Are all stock HK USP DA triggers so heavy (stacking), or mostly in Compacts?

They have a lot of trigger variants. IMHO the only DA that is worth while is the LEM trigger. They sell kits to convert, made a world of difference in my 9mm USP full size. My USP 45 is the ocked and locked variant.

As mentioned, there are several USP trigger variants, 1 through 10, I believe. You can have a USP converted to just about any of them.

HK USP (trigger variants are on the right) https://hk-usa.com/hk-models/usp/

Here's Patrick E. Kelley shooting a P30 with LEM if you want a description of it.

I rarely use the DA on HK's, but yeah, they're not like a Sig or CZ, they tend to stack a little even with the full size.
Never tried LEM myself, I like my single action.

Yes HK DA triggers are heavy out of the box for models that don't have match trigger components installed. The good news is a couple easy spring changes will improve it dramatically with a lighter hammer spring and the newer HK lighter FPBS HK part #209296 which cleans up the stacking in DA and further lightens DA. I changed the two springs and now my P30L has my favorite DA trigger pull and better than on my CZ SP01 Shadow.

While I like HK LEM for my P30SK which I use for ccw, I prefer DA/SA on my compact and full size HKs.

https://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/HK-Reduced-Power-Hammer-Spring-11-lb-198p18147.htm

https://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/Firing-Pin-Block-Spring-New-Style-Light-p1955.htm

I asked the gunsmith at HK whether they do any "trigger improvement" work a couple of years ago. The answer I got was that the USP is a tactical weapon for military/police-type use and is not meant to be a target weapon. They do not modify the triggers. That was the answer a couple of years ago. I also know there's a gunsmith in Oregon - can't recall the name - that does HK work and lightens triggers. I'm sure someone here will know who that is.

HK will not do custom trigger jobs but they will install their HK match trigger kit in their USP pistols. The match trigger components are already installed on the HK Expert USP.

https://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/HK-USP-USP-Tactical-Match-Trigger-Conversion-Kit-p1039.htm

SKU: HKP-01039
Brand: Heckler & Koch
HK German Match Trigger Upgrade Kit For USP & USPC
The HK USP Match Trigger Kit is a true drop in kit for USP full size pistols. This will fit all of the HK German USP 9mm, 40 & .45 Cal pistols. The Match Trigger Kit will adjust the trigger pull on single action (SA) to about 4 lbs. and the double action (DA) pull to roughly 7.5 lbs. All the while providing an overall smoother trigger with a better trigger reset. Each kit comes with all the parts need for the "match" conversion for your USP model and USP variants.

RainDodger said:

I asked the gunsmith at HK whether they do any "trigger improvement" work a couple of years ago. The answer I got was that the USP is a tactical weapon for military/police-type use and is not meant to be a target weapon. They do not modify the triggers. That was the answer a couple of years ago. I also know there's a gunsmith in Oregon - can't recall the name - that does HK work and lightens triggers. I'm sure someone here will know who that is.

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There's a couple HK smiths in OR.

Rick Helm at Lazy Wolf Guns has done a couple of mine; smoothed shortened reset. There's also Bruce Gray at Gray Guns (Helm used to work there before heading out on his own). Both are n Spray, OR. There's also Bill Springfield, but I've heard/read mixed reviews.

Cool part about HKs is that other than shortening the reset, you can lighten with springs or install a match trigger yourself. Plenty of videos available, parts are cheap from HK CS and it only requires a set of roll pin punches.

My hands down favorite HK trigrer is the V1 (light) LEM. I own 3 of them that I converted myself from DA/SA.

Well if they're meant to be combat guns, why did they make them so damn accurate?
Bastards!

I've found that HK triggers are not that great out of the box but break in to become a very nice trigger. My well used USPC 357 has a very smooth DA trigger and my Mark 23's DA trigger improved greatly from what it was brand new.

I have two USPs and I have left the triggers alone. They work fine, but they're both kind of "spongy" feeling. But... you do get used to them. I treat both of them exactly as they're designed - 100% reliable the way they are, and I KNOW I can depend on either of them to ALWAYS work. I guess I have enough other options to hit the bull every time, so my USPs are gonna stay as-delivered. I find it easy enough to generally hit what I'm aiming at with them.

Of course I bet any of the guys mentioned above can put a nicer trigger in there....

The DA pull on my HK45 is stiff, but smooth. Single action is fine. Grey's Guns does trigger work on HKs.

The LEM trigger on my P30SK is fantastic, and I'm considering converting my HK45. It would be cheaper.

For folks who like SA, I have to say that the lite LEM trigger has a lite and smooth take up, and a very noticeable stop point and then a crisp break. If you control your trigger, and run to reset, you have a single action trigger break anyway. It's like the reverse of a compound bow. On the bow, there is a stiff pull, and then a let off so you can hold your shot longer. With the lite LEM, there is a lite take up and then a firm stop point if you want to hold on target before popping one off. I find I am able to shoot that trigger as accurately as many of my SA/DA guns in SA.

