Two Glock .45 ACP's Head to Head

I am seriously considering selling my Glock 30.  I don't carry it very much, the 30S is so much easier to carry and it's mostly just being a safe queen.  Thinking of this, I realized that I had never shot the two Glocks back to back.  So last week end I braved the rain and headed to the range.  I needed to put in a practice session anyways as I have to requalify in May.  I packed both .45's and my service weapon.  Then decided what the heck and packed the Bushmaster too.

I ran an approximation of our qualification course with the .40 first.  Then I shot the two .45's.  I shot first at 7 yards, then at 10, then at 15 yards.  I shot the 30 first, then the 30S at each location.  All the shots were done two handed.standing.  I had enough of kneeling on the gravel at the outdoor range after the first session.

The 30 has always been a sweet shooting handgun for me.  I always assumed the 30S was less so.  I think I was wrong.  According to Glock the 30S is a bit over 3 ounces lighter than the Gen 4 30.  I assume most of this comes from the slide.  I guess I figured with the lighter slide recoil would be more pronounced.  I couldn't tell much difference from the targets.

Impressions:

First, both .45's seemed louder than the .40.  Not sure if that was just my imagination, or if it maybe the air was more humid and conducted sound better, but they seemed noisier.  Also, both .45 had more recoil, but less muzzle jump than the .40.  That may sound weird, but for me it's true.  The .45 acp has some recoil, but it seems like it pushes straight back into my arm, where the .40 seems more like it pushes up.  That said, the 30S has more muzzle jump than the 30.  I could probably do a mag dump faster on the 30 than the 30S.  On the other hand, the SF frame fits my hand better, I have stubby fingers.  So, even though the muzzle comes up a little harder, I feel like I have better control of the handgun.  I definitely prefer to carry it.

Second, I let my 13 year old adopted son run 5 rounds through each .45 back to back.  He is very much a beginner.  I have let him shoot various firearms, but mostly he sticks to .22's.  He also prefers archery.  He actually thought the 30 had more recoil than the 30S.  Then he griped about how his hand stung.

Third, the AR-15 was nosier by far than all three handguns.