H&K USP

It’s one of my favourite pistols—ultra reliable, accurate, and comfortable to shoot. I’ve got one in .40 now but I’ve owned them in 9mm, as well as Experts in 9mm and .45. I really like the paddle mag release—I use my trigger finger since I’ve got small hands. The DA trigger pull is a little heavy but the SA pull is quite nice. They can be carried cocked and locked if desired, too. I’ve seen a lot of people post that the grip is too blocky and not great for small hands but I’ve got no problem at all. Mags can be pretty pricey, though.

I had one in 45. It's the best polymer handgun I've owned. I've got large hands, like paddle releases, and DA/SA guns with safeties.

Very accurate and reliable, but it's moved on like all the other poly guns. Just not for me.

brutus51

Had one in .40 S&W and didn't really care all that much for it's overall ergonomics. Felt big and blocky in my small size hand and the DA trigger was relatively heavy. SA trigger was okay, sights were decent, and it was very reliable but I couldn't see keeping it around and sent it down the road before too long.

brutus51 said:

Interested in knowing more of this model. Like the idea of a decocker with a manual safety.

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What exactly is drawing you to this choice? That might trigger more responses.

I've got 5 of them, 4 full size (45T, 45, 40 & 9) and a compact in .40.
I really like the modularity of the trigger system as you can change it out to 9ish different variations to suit your wants/needs. I like them cocked and locked and with the LEM trigger.
I really like them with the LEM/Match hybrid trigger. They are big guns, super durable and very reliable.

The mag release paddle is neither here nor there for me, I have xxl hands so the paddle is no better than a button.

The light rail doesn't have many options for a WML and once you do get that figured out, you'll have to get a holster made custom for it.
I hate the DA trigger pull and the SA pull is fine, unless you put match parts in it, then it's nice.

If the 9mm USP Compact had a DA pull with less heavy stacking, I would have bought one. Otherwise really nice ergos, and my hands are skinny.

That DA pull is the Only reason I have Three German Sigs (P6 and P228s) instead of a USP 9mm and Two Sigs.

A former coworker buddy who qualified for the FFDO badge (Federal Flight Deck Officer) responded to my comment about the trigger. He said that when you shoot 5,000 rds., the classic heavy HK trigger becomes natural.

brutus51 said:

Interested in knowing more of this model. Like the idea of a decocker with a manual safety.

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Can’t speak for the USP, but my HK45 has been a great shooter for many years. Same for my P30SK and VP9.
View media item 311Not a great pic, but I like my HKs.

I carried one for many years, found it to be an excellent weapon. Trigger takes a bit of training to get used to (same with any handgun).

I bought one and kept it for a while. On paper it checks off a lot of boxes, I really liked the features. But in practice it wasn't as accurate as I had hoped for and was bigger than I liked. I understand that the accuracy may have been the individual gun, or just not being a match for me. I still think HK makes good guns and can understand why others like them. But it just didn't work for me.

I used to own a USP in .40 but sold it. I now own one in 9mm and it's fantastic. Unfortunately my girlfriend agrees and has all but stolen it.

brutus51 said:

I like the concept of being able to apply a safety to a decocked handgun.

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Genuine question,

Why? If it's not cocked it isn't going to shoot. It seems redundant to me

I’ve got one in .40, and I like it well enough, but it’s only ok. The grip angle is a little off compared to other guns. That doesn’t seem to hinder me, it just feels different at first.

If you ride the safety, like on a 1911, I have found one can inadvertently depress it just enough that the decock mechanism will catch the hammer when you pull the trigger, and you end up with a click instead of a bang. Because of this, I ended up changing out the safety plate on mine so it is a safety only, and does not function as a decocker.

I run it cocked & locked anyway, so no need to decock.

As a 1911 user you are going to HAAAAAAATTTTTTEEEEE the trigger. Cocked and locked isn’t bad but DA is........well it’s a very effective safety feature.

They are phenomenal combat guns, designed for high stress, gloved hand, combat shooting and they excel at it. They are durable, reliable and one of the best handguns of the time. You just need to view them through those lenses.

I LOVE my HKs but am not blinded to there deficits.

All in all I think you will love it as a cocked and locked, double stack, piece of tactical Tupperware. I think you may have a hard time with the DA.

Also be aware that most HKs are TIGHT and heavily sprung from the factory. Clean it, lube it out of the box and run hotter or heavier ammo for a box or three to loosen it up. You MAY see early malfunctions with crappy/light/weak ammo early on if you don’t do this, but they loosen up quickly and are dead nuts reliable and VERY accurate if you can master their triggers.

