H & K USP 45 What's the verdict on this firearm?

[MechAg94]

I agree that it is big and bulky. 12 round magazines are comparable with others these days. It has been very reliable for me, but I haven't put that many rounds through it. The recoil is actually a little harder feeling than my XD or other 45's. I actually like the DA/SA action for self defense purposes so that is the main reason I keep it around.

I bought mine used with a trade in. IMO, it is a good gun, but just not worth the premium price they charge for the new ones. If you can find a used one for a decent price, it might be worth trying. The main thing to remember is the USP is 20 or more years old. When it came out, there really weren't many really good auto loaders that people trusted to be 100% reliable. It isn't that it is a bad design, it is just very outdated and eclipsed by newer pistols. I'd say the same thing for the Sig P220.

If I started over again with money and no guns, I would look at Glock, Springfield, or S&W M&P for my polymer 45. Any will have all the reliability of the H&K USP with better feel and features.

[Dave2]

Just curious, does anyone have experience or own the H & K 45. What are your thoughts?

The HK USP 45, or the HK 45? I have no experience with the former. The latter's trigger guard rubbed my trigger finger funny, and, for me, wasn't quite as accurate as the Sig P220 I was using (both were rentals from Target Master). I normally shot a Sig P226, though, so that might be why I liked the P220 better.

[rm9792]

IMO the HK45 was a step backwards. It is smaller but trigger feels worse. I havent shot one but handled one in my smiths shop on several occasions.

[Thane]

I had one. I bought it used, worn, beat-up, but it was reliable.

I sold it a while later as it had the ergonomics of a brick and a horrible trigger. That being said, ALL of the HKs I've fired had horrible triggers. I've also never found one that was unreliable / jammed, without some outside source for the jam (massive amounts of dirt, user error, etc.).

If the USP is what appeals to you, it's a reliable pistol, but I agree that they're overpriced for what they are.

[Dave2]

IMO the HK45 was a step backwards. It is smaller but trigger feels worse. I havent shot one but handled one in my smiths shop on several occasions.

Hmm... I've got a friend with a USP 45... I sense a trip to the range in my future...

[rm9792]

If you were down here you could try out my USP.

[HarleyDave]

Thanks for everyone's input, guess I'll go a different direction. The trigger issue is one that I've heard from other folks so again thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply.

[SpringerFan]

I like em but the grip is waaaaaay too large for my medium-sized hands. If ya got strangler's hands...........still buy a XD.

[Droshi]

H&K is always expensive when compared in specs to other guns...but they seem to over-engineer things, and as such I still think you get extra for your money, it's just not apparent (such as polygonal rifling). Maybe these sort of things don't matter to most people, but for some reason they appeal to me. :)

[Dave2]

If you were down here you could try out my USP.

Sorry, I didn't see this until now. Thank's for the offer.

[KinnyLee]

H&K is always expensive when compared in specs to other guns...but they seem to over-engineer things, and as such I still think you get extra for your money, it's just not apparent (such as polygonal rifling). Maybe these sort of things don't matter to most people, but for some reason they appeal to me. :)

Glocks have polygonal rifling but they are not nearly as much as an H&K. Their barrels are a lot more robust than others though. They have tested it where you can clear a lodged bullet in a barrel with another another without it blowing up in your face. I would not try this at home, but that was one of the things that impressed me. Their customer service, however, is another story.