 9mm pistols, doesn't mean I can't enjoy trying something different once in a while.
Good. I hope you enjoy it.
I luv my.30 sc,I have the s&w ez slide nice little pistol, did some ballistic test nice expansion with federal hp.thank you for you're review
I’ve got 150 rounds thru my shield plus in 30 super carry with no malfunctions till date , I was able to get 14 rounds in the flush fit magazine… ran it like that the whole 150 with one in the chamber for a 15 round set up plus the 16 round mag as a spare… great offering from smith & Wesson ! Hope it catches on .
Get a magguts +3 for the 9mm Shield Plus 10rd magazine and install that in your 13rd 30sc magazine. It gives you 17rds of 30sc in a still small footprint magazine. That's what I did and it functioned flawlessly after 200+ rounds at the range.
@@copper178sweet lol ima try that thanks !!
the capacity is a nice feature I would love to have, but just too expensive and not ubiquitous enough to be worth it over 9mm
@@jthrelf in my area self defense ammo in 30 super is the same price as 9mm 40 45 38 etc
@@copper178I was curious to know how many more rounds have you run through the magguts now and have you had any issues? Thanks.
Regarding 14:10 and 36:00 The 30 SC actually has similar ballistics to 9mm. It's documented in many videos and tests on TH-cam. What they found was that the penetration of 30 SC was higher than 9mm but the KE was lower. Overall, in terms of damage to a flesh target, it performed nearly identical to 9mm. What you're saying that it is midway between 30 ACP and 9mm is incorrect. With the ballistics being nearly identical, the difference is 13 0mm rounds vs. 16 30 SC rounds and a cheap round vs. an expensive round. The 30 SC from a physics and engineering standpoint is better. It's problem right now is economics and laws against 16 round handgun mags.
Maybe so. All the same, I’ll stick with the 9mm (and other more established cartridges). Best of luck with the 30 SC.
Great channel! I have never seen anyone that looks more like a marine than this guy.
30sc is a great addition to the US caliber family... I love it just like I love the 327 mag....If some of these you Tuber reviewers had their way it would be all about the 9mm. Glock and 5.56
Other than adding a few cartridges to the magazine, what does the 30 SC do that the 9X19mm has not done for well over a century?
@@hrfunk greater penetration....2 more rounds...less recoil...
Wish the caliber had caught on. Surprised by how much the 30 SC still go for on the secondary market.
If you order online, the 30 SC range ammo has come down and is comparable to 9 mm of the same make and model.
one of the very best "to the point" reviews I have seen. As always, an outstanding production.
Re magazines. S&W has some QC issues with Shield Plus mags both in 9 and 30SC. There is a video online that shows the little plastic base where they forgot to trim it a little more. You can compare it to the factory mags that let you add all rounds comfortably and see where the plastic needs trimming. I’ll post the link of a video that shows the trimming process.
Thanks. The Shield in this video was loaned to me and it’s already been returned.
I personally really like 30 super carry and wish more companies made guns in it. I like having the highest capacity possible
agreed. i love the 30 SC. The shield+ in 30 SC is amazing. Sure, i pay a bit more for ammo but 17 rounds in such a small package? Heck yeah! and getting the pistol for $250 after taxes, yep, I'll take it!
249 with rebate at grabagun this morning.
a bright colored ball I've found is super nice for a small carry pistol front sight; I love how easy it is to pick up the bright green on my P365XL; it's comforting to know in case my dot's battery is out or the lens is dirty or it's super bright outside that I can quickly pick that up. Cheers Chief, and happy father's day!
I looked at this for my wife's CC, but I'm not the one to go for new cartridges as I have seen them become obsolete, or, at least, have limited availability. The 9mm Luger used to be an odd ball, as when I was a kid, I only saw it in a Luger pistol that a friend's dad had brought back from WW2. I even considered the 25-06 as something new, until I realized it really originated in between 1912 and 1920s, LOL. Now, its my favorite.
Street cred too , needs to be a proven cartridge. 5.7 had alot of things going for it but it seems to lack stopping power.
I carry the 9mm Plus since its introduction, replacing my Shield 2.0 and original Shield. I agree with the review on the improvement to the triggers from one variant to the next.
