Given my interest in obsolete calibers I'm considering the 30 Super Carry

[walnutred]

"Obsolete" may be premature but a LGS has M&P EZs listed for $249 and a $50 mail in rebate for a net of $199 plus tax. I reload for a variety of other obsolete 30/32 caliber handguns so the 30 SC will feel right at home. Everything from 32 S&W (short and long) to 32 WCF and including 32 H&R, 8MM Lebel and 7.62x25.

I also tend to like the larger odd stuff like 40 S&W, 41 Mag, 38 S&W, 9mm Largo etc. I'm not sure if I should buy a new M&P EZ at what seems to be a bargain price or buy the brass and dies now and wait for the used 30 SC to start hitting the market once ammo starts drying up, expecting them to be priced lower. I can see the 30 SC ammo being as hard to find in a few years as 9mm Federal Rimed or 5mm Remington.

 

[seldon14]

I expect it to be right there with 327 Federal. Supported, but just barely.

 

[AlHunt]

That sounds like a fun idea. The only drawback I'd see is chasing irreplaceable brass.

But, why not?

 

[Durango Slim]

I wouldn't say obsolete. I would say obscure.

I have a very difficult time staying away from inexpensive firearms. $200 sounds like a great deal. Back in the olden days. I would spend that much in one night at a bar.

Buy it, shoot it, have fun with it.

 

[RMFnLA]

I think the EZ is more the issue than the .30 SC.

 

[Dave Lively]

Take extra care if you start reloading 30 SC. Its a 52,000 PSI cartridge with a case that holds 5 or 6 grains of powder so small errors in the charge weight or seating depth could have greater consequences than normal.

 

[67tempest]

$200 sounds like a great deal. Back in the olden days. I would spend that much in one night at a bar.

I remember those olden days, well I kinda sorta remember them.

 

[Ingramite]

As someone who is just now beginning to appreciate .40S&W and .357SIG, I love the title of this thread.

This forum is about the only place on the internet that has an appreciation for .38spl. too.

I remember a period when dirt was being thrown in the grave of the .380acp round. Now, why it's almost achieved "tactical" status. Back from the dead and ready to rock and roll those little pink pistols.

It will take another 30 years before I will be able to fully appreciate the 30 Super Carry though.

Standing By for those obsolete surplus turn-ins.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

"Obsolete surplus turn-ins..."?

My favorites are M&P 40s & GLOCK 22s: with a couple conversion barrels (357 SIG & 9mm) and some 9mm mags you have a true handgun trifecta!

Cheers!

 

[DWalt]

If you like uncommon calibers, the .30 SC is a good one. It has much more muzzle energy than the .32 ACP, so it is certainly adequate for self defense use. If you have reloading dies for .32 ACP or .32 Long, you are in business. It would be a good idea to lay in a supply of ammunition or reloadable cases (or both) while they remain available.

 

[dsf]

"Obsolete" may be premature but a LGS has M&P EZs listed for $249 and a $50 mail in rebate for a net of $199 plus tax. I reload for a variety of other obsolete 30/32 caliber handguns so the 30 SC will feel right at home. Everything from 32 S&W (short and long) to 32 WCF and including 32 H&R, 8MM Lebel and 7.62x25.

I also tend to like the larger odd stuff like 40 S&W, 41 Mag, 38 S&W, 9mm Largo etc. I'm not sure if I should buy a new M&P EZ at what seems to be a bargain price or buy the brass and dies now and wait for the used 30 SC to start hitting the market once ammo starts drying up, expecting them to be priced lower. I can see the 30 SC ammo being as hard to find in a few years as 9mm Federal Rimed or 5mm Remington.

Reloading for obsolete calibers - I know how you feel.

 

[first-model]

I picked ups Shield in .30 SC when it came out. I haven't been disappointed; it's a nice gun to shoot and a very viable caliber.

But it hasn't seem to have caught on, and I expect that ammo supplies will remain scarce.

Mike

 

[THE PILGRIM]

A while back was at Cabelas looking at Ammo.
Another looker lamented he couldn’t find his Caliber.
So I ask what caliber?
He replied 25-35.
Really! I don’t recall ever seeing much of that.
But then again I wasn’t looking for it!

 

[murphydog]

I wouldn't say the .30 SC is "obscure" (lots of people know about it) or "obsolete" (it's only 1-2 years old). I vote for "niche"...and you never know, the 6.5 Creedmoor and 10 mm Auto languished for many years until the gun magazines promoted them hard enough.

 

[Drm50]

I wish I held on to mint French 1935 for 32French long. I ‘twas PIA to make brass and then lose it in grass. No doubt hotter than French loading but the brass would probably be usable. French 32 was derived from US 30 Peterson for the 03 rifle modification.

