[unitman]

I am contemplating buying an HK USP9 fullsize. Anyone have any impressions of theirs? Any feedback would be appreciated. Also, I would be grateful for any comments re HK customer service. It seems that high capacity wonder 9s have lost their allure to .45 1911s in CA due to the 10 round magazine limit.

[Black Snowman]

I have shot the .40 version and was quite happy with it. It was a pussycat to shoot. It had a trigger job so I won't comment on the triggers. In 9mm it would have to be extremly easy on the hands to shoot with it's heavy slide and wide backstrap. If it fits you I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

If you're not real experianced in handguns I recommend trying to rent many guns first. My personal 1st choice for a 9mm is the CZ-75 SA, but I don't have it yet. I tend to like large and powerful cartriges for the visceral effect they have on me when shooting :D

There are several "Mods" of the HKs that function differantly. SA/DA, decokers, ambi, L/R handed, DAO, etc . . . so when you're shopping make sure to get the "Mod" you want.

[echo3mike]

Had a USP 9F... sold it to finance another 1911. Tough gun. Ate anthing I fed it, easy to field strip and clean. As for it's accuracy, well...believe the hype.

Almost industructible; I say almost because I kinda broke the hammer torsion spring by dry firing it a WHOLE lot. Seems that's been known to happen. The nice folks at Pacific Blvd had it back to me in about 10 days without charge, even though I bought the gun used (as an example of their "Lifetime Warranty").

On the down-side, the trigger wasn't worth spit, the checkering is wicked-sharp (easily remedied), the grip is, well, a double stack grip and it's a big, clunky gun.

If I was some operator going into harms way (along with a "long gun", a bunch of my closest heavily-armed friends, close air and arty support and extraction-on-demand), needing a reliable handgun that would eat the ammo available and not give me any reason to think about it if everything went according to plan, then the USP 9F would be at the top of my list. Fortunately, I'm some slightly overweight, soon-to-be 40, former 0311 who has the luxury of a handgun I can make a fuss over if I want to.

My 2 cents.

S.

[Chupacabra]

I have a compact .40 and I like it quite a bit. It's incredibly reliable (has never jammed) and is more accurate than I am.

The trigger and grip aren't really worth writing home about, but they get the job done. I really like the safety/decocker and the fact that it can be carried cocked & locked in single action. Disassembly and cleaning is a snap. It's also relatively light and conceals well. They are also expensive, but worth it IMO.

If you were to get the USP9 for a CCW, I would reccomend going with the compact version, as the fullsize USPs are REALLY fullsize. :D

[krept]

I love the platform and could sing many praises (robust, ultra reliable, near match accuracy, etc.), but will leave that to the others. My issues...

- On pistols with a manual safety lever, I prefer to ride the safety with my thumb and do this on 1911s. I cannot do this on my USP .45 because the location of the lever and size of my hand don't work well together. Also, if you ride the safety a little into area where the decock begins to engage, the pistol will not easily fire. This can be solved by switching to a decock only or safety only variant...

- trigger reset is a turd, DA pull is heavy. Regarding the latter, I replaced the mainspring with a 12lber from Wolff and it did improve with no affect on the reliability. re: the former, I find that relative to other pistols, my finger almost has to come completely off the trigger before it resets. In all honesty, I'm not sure how important having a good reset is in a defensive scenario, IMO the USP trigger is sufficient in this regard... usable, but leaves a lot to be desired.

- high bore axis due to the weird hump above the backstrap. Can't really choke up on the grip like I can a Glock, P7 or 1911 w/beavertail. Leads to a little more muzzleflip, although IMO the recoil spring setup makes recoil nicer so this is negated a little.

- aftermarket parts and magazines are pricey. proprietary gizmo rail is kind of a downer.

- large pistol in my hands (.45 fullsized). Does not feel fast on the draw because of this and the aforementioned location of the safety. Pistol is currently relegated to nightstand duty where I don't have to be quick on the draw as in a CCW situation.

The biggest recommendation I can give to you is try before you buy... at least check out the fit and how well your hands can manipulate the controls. Again, there are MANY great things about this pistol but I don't want to sound like the typical USP zealot. If I could do a full sized .45 all over, I'd probably go with a 1911 or P220 because they fit better.

