257WM_CDL-SF
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i am considering trading my 1911 for a H&K 45 what is everyones thought on H&K are the good and reliable
H&K thoughts
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atblis
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If you do not like your 1911 and you do like the H&K, sure go for it. I'd arrange for a range session to try it out before trading. You might find that you don't like the HK.
The HKs are good pistols.
The HKs are good pistols.
Fulliautomatix
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The USPs are about as close as you'll get to a 1911 in a polymer framed pistol as far as the manual of arms. You can carry it cocked & locked, plus have the option for a decocker. If you get a .45ACP model in the compact frame you'll have 8+1 capacity, or 12+1 in a full size frame. Not much of an aftermarket available for USPs, and replacement parts are relatively pricey compared to a 1911. That said, H&K's are fine & reliable weapons.
Hk 45
I'm a 1911 fan. The 1911 is one of my favorite platforms. I also have and appreciate the HK45. It is a very well built, reliable, and accurate handgun. It has a very good SA, and a somewhat lousy DA, which can be improved by use. The ergonics on the HK45 is also great. You'll love it.
I'm a 1911 fan. The 1911 is one of my favorite platforms. I also have and appreciate the HK45. It is a very well built, reliable, and accurate handgun. It has a very good SA, and a somewhat lousy DA, which can be improved by use. The ergonics on the HK45 is also great. You'll love it.
Which should make the HK45 even better as it is a product improved USP.
When H&K discovered that there wasn't enough of a market to justify their version of a combat worthy 1911, they updated the USP with the ergos of the P2000 and input from Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn...who really know what it takes to make a 1911 run in combat.
Besides the reliability that come with modern production, they kept the accuracy that the USP is known for and the excellent mag releases. The grip panels were designed by Nill and feel great in the hand...plus they can be adjusted in size for fit
davidbee
Member
Hk45 Series Pistols Full Size And Compact are the worlds best combat 45auto. to me...heres a little proof..
http://pistol-training.com/archives/3835
http://pistol-training.com/archives/3835
I absolutely love my USPc .40. I actually love my brother's USP .45 even more. I don't think you'd be disappointed, but coming from a 1911 the trigger on the HK will take some getting used to. The recoil reduction system on the full size USPs work wonders.
Full Metal Jacket
member
the hk p2000 compact 45 is pretty nice.
however, there's no way i'm paying a grand for a polymer pistol.
keep your 1911, and get a glock or m&p 45
however, there's no way i'm paying a grand for a polymer pistol.
keep your 1911, and get a glock or m&p 45
Bentonville
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Full Metal, Are you sure about a P2000 45? I do know the HK45C is the softest shooting 45 pistols I have ever shot other than the P9S. It has interchangeable side grip panels. It is very accurate for me. HK= reliable in my experience. Concealable, fun at the range, easy to maintain, uh..what else?? Well, anything positive you could say about a pistol can be said about the HK.
schmeky
Member
For a new gun, you're right. I found a like new HK USP 45 for $555.00 delivered. You can't tell it's been fired, so there are some deals out there. I've had Glock, FNP, M&P, and XD polymers.
I've also had all of these disassembled down to the last pin. The HK is the better gun overall IMHO.
Fishman777
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HKs are instruments with a high bore axis and a hefty price tag for a plastic pistol. Other than those issues, they are great.
In my area, you won't find HKs for less than $800. In my opinion, you get diminshing returns on plastic guns as you invest more than about $650 in them.
I really like USPs, but I would probably buy an M&P, a Glock, or even an XD(m) before I'd get a USP or an HK 45.
I've yet to see a published comparison test between different polymer pistols that actually favored an HK pistol. If you do a little leg work, you can find some comparison tests in gun magazines and on different gun websites. None of these articles have ever named an HK pistol as best in class. I actually don't recall ever seeing an HK ever finish in the top 3 in one of these articles.
Just my $0.02. Not trying to bash HKs. If they were less money, I might own one. I just can't see spending a few hundred dollars more for a gun that isn't a few hundred dollars better than the competition, in my opinion.
In my area, you won't find HKs for less than $800. In my opinion, you get diminshing returns on plastic guns as you invest more than about $650 in them.
I really like USPs, but I would probably buy an M&P, a Glock, or even an XD(m) before I'd get a USP or an HK 45.
I've yet to see a published comparison test between different polymer pistols that actually favored an HK pistol. If you do a little leg work, you can find some comparison tests in gun magazines and on different gun websites. None of these articles have ever named an HK pistol as best in class. I actually don't recall ever seeing an HK ever finish in the top 3 in one of these articles.