In the early 1970's in SE Asia, I observed the effectiveness of the NVA's very capable 7.65mm French Long. I expect that the .30 Super Carry would be capable of Journeyman work out of that platform.
The 30 Super Carry is really just 32 ACP magnum, and yes, quite similar to the French Long. I believe they would have had better success if they hadn't gone for broke. A beefed up 32 ACP that could still be used in 32 and 380 size pistols, that somewhat outstripped the 380 might have had a lot of appeal. 50K psi is just too much.
The Shield Plus is an excellent weapon.
The 30 Super Carry, as of right now, is DOA.
There is SOOOOOO much competition in both 9mm and .380.
Of course, that could always change.....😊
The more calibers the better off we are as consumers.
One of the points in favor of 9mm in the 9mm verse 40S&W debate is the extra 2 or 3 rounds in the magazine. You get more rounds in the subcompact guns for the same size with 30 SC. Anti-gun advocates may one day get the gov to ban "military calibers" from civilians, like in Mexico & some other countries. 9mm, 45ACP, 380 were all issued to the US military. Having defensive guns/ammo in other calibers already on the market are good. We never know what the future holds. If firearms owners don't get politically active in protecting the 2A we will get ridiculous restrictions. I don't want our only choices to be 30 SC,40S&W, 45GAP or 357 SIG but they do work and we have guns in those calibers available.
I would like to see a revival of 45 gap. Full size Glock 17 mags in 45 gap are 10 rounds, making them restricted state compliant. Ca is 3 weeks away from another tax ontop of rationing. If you can find one for sale dirt cheap, disassemble and send an upper to a homie in a crappy state. I found mags for 5 bucks but no barrels
Id rather have 14 40s than 16 9s. Just my personal opinion. Some would rather have 8 45s than 18 9s.
I think the shield plus is a great carry pistol. After watching your video, I'm not so sure about it in 30 super carry. You were very accurate with the pistol. Thanks for this great video and review.
Another thing about the 30 super carry is going to be ammunition price and availability, obviously 9mm will have more options for ammunition and at lower prices and availability will be better.
Expect prices more in the .380 category.
Picked up a 9mm Shield Plus three months ago - with a four inch barrel ! Very easy compact pistol to shoot. 1,120 fps from 124 gr HST. It’s now my EDC.
Smith and Wesson mp 9 shield plus is my carry gun
Hey i just wanted to say because of your informative video, i went ahead and bought this exact weapon with the same cartridge. I also made it a loadout and bought a Hi poit 3095 which is a carbine chambered in .30 sc. This round is a burner in a carbine. Keep up the great work
Will do. I hope both of those new acquisitions serve you well for a long time to come.
To be fair, I would like to see advertised vs actual velocities with 380 and 9mm out of Shields. I would bet that those are actually below advertised figures as well, and would show that the 30 SC is much closer to 9mm in power than it is to 380. I live on the west coast (I'm conservative, go figure) and I purchased the Shield Plus in 30 SC specifically for mountain lion defense. Those cats are sneaky and fast. A few years ago, a lady was eaten by one on a mountain trail some 20 miles from my home. So I needed a sneaky and fast gun to match. I've seen enough gel blocks to convince me that 30 SC does, in fact, usually penetrate deeper than 9mm, so this gun fits this niche perfectly. I now have 4 Shields (two 9s, a 30 and a 40) and they routinely outshoot some of my bigger pistols. And in case I come across a black bear, I'll be carrying a 686 357 as backup. Bottom line is, I was as hesitant as you were at first about 30 SC, but now I really like it. Just to prove I'm totally nuts, I also really like 40 S&W. And 41 Mag. And 327 Federal. And 45 GAP..
Just FYI, the published ballistics for the 30 SC indicated the results were obtained with a 3.5” barrel. 9mm ballistics are usually measured with a longer barrel. Out of the 3.1” barrel of the Shield, I would not expect 120-130 fps less than the published figures. In the case of the 9mm, I would be less surprised.
I've got that pistol and I shoot it very well. I don't know if it's the sights but it's really accurate for it's size. You're right about the mags, but they do loosen up a bit as one would expect. I still use a loader though.