I did have the opportunity to fire a USP .40 and it was a breeze, so I imagine the 9mm would be even moreso... IIRC the USP was built off the .40 so it will be even more overengineered for the 9mm.

fwiw,

cheers

[Smurfslayer]

I have 2, one has a LEM trigger, the other is getting it. If you're not familiar, it's a double action only with a very short reset. It can be had with or without a safety this way, mine are without. This makes it very fast into action. I've had the stock, home installed 'match trigger', and now the LEM trigger, it the LEM is by far the best USP trigger available. It has to have one of the best resets of any handgun I've shot. If you opt for a variant using a lever, unless you are King Kong, the lever is in an awkward place for fast cocked and locked deployment. I like the grip, however, after a few hundred rounds, the magazine release blisters my middle finger, and generally abrades your hands. It would only be an issue in a class, or perhaps a match. I have not bothered with a slip on grip because I figure if I get blistered, I need to shoot more :evil:

I carry the usp9f without a problem - it's not _that_ big.
All variants of the USP can be had from their customer Service in VA for around $100. Turnaround has been about 2 weeks. Standard caps are ~50 - 65 on gunbroker, unmarked 18 round expert 9mm mags about 80. These stick out from the mag well, without the jet funnel...
To date I've got about 6-8 thousand rounds through the main USP with 3 malfs - 1 - wwb 9mm; discernible lower report - thought I had a squib, didn't but also didn't get a clean ejection. tap rack bang drill cleared.
2: slide wouldn't lock back on one of my standard caps with a +2 extension. Replaced all with wolff + 10% springs, problem gone.
3: put thumb where it rubbed slide, again no clean ejection, tapped, racked and banged back into action... all 3 user error as the most likely cause.

HTH

[dwestfall]

I had a 9f and a 45f. I still have the 45f. I could carry the 9f concealed, whereas I can't the 45f. But the 9f has the same capacity as my Glock 19 which conceals MUCH better.

I could not shoot the 9f nearly as well as the 45f. Neither could the others that shot it. The 45f has the match trigger, so that might be it.

The 9f uses plastic magazines which reliably drop free unless you bend the hammer strut by forgetting to disengage the internal lock before forcefully racking the slide. (This would apply to a new gun, since AFAIK after disengaging the internal lock the key is supposed to be made into a necklace or charm for the wife.) The 9f magazines are extremely lightweight and seem a little flimsy compared to the metal 45f mags. I never had a problem with them though.

I really like the magazine release. I use my trigger finger. It took me about 5 seconds to "get used" to it. The only problem is that I sometimes find myself trying to release the mag on my Glocks or 1911 that way. :(

I would recommend converting to v9 (cocked/locked with 2nd strike capability). As noted, if you ride the safety lever (as I think you should if your gun has one) you can partially depress it without noticing -- without causing the hammer to drop -- and the trigger locks up. I had it happend in a class once when the gun was v1 and immediately switched to v9. Don't pay $100 to have the factory do it, just order a detent plate for $10 and do it yourself.

I sometimes miss the USP9F.

I have dealt with HK customer service twice on a P7M8 I had. I have no complaints about HK customer service.

[Sactown]

I have USP40. Thing eats all kindsa ammo and hasn't choked.
Recoil isn't bad, but the high bore axis doens't help. Easy to disassemble and clean.

Grip is blocky, what they call checkering on the grip, I would call serrations (ouch).

Trigger is heavy and creepy.

I prefer my cz75, but that's a 9mm. Try before you buy if possible. CZ's really fit my hands well as do Sigs.

[10-Ring]

I have a USP 9 that I got for IDPA (at least that was my rationalization at the time). It goes well with my USP 45, Expert 45, & USPc 9. I like the fullsize 9 alot. Eats whatever I feed it, haven't had a hiccup of anykind in any of my HK's (even if you include my P7M8 or my HK4 into the mix), is unbelieveablly accurate, reliable, durable & just plain fun to shoot.

[Ala Dan]

Good guns, I've owned and shot the H&K USP .45F
and achieved good result's. The downside was it
was just toooo dang big for my need's !:uhoh: :D
Therefore, I opted for my original choice which is
the .45 caliber SIG P220A.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Erik]

USPs are solid, well designed, reliable, size-inefficient work horses. They were a good deal back when they were marketed and prices as affordable alternatives to Glocks. They are just as good, but now adays they are priced considerably higher than Glocks and oddly enough, in no small part due to stellar marketing, they sell more than before.

[JohnKSa]

Good sights
Good SA trigger
Smooth DA trigger--pull is a bit heavy (like most DA trigger pulls)
Recoil is least of any of my fullsize 9mms
Accuracy is very good. Only my Beretta 92 tops it in the 9mms I own.
Mag release is different, but very easy to like. It feels fragile but I've heard no reports of breakage.
It's not as tolerant of dry-firing as some pistols apparently--there have been some reports of broken firing pins.
Very reliable--have had a couple of Failures to Extract with Winchester White Box fodder. No problems with any other ammo.
Hi-caps are pretty expensive.
Lo-caps are more expensive than most.

