[raneyday]

I have a question for those who have carried the P30 or similar sized gun (VP9, 45c, P2k) and the P30sk (or P2ksk). How much more "concealable" is the sk?

I bought a P30 and a P30L back when HK ran the rebate program. I've carried the P30 regularly in the winter when I almost always have a fleece, hoody, jacket on.

In the summer, I'm in jeans and an untucked golf shirt or t-shirt 90% of the time. I just can't seem to hide the P30 well in this combo. I'm 5'9" and about 180 (and falling, now that the holidays are over!). Holster is an MTAC. I'm thinking the P30sk in an Infidel Ultra at 4:00 - 4:30 might be what I'm looking for when the warm weather hits, but I'm curious if it's really that much easier to hide. I've been carrying long enough that I am not worried about a little printing - no one but other CCW holders pay attention anyway. I just don't want EVERYONE to know I'm carrying. I would be interested in some real world experience from those who have carried the P30sk/P2ksk and other weapons similar to the P30.

I know the thickness is the same, and the barrel is in my pants, so does the .9" height difference make the sk significantly easier to hide?

 

[Stuka]

I have the P30Sk with the INCOG holster and carry all day with no issues.

 

[Buffdriver]

I own both the P30 and the sk. To answer your question, I think the 'sk' is slightly easier to hide and manipulate when drawing from concealment. There is a weight difference to consider also, plus five rounds of 9mm. I'm currently running the sk in a AIWB setup and will continue to use that year round. For summer carry, printing is negligible with an undershirt and T-shirt.

 

[johnhunter44]

I have the P30, P30sk, and the P2000sk. I like shooting the P30 best, but carry the P30sk the most. The shorter grip does make it conceal better. Actually the P2000sk conceals the best since the grip is not quite as thick as the P30sk, but I shoot the P30sk better due to it fitting my hand better. In the summer time, I just usually wear either a T shirt with the shirt tail out or an 911 conceal carry shirt and they completely conceal it. No one notices anything anymore. They all have their noses down looking at their cell phones. I could be walking naked and I doubt anyone would see. (That should scare them to death)

 

[Barth]

Door Number 3 - P2000

Just to muddy the water.
I've got a P30, P30SK, P2000 & P2000SK.

The P2000 is my favorite for carry.
For me, It's just as easy to carry/conceal as the SK guns.
Plus I prefer having a three finger grip and longer sight radius.
P2000 is the sweet spot.

As for my answer to the direct question "P30 vs P30SK concealability"?
Sure, the much shorter grip and slide make the SK more concealable.

 

[cha]

Good question and responses. Here's a follow up from someone who has no experience. In the reference library 5wire posted a composite comparing the 2000SK with USP 45C (http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-reference-library/187338-hk-2000sk-v-usp-45c-compare.html). There's only a 1/2 inch difference between them in both the slide and the grip.

For you guys with experience, does that 1/2 inch make that much difference in concealability?

 

[Parausa]

I have both and carry at 3:30, OWB or IWB. I find the SK easier to conceal in either due to grip length. I added the +2 mag extenders from HK Pro to get a better grip fit for my hand and higher capacity with negligible added length to grip for concealment.

 

[YVK]

I know the thickness is the same, and the barrel is in my pants, so does the .9" height difference make the sk significantly easier to hide?

"Easier to hide" has different meanings to different people. The overall size of the SK will not allow you to step down to a lighter or tighter fitting clothing. So in that sense a meaningful difference is not there. You will have to wear the same cover garments and use the same concealment precautions when carrying 30 vs SK. However, when wearing clothes that conceal the 30, the SK will print slightly less, in a slightly different spot, and the draping effect will be a little better. I have almost the same body size and weight (6' 1/2" - 190) and I carry in AIWB. I find no difference between P30 and P2000, and I find a small yet noticeable difference with 2000sk to keep one as a carry option.

For you guys with experience, does that 1/2 inch make that much difference in concealability?