Just my $0.02. Not trying to bash HKs. If they were less money, I might own one. I just can't see spending a few hundred dollars more for a gun that isn't a few hundred dollars better than the competition, in my opinion.
You're right about the bore axis. Normally that bothers me, but to be honest, the USP's (the full-sized .45 I speak of in particular) recoil reduction system is pretty darn amazing. I was really surprised the first time I shot one. I think that XDs give me more trouble in the bore-axis/recoil area.
FIVETWOSEVEN
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I dislike HK for alot of reasons, a few are that they are overpriced, they don't like civilians owning "EBR"s, etc. Still yet to get an answer of how a pistol with a suggested retail price of around $1,000 is better than a Glock, XD, or a S&W M&P.
Also they stopped selling pistol grips for the G36 to police armoures because they were selling them to civilians to convert their SL8s.
They may make good guns but I doubt I'll ever discover that.
Also they stopped selling pistol grips for the G36 to police armoures because they were selling them to civilians to convert their SL8s.
They may make good guns but I doubt I'll ever discover that.
Full Metal Jacket
member
that's a great price--until you have to pay $60 for a new recoil spring assembly
I had an HK45 for about six months, very good gun.
The grip is virtually the same size as my Les Baer 1911 with wood grips, trigger reach is slightly shorter with the HK45 in SA, longer than the 1911 in DA.
Accuracy was outstanding, it seemed to like every factory ammo or hand load I tried. It shot plated SWC's very, very well, with no failures to feed regardless of COAL.
Recoil was higher than with the USP .45, the frame is narrower, and it doesn't have the dual spring system, just a polymer buffer. Recoil is on par with the Glock 21.
It's been so long since I've shot a .45acp 1911, that I can't make a comparison there.
SA tigger was very good, DA was a bit stiff, like the USP's. It should be, it shares many parts with the USP .45.
I didn't care too much for the glow in the dark sights, not a big negative, it's just that they aren't visible if you have the gun in a holster and draw it, they take time to brighten up.
The HK mag release is great, very quick, no shifting of the hand, I wish all pistol were like that.
If I bought another HK, I would go back to the USP .45, the HK45 was great, but it was kind of 'in between', narrow like the 1911, but much lighter.
Take a look at the USP .45, the king of the polymer .45's IMO. Big, bold, bad, and reliable as the sunrise, very accurate and soft shooting.
CDNN has some very good deals on them right now, you can even get the USP Expert .45 for $900 right now.
I 've gone to a heavy steel frame Sig P220 SSS for my .45.
The grip is virtually the same size as my Les Baer 1911 with wood grips, trigger reach is slightly shorter with the HK45 in SA, longer than the 1911 in DA.
Accuracy was outstanding, it seemed to like every factory ammo or hand load I tried. It shot plated SWC's very, very well, with no failures to feed regardless of COAL.
Recoil was higher than with the USP .45, the frame is narrower, and it doesn't have the dual spring system, just a polymer buffer. Recoil is on par with the Glock 21.
It's been so long since I've shot a .45acp 1911, that I can't make a comparison there.
SA tigger was very good, DA was a bit stiff, like the USP's. It should be, it shares many parts with the USP .45.
I didn't care too much for the glow in the dark sights, not a big negative, it's just that they aren't visible if you have the gun in a holster and draw it, they take time to brighten up.
The HK mag release is great, very quick, no shifting of the hand, I wish all pistol were like that.
If I bought another HK, I would go back to the USP .45, the HK45 was great, but it was kind of 'in between', narrow like the 1911, but much lighter.
Take a look at the USP .45, the king of the polymer .45's IMO. Big, bold, bad, and reliable as the sunrise, very accurate and soft shooting.
CDNN has some very good deals on them right now, you can even get the USP Expert .45 for $900 right now.
I 've gone to a heavy steel frame Sig P220 SSS for my .45.
nwilliams
Member
One thing HK really has going for it is their reputation for making some extremely reliable handguns. I have owned many HK guns over the years and every one I've ever owned has been 100% reliable 100% of the time.
You can be assured two things if you buy an HK handgun, one is that you are going to pay a pretty penny for it and two, you are going to have a gun that you can most certainly trust your life to.
It seems that two main complaints you here are about HK do not concern the quality of their products, people complain about the high cost and the fact that HK has little interest in pleasing it's civilian market. As far as the overall quality of HK guns you don't hear a lot of complaints, most people who own an HK handgun are pretty impressed with them.