If you want one, get it. You could definitely pick something worse, and while I'm not going to say it's the best on the market, you're not far from the top, IMO.

[wardog]

I've had a full size USP .45 for years, and just added a compact in .357 Sig. Really like them both, but the grip on the compacts feels much better to me than the full size. Very strong, durable, reliable guns. A bit expensive though. Thinking of adding a 9mm full size at some point, if the AWB sunsets.

[Night Guy]

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I couldn't agree more with what everyone else has already stated. My USP .40 compact has been 100% reliable so far. I've only put ~700 rounds through it, but never a hiccup. The only problem I've had was when I left snap cap in the chamber overnight and went out to shoot on a cold morning the next day, the snap cap would not extract. I suspect it was just the plastic in the snap cap reacting to the temperature change. Not one problem with live ammo though.

My next purchase will be a fullsize USP 9mm, so I understand where you're coming from. I have zero doubts about buying it.

[Spark]

5500 rounds here and 10 IDPA matches; only a single stoppage and that was because I failed to seat the mag fully during a tac reload (operator error). Best sidearm I've ever owned. When they make one with an upwards decocker DA/SA it will be utter perfection.

[dwestfall]

I will add that the compacts have pretty short barrel lengths for their overall size. The USP45c is really a 3.5" .45 IIRC.

[Skunkabilly]

I've had both a 40 Fullsize and 45 Compact over the years. I can't really add anything else here as everything everyone has added has been dead on.

Sold them both because I didn't like the calibers--I'm a 9mm guy, but if I got a 9C or 9F I bet I'd be really happy.

[Marko Kloos]

Solid, very reliable, accurate, big and clunky, and usually too expensive for a plastic gun. I wouldn't feel underarmed with one, although it wouldn't be on my wishlist for a CCW piece.

[jimmyjoebob]

own both the fullsize 9 and 40, both are reliable guns as well as accurate. However if you have smaller hands the fullsize might feel like a brick. Also the frames on the 40 and 9 are the same, so if you search ebay and other auction places, you could find a 40 upper to drop on your frame and you have 2 calibers

[unitman]

Thank you all for the great information. I got to try a USP9 out and liked it. It was very accurate, but no more so than a Glock 17, for me at least at 10 yds. I'm looking for a full-size 9 mm that would be reliable, fun to shoot, and easy to maintain. I like the finish because it is easy to maintain. It's tough for me to decide on which pistol to buy because there are several models that I like.

[Tango Sierra]

My USP9 has never failed to feed, fire or eject . My 1911 is my only gun I shoot better than the USP.

I love the sharp checkering others complain about (easily remedied if don't like that as has been pointed out). I like the magazine release and I use my index finger to release the magazine. Some shooters complain about the the magazine release irritating them when shooting but I don't have that problem.

The double action trigger really sucks when dry firing but I don't notice it when concentrating on hitting a target. I actually like the S/A trigger and the re-set though that's only when comparing it to DA/SA guns, not 1911s. My USP trigger must re-set sooner than other USP owner's guns. It's re-set is much better than my P220 but not quite as good as my CZ75b.

My son's duty weapon is a USP45. He always wants to try other guns but when ever he does, he never likes anything else. The only one he likes is his USP45. Me, I like a lot of different guns but my USP9 is the last of my DA/SA guns that I would part with.

[unitman]

Tango Sierra, I noticed that you have a SIG P225. So far, that is my favorite 9 mm pistol. I love mine for the way it fits my hand and is the most accurate 9 mm I have ever shot, even better than a P226 (for me), although the latter was an old range gun that may have been worn where I used reload ammo. Perhaps that is not a far comparison. The most accurate pistol I have shot was a .45 Kimber Custom II. It did the virtually one hole thing from about 25 feet and made me look like I knew what I was doing.

[4thHorseman]

I have a USP 40 Compact.
I may be in the minority here, but I'm not all that excited about the platform.
The first trigger pull in DA is horrible.
If I wanted to carry a SA, I'd carry a 1911.
The trigger guard rubs on the side of my finger, no other gun has ever done that. Very annoying.
The gun rattles in my hand when I shoot it. Also annoying.
The Sig 239 does none of these things. As concealable, reliable and easily shot.
I paid alot for the H&K, very dissappointed in it.
Sorry, wish I could inject a positive note here, but I can't.

