[Snaps]

Anybody have one of these or shot one many times? I was looking for a new .45 before but ended up getting a S&W revolver. Anway I'm considering that or one of the Kimber or Wilson polymers and need oninions on the HK.

I live out in the stix and we can't rent guns at the ranges we've got around so I need the help of people who have experience

Thanks

[Chipperman]

I have a .45 Tactical and a .45 Compact. They are great guns.

The USP line is very versatile. There are variations of the safety/decocker that can change its function and the side it is on. Great news for Lefties, along with the ambi mag releases.

I think they are great guns. The big question, if you decide on what is which to get, and in what variation. If you intend to use it a CCW, then you may want a Compact. They are not much smaller than the Full Size, but enough to make them easier to conceal. If you want it more for range work, then you might want to skip over the regular FullSize and go to the Tactical. It has a threaded barrel for toy, a better trigger, an O-ring barrel, and comes in a nice case with extras. IMO, it's worth the extra $$ over the FS.

The next question is which variation. The typical is V1, which is control on the left side, saefty and decock. V2 is for Lefty's with safety and decock on the right. The others progress along, either left or right side.

This link shows the variations near the bottom:
http://www.hkpro.com/usp.htm
This link shows the .45FS:
http://www.hkpro.com/usp45.htm
This shows the Tac:
http://www.hkpro.com/usptactical.htm
This link shows the Compact series:
http://www.hkpro.com/uspc.htm

Good luck!

[Snaps]

Thanks for the links. I'm looking at mostly just somehting to play with at the range. Planning on the full size model, but I want the SS slide. Is that an option anywhere on hte tacticle?

[Chipperman]

The Tac was never made with the SS slide. The FS stainless is no longer available, so you'll have to get an older one hanging around, or go used. The Compact is still available in Stainless.

[Skunkabilly]

Snaps, what is California University of PA? Are you in PA or California?

If you want a two-tone Wilson KZ45, you will have to send it to get hard chromed. If you want a true KZ45 stainless, it will cost you another $600+ for the new slide + rest of the parts & whatnot.

USP45 Stainlesses are not made any more.

I have both the KZ45 and USP45 COMPACT.

When I got the KZ45 I thought I was going to have a slew of 1911s one day. I'm losing interest in them and may want just ONE 1911, if that many. If you plan on just having ONE 1911, skip the KZ, because while it's a great gun, it's not a true 1911 you'll feel like you're missing something.

The KZ45 is a good shooter but the ergonomics aren't for everyone. The more I shoot it, the less I like it and the more I like my cheapo Beretta more.

The USP45C is a great gun but I wish I got the 9C instead.

Supposedly Bruce Gray the HK God makes a trigger that converts the USP45 to SA only, gives it a 2# trigger and is supposed to be as good or better than a 1911.

[Snaps]

IT's a school called California University and it's in Pennsylvania. Nobody that's not from the same place ever gets that:)

I'm not really looking for a 1911, I want at least 10round capacity and stainless or chrome (at least slide)

I'm still shopping around I really don't know what I want yet those are the ones I've found so far. The hard chroming or chroming or anything like that was something I started looking into after the post that said they never came in SS.

I've never owned an HK but I've never heard anything bad about them either so that's one of my major options. I'm not really that worried about price tags since I keep everything I buy. That's how I rationalized the DE anyway.

I've already got my carry guns so now I'm just looking something reliable, fun to shoot and with some sort of silverish slide.

[Snaps]

BTW Skunkabilly do they make Beretta .45s? I love the looks of those but I've never seen a .45.

[Glock_17]

Snaps,

I own a .45 ACP H&K Expert. It is mostly a range gun so the really big grip doesn't bother me too much.
Accuracy is very good and the SA trigger is fine, but not comparable to a 1911 one.
As some poster said before, a chromed slide is not an option, you would have to send it to a gunsmith for that.

[Snaps]

I'm probably going to check into that and the Tactical model. Getting it chromed isn't a big deal to me as long as it's a decent turn around and good work. I don't care much for the hair triggers so I don't think it would be that big a deal

Again thanks for all the opinions.

[10-Ring]

I have a few of the USPs in various calibers & sizes. Out of box, totally reliable, unbelieveably accurate and very very very well made. I recommend them to every one tht asks (and a few that don't!)

[Kahr carrier]

HK USP 45 ,Buy it:D

[jem375]

My son bought one and after shooting it, I decided that maybe I should buy one, it was that accurate......

[Handy]

I found the USP .45 fullsize to be one of the lowest recoiling .45s I've shot. Accurate too.

You can carry a USP like a KZ45, but not the other way around.

[gryphon]

I have 2 1911's and a HK .45 FS

Right now, the HK is probably my 3rd favorite. I seem to be able to control the 1911's better and am better at offhand accuracy.

I might just need more time with the HK.

So far it has been accurate and reliable.

[10-Ring]

The more I read this thread, the more I think you should get both...a single stack Kimber & a USP 45. Life's too short to settle! :evil:

[Snaps]

I'm 23 so I've got plenty of time to settle:D Anyway I don't want any less than 10rds so a single stack is out of the question. It's just a personal thing. At some point today I'm going to go see if I can't take a look at some.:evil:

[10-Ring]

IF settling means less than 10 rounds, then the USP is the answer. Don't forget too, that 10 round single stack mags are available but...a) they bottoms stick out of th grip of the 1911 & I have read reports of some of these mags being less than 100% reliable.

