Duscuss the H-K USP, Please

[Lone Star]

I looked at a H-K USP 9mm last night. Have seen a few in the past. First, the frame is plastic, on a gun selling at discount, new, for $800, less a few cents.

Second, every one that I've seen shows daylight around the front and rear sights in their dovetails, no real fitting done there!

Third, with the magazine out, you can see the mainspring (?) right in the handle! Does this cause problems? Does it get dirty?

How is the accuracy, compared to the excellent CZ-75B for almost half the price? How does it shoot, compared to the SIG P-226?

Is reliability high?

Why, apart from vanity, can H-K ask what they do for this gun?!

If you own one, sum it up, please, good and bad.

Lone Star

 

[Black Majik]

It's a great gun, a little large for a 9mm but it's an overengineered tack driver. Oddly enough though, I don't shoot it much. The DA trigger is long and heavy, and the reset is very long. The SA trigger is doable, but still heavy and creepy.

It's capable of cocked and locked, or DA/SA carry. Thumb safety up to safe, middle to fire, down to decock (or you can get a LEM trigger).

The visible mainspring is a non-issue. The plastic sights suck anyways so look into Heinie sights. Easy to field strip. Very reliable. It does have a proprietary rail so you'll have to pick up an adapter to mount a light. Surefire's MR09 adapter is the best.

I love mine.

 

[Lone Star]

Thanks! More? Anyone got photos?

What do those Heinie sights cost, and do they require a gunsmith to install?

Any word on customer service? I've heard that H-K doesn't really care to deal with unofficial users.

Lone Star

 

[gbelleh]

The USP is rugged and very reliable. I've dealt with customer service to inquire about P2000sk model numbers and to order some accessories. They were polite and responsive each time. My USPs have shot as well or better than most other guns I've owned and I've never had a failure of any kind with any of my HKs. That makes them worth the price to me.

 

[gggman]

Mine's a .45. I have trijicon night sights on it, and they weren't hard to install. Accuracy is outstanding, as is reliability. Yes, it's a big gun, but it's very comfortable to shoot, recoil is mild, and it can be carried cocked and locked. The one encounter I had with customer service was very positive. They were fairly fast, and reasonable to deal with. I am a very happy USP owner.

 

[strangelittleman]

I have a Variant 1 ( DA/SA w/ cocked & locked capability and decock) mine came from the factory w/ metal sights and a barrel w/ polygonal rifling. It shoots like a gold cup and is very durable and utterly reliable.I don't have any daylight showing around the dovetailing of the sights The only complaint is that it is a very large pistol and I am a small guy, so I don't carry it regularly. I usually pack a HiPower.
About the $800 tag...In all honesty that is too steep, look around. In my area they go for around $675 sometimes a bit less sometimes a bit more.

 

[Jason_G]

Thanks! More? Anyone got photos?

I love mine.

Jason

 

[gcrookston]

I have the USP Tactical in .45 and after 8 years and 10,000+ rounds, I've found no faults.

 

[Onmilo]

$800.00 is just a bit on the high side.
9mms and .40s usually sell for $699.00 and .45s a bit higher at $749.00 in my area.
Don't tell an H&K rep. the frame is plastic,,,,,'it is a proprietary polymer sir!'

Look in the back well wall of a 1911 and you will see some of the guts there too, no problems unless you shoot in a hog pen.
Oh wait, 1911s and USPs work even if you are shooting them in a hog pen.
Don't like the gap in the sights you can fix that with a different brand of sights.
The factory sights are secure and well regulated but I chose Meprolight adjustable night sights for my pistol.

My USP Elite groups better than I can shoot and that is offhand, I should buy a Ransom Rest and an insert to see just how accurate the pistol really is but I am also too frugal to waste money on something I already know.

Summation, accurate, reliable, larger than it could be, spare magazines are crazy expensive.
I like it.

 

[punchdrunk]

I have the usp compact. I put 2500 rounds through it before I ever cleaned it. Never had a malfunction. I shoot it pretty well. Of all my handguns it would be my first choice for a self defense use. I can shoot my 1911's better and I love the way they feel... but when the shtf i know the usp will function. Can't say that about my kimber, wish I could.

 

[pogo2]

Fine gun

I have two H&K USPs - full size in .45 and compact in .40. They are wonderful guns, reliable, accurate and good looking. When you field strip them and examine the parts you can see their internal quality. I use the full size for range and home defense, and the compact for carry.

