HK 45 or HK USP 45

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Trvestg

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Between an HK45 and an HK USP 45. I can get the HK45 for a little under $300 less than an HK USP, but I have held a USP (and I liked it) but have never held an HK45.

Does someone have both, and can you tell me if the USP is worth the extra bills?
 
I agree with 460. I have had both and the USP is a little too big for my hand . The HK, same gun except for ergonomics, fit me better . I have the HK45c LEM now and really enjoy it . Serves as a great suppressor host ! Whichever fits you best is the one I suggest .
 
I have both and also greatly prefer the feel of the 45 over the USP. I have multiple USP and I believe they are a good gun that will appreciate in value. But for any real use I'd prefer the HK45 ergos. I prefer the Da/sa variants.
 
The HK45 is a more ergonomic gun for me, but the USP has less recoil.
There are a lot of used USPs on the market these days, I got a beauty USP 45 for $500.
 
Between an HK45 and an HK USP 45. I can get the HK45 for a little under $300 less than an HK USP, but I have held a USP (and I liked it) but have never held an HK45.

Does someone have both, and can you tell me if the USP is worth the extra bills?

It really depends on you and how they fit in your hand. For me the HK45 is a bit small. The HK USP 45 fit my hands better.
 
...can you tell me if the USP is worth the extra bills?
I can't imagine that anyone feels that the USP is worth any more than a HK45. The HK45 is a better designed pistol

The reason is that the HK45 was designed as evolutionary advancement of the USP...taking in feedback from experts and advancements in production and technology that had occurred in the 10 years between their introduction (1995 and 2006)
 
The USP is a friggin' boat anchor. Horrible ergonomics. Cheese-grater frontstrap. Mediocre accuracy. I'll give it props for reliability and durability (would survive a nuclear blast).

I had to carry one for several years and was actually thankful when we switched to a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol.

HK45 a distinct improvement, for certain.
 
I had to carry one for several years and was actually thankful when we switched to a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol.

Our neighboring department did the same. The city went to a sig 229 or 226. The county went to a Glock. Neither complained.

I like the USP but I grew up on rainbow six and such and it was a very marketed handgun to my generation. Even though I own a few, and have a soft spot for them, I'll be the first to say it may well be the least ergonomic (and possibly over hyped) gun I've ever fired.

Either way, unless I was seeking collectibility (mk 23, socom, etc) there is absolutely no way I'd pay more for a USP than the updated gun.
 
I had several USP 45's , and am a HK certified USP armorer. I have also fired the HK45, and I like it better.
 
I'll be the voice of dissention here apparently. I carried a USP 45 with the LEM trigger on duty for about 2 years. Previously I was carrying I believe a P226 with a DAK trigger. I tried a friends HK45 LEM with the intent to "upgrade." I gave it back with zero interest of shooting it again. I found the recoil objectionable compared to the USP 45, and the sights jumped far more. My USP was extremely accurate, soft shooting, and extremely reliable. YMMV in this regard. I have small hands for a male, but had zero issues with the USP. The HK45's grips felt good in my hand right until I pulled the trigger.
 
I like the USP better for sure. Reason? I am a lefty and like the right side of the gun clean of any levers I might hit with my thumbs. The USP is better than the HK45 in this regard due to the HK45s long slide lock/ slide release levers on both sides.
 
I tried both and bought the HK45 which for me s a wonderfully accurate and soft shooting pistol. Mine is DA/SA. I like LEM for CCW but otherwise prefer DA/SA and that is what my P30L is also. As always best bet is to try each for yourself and then make a decision. IMO the HK45 is a steal at current pricing. At one point they were going for over $1000 new even at the cheapest online sellers.

Below is the amazing test results from Todd Green's 50,000 round evaluation of the HK45. He does not drop it in mud puddles or throw against the wall if that is your thing though.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/4027


"The HK45 fired its first 31,522 rounds without a bobble of any kind, another pistol-training.com endurance test record. But the mere fact that it out-performed those other pistols tells only part of the story. I do not believe another .45 pistol could fire that many rounds, in that short a time, with that little maintenance, and survive."
 
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The USP feels like a 2X4 in the hand. The HK 45 is better but the trigger for the price is horrible.
 
shot both many times, own usp45 tactical version. it is a boat anchor for carry but a great range gun.

I dont find usp ergos poor at all and I have little girl size hands. that said if ya like the hk45 it's a fine gun too. I like it too, but just prefer the usp. if saving money is the issue, you already have your answer.
 
The grip panels of the HK45 were designed by Nills
That would explain why the texture on the HK45 is vastly superior to the crap they put on the VP9 and P30SK. It’s the same texture my Nill grips on my S&W revolvers have, and it works great.

Though I hear the VP9 texturing is more durable.
 
Honestly I don’t get the hate for the USP 45 ergos.

I have fairly small/medium hands and always felt the USP 45 had a fairly thin grip and easy to reach controls.

The HK45 is superior in the grip and some of the controls ergonomically but I just never felt the USP was HORRIBLE. Glock 21.....HORRIBLE. :)

I prefer the USP aesthetically and I really like the aggressive checkering fore and aft on the grip.

At current pricing it’s hard to go wrong with the HK45.

I own one US made HK, an HK45 Compact and several German HKs. I don’t see any obvious quality or build differences. It seems the biggest loss is the proof marks ........ which to be honest......I kinda dig having on pistols. I know stupid and they don’t matter at least in my HK experiences but I like them aesthetically. :oops:
 
I have an HK 45. The ergos are better on the HK45 IMO, and that’s why I bought it. The USP gets you two more rounds in the magazine.

In either case, I wouldn’t buy either unless it had a LEM trigger and night sights on it.

Yep, especially the bold part. I don't particularly love DA/SA guns but hold HK DA/SA in particular disdain.

But the LEM, especially the light LEM, is pretty OK.

Edit: Worth admitting I don't and haven't ever owned a USP 45 or HK45, but have been thiiiiiiis close to buying a HK45 on a number of occasions, but ultimately the trigger pushed me away each time. Similar story with the P30 and USP 9c.

The mind wants to love the HK, the trigger finger does not.
 
I found both the USP45 and HK45 to be too big for my hands, and I have previously owned both.

I have owned a ton of 45s over the years. I finally gave up owning any that are not 1911s. Every non 1911 45ACP I have owned was just too big in the grip for me. Or, they recoiled much more than a steel 1911.
 
If I were personally choosing between the two I would grab a USP. I have no experience with either but the USP is one of the guns I’d like to own for historical significance.
 
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