A fair evaluation of both pistol and cartridge. A friend has a Shield Plus in 9mm and I rather like it. When the 30 Super Carry was announced, my first thought was "Here we go again; a re-invention of the 30 Luger, only in a straight wall cartridge". (I like the 30 Luger) Your chronograph readings show that the 30 Luger with a 93 grain bullet at 1210 fps actually has more energy. Even so, IMO the 30 SC isn't bad. It's just that the 9mm is better.
I have been watching for a couple of years Mr Funk, Have learned alot and enjoy every bit… I have been catching up due to my mother she has been in the hospital since April 12th..
I hope you and the family are doing well Sir, as always thank you for your service and God bless 🙏🏻🇺🇸
You are most welcome.thanks for watching and best wishes for your mother.
@@hrfunk Thank you. Made my day with the response! 🙏🏻
@@hrfunkyour reviews & video productions are GREAT 👍👍
Our best to your mom.
As always thank you for another enjoyable and informative video. I've never seen 30 super carry pistols or the ammo available in the greater Pittsburgh area. Also I really don't need to add another caliber to my inventory. I'm thinking about a Shield Plus in 9mm to add to my collection. I've owned my Shield 1.0 since they were first introduced and have no problems with the hinged trigger or it's pull characteristics. Keep up the good work.
The shield plus 30sc is an excellent edc pistol. The comparison to 9mm is totally asinine. If you want a High capacity, easily concealable,reliable pistol with plenty of knockdown power it's a Solid choice. The ammo is a little expensive but you dont need to stockpile a huge amount of edc ammo anyway. Its an accurate pistol as well. I hold my thumb on my firing hand tight to the side of the pistol and it can be fired rapidly and stays center mass for me. I frequently use .45 acp, 9 mm and I really like my 30 sc for edc, I like all 3 calibers.
I hope it serves you well for a long time to come.
I also edc a 45 30 super and 9 mm
It's my understanding that Smith basically went to their own version of the Apex trigger for the Shield Plus. Between my Shield Plus(9mm) & my Hellcat, the Shield is a bit more accurate but not enough to matter for self defense. The Shield Plus grip is just enough bigger than the Shield to fit my hand & the only complaint I ever had with it was the backstrap was narrower than the Hellcat & tended to fatigue my hand more with range sessions over 100 rounds. Even so, my accuracy didn't deteriorate with either gun.
I still have both but decided to carry the Hellcat because it's slightly smaller & easier to work on if/when needed. The Shield Plus is held together with roll pins that will wear out much quicker if it's taken apart much. The Hellcat has floating pins held in by springs in grooves much like Glock pins. Obviously this wouldn't be a concern unless you shoot them enough to need extensive maintenance but my engineering education tends to push me to the more durable design. Be careful moving the rear sight on the Shield as it also holds down the plunger & spring for the striker safety.
I agree about the 30 super: possibly good for someone just getting started but offers nothing over the 9mm's I already have. And I refuse to own a striker pistol with a manual safety. Good review sir.
I carry the 9mm S&W Shield Plus Performance edition. Great trigger. The magazines WILL loosen up shortly. I used a mag loader for a bit to cram the rounds in there, and soon I could load mags by hand. Great presentation, thanks!
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
New to the channel. Were you a DI? you got that very crisp look that only marine corp DIs can achieve. Semper Fi if so. Great review. I've been enjoying my shield + in 30 SC. I agree, if the average "nightstand gun" gun owner is already invested in 9mm, no reason to change, but i love firearms and the shield+ in 30SC, in my opinion is a great addition. 17 rounds in such a small package is pretty impressive.
Thank you. No, I was never a Drill Instructor, but I appreciate the compliment!
I'm still holding on to my 357 Sig. I would rather that come back than count on another new weak cartridge.
the .30sc is one of those interesting rounds that needlessly gets people's panties in a bunch. lol. before I got mine (the shield ez) i already had 6 of my 9 handguns chambered in 9mm and never once thought i'd be buying the s&w to replace the 9's. that's just silly. matter of fact, i've gotten 3 more 9's since the .30sc purchase. both are nice rounds. i really don't shoot factory stuff in any of my guns. my .30sc handloads with the 100 xtp moves along 1300 fps. my 9mm handloads average that 1097 - 1140 fps with a 124 xtp depending on the gun i'm using. both small rounds compared to other stuff in the safe but both would certainly serve the purpose. kor
The question 30SC answers is more rounds in the same ize package as 9mm without loss of effectiveness. If you believe that you will find yourself in a situation where you will need more rounds than your typical 9mm carry gun has to successfully defend yourself 30SC is a good cartridge option.