Personally I'm a big fan of HK and I plan to own more eventually. One thing I would mention is this. Don't be afraid to look around for used HK's. All of mine I purchased used and on every one I probably shaved an average of $150-$250 off what they would have cost if I had bought them new. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a used HK, in fact I prefer them that way
Here's my newest acquisition and it has now topped the list of favorite handguns I have ever owned, I absolutely love my P30L! I ened up selling my P2000sk to but this P30L and even though I liked the P2000sk I'm glad I sacrificed it to buy this.
The HK45c is a heck of a nice gun! IMO the HK45 is probably the best non-1911 style .45 on the market, it's an absolute pleasure to shoot!
The HK p7 has almost a cult following but they extremely reliable and accurate guns despite their funky appearance.
You can be assured two things if you buy an HK handgun, one is that you are going to pay a pretty penny for it and two, you are going to have a gun that you can most certainly trust your life to.
It seems that two main complaints you here are about HK do not concern the quality of their products, people complain about the high cost and the fact that HK has little interest in pleasing it's civilian market. As far as the overall quality of HK guns you don't hear a lot of complaints, most people who own an HK handgun are pretty impressed with them.
Personally I'm a big fan of HK and I plan to own more eventually. One thing I would mention is this. Don't be afraid to look around for used HK's. All of mine I purchased used and on every one I probably shaved an average of $150-$250 off what they would have cost if I had bought them new. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a used HK, in fact I prefer them that way
Here's my newest acquisition and it has now topped the list of favorite handguns I have ever owned, I absolutely love my P30L! I ened up selling my P2000sk to but this P30L and even though I liked the P2000sk I'm glad I sacrificed it to buy this.
The HK45c is a heck of a nice gun! IMO the HK45 is probably the best non-1911 style .45 on the market, it's an absolute pleasure to shoot!
The HK p7 has almost a cult following but they extremely reliable and accurate guns despite their funky appearance.
While HK does seem to make decent guns, I have yet to see any test which indicate that you really get any benefit for the inflated price. At nearly double the price of most of its competitors I don't see any evidence it's twice the gun in terms of accuracy or reliability.
Buy what you like, but keep in mind that what HK really does better than other gun companies is marketing.
Buy what you like, but keep in mind that what HK really does better than other gun companies is marketing.
nwilliams
Member
True, but there is the fact that while most gun companies out there, like Ruger, S&W and Sig seem to be more prone to putting out new guns that get recalled more than HK does. It seems (at least to this observer) that when HK releases a handgun onto the market there is little need to worry about a potential recall or quality control problems like you do with other companies out there.
I often say that when a company like releases a new model onto the market I like to wait six months to a year before thinking about buying, especially with Sig and Ruger. However with HK I would have no problem buying one right off the bat, I can't say that about most companies. The two companies that I have the most faith in as far as quality control and lack of recalls is FN and HK, if I were asked to pick the two most reliable gun manufacturers those would be choices. While both FN and HK produce rifles and handguns that are a little pricey and probably a tad overpriced in some cases they do both have a better track record than most other gun companies out there when it comes to releasing new guns into the market that are issue-free. To be honest I can't remember the last handgun or rifle that either FN or HK has released that has been recalled due to safety and or quality control issues, maybe there is I just can't think of any at the moment.
I certainly don't want to start another thread of "A" gun company is better than "B" gun company, there are plenty of those threads already. All I'm saying is from my personal experience and view HK makes guns that are bit overpriced but they are also of exceptional quality which is why I enjoy owning them. If people want to disagree with me then I have no problem with that at all. Oh and while I have no doubt that despite my appreciation for the quality of HK weapons I still suck and they no doubt hate me
NWCP
Member
HK makes reliable, accurate pistols that are well worth owning. I own numerous HK handguns and have never had an issue with any of them. My remaining 1911 resides in my gun safe. I carry an HK the majority of the year. I don't own the HK45... yet, but have handled one. It's a nice pistol.
FIVETWOSEVEN
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My answer to your post nwilliams is Glock, and when has a duty SIG been recalled? The little P238 hasn't been the best since Colt made it.
SwampWolf
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For whatever it's worth to the individual user, Gun Tests (The Consumer Resource For The Serious Shooter) magazine rated the HK higher (first) in their comparisons between equivalent pistols -and on more than one occasion.
RetLawman590
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I would love to own an HK45 or 45C one day. Very well made and you can "feel" the quality vs brand X. That includes my XDs, which are great guns for the $ by the way.
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