USP, USP, USP! :cool:

[Skunkabilly]

Beretta makes a .45, but in the Cougar frame. It's supposed to be a good gun, but has a closed slide, so lacks the 'Berettaness' of the 92-series. And it only has 8-rounds, not sure if there is an extension.

Singlestack 1911s have 10-round magazines, I have 4 of them for the 1911 I don't have. They stick out an inch-and-a-half though.

USP45's can't be had in stainless unless you send it off. Sig makes a stainless 220, but not sure if they have 10-round magazines for them.

Rent the HK and see if you like it. If you were in my area, 10-ring and I would let you try our collective 45 fullsize, expert, compact, and KZ45.

[SouthpawShootr]

My dad has 2, a standard full size and I think their tactical model. Both have exceptional triggers and are very accurate. Too big for my taste and a bit too expensive. Also the factory adjustable sights look ridiculous.

[Humble Texan]

Really enjoy my USP45f. Very accurate, good sa trigger and the recoil reduction feature in the "full" really handles the recoil well. I love shooting rapidly. Very well made, no cheap parts that I have noticed. I have found the fixed, factory sights more than adequate.

You might enjoy reading the manual.

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/pdf/usp_man.pdf

Be safe.

[Snaps]

Thanks I'm DLing the manual right now. I'm looking at the Tactical nad the Fullsize. I'm not sure what the price diff is, but it looks like the only major diff is the threaded barrel. And I have no desire for a silencer. (At least right now) I tried to register at HKpro.com to ask some questions but I got a message saying my membership needed to be approved first.

Right now I think I'm leaning toward the fullsize and getting the slide hard chromed. :evil:

I do like adjustable sights though. I'm sure I can find a nice set of them if I really want them.

[Skunkabilly]

I think the Tactical *MIGHT* have an O-ring barrel (theoretically helps lockup = more accuracy, but not sure if it practically helps), and maybe a match trigger.

Gotta love the T-word on the slide.

Try to find a picture of some two-tone fullsizes. As much as I am a two-tone junkie, sometimes I think they look...wrong. But maybe HC will look better than HK's shiny silver stainless.

[agony]

HK prices are climbing fast. Last year the Tactical was going for $829 at my dealer. Last week he had one fresh from the factory....selling for $1000. Yikes!

I like the USPf 45. Owned one for 5 years now, and has never hiccuped. Very mild recoil. The only mod done was the addition of an ambisafety. I also have the Tactical, which has the o-ring and the 'match' trigger. The trigger on the older USP feels much smoother, even in DA mode. I believe, like SIGs, HKs smoothen out with age. The accuracy between the two is negligible at combat distances and benched at 25 yards.

If I were USPless right now, I'd jump on a USP45 in a heartbeat. Forget about the Tactical....just ain't worth the money unless you plan on supressing it. I just like mine cause it says Tactical on it....so you know it's hard core. :D

Or do the right thing, give up 2 rounds, and look really hard at the SIG P220ST....cheaper than a USP, all stainless, all SIG, and all good!

[Snaps]

can't give up the 2rounds. I stopped at the store today after classes to check them out. All they had was the USP compact. No wilsons (I expected that) and none of the double stack Kimbers either. I've got to find a better store.

I'm thinking either the WIlson or the HK right now.

[Erich]

I've fired a friend's Tactical, and that O-ring really helps with accuracy. I have to say that if I were in the market for a .45, the USP Tactical is the one I would buy, and I say this after having owned 1911s and Glocks and having fired Sig P220s enough to know what I'd be missing.

I can't vouch for the regular USP line, though.

[Onslaught]

The USP45 is my favorite pistol of all time. It just fits me like no other pistol, and it shoots where I aim it.

A shooting buddy has a USP45 Stainless, and it sure is pretty!

There are still stainless USP's available new... I overheard an HK distributor talking to my favorite FFL guy a few months ago. He said that they still had a few full size stainless in inventory, and asked if my guy wanted any.

[Skunkabilly]

Try the Wilson, if you like it, you can have mine if you don't mind used ;)

[Snaps]

I'd love to try it but I don't know anybody who has one. I found a guy at school that's got the USP .40 so I figure I can get an idea of the feel from it.

[10-Ring]

Remember if you shoot the USP 40, it's gonna feel diff't than shooting the 45. The USP 45 is one of the mildest recoiling 45's I've had the pleasure to shoot.

[Bosco Baracus]

HKs are great shooters. The o-ring versions are inherently more accurate, but the regular USPs will still shoot very well. Of the USP 45 family, by far the smoothest, mildest recoiling is the Mk23 (but it's also the most expensive). The full-size USPs are easy to control, and the compact is just a tad bit more lively with full-power loads. It's been awhile, but I think the USP40 grip is slightly smaller than the USP45 grip.

I haven't shot the Kimber or Wilson polymer-frames pistols yet so I can't compare the USPs to those.