Thanks for another great video. The Shield Plus in 9mm has been my daily carry for about tge last 12 months. Magazines and trigger continue to improve. My opposition to the 30 Super Carry is cost. I clearly stockpile a number of calibers and don't want to add another pistol caliber.
Good video HR. I don't see the utility for 30sc over 9mm given that 30sc seems to be more like a watered down 9mm and given how supported and viable 9mm already is.
It sounds like you don't subscribe to the philosophy of never selling guns you buy. I recently traded a lightly used Walther PPS M2 I got used a few months months prior for a lightly used P365. The P365 is smaller and holds 4-6 more rounds in the mag, so it seemed like a no brainer. The problem now is that I'm starting to wonder if the P365 has replaced the need for my Glock 26 which has been my CCW gun for years. Part of me says to not get rid of whats been a dependable pistol for me, but part of me is starting to think that life is short and if I'm not going to shoot/carry a gun very much anymore, I might as well free up the safe space and apply that cash to something useful. Its a dilemma! Thanks for all your great content.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
Very good review. Would greatly appreciate your review of the S&W 632 UC revolver in .32 H&R Magnum.
If I get my hands on one, you’ll see it!
My 9mm Shield plus was very difficult to load with bare hands on the last one or two rounds but it changed after having loaded the magazine several times and now I can load them by hand fairly well. I used a mag loader initially but it does change after several loadings. I find this pistol to be completely reliable on the range. As far as the super carry goes, I am afraid that the round will get hard to find or go away more than its performance.
I think that's a legitimate concern.
Very nice review! One comment: the advertised energy and velocity statistics you showed were for the 100 grain Federal HST. You fired Hornady and American Eagle which I think are 115 grain? Before you send back the pistol, maybe see if the HST lives up to the adverted velocity and energy?
Full disclosure: I carry the 100 grain HST in my Shield Plus.
The photo came from the S&W website, but the data on the Federal and Hornady sites showed the same ballistics. Just to clarify, both of the loads I shot in the video had 100 grain bullets.
@@hrfunk My mistake. You were firing 100 grain ammo during your review. I stand corrected.
Good work as usual HR. I don't have anything to say about the S&W. The 30 super however... The Tokarev is a much spicier 30 cal. I'd much rather carry a Tokarev if I actually wanted to carry a 30 cal. Cost of the ammo for 30 super carry is a major distraction, especially for new shooters. If someone is recoil shy, get a 380. If you want the most economic and available, get 9mm. If I want to carry and shoot expensive cartridges I'll stick with my 357 Sig or 38 Super or 10mm. The 30 super was the answer to the question no one asked. It was only a scheme for Federal to generate revenue or at minimum, exposure. The fact that so many more 380 guns have come out since the 30 super tells you everything you need to know, ie the new Beretta 80x, the Taurus etc.
Good review, very good shooting. The Shield Plus seems to work.
My view of the .30 Super Carry; If you look around and shop sales, you can get factory 9mm ball ammo for about $15 for 50 round boxes. I really don't expect that you will ever see .30SC go on sale at all! I'd expect a price of at least $30 for a box of 50. Probably more. That's twice as much money, or half as much practice.
0.4 inches makes a big difference at lower length barrels. I would revisit it with a barrel to barrel comparison between 30SC and 9mm. With 30SC, the capacity improvements outweigh whatever ballistic difference there is between the 30SC and 9mm and they are very similar in ballistics. That's basically where it all counts in these smaller EDC handguns.
This cartridge reminds me of a high pressure 7.65x22 French Long.
Ian McCollum has entered the conversation.
I’ve heard other people make the same comparison.
Got the Shield (not the Plus) in 30SC. 100 rounds with no issues. A gun I could take or leave. As far as the 30SC cartridge in today's world there isn't much there to write home about. It will be a range gun and that's about it. Like you I would not want to be shot it either.
am a shield guy for sure, have both the 2.0 and a plus in 9mm and am never without one . I think one of the reasons the 30sc has lagged is the 50psi chamber pressure. I think the smaller companies dont want to deal with it.And Sig learned a lesson with the 357 sig. thanks for a great review
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!
