On my way home from the gym the other day, I stopped by the gun shop to check out the used gun cabinet in case there was something there that I just couldn't live without.
One of the guns was a Shield in .30 Super Carry.
I didn't think much of it then but I've been wondering what people on the forum thought of it.
I know the ammo's expensive but it can't cost more than the .357Sig my Glock 33 takes.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Don't see the point in owning a pistol in .30 Super Carry. I'd much rather have a quality pistol in 9x19.

snubbyfan Why are you asking here about ammo prices for the 30SC cartridge when that is simple for you to look up , I have no interest in a 30SC in any firearm , but hey its your choice to make . 9mm ammo has far more options in ammo and handguns but it is your choice .

I don’t see him asking about ammo prices? But I’m with you- no interest in the .30 SC but like they say, “variety is the spice of life”

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Some Might Say.

Let’s hear from the 45Gap guys how that has worked out. Seriously, the 30 Super Carry had the new cool name but historically bad timing promoting a new gun/ caliber in a very crowded gun market. It was initially DOA and makes no sense trying to resuscitate it at this point. The old adage about fixing a nonexistent problem comes to mind. Like many I personally wouldn’t invest any money or time in one. Good luck.

Why buy a Shield in a caliber that's never going to be widely available when it already comes in such a variety ?

Ammo of the week. It came, & it went. Just another SKU # to put in the display case. GARY

You're not seeing the possibilities. There should be a new S&W L-frame snub with an extremely short 45 GAP 5-shot cylinder and frame window for 5-shot 45 GAP moon clips or 45 GAP Rim cases. 🤔 Such would complement 45 GAP semi-auto carriers with a revolver option for Sundays and holidays.

Bet they'd sell at least 8 of them.

Same here.........Soon to be a dying cartridge.

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S&W Accumulator

I like the idea of it, and if I run across a deal on one I’ll give it a go.

I see ammo for it on the shelves and the price isn’t too bad.

I can still buy .38/40 ammo, so I’m not worried about .30SC going away any time soon. If it does, it does.

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Rule of law, not a man.

My feelings exactly. I bought a used EZ in 30 SC not too long ago, although in this case I think "used" meant it didn't have a box and papers. There wasn't a mark on the gun. It was tagged about half what a new EZ sold for, and they knocked a bit more off for me. Then I went on a buying binge picking up ammo that was on sale also for fire sale prices and now have about 1000 rounds stashed away. That'll probably last me the rest of my life because I doubt I'll shoot it much. I've got a 9mm and 380 EZ's if I want to shoot something. The ammo is still available online the last time I checked at Bud's anyway. They also list 45 GAP and 357 Sig.

Does it do anything any other cartridge doesn't do? Probably not. It seems to shoot flat but I'm not a good enough shot to really say. It holds two more rounds than the 9mm or 380 EZ's, so there is that. Not a big deal to me really, but it doesn't hurt.

I mostly bought it just because I'd never seen one, much less shot one. It's pretty neat really. I have carried it a few times, but prefer the EZ in 380 which is a smaller, lighter gun, so the 30 SC (and the 9mm really) is more or less a seldom used range gun.

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John 3:16 .

.30 super carry strikes me as an answer to a question nobody asked. But that's just me. If you like it, go for it!

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America First

Well the OP did state - I know the ammo's expensive but it can't cost more than the .357Sig my Glock 33 takes. he can look it up to find out and then there's no need to mention ammo cost at all !

I do know regardless of how useful something is If You Build It , Some One Will Buy IT and that's regardless if it does anything better than what's all ready out there .

I wasn't asking about the price of the ammo. I was asking what people thought of the gun.
I figured the ammo would be more expensive than 9mm and possible less than .357Sig.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Thanks for the feedback kinda makes it apparent why it ended up in the used gun cabinet and as far as I'm concerned now, it can stay there.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Whew. Tough crowd. I like mine - good shooter.

