Review: HK 45

[usmarine0352_2005]

Looking at buying a new pistol for police work if the academy goes as planned.

I have a choice between Sigs, Beretta's, HK's and S&W's (M&P not allowed).

I want one in .45 ACP and am looking toward the Sig P220 Carry or HK 45.

I like the HK 45 because it has changable grips (I have tiny hands - no jokes please ), the fact that it's mag carries 10 rounds vs. Sig's 8 rounds and that I can manipulate the HK's mag release without changing my grip, while with the Sig I have to.


Does anyone have any use with one of these? What's your opinion?





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[Marcus L.]

If I were in the market for a new .45acp I would go with the HK45. It's gotten good reviews from users. I know one guy who's put 20k rounds through his with no problems what so ever. I would NOT go with the Sig P220. I'm a big Sig user, but the P220 is not all that durable, especially if you use +P ammo. Sig originally designed the P220 as a 9mm pistol, and they have done little to beef it up over the years. In fact, it shares the same external dimensions at the P226 9mm and similar slide mass. So, the P220's slide velocity is such that it really beats up on parts. FLETC has reported that their P220s which range in age from 20yrs to new manufacture break roughly 10 times as many parts as their 9mm pistols.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Ooh, this thread sounds interesting.

 

[NonConformist]

I love my HK45 and if id had it when i was LE id have immediatley switched to it over anything else.

Its uber reliable, easier to maintan than a 1911, better trigger pull(single action) than my 1911 and recoil is managed extremely well by its design and ergonomics

I love it! NO complaint and no problems

 

[atblis]

Hmm

What about S&W? Don't they make an MP in 45? I thought everybody was raving about those. I might be thinking of the XD though.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

No, I can't use the S&W M&P because it doesn't meet the requirements, hammer and decocker. It would be a good choice.



If I had my choice it would be a Springfield XD with 13 rounds of .45ACP.


But alas the department in their infinite wisdom said no sir.

 

[atblis]

Ok then.

No reason not to get the HK if that's what you like.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

I haven't fired any of the guns that are optional yet, which is why I'm trying to see what's out there first.

There's the S&W's, which I probably won't really look at, but it's between the Beretta's, Sig P220's and HK45.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

There's also the ruger p-series, but it only holds 8 rounds in .45, and I suspect it will be utterly inferior to the Sig or HK.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Yeah, not allowed to carry Ruger......only the above mentioned guns.


I've always thought Ruger's made superior wheelguns to their auto's.

 

[lloydkristmas]

Is the USP .45 out of the question? I know you said you have small hands but its not all that much bigger than the HK45, and they can be had for significantly cheaper and hold 2 more rounds.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Yeah, I used to shoot a HK USP in 45. It was a nice gun. But it was a bit big for my hands.

And when I say I have small hands, I mean small, I don't think that any of the women I work with have smaller hands then me. By a lot.

 

[James T Thomas]

my experience

USMarine:

I had one of the "compact" versions and found that it would occasionaly not close completely. That is go to battery, I think is the phrase. I just palmed it and it closed, but I do not like glitches in a firearm.

The other thing was why I traded it.
The balance.
Steel resting on top of polymer. It gave the feel of a handle on a pin ball machine that I constantly had to balance as well as maintaining the sight alignment during rapid fire!
Aimed and accurate fire is where it is at; as you know Marine.
Rent one before putting your money into it, and see what you think then.

Your service experience has accustomed you to carrying weight; "humping,"
and therefore I would go for a steel or at least an alloy pistol.
Sure, you will notice the weight, especially after months of eating doughnuts,
but when the bullets fly, you will then appreciate that hunk of steel.

I could have accepted another aggravation which was the last round to be inserted into the magazine took tremendous force ( I have good finger strength), but I'm thinking that under field conditions of freezing cold, slippery rain or with my wife doing loading the final round or even the one before that would have to be omitted. Not so bad, but not good either.

That was with the compact version, as I stated. Some where I read about the full size pistols functioning the way they were designed to do, but that the cut down barrels and slides for the compact versions would present reliability problems unless the pistol had been thoroughly engineered for that.
I think there is some validity to that, and whatever your choice, I would recommend the full size pistol.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

especially after months of eating doughnuts

That brings up a good point. I'm not a cop, but I imagine the job will involve wrestling with people more than having to shoot people. I know from personal experiance that wrestling people even with a set of rules and a weight class, that strength and fitness are VERY important. So whatever pistol you pick, stay in good shape.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

James T Thomas:

You had a "compact" HK45 or a compact HK USP?


Yeah, you add a ton of weight with your belt and everything. So a few ounces isn't the best thing, however, the only really metal pistols would be the smith (which I don't really like) and the Beretta 92F, which if you've shot has a huge grip and is hard for me to shoot. When I was a pistol coach we used them in the Corps and my fingers got tired shooting, so I had to use my middle finger.