I was interested in this idea mainly for the capacity increase but never got one because of ammo availability. I always thought it would be a fun gun to have a modern gun like this converted to 7.62x25 Tokarev and run the hot military rounds in it. Great presentation here!
even though I love high capacity anything beyond 13-14 rounds is good enough for me GIVEN THE OVERALL RELIABILITY DURABILITY AND ERGONOMICS. I trust Your judgment and objectivity regarding 30 Super Carry albeit not super excited. Even though when I was young I liked that hot Tokarev / Mauser 96 ammo very much................
Chambering this in 7.62 Tokarev would have been even better than the .30 Luger that I suggested here. In any case, Smith & Wesson could have done collectors a favor by giving new life to a classic round, rather than pushing a so-so imitation that no one had.
Maybe it's because I'm a revolver shooter and thus don't have "a stake in the game", but the Shield Plus in .30 SC sounds like a very attractive package. I am a big fan of .32 caliber cartridges in a revolver; especially the .32 H&R Magnum.
Just bought the S&W Shield SC and can’t wait to reload for it. Big fan of the .32 caliber. I currently have the new S&W 432UC and carry it every day
I had a 38 super but a 30 are they similar ? outstanding review
Everyone is mentioning how its hard to find ammo for 30sc but they are currently online going for $389 for 1k rounds from Blazers. Thats very comparable to 9mm price ranges. I just ordered this firearm and I'm definitely going to load up on the 30sc.
Still carrying the original Shield, have been since 2014. Have tried Sigs and various others but always go back to the Shield, guess it’s just comfortable for me. Going to upgrade this year and get the plus with optics cut.
30 Super Carry, just what I'm looking for ...
You and 3 or 4 other people.
@@HalfCrazy520 wrong lol theres a cult following now
@@greengoblin93I'm a revolver guy, but if I get semi-auto, a gun chambered in this caliber is up for strong consideration, just to get away from the uniformity of our 9mm world.
It's just like not believing in globalism.
That's why I like the performance center models. 4.5 lbs
I believe the reason for all the 30 super Carry fanfare was that many people believed they would come out with a Ruger LCP size small Pocket gun in 30 super Carry... Of course it's not technically possible.. in a gun that small also where are we looking for the holy Grail in a cartridge.... I think 9 mm has got us covered especially with the small compact available nowadays... And if people want something smaller they can go to like a LCP Max 380... If someone for some reason cannot handle the recoil of a 9 mm that can go to a full size 380.. or 380 shield.. Ruger has a nice 380 larger size pistol out there.. so my opinion is there is really no market for the 30 super carry .. and like the 45 Gap it will go the way of the dodo bird just my opinion....PS .. it's a shame the 32 ACP was not developed to be more powerful.. as I really like that caliber and I micro pocket pistol.. I do carry my Taurus TCP 380 daily. . but every once in awhile while wearing lightweight shorts I will take my Kel-Tec p32 gen 1.. and place it in the pocket holster in my right front pocket... It's even lighter... I carry Underwood cavitators in that gun.. but I wouldn't hesitate carrying hardball...32 ... As hollow points in 32 ACP out of a tiny barrel never expand.. just some thoughts wish they would have developed a more powerful 32 ACP for people who don't like The recoil of a pocket pistol in 380
I was in Richmond today and therefore these brief comments have been delayed. I wholly agree with HR’s concluding remarks and would offer two thoughts:
1. Re the Shield Plus: It’s a very good micro-compact, some will favor other options in this class of semiautomatic😢 (and that’s just fine), I personally prefer barrel lengths in excess of 3.5 inches for improved velocity and sight radius.
2. Re the .30 Super Carry: I can’t figure out what deficiencies the cartridge solves, especially in comparison to the 9x19mm. While its size may mean marginally more capacity, when was the last time a lawfully armed citizen required a second 9mm magazine to successfully resolve a decisive confrontation? I respectfully suggest its recoil mitigation is too slight to be meaningful. And how easily will .30 Super Carry be found in the average county store, when compared to 9x19mm? Perhaps (??) this round provides solutions to non-existent problems?