Besides what I typed above, it also depends on a carry position and body type. As I said, for me P2000 and P30 in AIWB make no difference. I have a friend who is slimmer than I am and also carries in appendix position. That minimal extra length of P30 pushes the butt printing point so much laterally and almost off the body plane that he can't conceal the 30 while he does OK with P2000.

 

[raneyday]

Thanks for the considerate replies, all. Not exactly the "oh yeah, it really is night and day" I was hoping for to push me to order an SK, but good, thoughtful responses. I'm still a little confused - Barth says they don't carry much differently for him, while Parausa says there is a difference for him. I know, I know - a lot of it is personal, and I'll have to be my own judge. I just don't want to spend the cash on another handgun if it's not going to solve my problem. Maybe I need to work with the height/cant of the MTAC for summer carry. I'm not a fan of appendix carry, so for now that's not an option.

It is the grip length that I'm most interested in. I think the width difference between the P2000sk and P30sk is only a tenth of an inch, so don't see that as a game changer. I'm still considering the P2000sk because I don't usually wear an undershirt in the summer, and I know what that P30 texture can do! But, I really like the idea of one platform. In fact, I haven't shot my other guns since acquiring the P30s. I'll be selling a Kimber Ultra TLE II to fund the SK purchase. If it were only about concealability, I'd keep that little fire cracker.

PS - YVK...best signature ever.

 

[Bucky]

Thanks for the considerate replies, all. Not exactly the "oh yeah, it really is night and day" I was hoping for...

OK, let me be the first. CLEARLY night and day IMO. You are comparing a full size pistol to a sub compact pistol. I cannot conceal a full size pistol to my satisfaction, so the P30 is a no go for me. The P30SK would conceal far better for me. However, as Barth has stated, the compact pistols, the in between size, hits the sweet spot, whether it's a P2000 or USP Compact. I'm currently carrying the latter.

ETA: I always thought a P30 Compact would be a cool gun if they made it.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

Depending on your build and the clothes you wear you can conceal either. I have both. I live in Florida where my everyday "uniform" is a t-shirt and shorts. I can conceal the P30 IWB at 3:30 when wearing a loosely fitting t-shirt. With a slightly snugger t-shirt I need to go to the P30sk so I just make it my EDC. Incidently, I find I can conceal the 45c just as well as the P30 so that's my carry on road trips. Just a little more onfidence in an overnight stay situation or a road breakdown scenario.

 

[lakelandman]

I can put P30SK with P2000 13 round mag in my pocket no problem.

 

[SIGs]

If the P30sk conceals anything like the p2000sk I had a few years ago then all would be right with the world.
I think it will because I have just purchased a P30sk from CDNN in v3 for 499.00.

At that price you probably wont loose any money if you decide you didn't care for the way it carries.

 

[mneblett]

I have both and carry at 3:30, OWB or IWB. I find the SK easier to conceal in either due to grip length. I added the +2 mag extenders from HK Pro to get a better grip fit for my hand and higher capacity with negligible added length to grip for concealment.

+1, except I only carry IWB. My P30SK, even with a +1 to +2 extension, is slightly easier to conceal at 3:30 than my USPc .45 (my P30 in theory could be carried, but only under heavy clothing/coat).

8+1 of .45, 12+1 of 9MM. 80% of the time I choose the SK over the USPc as my primary IWB carry.

I'd suggest the SK, as it's easier to conceal in more situations. You can alway buy a 45c as your next H&K.

 

[raneyday]

OK, let me be the first. CLEARLY night and day IMO. You are comparing a full size pistol to a sub compact pistol. I cannot conceal a full size pistol to my satisfaction, so the P30 is a no go for me. The P30SK would conceal far better for me. However, as Barth has stated, the compact pistols, the in between size, hits the sweet spot, whether it's a P2000 or USP Compact. I'm currently carrying the latter.

ETA: I always thought a P30 Compact would be a cool gun if they made it.