JImbothefiveth:
That brings up a good point. I'm not a cop, but I imagine the job will involve wrestling with people more than having to shoot people. I know from personal experiance that wrestling people even with a set of rules and a weight class, that strength and fitness are VERY important. So whatever pistol you pick, stay in good shape.

Correct.

I'm round......that's a shape.

;-)

 

[James T Thomas]

mistaken identity

Sir!

My apologies; I do believe it was the USP.
Sorry.
I forgot to take my memory pill this morning.

Now that I actually looked at the pistol, I realise that the HK is no longer a USP. I've not kept up with things.

How ever, I will still recommend as valid that you try one at a rent a gun range beforehand.

And the balancing thing while engaging in rapid fire is an important consideration.

After academy graduation and when you are out of uniform and carrying your personal weapon, my guess would be a Walther with the selectable grip panels? Boy, I hope I'm not behind the times on that one too.

I'll be over in the revolver forum where I know a little more of what I'm talking about.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

James:

Your input is very helpful. Especially the part about keeping on target with the balancing. It's important to keep in mind. The new HK45 has a recoil operation that is supposed to reduce recoil by 30% to keep on target.

About the Walter, shooting someone with an unauthorized or modified gun would be very bad. Especially since SOP is to take your weapon for testing after a LOD shooting.

Unless you mean as a drop gun.

 

[NetJunkie]

I have an HK45 and love it. I much prefer shooting it over my USP 45. Like you, I also have smaller hands. The grip on the HK45 is a good bit thinner than the USP due to the smaller mags and changeable backstrap.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Is the grip the only reason why you like the HK45 over the USP?



Dang....why can't HK and Sig make their auto's carry 13 rounds of 45ACP like Springfield?


:banghead:

 

[Dobe]

I just picked up an HK 45 today. I fired about 180 rounds through it. I was surprised at how fast I became accustomed to it. The ergonomics are great, and I too have small hands.

I am a 1911 shooter, so I appreciate being able to carry in condition 1. I also found the recoil surprisingly light for a polymer handgun. Another pleasant surprise was the trigger pull. The single action pull feels about 4 1/2-5 lbs, and is very crisp with a short reset.

I really like this handgun. I wanted a P30, but my dealer didn't have one, so I "settled" for the HK 45. I'm glad he didn't have the P30.

I had better start loading again. Feeding this gun is going to get expensive.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Dobe,


Thanks. I can't wait to shoot one. I'd love to be able to just go out and buy one like you, but my budget doesn't allow it.

I will have to go to the range somewhat soon and try one out.


I like your sig about the 1911's. In my law enforcement school a kid brought one that had been passed down from his grandfather, it was made in 1915 and shot great still. All of us got a chance to shoot it, some people didn't realize what a treat it was to shoot a weapon that old with that much history and it was accurate and dead on.

 

[Disaster]

The HK45 is a fantastic firearm. It basically uses the same firing mechanism as the USP, but with a slimmed down more ergonomic grip. The smaller grip ends up costing 2 rounds of capacity.

In SA, the trigger is pretty crisp but not lightweight...maybe 5lbs or so...not quite on par with a good 1911. The DA pull is a heavy but clean (similar to most DA/SA semis) with a bit more trigger flex than most (the flex actually comes from the trigger bar.)

Pros:

1. Decocker and safety...very convenient location.
2. Supremely accurate.
3. 10 round capacity better than 1911.
4. Decent SA trigger.
5. Fantastic ergonomics.
6. Easy to actuate mag release that is less likely to be pressed by holster.
7. Recoil reduction system really does work.
8. Very durable. People have tens of thousands of rounds through theirs without a hiccup.
9. Feeds ball and JHP reliably.
10. Big trigger guard provides room for gloved hands.
11. Ambidextrous slide release and safety available for lefties.

Cons:
1. Big.
2. 10 round capacity is low compared to some other service handguns like XP.
3. DA trigger is heavy and squishy...but not heavy compared to other DA/SA guns...like Ruger.
4. Mag release is not everyone's cup of tea. Best to actuate with trigger finger vs. thumb.
5. Some people, not used to combined decock and safety have accidently decocked when pressing safety in hurried situation.
6. Not as low a bore axis as some striker fired guns.
7. Very expensive magazines....$45.
8. Stock "night sights" are light activated paint...not self activated tritium.

 

[Dobe]

I like your sig about the 1911's. In my law enforcement school a kid brought one that had been passed down from his grandfather, it was made in 1915 and shot great still. All of us got a chance to shoot it, some people didn't realize what a treat it was to shoot a weapon that old with that much history and it was accurate and dead on.

Thanks,
There are a lot of wonderful handguns out there, but I haven't found any like the 1911.

Enjoy your HK 45. It is a top-shelf handgun.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Disaster:

What's the difference in the paint and tritium? How does the paint load itself up then?

 

[NonConformist]

Tritium is radiactive and glows by itself, the paint must be lit and only glows for a short time

They put those because of German Law since they cannot use tritium