I also think it wont take up. In comparison 45 GAP was even a good idea. Shorten the case of the popular 45 ACP load it with a bit more pressure that the average load is even on 45 ACP +p level but you can build guns for it with a smaller grip frame from front to back.The only problem was, it came to late. 40S&W was fully established when 45 GAP came out 2003. But 45 GAP is even still in use in some police departments. I have read that some switched back to 45 ACP just because of better ammo supply. I also think that Glocks fail was not to convert the 21 to 45 GAP so you get a capacity of 13 rounds with a smaller grip from front to back. The G37 is just the G17 frame with a thicker slide and 10 round capacity. But still a good option for states with 10 round limit.
Good video. I bought one fits my hand well the weight balance is good.
Always remember "youare not a tack-driver when shooting the shield plus". Thanks for the varity of distances. I think the .30 caliber is good for niche shooting. Very good for certain applications, but not necessarily for all carry applications. But,,, a defensive carry firearm is better than no defensive weapon. Thanks for the review.
Even though it failed the tack test, I think it's evident that it's an extremely accurate handgun. Mine in 9 mm is one of the most accurate pistols I own, even with garbage ammo.
Sir, excellent video. Thank you so much, love watching you review the different firearms.
I love that Smith and Wesson is practically giving away the 30 super carry guns, but I don't know if it's worth getting one if the ammo ever ends up being discontinued or very expensive.
I agree.
I liked the feel of the grip on the original Shield. I put Talon grips on, and liked it even more. I didn't downgrade it for less capacity and still like it.
I can never load M&P mags fully. I always download by one round.
My old Shield was tight, but I could fully load it. This thing was ridiculous. I haven’t had that problem with any of my other M&P pistols.
Your reviews are very informative and to the point!
Hey Howard excellent content as usual ! Super carry never took off . I’d rather have a 380 ppk. But I’ll take an m@p 9 over both for certain ! Good video though with the comparison.
Thank you!
30SC and 327FedMag are such great carry calibers if you're okay with getting away from more common calibers. Great video!
Thank you!
I think they missed the best class of gun for the 30 super carry, I believe it should have been brought out in the mid to larger size 380 guns as it was marketed as a bridge caliber between 380 and 9.
Howard, here's a trick for loading stiff magazines: Smack the magazine bottom against a hard table AS you push the round down into the feed lips. It also helps to first use the old trick of rapping the back against a hard surface, to move the rounds all the way back in the magazine, before trying to load those last one or two difficult rounds.
And, don't you have an UpLULA yet? If not, get thee to a gun store and buy a couple ASAP. Sooner or later you're gonna have to put up with the same old guy ribbing the rest of us do, might as well get some benefit out of it!! ;-)
Ha, ha! Thanks. I’ll give that a try.
Great review i like.30 sc no going to use it as my combat pistol but as a backup it is good 🔫
I love the shield plus in 9mm
Honestly, it’s my fav carry gun! 15 round mags
I'd really like to see a Shield Plus in 380acp with around 13-15rounds ...
The Shield EZ comes in .380, but off the top of my head I don’t know its magazine capacity.
@@hrfunk , yeah I tried the EZ, didn't like the feel ..
s&w use the same spring in both mags so take them apart and count the coils and if the same cut 2 coils off the shorter mag and that should fix it
I suspected that. The pistol in this video was loaned to me, so no alterations were possible.
i got s&w m&p 2.0 no safety 10 mm. m&p pistols are nice. I'm not sure abour 30 sc but definitely like 10 mm holds a lot
I'm curious on this gun. Prices seem to be cheap currently. I'd like to see a full size pistol as well, mag would probably fit 22 rounds or so in a glock 17 or equivalent
Maybe, but the only full-size handgun I've seen chambered for the 30 SC is a 1911 variant (off the top of my head, I can't remember who makes it).
@@hrfunk Nighthawk I believe. A nice pistol but it is definitely an expensive collector's piece. If Glock would make 30sc versions of their models that would be a big boost to the caliber. Glock fans/fanatics would add them to their collections which might move the needle on ammo cost/availability. It is a shame S&W didn't release a ported 30sc with their newest releases. Maybe even a ported equalizer in 9mm and 30sc. It is an interesting caliber to me but I tend to like odd things, 9mm and 327 magnum revolvers look like fun shooting.
