[righteousbarbarian]

Hello.

I would like to get your opinion because I am at a crossroads. I had my heart set on an H&K USP 45 Tactical but after doing a lot of research, I've started to wonder if I might get more "bang for the buck" (pardon the pun) with a second option. You see the Springfield XD 45 also seems like a high quality gun with a lot of great features, a good assortment of peripherals, and a nice carrying case, but for much less. With the money I save, I might be able to purchase a little Taurus 617 (2" .357 mag revolver with a 7 round capacity) too! I've always wanted a CCW and the stopping power of 7 .357 mag rounds in such a concealable package is really attractive to me.

[SoCalShooter]

If you go with two you have one gun for each hand. If it were me I would go with two guns.

[DogBonz]

And it is, IMHO, one of the best guns ever made. I have almost 10K rounds through my old friend, and I have had only one failure, and that was the fault of bad ammo, not the gun. I would get the USP. I learned long ago that it is better to have 1 good gun than 2 lesser quality pieces. As the old saying goes; “beware the man with only 1 gun… for he knows how to use it”.

Trust me, get the USP and practice with it and you will never regret your decision. They are accurate, reliable, and dependable. Go HK.

[flashman70]

I just got the USPc in .45 and really like it. I looked at the tactical, but didn't think I'd ever need to screw on a suppressor. The full size USP is just a little too large for my hand size.

I do hear good things about the XD, however. I just wouldn't want a small .357, even if it was from a mfgr. other than Taurus. For CCW, .38 +P is probably enough from a snubbie.

Just my .02. :)

[Taurus44]

As an owner of 3 XDs, I can say that the XD-45 is an excellent weapon! I wouldn't hesitate to buy another, no matter what the other options are/were.

[aubie515]

I had an HK USP45c SS and it was a fine shooting pistol. It was a bit bulky for me to carry. I like the feel of the USP and it was simple to field strip.

Once I bought my XD45, I decided to sell the USP because I shot the XD very well and I like how it fit my hands compared to the USP. The HK tactical model is one large pistol, so if you have a large build, I'd say it would fit you well.

XD mags are half the cost of HK mags, which should be another consideration when deciding on which pistol to purchase. Anything that has HK written on it will be expensive.

I personally wouldn't buy a 2" revolver in 357 mag because the shorter the barrel...the more noticable the recoil is going to be. Have you considered the Steyr line of pistols? You can buy a 40 S&W or 9mm NIB for $350 from CDNN.

[Pat Cannon]

How about, the XD and whole bunch more ammo & range fees?

[righteousbarbarian]

I just wouldn't want a small .357, even if it was from a mfgr. other than Taurus. For CCW, .38 +P is probably enough from a snubbie.


Thank you for the advice. I knew it was going to kick hard. Does the higher pressure of the +P mean you have to get 38s that specifically support the +P round? I found an alternate revolver that's even cheaper and Rossi seems to get better reviews than Taurus. I just don't know if I can shoot .38 special+P out of it because i'm a newb.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/80028

Have you considered the Steyr line of pistols? You can buy a 40 S&W or 9mm NIB for $350 from CDNN.

No I am not familiar with that manufacturer, but I will look into it. Thank you.

How about, the XD and whole bunch more ammo & range fees?

perhaps wise advice. btw, does anyone know if there are threaded barrels that fit on XD 45s? Suppressors are so sexy.

[pax]

Whichever one fits your hand best, plus training.

Best gun in the world is useless if you can't put the bullets where they need to go when they need to be there.

pax

[whited]

Everything else being equal,

I had my heart set on an H&K USP 45 Tactical

this is the answer to your question.

[Nomad, 2nd]

If they were all the same price... which one would you get?


That one.

[Lonestar49]

...

~ Variety is the spice of life ~


my 2 cents


LS

[cslinger]

Other and what I mean by that is the XD45 and maybe a Ruger SP101 or Smith J Frame. I don't like Taurus firearms.

Reasons.
1-The XD in 45 is a great gun. Not as accurate as the HK but a damn good gun.
2-Having two guns means if one goes down you have a back up.
3-Everybody needs a good revolver.
4-Different calibers means lots of variety or ammo availability. .38, .357, .45.
5-Variety is indeed the spice of life.
6-HKs are good but not worth the price of admission IMHO unless it is a P7 or P9.

