There’s a New Kid On The Block
Okay, it’s not really a kid…it’s a cartridge. Federal Ammunition released a new caliber at Shot Show earlier this year. Allow me to introduce you to 30 Super Carry. I know, what the heck is that? That is exactly what I said when I first heard about it. Of course I started researching…reading and watching videos. The concept behind this new cartridge intrigued me. This new caliber was designed specifically with concealed carry in mind and to bridge the gap between .380 ACP and 9 mm, thus giving firearm consumers another option.
Currently, there are only two manufacturers with firearms that are chambered in 30 Super Carry. Smith & Wesson has released the M&P Shield EZ 30 Super Carry and the M&P Shield Plus 30 Super Carry. Nighthawk Custom also has a 1911 chambered in 30 Super Carry. Unfortunately, none of these new firearms are on the Maryland Handgun Roster but I will be doing my part to have Maryland look at these firearms.
Without going too much into ballistics and science, I at least want to give you a visual of the comparison between the .380 ACP, 30 Super Carry, and 9 mm.
Cartridge Dimension Comparisons (all measurements are in inches)
Cartridge Case Length OA Length Rim Diameter Bullet Diameter
30 Super Carry .827 1.169 .344 .313
9 mm .754 1.000 .394 .355
.380 ACP .680 .910 .374 .356
Left to right; .380 ACP, 30 Super Carry, and 9 mm
Now to the fun stuff…
Stephanie and I were able to try out this new caliber using the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 30 Supper Carry! Needless to say, we had a BLAST! Pun intended, Lol! We compared it with the Smith & Wesson M&P .380 Shield EZ and the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus. All three handguns are the same size so there were no adjustments to be made in grip. To be honest, I can’t be mad. I enjoyed shooting the 30 Super Carry. It definitely packed more of a punch than the .380 but had less recoil than the 9. In my opinion, if I was told I couldn’t carry a 9 mm any longer I would choose the 30 Super Carry. I shot strong hand only as well as both hands and found it to be very easy to control and get back on target both ways. Accuracy was on point and I had nice tight groupings. Fun fact, even though the magazine is stamped 10 rounds (as is the 9 mm magazine) you can actually get 12 rounds of the 30 Super Carry in the magazine with the magazine sitting flush in the magazine well. I even did a “mag dump” and had no feeding issues, no misfeeds, and no malfunctions. The stock sights are fair but, I would definitely switch them out for night sights. The trigger is pretty good, it has a noticeable wall and the reset is not bad. For those of you who may not like the recoil of a compact 9 mm but aren’t fond of the sometimes snappy compact .380, the 30 Super Carry is a great option. It is a compact firearm making it a great option for conceal carry. There are tons of review videos out there and I would suggest watching them to see what you think. Hopefully, we will have the Smith & Wesson model in our rental pool at FreeState Gun Range in the near future so you can go hands on with it and form an opinion. Unfortunately, we are only able to get JHP ammo for the 30 Super Carry right now. I am hoping this will change as the newness wears off.
Yay or nay… I have to say yay. Would I stop carrying my 9 mm… no. But, in my opinion the 30 Super Carry is a great option and another tool for the “toolbox”. I can’t wait to see if any other manufacturers follow suit…Glock, Sig Sauer, Canik??? I guess time will tell.
Let me know your thoughts ladies. Until next time… Stay Safe and Train Hard.