Honestly with the 30 SC performing on-par with the 9mm on ballistics, the only downside is the cost. If you can get a Shield Plus in 30 SC on a discount, that's a big savings for that more expensive 30 SC ammo. A 9mm Shield Plus in the long run is cheaper, but those 3 extra rounds with nearly identical performance makes the 30 SC the better round.
i think the price of ammo held it back being more in price then 380 or 9 mm, and at that tme having a ammo crisis and bad economy with lock downs and work restrictions, was a bad time to introduce a new cartridge and guns, Federal wanted its oun cartridge and may seem not needed but same can be said about 9 mm diameter or cartridges or close to it wich are many yet all about the same diamenter, 9mm, 380, 357 sig, 38 super, 38, 357 magnum, 9x25 dillon, we love all those so allowing another of what is basically a 32 its not a big deal given we have so many 9 mm diameter cartidges we could have said why add another one to it as well, if a 9 mm got a hotter cartridge why not a 32, a man and wife couple on youtube chose independently the 30 super as being faster accurate follow up shots and then some of us dont notice a difference, so once again its more about cost of ammo as a issue and as far as capacity some dont train like we do so maybe if they dont shoot as well having a couple extra rounds some may need in a stuation that most of us who train where lower capacity isnt a issue and we are profficient on mag changes. as 30 super lowers its price and adds more bullet options it could become alive again and may, we just dont know. in testing we have to remember its not box velocity and energy but same length barrels of 9 mm vs 30 super and even though the 30 super is considered hot they may have a +p maybe in the future, buffalo bore, underwood and reloaders may gravitate to it if prices come down to 9 mm or below that
I was under the impression that in some European countries would not allow citizens to carry 9mm guns, thus the birth of 380 acp. If those countries still have that law in place, I would think the 30 super carry would be a great alternative. I wonder if Beretta could make a 30 super carry pocket pistol?
I’m sure they could. The question e we’re could be whether or not they could make any money selling them.
Your barrel may be a little slow or you got a slow batch of ammo. I average 1190 with Remington 100 FMJ and various defensive loads of similar weight. Handloads do better. This in the same gun as yours. Other reports on the Tube seem similar to mine.
Bottom line is , power is not an issue.
If you have a slow lot of ammo try another brand. Hornady is often off the pace a bit.
How about a thinner slide variant in 3.6” with plus four or more over a 9mm? Skinnier cartridge could enable helpfully thinner gun.
I’m suggesting the most proper gun has not been made for the cartridge to date.
Perhaps not, but no one will have to make it for me.
Just forwarding a consensus opinion on what would be needed to separate it from 9mm, which is to offer an additional choice 9mm does not provide. If one can make a thinner gun as well as more capacious to boot, several commentators I know say this is sufficient to enable reconsideration of the cartridge. I agree. You may not, but this is an obvious possibility to pursue that would bring substantial value to many. The gun cannot be lighter, but near “380 thin” would have appeal over current 9mm variants. If there is any way forward, this is probably what exists.
Just stating the obvious path forward rather than simply disparaging it. There is a way to make a 30 SC more desirable to the public.
Whether they do it or not will determine the cartridge’s fate.
One of those commentators, for reference, is John Correia (ASP channel) offering his thoughts to the Federal rep at SHOT Show. His comment on a thinner high capacity variant was “yes please!”
I am of the same opinion as previously noted.
Good morning HR. I think I'll stick with 9mm. Aside from a couple more rounds in the magazine their doesn't seem to be any advantage for the 30SC. Availability and price of ammo could also be a factor to consider. I like seeing the shop and range testing together, 2 videos for the price of 1.😂
I've seen a couple of other channels talking about new restrictions on firearm videos on TH-cam. Even interpreting weighing trigger pull as forbidden hair triggers.
I’m just not going to worry about every new TH-cam rule. Eventually they’re going to throw me off this platform.in the mean time I’m going to produce videos the way I want to.
Thx Chief for the look at the 30 SC Shield 🛡🗽🎯📜 carry on 🔫🇺🇸
My pleasure!
For many, it seems the argument is 30SC vs 9mm. But for me its a clear and decisive win when looking at it from my perspective of 30SC vs .380acp
.30 SC by the "Taylor KO Factor" is 5.9 KO.