Now for the really cool thing. Buy the XD45 compact and get three guns. A compact 45, a full size 45 and a .357 revolver. :D

[VA27]

P7

[10-Ring]

Let's see, I'm not an XD fan & my experience w/ Tauri has not been all that consistent. OTOH, all my HKs have done nothing but impress me w/ their out of box reliability & accuracy...I voted for the HK :cool:

[glockman19]

I voted HK...Why?...I don't like taurus. the XD is OK. HK USP nice gun, reliable, feels good. shoots well. Springfield...I'd rather have a 1911. No XD for me.

[kansas45]

I have 2 XD's. A 45ACP Service & a 45ACP Tactical. Bth are good, reliable accurate pistols. I also own a Taurus 45ACP Tracker revolver with a 6 12" barrell & a PT1911. I can not find fault with any of these guns.

[Eightball]

Go with what you've wanted for longer, and you'll probably be more satisfied with it, rather than think "these were what I got instead of the USP".

[03Shadowbob]

Price doesn't always mean an "awesome" gun. I would much rather have 2 solid, reliable guns that are not at the high end of the price range.
Here's what I have done. I basically started buying firearms that fit a specific role and in order to do that, I needed more than 1 firearm and at halfway decent prices. Now that I have these carry needs and hunting needs covered (8 guns for $2500), I am saving up my money for some of the ones I have had my eye on for a while and those are an AR and a nice 1911..

[RNB65]

I'd go with one awesome gun.

But it wouldn't be an HK. :)

[ozwyn]

+1 on what Pax said. get one gun that fits right, training and practice time.

[Devilnut]

I know how you feel, I had my heart set on a 1911. I ate slept and dreamt them, I wanted one so bad. I kept going to the range with a buddy that had one and shooting it made it worse. When it came down to it though, I ended up buying an XD-45 because I could not justify the extra cost. After selling my XD and buying it again, I know why I loved it in the first place- I had no trumped-up expectations, I was even a little skeptical, but it has alway been better than I thought it would be- Kinda of like an pickup truck, It's ugly but it's never let me down. I think that if I had spent 800-1000 for a 1911(or an HK) the glamour would wear off after a while, and I would look at it for what it does for the money I spent at which point I would have a hard time quantifying how much better it is.

BUT, I understand the sickness, so if an HK is what you want...:) go for it

[lee n. field]

I had my heart set on an H&K USP 45 Tactical but after doing a lot of research, I've started to wonder if I might get more "bang for the buck" (pardon the pun) with a second option.

Me, I think I'd be getting the XD + Taurus. That said, you should get the H&K.

Looking at the psychology of it. If you get the XD and Taurus combo, and you're disappointed (unlikely on the XD, definatly within the range of the possible with the Taurus), you'll be kicking yourself that you didn't spend to get what you really wanted.

[flashman70]

Thank you for the advice. I knew it was going to kick hard. Does the higher pressure of the +P mean you have to get 38s that specifically support the +P round? I found an alternate revolver that's even cheaper and Rossi seems to get better reviews than Taurus. I just don't know if I can shoot .38 special+P out of it because i'm a newb.


I'm not familiar with Rossi, so I'd check that it's rated for +p before getting it. Any S&W or Ruger will handle +p.

[BBsteel]

Assuming they all fit your hand and feel good I would get the HK. I bought 3 HK's in the past month. Two used USPs (USPc 40 and a USPf 9) and a brand new P2000SK 9 mm Variant 3. My opinion is probably biased since I'm a big HK fan. I like the DA/SA, decocker options, safety switch on my USPs and overall accuracy with the little P2KSK. Break down is also nice and they are rock solid and engineered to a 't'. When looking at the high cost of these guns I personally don't care....I believe "I got what I paid for".

I do like the XD though. Although is doesn't have an exposed hammer I like the SA trigger and grip safety option.

Not sure about the Taurus (no experience there).

I vote HK!

p.s. All 3 HKs still have the glamour effect as well as the rest of the guns in my safe. Even my Stoeger condor 12 gauge O/U that I use for dog training!

[BillD]

Get one if you want to be a proficient shooter. Buy as many as you can afford if you want to be a collector.

[Autolycus]

I am very partial to HK firearms. I would go with the Tactical myself.

[hso]

Get what fits you instead of what we say or a magazine says.