 

[FireArmFan]

I rented a USP .40 and liked what it had to offer. I would have bought one but being left handed I wanted the left handed variant and it would have taken 65 days to order so I went with a P2000 .40 instead. I found that they shoot pretty similiar to each other and the only real negative is the trigger which really just takes a little bit of practice. I had some trouble with it at first because I'm so used to the sweet bliss of a 1911 trigger. Since I only rented the USP I can same anything for it's reliability but my P2000 has never jammed or malfunctioned. Accuracy is impressive. All in all it's a quality gun but comes with a high price tag. Magazines are also expensive.

 

[Black Majik]

While the USP is nice, they're also starting to churn out some really nice pistols. Many will admit, the USP is one blocky piece of hardware. It's really not all that ergonomic, but it works.

Comparing the USP fullsize 9mm, I also have a P2000 9mm that I carry. Although smaller and more comparable to the USP compacts, I find it easier to shoot. The trigger is a little smoother, and a wee bit lighter. The gun is also much more contoured and ergo friendly. Adjustable backstraps are also available to cater to different hand sizes. My only drawback in my opinion is the lack of safety. I like to have it in condition 1.

Lastly, the USP is a large gun, but the USP .45 is even larger. Wider, fatter and longer on both the barrel and grip you'll quickly notice a difference. Great gun, but even more ergonomic. Then of course the HK23, but we won't get into that.

Great guns, those HKs.

 

[ezypikns]

I once had a .40 USP

Great weapon. Very accurate. Absolutely dependable. BIG. THICK. For me, anyway. I sold it and bought a S&W 1911. Still BIG. NOT thick. much more concealable......for me.

 

[Old Dog]

USP-9 is my duty pistol. I can live with it, though if I'm stuck with a full-size 9mm, I'd much rather have a SIG 226 or Beretta 92FS. Don't like the cheese-grater frontstrap, the distinctly un-ergonomic feel, the chunkiness, but the reliability is superb although the accuracy is just adequate.

I carry a 1911 off-duty, sometimes a SIG 228. Word is, we're going to S&W M&Ps in the near future ... Hmm.

 

[Lone Star]

I simply cannot understand why a police force would adopt the new S&W that has usurped the grand old M&P name. A striker-fired pistol with no repeat strike capability in event of a bad primer scares me. I want a gun with a hammer!

Hey: no one has mentioned the durability of the H-K's finish. I doubt that will equal the poly-coat on CZ's, but is it better than Parkerizing?


Thanks again,


Lone Star

 

[Jason_G]

Hey: no one has mentioned the durability of the H-K's finish. I doubt that will equal the poly-coat on CZ's, but is it better than Parkerizing?

It's pretty durable. I've shot some CZ's but I don't own one, so I can't say for sure how they match up. Same for Park. I can say that the finish is quite a bit more durable than the finish that Sig uses on most of its pistols, at least in terms of holster wear. They will all wear some if carried.

Jason

 

[S&W620]

I have a USP in .40 S&W and it is far and away my favorite gun I have owned or shot.

As others have said, it's reliable, accurate, and built like a tank. I could go on for hours noting everything I love about the pistol.

As far as the qualities people don't like about the gun. The full size USP is large. For me this doesn't really matter. I don't carry the gun, it's my home defense weapon and the size is a nonfactor. The DA trigger is long and unspectacular, but with its ability to be carried C&L'ed, this can also be a nonfactor. SA trigger is by no means similar to a nice 1911, but it isn't bad at all. I'll take the SA trigger on an HK over any striker fired pistol as far as feel. Gun is expensive and so are accessories, but with the price some folks spend on 1911's or simply on their collections in general, I hardly find $750 for this gun outrageous. To each their own on cost though.

Finally, I think if you look around you will find a better price. Some feel I overpaid for mine by buying it from a local store and I was still out the door at about 800. I've seen them in the high 6's online.

Either way, if you want one, I think you will like it and be glad you got it in the long run.

 

[WC145]

I carry a USPc 357sig on and off-duty and as far as I am concerned HK is worth every penny. I have NEVER had any kind of stoppage or function issue regardless of ammunition. It is accurate, utterly reliable, and built like a tank. It is like the semi-auto version of a S&W N-frame .357mag - overbuilt and always goes bang.
I also have a USP 9mm that is just as reliable but I prefer the fit and feel of the compact.