9mm NATO is 7.2
.45 ACP is 12.6
10mm is 13
This is another reason why I feel 9mm is the minimum acceptable defensive round, and only because of magazine capacity.
If you live in a 10-round-magazine state, I see no point in 9mm (and definitely not in .30 SC).
Well done, Chief! IMO, a 90gr or a 90gr +P 9mm load seems like the better alternative vs. a new gun in a new caliber. 👍👍
The caliber would probably take off if the manufacturers would make it more cost effective. It’s almost double the cost of 9mm.
I'm sorry, but .30 SC makes about as much sense to me as developing a new .43 Magnum rimmed revolver cartridge...just because!
As for the S&W M&P Shield Plus...I'm a big fan.
Oh, I'm for a 43 rimmed, or how about bringing back the 44 rimfire? LOL.
Howdy Chief,
The main thing I have against this firearm isn't the actual gun itself, it's the caliber it is chambered in. I won't even argue the virtues of the Shield+, the potency or effectiveness of the .30 SC, but something that is always on my mind and is a concern is the availability of the new and expensive ammunition. After all, no gun, no matter how great it is make much sense without the proper ammunition readily available. If someone does purchase one in .30 SC I sincerely hope they purchase enough ammo in the proper configuration (for its intended purpose) for the long haul. I have seen many many "wonder calibers" pretty much disappear from the marketplace. Try and find some .357 Maximum, .357 Sig and many others in local gun or big box sporting goods stores. Gun companies and ammo manufacturers constantly look for a "new mouse trap" to invigorate the industry as well as new sales. Splitting hairs on calibers like this one may temporarily increase their sales, but as always...... let the buyer beware! I ALWAYS think, LONG HAUL when purchasing a product. Again, the best advise is to stay away from this caliber until and IF it ever becomes common. Stick to the calibers one can walk into a gun store or big box store and walk out with at a somewhat reasonable price.
Easy to load with a mag loader
I might have used one of those in the past, but I don’t remember for sure.
Surprised the velocities were so low. That much pressure should have performed better.
That cartridge sounds like what Co. Cooper would call an "answer looking for a question".
cooper did the same thing being in between calibers like 9 mm and 45 for 10 mm so the 30 super is a in between other small calibers but a boost just as cooper did with a longer case 10 mm
Great show. Like the low recoil
Most reviews I have seen they say its the same as 9mm. He here also said that the recoil felt for him like 9mm.
I don't want or need 30SC, but if it had attracted new people to shooting it would have been worth it. As I understand it, it has the same recoil as 9mm.
I genuinely hope that 30 super carry is able to take off. I'm not fond of the hand feel of the Shield Plus personally, and I'm disappointed S&W has yet to release a Performance Center model in 30 SC, despite 30 SC ballistic data being based off a 4 inch barrel, such as found in the Shield EZ.
I really don’t get the 30 super carry. TFB TV did a segment where they took a couple of shooters and had them fire two identical pistols (one 9mm, one 30SC) without them knowing which one was which and they couldn’t tell the difference.
theyre almost the same performance but you get extra rounds with the 30 super carry. i actually wish they got rid of 9mm and everyone started producing it. but thats not gonna happen and i dont want to pay twice as much per round so im sticking with 9mm
I don’t think I could tell the difference.
I think that one of the main fails of 30SC. If people buy a smaller caliber they want less recoil. But this is not what you get with 30SC.
I wouldn’t touch the sights. All your rounds are well centered at all distances on that type of target with no distinct aiming point to really focus your sights on. A little drift up or down is nothing to worry about on a pistol with a short sight radius like that. By trying to drift sights that are that well centered already your going to create more problems than it was worth as tiny amount of movement equals a whole lot on target. But you know that. This was a great review. I like your presentation style. I am going to sub to your channel.
Thank you!
I train with 9mm but CWW 30 SC
You arent a tack driver.... Did you see those two rounds touch yummmy
the super carry gives you extra rounds and an increase in ammo cost.
Precisely.
I would replace my 40SW Shield if they made a plus in 40. These Shield pistols are some great tools for sure
I have the 9mm optic ready model. I'm around 2500 rounds in. I had to buy an Amazon push speed loader to help break my mags in. I've heard the bottom of the follower has a bit too much material that you technically could just file down.
Could be. Since this pistol was loaned to me I couldn’t do any tinkering with it.