Whatever trips your trigger, Buckwheat!
Personally, I'm not interested in adding another caliber to the arsenal/bench. Especially not a "boutique" caliber that doesn't do much of anything that the more well-established calibers I already own can do.
But that's just me. As others have said, variety is the spice of life. So, if the 30SC "does it for you" then GO for it!

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

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Work your way around the cartridge price comparison how ever you want a even though you then said its not about ammo price !! Ok

Plenty of read reviews of the handgun and the cartridge so might be renting a shield plus just to see if you like the pistol, more than likely in the more common 9mm version . You can decide if you want a 30sc version .

Glad to see your moving on .

The question it answers is "how can I get more capacity in the same size gun?"

Judging by the number of people that buy Magguts spring kits and after market magazines in order to get a couple of rounds more capacity it's a question a LOT of people are asking. There is a whole cottage industry dedicated to adding capacity to carry guns.

That question is also why we have guns like that P365 and Shield Plus.

I stay away from Magguts and aftermarket magazines but did consider buying a Shield Plus in 30 SC. After a while I decided the benefit of a couple more rounds was not worth adding another caliber to my ammo list. But introducing a new caliber solely for the purpose of increased capacity was not a crazy idea. Given how well capacity sells in general I am surprised how hostile the gun community was to the idea. Every other increase in capacity is greeted as a huge leap forward that drives a lot of gun sales and makes older guns "obsolete".

There has been a recent renewal of interest in 32 revolvers also, to get that extra capacity in a revolver and they're only gaining one round mostly. The 32 SC would seem to fit the same niche in a semi-auto that the 327 Federal Magnum fits in a small revolver. Sort of a 32 ACP magnum.

I have no idea if it's possible or not given the pressure the 30 SC operates at, but I wonder how it would have been received in a gun the size of a Bodyguard 2.0. Add a couple more rounds to the already impressive 10/12 round mags the BG-2 has and you're talking serious business then. The recoil might get your attention I admit. I'd say my 30 SC EZ kicks about like my 9mm version of the same gun. In a BG-2? Might be exciting.

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John 3:16 .

I'd love an I-frame in 30SC. Failing that, a J-frame in 30SC is a 20% increase in cylinder capacity, so for that niche application I think it's a good round. Similarly it might give you +1 or +2 in a tiny pocket auto, which would be interesting.

As you suspect, the pressure differences would require big design compromises for a BG 2.0 sized pistol. Compromises that probably result in a pistol the size of a small 9x19mm pistol. The little pocket pistols are built around .380 ACP, a max 21,500 psi cartridge. .30SC is pushing bullets similar in weight to the heaviest .380 bullets at a max of 50,000 psi.

Now, if .30SC were designed as a slightly higher pressure, rimless, and possibly heavier bullet replacement for the .32 ACP, then we could have tiny pocket pistols with an extra round or two. Rimless for easier magazine design/reliable feeding, higher pressures/velocities (say, going from 20,500 psi to 25-30,000 psi) and heavier bullets for better terminal ballistics.

Basically, what .32 H&R Magnum is to .327 Federal Magnum. .327 Fed Mag having double the pressure of .32 H&R Magnum results in it going in to revolvers built to withstand .357 Magnum, while .32 H&R Magnum can go in any revolvers built to withstand .38 Special +P. The new .32 H&R Ruger LCR uses the aluminum frame of the .38 Special and rimfire models, while the older .327 Fed model uses the steel frame of the .357 Magnum and 9mm LCRs. The .32 H&R 632/432UC use an aluminum frame, while a potential .327 Fed model would require a scandium or steel frame.

Snubbyfan, if you can spare the extra safe space & the cash, I would say get it. I"m not a striker fired kinda guy, but I bought one. Shoots nice, according to internet info it hits like a 9mm, a bit less recoil & more rounds. For every parrot that says " an answer to a question nobody asked" I wonder are they still shooting black powder or .38 short ? If it intrigues you, then grab it... worse case you lose a few bucks & get to try a new caliber, never a bad idea. My thumb is up for you trying it.
Good luck, Willy.