If the HK points naturally for you the others won't. If the XD fits the HK won't. If neither fit, look at a CZ clone and see if it fits.

Take what's left over and spend it on training.

[BryanP]

As others have said, try then buy.

That said, I own both an XD45 and a Taurus 617. I'd buy the XD again. I probably wouldn't buy the Taurus again, but not for reliability reasons. The 617 doesn't fit a good niche. Because of the 7-shot capacity it's too wide for convenient CCW, and the 2" barrel is a CCW length. If I were going to buy something in that general size/weight class I'd probably get a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel.

That said, if you like the 617 it's a decent little revolver. With a house full of Ruger, S&W, Browning and SIG pistols, that 617 is my nightstand gun.

[BayouTeche77]

I have learned from experience to get what you want now because you'll most probably own it later. Life is short, get the gun you really want while you can still enjoy it. Get the H&K and post plenty of pictures.

[PPGMD]

I have a USP Tactical 45, it's a fantastic pistol the match trigger makes a huge difference between it and a normal USP. Out of the box it's trigger is as well as my "well loved" USP 40 that I had.

If you really want the USP get it, because your are going to buy it eventually.

[righteousbarbarian]

Thanks for all your advice people. I think Devilnut summed up the conclusion that i came to

I know how you feel, I had my heart set on a 1911. I ate slept and dreamt them, I wanted one so bad. I kept going to the range with a buddy that had one and shooting it made it worse. When it came down to it though, I ended up buying an XD-45 because I could not justify the extra cost. After selling my XD and buying it again, I know why I loved it in the first place- I had no trumped-up expectations, I was even a little skeptical, but it has alway been better than I thought it would be- Kinda of like an pickup truck, It's ugly but it's never let me down. I think that if I had spent 800-1000 for a 1911(or an HK) the glamour would wear off after a while, and I would look at it for what it does for the money I spent at which point I would have a hard time quantifying how much better it is.

BUT, I understand the sickness, so if an HK is what you want... go for it

I just couldn't justify buying a single expensive firearm at this point in my life (granted, i've been saving up but it's still like 8% of my yearly income, lol). I will be graduating from college at the end of next spring and i'll probably be getting a well paid job that may allow more liberal use of money. I also don't know what state i'll be living in, and the USP 45 Tactical might be illegal, like it is in Massachusetts, where my parents live. It really was pretty impulsive for me to think of buying it in the first place.

Against what most people said, I decided to go with the Taurus 617. I mentioned that I use a wheelchair in another thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=274534&highlight=wheelchair) and that I was interested in a CCW. I went with the 617 because

A) My wheelchair offers me unique opportunities to hide weapons that might be a little bit bigger than would be comfortable for other people.

B) It has the 7 round capacity that i wanted so much

C) It was DIRT cheap. So, even though Taurus can be hit or miss, I decided to GAMBOOOOOOL! A lot of people have great success with Taurus and all their weapons are parts and labor guaranteed anyway. If it still proves to be unreliable at the range, I'll have to get something else because reliable CCWs are crucial.

I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

I'm still up in the air with the semi-auto though. i need a place to try pistols out but my resources are a bit limited. i have secured a chance to try the Sprinfield XD series though. I'm not sure which one yet.

[03Shadowbob]

Good luck with that Taurus. I have owned several and still own a couple and think they are great guns for the money. Hopefully you will have the same luck as most of us. You may want to look at the Taurus PT series Millenium Pro's. Best buy for the money, right now IMO

[Mike128]

Get the one you can shoot best. I love my USPc and it fit my hands well. But it took me a lot of practice to shoot it even half way decent. If I don't concentrate and think about my grip I'm lucky to hit paper. I bought a sig 226 and first time out shot it as well as I do my USPc. The 1911 is like an extension of my hand and I shot it best of all. Now, as much as I love my USPc I don't shoot it much because I'm better with the other two. Guess which one cost me the most and just sits in the safe? Get the one that you shoot the best and practice. It's much more fun when you can hit what your aiming at.
Keep in mind the HK is a big gun and might not fit your hand.

