Today, we’re not just looking at the Nighthawk GRP, though there are many great features available on the gun. This is also a look at Federal’s 30 Super Carry cartridge, which is designed to increase capacity in standard-size handgun magazines while retaining ballistic performance equivalent to 9 mm Luger.

The platform for the impressive Federal 30 Super Carry defensive cartridge is Nighthawk Custom’s GRP, which is the company’s entry-level pistol. As with all of Nighthawk’s guns, the GRP is built by a single master gunsmith who methodically and carefully fits all its parts to create a custom pistol capable of great accuracy. Each Nighthawk Custom GRP is built on a Government-size frame and slide, giving you a 5”, match-grade barrel. The slide is cut with coarse cocking serrations at the front and rear and is topped with a Heinie Ledge Straight Eight tritium rear sight paired with a tritium-illuminated front sight. On the frame, you’ll find a pair of G10 Gator Back textured stocks, shortened slide stop, checkered frontstrap and mainspring housing, high-cut front strap and the company’s aluminum tri-cavity trigger.

While the Nighthawk GRP can be had in several calibers, including .45 ACP and 9 mm Luger, part of the story here is this gun’s chambering in 30 Super Carry. With a smaller bullet and case diameter, the 30 Super Carry allows shooters to maximize the number of rounds on board, and an M1911 is a perfect example of the round’s ability to increase capacity. Typically, single-stack M1911s have a magazine capacity of 7 rounds in .45 ACP. This gun, chambered in 30 Super Carry, increases that number to 12 rounds without any increase in the length or width of the grip frame or magazine.

Thanks to the gun’s 30 Super Carry chambering and its all-steel construction, the Nighthawk GRP was one of the softest-shooting guns we’ve had on the range in a while, and it was a welcome change of pace to have extra rounds on board in a standard-size M1911. The beveled frame made magazine changes fast and easy, and we noticed the custom-tuned trigger, which is set at the factory to break between 3.5 and 3.75 lbs. The hand-fit frame and slide acted against each other smoothly, without any noticeable wiggle room, and the well-textured frame and high-undercut trigger guard allowed the gun to sit deeply within our hands, softening recoil even further. While we didn’t carry the GRP, it was clear that Nighthawk made the gun carry-friendly, completely softening and dehorning every sharp edge on the gun.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Nighthawk Custom
Model: GRP
Action Type: recoil-operated, single-action, semi-automatic, centerfire pistol
Chambering: 30 Super Carry
Barrel: 5″ forged steel
Frame: forged
Sights: Heine rear, Tritium front
Stocks: G10
Trigger: single-action
Magazine: 12-round detachable box
Overall Length: 8.65″
Overall Height: 5.4″
Weight: 36.9 ozs.
MSRP: $3,499

Article by AMERICAN RIFLEMAN STAFF