TFB Review: The Nighthawk Custom President in 30SC
My first handgun was on sale when I bought it. Starting your journey into firearms can be tough when you’re young. Shooting is an expensive activity. However, there comes a point in every shooter’s life when they have the resources to make a more substantial purchase. Handling a high-end, custom firearm is an eye-opening experience. Like moving from a Ford Edge to a GT, money can buy performance. Of course, it all comes down to the shooter’s abilities, but a smooth, well-crafted gun can deliver reliability and consistency. One company that’s well known for its top-tier quality is Nighthawk Custom, which boasts that each of its guns is crafted by one gunsmith. I recently got my hands on the Nighthawk Custom President, this one chambered in 30 Super Carry.
Nighthawk Custom @ TFB:
The Nighthawk Custom President in 30SC: Specifications
- Caliber: 30 Super Carry
- Capacity: 12
- Barrel length: 5”
- Overall length: 8.58”
- Weight: 38.2 oz
- Sights: Heinie black ledge rear, gold bead front
- MSRP: $4,599.00
Announcing the Campaign
The case the gun comes in is made by Savior Equipment and reeks of opulence before it’s even opened. Inside, there are cutouts for the pistol and two magazines. There’s a cutout for an optic, as well. The President uses a very cool optic mounting system. Unfortunately, I was unable to mount a dot on mine for this review.
The pistol itself is… Okay, I’m going to do my best to be objective, but it’s honestly pretty fantastic. The first thing I did was lock the slide to the rear. As I pulled back on it, the slide moved along the frame with such ease, I thought someone had melted some butter and dropped it in the rails. Small details, such as the slightly extended and contoured slide catch, are subtle reminders of how thoughtful manufacturing can make your experience better. I don’t have large hands, but I can reach the slide release with my strong side thumb.
This President is chambered in 30SC. Though the round is new and unproven, it gives me an extra five rounds in the magazine compared with .45 ACP. This gun won’t be accompanying me to any high-intensity matches or for a night on the town, although it’s more than adequate for those roles. For that reason, I’m not concerned with untested ballistic performance and appreciate the extra capacity. Speaking of extra, the front sight is a 14K gold bead. Flexin’.
Nighthawk on the Ballot
Fancy custom guns are really cool to look at but they’re worth nothing to me if they can’t also shoot. I did some accuracy testing using Speer Gold Dot 115-grain 30SC hollow points.
Standing and unsupported, these were my results from 15 yards:
Group 1: 1.002”
Group 2: 0.237”
Group 3: 2.385”
Group three was fired semi-rapidly. The gold front bead is sized right for precision shooting and is bright and large enough for quick shooting. I ran some drills to get a feel for how quickly this 38-ounce beast could get me back on target.
I’m sure that nobody is surprised that the mix of an all-steel gun and a low-recoiling round led to some very quick shooting. The sights returned to target, and before I knew it, I was ready for a follow-up. The Nighthawk President is faster than me, and there’s still a lot of performance that could be squeezed out by a better shooter.
Everything else worked exactly the way it should. The safety was easy to activate and deactivate and the magazines dropped free. My only issue was with the magazines. After loading the first five or six rounds, the cartridges began to give me resistance when pushing them back against the spine of the mag.
The Votes Are In
The Nighthawk Custom President was an experience. This is really the first time I had the chance to use a gun this expensive. I used to look at these price tags and think they were absolutely ridiculous. After putting about 200 rounds through this one, I get it. The car analogy is really perfect for this gun. As the price goes up, so do the features and benefits. A teenager who is just getting their driver’s license wouldn’t be able to truly appreciate a Carerra 4S. Anyone who’s been driving for a while will understand why the Porsche is more expensive, especially after driving their Civic.
The slide is probably the smoothest I’ve ever felt. Every operation of the President is a pleasure to perform. The finish is beautiful and even. I’m usually not one for flashy parts on my guns, but the way the gold parts are used makes them feel like upgrades with class.
The 30SC performed well in the Nighthawk Custom President, especially considering these were all hollow points. If I had my choice, I think I’d opt for the .45 ACP version. The 1911 was built for the “one-shot stop” caliber, and the slow push of the .45 just feels right from these guns. Using 30SC for defense is another article on its own.
If you like 1911s and you’re in the market for a top-of-the-line, expertly crafted firearm, this could very well be it. Nighthawk Custom has no shortage of models to choose from, so try a few out if you can. If you can’t, you won’t be disappointed if you mark the Nighthawk Custom President on your ballot. If you’d like to get more details from Nighthawk, head to their website. Make sure to follow along with them on social media. Nighthawk can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Stay safe!
Stemming from his childhood love of WWII history, Nic's passion for firearms continues to grow as his maturity level recedes. He has competed in local USPSA, IDPA, and rifle competitions, and has an almost unnatural affection for Rosie, his Gen3 Glock 19. @the_brutal_rooster
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The .30 Super Stupid will soon go the way of the .327 Fed, .204 Ruger, Every Winchester Short Mag. You get more...of less. I absolutely love my Nighthawk Custom, I've got 15,000+ rds though it with ZERO malfunctions. But add cost, availability, and performance? Why bother with anything less than .45 or .38 Super? Hell, 10mm is fantastic and at least 9mm para is proven and is a dream to shoot in this platform. Buy any .30 Super Silly and you'll hate yourself in short order. WWJCD, (What Would Jeff Cooper Do)!
LOL, no, just no. LOL