[stiletto raggio]

I own upwards of fifty guns. When I ge back from deplyomen, I'll be selling a least a dozen of them and purchasing six or eight more exotice pieces. The sales of he first batch won' cover the cost of the second, but it has gotten me to put things in perspective. If you have only a few guns and need more variety, pick up a couple, less expensive guns. Realize that these will be more likely to leave your possession in the future. As for me, I have a lot of variety, so I will keep my Glocks, my Smith revolvers and my Beretta shotguns, but I will be trading up for some new rifles and combat shotguns.

If your heart is set on the USP, get it. If you want variety, go for more guns. Just realize that if you buy one gun you really like, it makes it a lot easier to wai for the next purchase, and you won't go squandering your money and losing out in trade-ins and sales.

[03Shadowbob]

good advice Stilleto

[hankdatank1362]

Have you looked at the Taurus PT 24/7 in .45? It's the poor man's H&K!!! Just doesn't have the name recognition (or the accuracy, but it's decent) I got one in 9mm, dead reliable. Also have a Taurus model 85 .38 special. Now that is a real gem. It will take +p all day long (carry Golden Sabers +p) in mine. Trigger is a dream. Put the Hogue grips on it (I got big paws) and it is perfect.

And did anyone mention, H&K hates you?

[pinotguy]

At the risk of sounding elitist - quality beats quantity every day of the week . . .

[yhtomit]

But given your situation, I'd take the "two good guns" option.

- If one breaks, or if you decide to have some sort of upgrade done to it, you have the other.

- You can have guns in different calibers; some calibers are cheaper than others to shoot, and variety is the spice of life.

- since you're looking at getting two different guns rather than a matching pair, you get to practice more with different gun types and be instantly comfortable with both.

- If you go shooting with a friend without his own gun to contribute, you can let him use the more accurate one as a polite host ;)

- you get to learn more thoroughly what you like and don't like, as a guide to future purchases.

If you were 99 years old, and had an appointment w/ Jack Kevorikian (out on parole, I think), I'd probably say get the One Awesome Gun, a lot of ammo, and some blister pads for your trigger finger. But I'm guessing this won't be your last-ever gun purchase ...

timothy

[metallic]

I guess it depends on what kind of personality you have. Me, personally, I know I will never be happy settling for anything less than exactly what I want. If I wanted the HK and bought something else, I know I'd eventually end up getting the HK at a later date. Besides, once I pick out a favorite in my collection the rest of my guns don't get much range time.

[HGUNHNTR]

It is absurd to mention the XD is the same breath as the USP Tactical. There is no basis for comparison.

[righteousbarbarian]

Thanks for everyone's input. I really do appreciate it and many of you make some very good points. This won't be my last gun purchase, and like I said before, I'm a college student and an H&K USP Tac is roughly 8% of my yearly income. It can wait.

I really like nice things but I'm also practical. I think I can get just as excited about a really good CZ right now without feeling like I'm depriving myself of anything. For my semi, i've narrowed it down to the following CZ models (I know, I change my mind a lot).

a really nice 97B .45 acp with a 10 round capacity. I like the power of a .45
http://img9.imagepile.net/img9/15431189.jpg

a really nice SP01 9mm with a ridiculous 19 round capacity. I like the price of 9mm
http://img9.imagepile.net/img9/192main073.png

I could save about $70 with this 75B with a 15 round capacity 9mm though.
http://img11.imagepile.net/img11/969cz_75b_cal_9_bl-01.jpg

[yhtomit]

CZs are really nice guns -- I bet you won't feel too shortchanged ;)

The grip on the 75 reminds me a a lot of a Browning HP, or even (though at the wrong scale) of a Makarov -- nicely hand-filling, at least for me.

Re: 9mm v. .45 -- the same dilemma strikes me; when I'm paying for ammo and renting a gun, I tend to prefer more (or at least cheaper) rounds of 9mm. Once I am set up for reloading, I think I'll do a lot more .45 ;)

timothy

[wally]

Once any handgun gets over $800 I start thinking maybe a rifle isa better buy.

Quantity has a quality of its very own :)

With two guns you have a spare or one for a buddy to watch your back when the SHTF.

My range favorites tend to end up being my inexpensive "value priced" guns -- I've always been very happy with the way they've performed and held up thru high round counts. Over 10,000 rounds thru my $300 RIA with only a single $5 part replacement at ~3500 rounds.

--wally.

[Shipwreck]

U missed the best option...

Walther P99 A/S

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g320/mistershipwreck/mags1.jpg