Thanks, Bucky. That's helpful. I guess I always thought of the P30 as a "compact" gun because of the P30L, but on closer inspection I do see the size difference between the P30 and the P2000 and USPc - more to think about now.

I would prefer to maximize round count in the gun and not carry extra magazines, so that is a factor for me as well.

Again, appreciate the constructive feedback.

 

[raneyday]

Hey SIGs, thanks for the feedback. Why the move from the P2000sk to the P30sk?

 

[grumpy1]

From what I have experienced the P30SK can conceal a bit easier. But on occasion I CCW my P30L and I don't have a problem concealing it at 4:00. A good holster and belt can also make a difference. I CCW my P30L in a Garrett Silent Thunder hybrid and it holds the grip nicely against my side. The end of the grip may show a little bit as I move around but I don't really care and I don't consider that printing while that does not show at all with my P30SK. No one notices or cares and we can thank all the electronics devices that most everyone owns as what would probably be thought of anyhow if someone was curious about a slight bulge might be but again no one cares anyhow. You definitely don't want the outline of your pistol to to be "printing" and IMO that is the true definition of printing when it comes to a pistol showing through clothing.

The type of shirt one wears makes a big difference. I like heavy 100 percent cotton dark colored T shirts like Carhartt or Hanes Beefy T and maybe one size larger than normal size but not always needed in my case.

https://www.amazon.com/Hanes-Sleeve...83039212&sr=8-1&keywords=hanes+beefy+t+pocket

Now the P30SK is a SWEET pistol. I like to CCW mine with the 13 round P2000/USP-C magazine with flat baseplate and X-Grip adapter for P2000SK in an Ozark single clip kydex holster at 4:00. That makes it the same height as the P2000 with flat base plate.

 

[raneyday]

You can alway buy a 45c as your next H&K.

Now cut that out!

Appreciate the thoughtful post. I'm curious about the compact guns now. More research...

 

[raneyday]

From what I have experienced the P30SK can conceal a bit easier. But on occasion I CCW my P30L and I don't have a problem concealing it at 4:00. A good holster and belt can also make a difference. I CCW my P30L in a Garrett Silent Thunder hybrid and it holds the grip nicely against my side. The end of the grip may show a little bit as I move around but I don't really care and I don't consider that printing while that does not show at all with my P30SK. No one notices or cares and we can thank all the electronics devices that most everyone owns as what would probably be thought of anyhow if someone was curious about a slight bulge might be but again no one cares anyhow. You definitely don't want the outline of your pistol to to be "printing" and IMO that is the true definition of printing when it comes to a pistol showing through clothing.

The type of shirt one wears makes a big difference. I like heavy 100 percent cotton dark colored T shirts like Carhartt or Hanes Beefy T and maybe one size larger than normal size but not always needed in my case.

https://www.amazon.com/Hanes-Sleeve...83039212&sr=8-1&keywords=hanes+beefy+t+pocket

Now the P30SK is a SWEET pistol. I like to CCW mine with the 13 round P2000/USP-C magazine with flat baseplate and X-Grip adapter for P2000SK in an Ozark single clip kydex holster at 4:00. That makes it the same height as the P2000 with flat base plate.

Makes a lot of sense, grumpy1, and exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for. So in theory, if someone had the SK version of either gun and used the P2000 mag they could decide between sub compact size or compact size/round count, depending on clothing and situation. That's food for thought, right there.

 

[SIGs]

Hey SIGs, thanks for the feedback. Why the move from the P2000sk to the P30sk?

Sold the P2000sk when I went to 1911's a few years ago. I have since gone back to HK's

I simply bought the P30sk because of the stellar price. I have never owned one before and I will get a P2000sk as well.

P2000sk was exceptionally easy to carry with the right holster, I assume the p30sk will be just as easy.

ETA: I also bought a P30/vp9 15 round mag with a spacer to carry as a back up mag while using the standard sk mag in the gun, good for me as I have two vp9 I use as well.

Best
Jordan