[Tango Sierra]

Unitman,

I just put the money down on the P225 last Friday and I won't take possession of it for a few weeks. I like the P220 and P226 but I don't care for the 228/229 or 239. I'm hoping I like the 225 even though I have never shot it. I have shot all the other classic Sigs except for the 230/232.

[unitman]

Tango Sierra, You made a GREAT choice! I predict you will love your SIG P225 as I do mine. I bought mine new a year ago and have put 375 rounds of Remington 115 grn FMJ through it without failure. I've been very busy at work or I would have shot it more. I wish I could buy a 1911 for a sub $800 price that is as reliable as SIGs are. My hands are large, and the P225 still fits me well. I wonder if a full size Springfield Armory 9 mm 1911 would be as accurate as the P225. Happy shooting.

[CB900F]

Unitman;

I've had my USPc for years, it's a KH. I've never had a problem with it, at all, period.

Last year I sent it in to have the ambidextrous operating lever installed at H&K USA. They did the work at the price quoted & gave me a very quick turn-around. Got some spare mag springs at the same time & that cost was quite reasonable to me also.

I don't find the 'checkering' objectionable at all. The trigger isn't a 'match' trigger, but it's certainly good enough for a carry gun.

Since mine's the compact, it's not what you're asking about - maybe. If I were you, I'd certainly try the compact. It's full-size compared to just about anything except the full-size USP.

900F

[cratz2]

Have nothing against them but they don't feel super comfortable in my hand.

And I don't believe I've typed these words in a long time but, 'I'd rather have a Glock.'

Honestly, I'd rather have a SIG Pro, XD or P99 too.

[Greg45]

I had a USP40f that I traded in for a P229-.40.
The trigger pull was absolutely horrible.
The grip felt like I was holding on to a cheese grater, a very large cheese grater.

On the up-side, it was very accurate and reliable, but so is my P229. I much prefer my P229.

[1911Tuner]

From the two that I have handled and fired...One Fullsize, one Compact:

Reliable with any ammo. Impressively accurate. Top-heavy...for my tastes
anyway. Didn't fit my hand well, but could be accomodated with time and
use. The Compact didn't balance as well fore/aft as the Fullsize...
Sound design, and a good weapon.

'Bout it all I can say.

Tuner

[rauchman]

Greetings,

I've got a USP45F. It is my bedside gun and also one of my favorites. It and my Sig 226 would be the last of my pistols to go. The USP is very accurate, durable, built very strong, has good sights, and recoils softer than comparible models. I love the mag release setup. Wish more pistols had this setup. I've read some threads regarding firing pins breaking. From what I've read this is due primarily to dry firing without snap caps. I put a Hogue sleeve on the grip since the checkering on the back strap tends to act as a meat tenderizer for my palm. A lot of people bitch about the DA on the pistol. When I first got the pistol it was very heavy and a little gritty. Now with over 3k in rounds, the DA has smoothed out considerably and seems to have gotten a little lighter. Very smooth though. I've fired a USP9F and there was barely any recoil. Again, very accurate and built like a tank. I've also tried a USPC.40 with the LEM. The LEM was pretty cool. Extremely smooth and you can get it in different weights.
Overall, they are as good or better than just about everything out there. The only downside is the price. I believe someone else mentioned when they debuted, they were pretty much the price of a Glock. Now, they are considerably more expensive. Good luck
Ken

[clubsoda22]

IT IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA!

On a more serious note, I am very happy with mine (.40). I like it much better than a glock for tactical usage. Realize, that this is a combat gun, it's not winning any beauty contests. If you want a "no comprimise" combat piece, i can't think of something i'd recommend more.

[12-34hom]

I've owned the 45full sized and currently own thier compact model in 357sig. Both in variant #1.

I prefer a 1911 platform, but if i had to buy another gun for ccw or duty that was not a 1911 model - H&K usp would be it.

If they made a full sized model in 10mm that would be as close to a overall perfect personal defense weapon [handgun].

12-34hom.

[Spieler]

I had an HK USP9 full size in 9mm and found that it was just too wide and large overall for my tastes - espeially in 9mm. Also, couldn't - or maybe I didn't want to - get used to the push down mag release. It was quality throughout and a great shooting gun for the range, but I soon traded it away. In the larger calibers like .40 or .45 it might be the right platform but in 9mm I prefer something a little smaller.

[Morgan]

What's that you say? I'm going into harms way, and can choose any major manufacturer (including Glock, Beretta, S&W, SIG, and 1911's from Colt, Kimber, or Para) in 9mm or .45?

I carry a USP45. On duty and off. 'Nuff said.

