[Kangspec]

iam new to this forum. and i searched for my answer, but still not clear.

Is Federal HST still LE only? also they are brass, nickle, steel casing? i read other than brass is harder on guns? also lead or copper?

btw: also plan to buy HK45 few months later:D

[CWL]

All American cases are made of brass. Some are plated with nickle, not made out of nickle.

Steel is not used for American-made cartridge casings. Steel is often used in rifle cartridges from E. Europe and Asia because it is cheaper.

Bullets are made out of lead, it is the properties of lead (high mass + malleability) that causes transfer of energy, penetration and expansion to do damage. They are usually jacketed with copper or brass. This metal jacket helps with reliable feeding of the bullets.

The HK45 is a very big pistol, have you held & fired one before? I love .45ACP as a cartridge, but I can't hold the HK45 comfortably-enough to shoot it well.

[Kangspec]

ah, Thank you. just plated. so nickle plated will not hurt gun at all like all brass?

big as size or fire power? i have small hand. hmmm. waiting for local gun show. see how it fits.

[PO2Hammer]

Brass will not hurt your gun. Nickle plated or otherwise.

It's widely believed that steel cased ammo is hard on the extractor, but the HK's are as tough as a pistol gets.

My hands are normal/medium and I think the HK45 is a big improvement in grip shape and size over the older USP .45, but be sure before you drop a grand.