Note, there is the standard LEM and the lite LEM. The standard has a MUCH heavier pull. If you want to know the difference, find a lite LEM variant. Dry fire it to feel the trigger pull, and then without cycling the slide to reset the trigger cocking mechanism, fully release the trigger and then pull again. You'll see the difference. The slide cycle partially cocks the trigger mechanism, and allows for the lite take up.

The only thing I don't like about the HK 45 is that there is a trough at the bottom of the trigger well that the bottom of the trigger pivots through. It can tear up your finger if you are shooting a lot or quickly and don't mind your finger position.

I wasn't even impressed by the so-called "match" trigger in the USP Tactical 45. I dry fired it in DA a few times and found it cringe-worthy enough that I never attempted the feat with ammo. Every round I actually fired from it for the duration I owned it was in SA, which still had a lot of slack to take up and was not exceptional regardless. Until I fired my dad's Beretta, I figured the USP probably had the worst trigger ever put on a handgun, and even then, I would say it is a tie. The DA pull on both the USP Tactical and the 92FS is like dragging a cinder block across gravel with your finger. I will take my Glock's trigger over either of them any day of the week.

In dry fire, when I'm thinking about how the trigger feels, an HK doesn't seem so great. But in live fire, when I forget about how it feels and just shoot the thing, it's so accurate that I don't care how it feels. In my hands, at least, these pistols just flat out shoot.

Similar thoughts about the DA trigger in my P2000. Thanks for posting those parts sigarms228!

Edit ordered the 11# spring, lightweight FPBS and trigger return spring.

Installed the hammer spring and firing pin block spring and those two made a nice difference in the trigger feel. Was a hard transition between the Sigs and HK because the HK trigger was heavier and stacked. Put 100 rounds through it today and will still have to acclimate a bit more yet the initial results are encouraging. This spring swap fulfilled what I wanted in the HK trigger.

Had a p2000, fantastic gun. Perfect size, beautifully machined slide. It had the light lem trigger. Just never could shoot it great. What would be the ideal DA/SA trigger would be a light lem first shot, and then single action after that. I'm not even sure if that is possible.

I have a USP Compact 45 that I bought back in the late 90's.
I don't like the DA/SA trigger, it sits in the safe and collects dust.
I'm not real big on getting rid of guns.

Bo said:

I have a USP Compact 45 that I bought back in the late 90's.
I don't like the DA/SA trigger, it sits in the safe and collects dust.
I'm not real big on getting rid of guns.

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You could send it off to Gray's Guns for trigger work.

As a guy who really likes HK pistols, I can whole heartedly say that out of the box, the HK DA trigger is absolute garbage with the exception of the LEM variants. If I'm going to carry a DA/SA, it'll be my Walther P99 or my Sig P229. The current go to carry guns lately have been my P2000 V2 LEM or my P30SK V1 LEM.

The LEM trigger is the only HK hammer gun trigger that’s decent IMO.

Winkman822 said:

As a guy who really likes HK pistols, I can whole heartedly say that out of the box, the HK DA trigger is absolute garbage with the exception of the LEM variants. If I'm going to carry a DA/SA, it'll be my Walther P99 or my Sig P229. The current go to carry guns lately have been my P2000 V2 LEM or my P30SK V1 LEM.

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I played with the P2000 in the shop and it wasn't very impressive, bought it anyway because it fits my hand so well. The thought being that after it had cycled some 500+ rounds it would smooth up, nope! I have to put some concentrated effort to be smooth and not pull off target during the trigger pull, even in SA. After the spring change I do better though not quite as consistent as the 229-E2 with SRT.

I have the v3 trigger variants in my P30 and P2000, both 9mm. These guns are both such fantastic shooters in SA that I can live with the heavy but smooth DA pulls on both guns, since I practice thumb cocking these guns out of the holster. Eventually I think I might send the P2000 out to Gray Guns for the Reduced Reset Carry Perfection Package, but that will have to wait.

JDR said:

I have the v3 trigger variants in my P30 and P2000, both 9mm. These guns are both such fantastic shooters in SA that I can live with the heavy but smooth DA pulls on both guns, since I practice thumb cocking these guns out of the holster. Eventually I think I might send the P2000 out to Gray Guns for the Reduced Reset Carry Perfection Package, but that will have to wait.

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This is the same work I had done by Lazy Wolf Guns on my P30L and P2000, Rick used to be Gray's "HK Guy" before moving on. It makes a world of difference in the pull, but more importantly fixes the "stupid-long" reset of the P series pistols.

My P30L is now my favorite pistol. I first converted it from V3 to V0; light LEM maintaining the decocker and spurred hammer (much easier to dry-fire and you can decock to relieve spring tension). Rick's work on the reset finished the package.

IMHO, the LEM really is more like a 2-stage single action trigger, than a DA trigger. Yes, technically the hammer is moving, but it's already pre-cocked.