[tc300mag1]

I have fullsize 45 and love it very accrute and mild recoil...with a 9 i would say you would barly feel it

[Smurfslayer]

My USP 9 arbitrarily decided to puke up a part of it's firing pin at the range Friday. Complete stoppage, no fixing it. If there's a weak point on the gun, the firing pin seems to be it. I estimate 9000 - 9500 rounds, with perhaps 2k more dry fire. Perhaps 1k were personal defense, or otherwise "hot" 9mm. Nothing but a steady diet of CCI and winchester white box for close to a year now.

Fortunately, I had a backup, and when I got back home, my backup USP was waiting for me from the factory LEM conversion. I testfired it Saturday, and it worked flawlessly. I'm now awaiting parts to effect the repair... I'm disappointed, because I really like the gun... but if I bust another one in 10k rounds, it's back to shopping for another carry piece...

[Morgan]

Smurf - do you use a snap cap for dry fire?

I have probably tens of thousands of dryfires and maybe ten thousand live (mostly +p) through my 9mm. Not so much through my .45. No problems.

Of course, I use a snap cap.

[clubsoda22]

DUW: here's a link to my .40 tactical http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=706582#post706582

[Smurfslayer]

Nope - I haven't used a snap cap for dry fire. It's only been a LEM variant for about 3 or 4 months, but since each pull of the trigger requires a slide cycle to "dry fire" it's kind of inconvenient... Even before the LEM conversion, I didn't use a snap cap. Still, I practice routinely and my need for dry fire is minimum - and even if you accept the premise that not using a snap cap can lead to a broken f/p, that should be unacceptable to any major manufacturer of firearms... I hope this problem is limited to a small run of the firing pins...

[clubsoda22]

didn't know that the LEM doesn't have second strike capability. I guess it's more like an para LDA than a DAO. Learn something new every day.

[Quack]

i had an USP9F V1, but sold it a while back because i just don't like safety levers. i picked up another USP9F V7 for cheap this weekend and just ordered a LEM conversion for it :)
the LEM does have 2nd strike capabilities, it's just going to be REAL HEAVY, unless you "pre-cock" it.

Review (http://www.outdoors.net/site/features/feature.aspx+Forum+Firearms+ArticleCode+901+SearchTerm+) of the LEM

[only1asterisk]

I had a UPP9F and loved it. The trigger was just like most other USP triggers out there, little heavy, long reset, plastic feel. But I could forgive it because it was the at once the most reliable pistol I have ever used and one of the more accurate.

Edit to add that I think the LEM trigger makes the gun that much better. If I ever find a good deal on another one, I will add it.



David

[natedog]

Isn't the control lever (Variant 1) both a manual safety and a decocker? Someone told me that the USP can be kept cocked and locked, and you press on the back to disengage the safety and press on the front to decock...

[Quack]

correct, V1 has the safety and de-cocker. lever up is on safe, horizontal is off safe and a downward stroke is de-cocked.

[Tactical]

I have the USP 45 Compact and have one word for it.

EXCELLENT!

I love it. It’s accurate and reliable. It has a great balance feel that I really like and it fits my hand like a glove.

Let me say I am extremely happy with the purchase.

Hey and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

[Boats]

HK USP???

NO COMMENT!!!

Otherwise this thread will become locked. :D

[CB900F]

Natedog & Quack;

Variant II is the same. Lever up for safe, horizontal for fire & down for decock. When the lever is used as a de-cocker, it will auto-return to horizontal or fire. It has been rumored that H&K is also working on a model with a de-squidding function. The variant II is the model with the operating lever on the right side of the frame for us left handers.

:D 900F

[unitman]

I wish to thank you all for the great information. I plan to buy a pistol soon and will have to make a tough choice because there are several that I like. My biggest concern is the ***-chewing I will get from my normally good natured wife for bringing home another piece.

[Smurfslayer]

"didn't know that the LEM doesn't have second strike capability. I guess it's more like an para LDA than a DAO. Learn something new every day."

[SS] The LEM _DOES_ have 2nd strike capability. The issue is that when you "2nd Strike" a round in a LEM pistol, the hammer spring is not pre-cocked. Instead of the 2nd strike being a 4 pound pull, it's more like a full 11 - 12 pound pull...

That's how the LEM is supposed to work - pre cocking the hammer spring through action of recoil... As long as everything goes fine, the trigger will be constant. IF you get a misfire, you may 2nd strike it - at full hammer spring weight.

My issue with snap caps as a deterrent to dry fire is that in order for the trigger squeeze to be accurate, I have to cycle the slide ...

I still have a good opinion of the USP, it's a very reliable, very accurate pistol.