 

[GR1978]

It's funny I came across this post as I'm considering buying a shield plus in 30 super carry myself. Keep in mind you have people that say the 40S&W is a "dead" or "obsolete" caliber too. And I'm no gun industry expert,but I fought that the 40S&W cartridge is going the way of day the 45 GAP(which I own) or 327 magnum anytime soon either.

Then again like you I like and appreciate oddball or "obscure "calibers if you will.

As a matter of fact I've spent this morning calling local gun shops and they all have 30 super carry ammo in stock but no guns in it go figure. Anyway I'm maybe going to snag a shield plus in 30SC on gunbroker or guns.com maybe buds depending on who has them at the best price. I like the idea of 13+1 or 16+1 in a gun that small.

I just picked up a Glock 39 45 GAP last month. I don't know long it'll stick around I like Glocks well enough but I have Kahr PM45 black DLC finish,it's smaller lighter and thinner than the Glock 39 and also 45 ACP is much easier to find than 45 GAP. The capacity of the PM45 is the same as the Glock 39 as well. So it makes it kind of redundant the more I think about it.

I say for the price of that shield EZ buy it shoot it and enjoy it. Sure ammo in any non mainstream caliber MAY be a problem to find one day,then again maybe not too. Because I've seen post from 10 years ago saying you wouldn't find any 45 GAP ammo unless you were a reloader. Well I'm no reloader and I found FMJ ammo in one LGS and a ton of it online too. So who's to say if the 30SC isn't going to make it it's still in its infancy. Although I'll admit that it doesn't look good though. People are resistant to change in many things in life,but it seems with guns and ammo preferences especially. I think because as human beings we're hard wired to be set in our ways in what we prefer and what makes us comfortable with our choices.

That all being said time will tell if the 30SC makes it or not. Sure it could go the way of the 327 magnum but I'm willing to give it a shot no pun intended.

Good luck with your choice and please be sure to report back with a range report if you do decide to give it a go though.

I understand why mainstream calibers are the way to go sure. But varsity is the spice of life. Gun ownership would be boring if all we all shot was 9mm for example.

I mean why just eat vanilla ice cream or just pepperoni and cheese pizza forever right?

My point be it a long winded one at that is that is that it seems the gun industry like others goes in cycles. Like fashion for example I saw a girl wearing one of those tattoo necklaces the other day and last time I saw that was on my girlfriend in junior high School in the early 1990's.

Think back even 5-7 or so years ago before the Sig P365 and other micro 9 handguns were introduced. Or during the sunsetted AWB nobody wanted a 9mm anything with only 10 round magazines. Back then the 40S&W and 45ACP were the caliber of choice,with people thinking that id I can only have 10vrounds I want 10 big rounds.

Now it's swung the other way with everyone and their cousin wanting micro 9 pistols with Uber high capacity magazines and red dots. There's nothing wrong with that either. It's innovation and it's great for people like us who love and enjoy guns and carry them for lawful purposes. That's what we have with the 30SC it's just another option and it's innovation in motion. I remember when people didn't want a 9mm because it was to underpowered. Now the 9mm with modern JHP ammo is almost as good and effective as the other larger calibers. I love 9 mm and 45 ACP I have used and carry both I have every confidence that what the quality jacket hollow point all things being equal shot placement being equal God forbid it's needed they'll both perform pretty much the same way. That being said I also feel like that people forget and tend to not realize or not recollect that the same modern bullets that made the 9mm risk effective as a 40 or 45 also made the bigger calibers more reliable and better performing..

I've always been in the all handguns are underpowered a compromise in portability and a 380 in the COM is better than a 45 or 10mm in the shoulder camp. And I still am and a self-defense encounter no handgun round is going to have " stopping power or knock a guy over or knockdown power a bad hit with a 9 mm that doesn't stop the same as sailing who's hopped up on methylpcp a 45 or 10 mm hit to the same non-vital spot isn't likely the end of the confrontation any quicker.

Again do let us know if you decide to purchase the shield easy and 30 super Carry. I'm actually looking for a good price on a shield Plus in 30SC and I'm perfectly fine with a micro compact shield plus 30SC. I'll gladly take that done with 16 + 1 for 17 rounds of 30 caliber modern hollow points at high velocity and just as shootable as 9mm and maybe slightly more so.

 

[gdogs]

Based entirely on how many 40 S&W pistols there are out there in the wild, I've always said that the caliber isn't going anywhere. 30 Super Carry on the other hand had better catch on quick, or it could likely disappear fairly quickly. For the life of me, I do not understand why S&W didn't chamber it in their CSX pistol. It seems like a perfect combination, and I'd very likely pick one up if they end up bringing one to the market.