Which caliber were you thinking of getting?
The 9mm/.40 guns are slightly smaller/ shorter in the grip frame than the .45's. .40's are plentiful as police trade in's now. 9/45 are harder to find and more expensive.
Good advice/info is being given in this thread.

brutus51 said:

Like the extra measure of safety and as a long time 1911 user my motor skills naturally sweep the safety on all my semi's weather they have one or not it's become a habit. Just me I guess.

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I'm not trying to be a prick when I say this I just can't think of a better way to word it.

If you have that much trepidation around a loaded gun you need some professional training.

Trunk Monkey said:

I'm not trying to be a prick when I say this I just can't think of a better way to word it.

If you have that much trepidation around a loaded gun you need some professional training.

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Where do you draw the line on that?

I have gravitated back to DA/SA over the years partially because of administrative use safety.

How about using a Glock vs say a PPQ because the Glock has a heavier more deliberate trigger and somebody might find that safer etc.

At some point somebody might say they don’t feel unsafe with a 1911 cocked and unlocked because it still has a grip safety.

Point is guns are dangerous and we all make our own personal evaluations as far as safety and manuals of arms we are comfortable with. Doesn’t make most of us wrong, just different. (Ok cocked and unlocked.....maybe wrong. ) but you get the point.

All that said the DA pull on a USP is puuulllennty safe, should the OP want to give it a try.

cslinger said:

Where do you draw the line on that?

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I'm not sure where I would draw the line but I'd say a decocked gun with a safety engaged is a little redundant.

ETA if you feel the need for a safety on a TDA would you also require on on a DA revolver

I have 3. Two in 40 and a mk 23. I also grew up with rainbow six and splinter cell. There are no guns built better nor more reliable. There are however, many many guns built just as reliable and as well, With better ergonomics and far better triggers and for less money. Everyone who shoots with me for the first time wants to shoot the USP. Next to none actually like them. They just dont feel as good as most guns today (nor as good as most guns available back then, Glock, beretta, sig.... imo) . I'd take a 22x sig, beretta 9x, or most any striker gun made over a USP personally if I were limited on choices.
At this point in time, with the available options we have, at the prices we have I cant imagine recommending a USP to anyone unless its nostalgia or they have other guns and just want a USP, in which case it's a fine firearm. I do think that they are one of the few combat handguns that will increase greatly in value though.
My point is that the USP is definately one you should shoot before buying. I like the gun, and its reputation much better than I like the company or actually shooting mine. Even the gamer kids 20 years younger than me that want to shoot them tend to lose interest after they shoot a 226, 220, 320, Beretta, or even a glock.

All that said, if they released a 10mm mk 23 just for kicks I'd be on the list to get one.

The USP is a fine handgun, and I enjoyed mine greatly. I also spent some time using the MK23. I learned all about them when I attended the HK armorer course. Since then for various reasons, I have moved away from DA handguns of that type, and do almost all of my work and play with striker fired guns like Glock and my shield 9. But if I was still a DA pistol user, I would choose the USP.

cslinger said:

As a 1911 user you are going to HAAAAAAATTTTTTEEEEE the trigger. Cocked and locked isn’t bad but DA is........well it’s a very effective safety feature.

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So carry the pistol "cocked and locked" if you hate the da pull so much. Versatility in terms of trigger pulls and safety configurations is one of this pistol's biggest advantages. I still have a USP 40 pistol I bought new in 1994 and have been happy with it. Too, my training and experience makes me an adherent of the da trigger for self-defense purposes.
What kind of trigger pull and safety configuration is "best" can be a very personal choice, predicated on many different reasons.

SwampWolf said:

So carry the pistol "cocked and locked" if you hate the da pull so much. Versatility in terms of trigger pulls and safety configurations is one of this pistol's biggest advantages. I still have a USP 40 pistol I bought new in 1994 and have been happy with it. Too, my training and experience makes me an adherent of the da trigger for self-defense purposes.
What kind of trigger pull and safety configuration is "best" can be a very personal choice, predicated on many different reasons.

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I am right there with you. I just wanted to point out if a shooter is largely used to 1911 triggers moving to any DA can be a challenge. HK DA triggers are great for a combat handgun but do leave a lot to desired and can be difficult to get accustomed to if coming from even a crappy 1911 trigger.

Now I am a DA/SA guy at heart so a heavy trigger speaks to me more so then a super crisp single action.