[Quantrill]

Found this blurb on "Avflash", an aviation web page


German gun maker Heckler & Koch will supply U.S. airline pilots with their weapons. The winning bid was announced last Thursday. The company will supply 9,600 .40-LEM semiautomatic pistols for the TSA's Federal Flight Deck Officer's program...

[Kharn]

WTH is .40-LEM? Is that a .40 USPc?

Kharn

[mpthole]

I think its basically the UPS .40 C. You can check it out here (http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/).

USP Compact .40 LEM (Law Enforcement Modification)
• New LEM trigger mechanism for crisp DAO (double action only) bigger trigger pull

• Night sights

[10-Ring]

Go check out hkpro.com for details on the LEM...it's short for Law Enforcement Modification which is just a long name for HK's DAO trigger.

[Skunkabilly]

I thought the LEM was kind of like a long single action first pull like the Daewoos?

[Mikul]

The LEM is a long double-action trigger pull, but it's very smooth and not heavy at all. An LEM gun is DAO.

[obiwan1]

It is their Option #7 DAO variant of the USP Compact in .40 cal. It was available only to LEOs until this year. It is the issue pistol for INS/Border Patrol Special Agents and authorized for all INS/Border Patrol LEOs off duty or plain clothing.

I've had mine for almost 2 years. Very accurate and totally reliable. The trigger can be best described as Glock like with a slightly longer takeup before resistance is felt. It resets like the Glock for fast strings of fire. I wish the bore axis was slightly lower, but that's my only complaint. I like it alot.

It's interesting that TSA would choose it because they had previously been using Glocks and their Sky Marshalls are equipped with Sig 229s in .357 Sig. H&K must have given them a hell of a deal for them to beat Glock (if cost was the deciding factor).:D

[mete]

Night sights on an airplane ? And they are soooo impatient , they didn't wait for the P2000 ! The only way to drop prices is to make them here. Costs of german made stuff is high considering exchange rate on top of already high costs(socialism).

[clubsoda22]

This is good news as i heared that some politician wanted them to buy S&W:rolleyes:

[only1asterisk]

LEM and DAO USP are 2 different things.

The regular USP DAO is just that, full DA trigger pull each and every time.
The LEM is a modification of the above allowing the hammer to be "precocked", reducing the trigger pull to eith 7.5-8.5 lbs for every shot, or 4.5-5.5 lbs (selectable by changing a spring).

It is only available from the factory on USP40c, but can be fitted to any USP9 or USP40 (not sure about .45's).

I've handled one, and if it was available from the factory for retrofit, I would have NEVER sold my USP.


David

[Drifting Fate]

I think the new American Handgunner said that Glock 22's had been chosen.

Not sure - may be a different "guns in the cockpit" contract.

[Akurat]

I would have rather seen them go with an American mfg. Kahr would have been perfect...maybe a Compact Beretta or a Ruger. Oh well...lets just reward the Germans for sticking by us through thick and thin :rolleyes:

[Schuey2002]

They'll probably use this as an excuse to delay the release of the P2000.. :banghead:

[obiwan1]

Actually, It's an exellent weapon. I've had mine almost 2 years. Totally reliable and very accurate. The LEM trigger is great. Clean 8 lb without a gawdawful long pull.

Actually what surprises me is the cost factor. They're much more expensive than the Glock. If cost/reliability is the criterion, then why couldn't Glock beat them on cost (given equal reliability)?

Bottom line: they chose well.

[Skunkabilly]

LOL Schuey, always the P2000 pessimist :D

[Spackler]

I would have rather seen them go with an American mfg. Kahr would have been perfect...maybe a Compact Beretta or a Ruger.

Somewhere, there's probably a warehouse full of Colt All-American Model 2000s. They probably could have gotten a great deal on those.

[kbellis3]

It possible that there exsists a storage locker full of AM 2000's, but unless they drop the price to less than $200.00 who would want them.


Kyle

[Schuey2002]

Oh Tactical One! Thou knowest me far too well...! :neener:

[boing]

Actually what surprises me is the cost factor. They're much more expensive than the Glock.

Only at the retail level. I think production costs are much more in line with Glocks. The USP was a price point competitor to Glock when it was introduced.