Ever have a bad H&K?

[Zaydok Allen]

I see lots of comments about the cost of H&K guns, and how there are lots of other reliable guns out there for a lot less money. I think that is true. However.....

I bought an H&K 45 a few months ago, and even though I haven't shot it much yet, I find I like it alot, and once it has digested another 300 trouble free rounds, it will be a gun I trust with my life.

I'm not saying it is "better" than other guns, only that it works better for me. Everyone is different though, and the question often comes up, "Are H&K's worth the price?" I've asked this too in the past. The bottom line is that if the gun works well for you, and you are willing to dish out the cash, then it is worth the price to you.

I have read a lot of comments from people who are very happy with the reliability, accuracy, and ergonomice of their guns.

I also hear cost, and the trigger as the two major complaints. BUT the most important part of a defense gun for me is reliability, and reasonable accuracy. Mine is very accurate, and it is capable of smaller groups than I can create with it.

So, I'm just wondering if anyone has ever had a lemon HK that just wouldn't function properly.

How about it friends and neighbors. Ever get a HK dud? I'm not interested in comparing value of HK's to other guns. I just was wondering if anyone has ever had a bad one out of the box.

 

[tarosean]

I also hear cost, and the trigger as the two major complaints.

Cost is relative. What's a glock cost after sights and trigger upgrades?

However, a P30L holds the distinction of owning the title of "shortest ownership" due to one of the worst triggers in my 30+ yrs shooting.

FWIW. Both guns I purchased purely on ergonomics (P30 and M&P45c) didn't cut it for me because of the triggers. Both worked flawlessly thou.

 

[18DAI]

Nope. Not yet anyway. But its only been 19 years.........

 

[G.barnes]

I don't like the da/sa trigger but the lem trigger is awesome.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Between their pistols and rifles, I have yet to find one I don't love.

 

[gym]

Make sure you know the different variants as some people end up getting the wrong trigger for them, and then have to either change it out or sell the gun. This is the most often cause of any discontent with these guns. They are terrific as long as you are aware of what you are buying. I like the V1, LEM 4.5 lb trigger, but it has no outside controls, nor rear decocker. It just is the same double action pull each time, where as the standard trigger pull in DA only is heavier, and not a all comfortable "in my opinion" for me to shoot. Then you have DA/SA, V2, V3, and two or three variations of safety/Decocker variants to choose from. SO make sure you know ahead of time what you are dealing with.
Hope this helps.

 

[jmr40]

I bought one used a few years ago. It worked most of the time, but had more malfunctions than I cared for and accuracy was nothing special. In all fairness it was a used gun where I had no knowledge of it's history, but my G21 was more accurate and reliable. I let it go with no financial loss. I really like the design, and may try another some day. I honestly think mine was a rare fluke.

 

[jjones45]

All manufactures let a lemon sneak out here or there. One thing that's also included in that high price tag of hk's is the quality control, it's top notch. Another thing to think about is how many hk's are sold compared to glock, ruger, or s&w. I willing to bet there is probably at least 30 glocks sold for every 1 hk if not more. The more you produce the more lemons that will make it out the plant. To answer your question though, no, I haven't ever seen or known anyone personally or through someone else who had a lemon hk. Mine has never malfunctioned and I have had it since like 05/06 with thousands of rounds thru it.

 

[Grunt]

I got my first USP in the mid 90's and never had a problem with any HK since then either. Yes, they are higher priced but IMHO, they're worth it because my family's worth it.

 

[tommy.duncan]

Never had a problem with any H&K, going back to my Dad's H&K91A3 I used to shoot in the early 80's.

 

[C0untZer0]

I can't simply answer "no" because I get a warning that the message is too short.

 

[9mmepiphany]

A lemon H&K...no.

I've been shooting H&K pistols since the HK4 multi-caliber pocket pistol and the P9S which could be both lever cocked (to SAO) and decocked. I also owned an H&K 91 and 93, both of which would hurl brass out at 2 o'clock with enough velocity to stun small animals

However, a Bad H&K pistol is another thing...but it was a design thing.

When H&K offered the first production polymer pistol, the VZ-70, it was a dog. The trigger felt like the old plastic disc launchers (but a lot heavier) and the slide was a bear to retract (since it was a blowback action). It had a most interesting bladeless front sight, which used the shadow between two ramps as an aiming reference.

The only H&K handgun that had a trigger almost as bad was the SP-89. which was really a civilian version of the MP5k

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Fair enough and interesting info. It did function as intended though hey?

That is an important distinction. Reliability is great, but not an overall indicator of a "superior" design.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Well, when you compare the VZ 70 to it's competitors, the Beretta 93R and the Glock 18, it might have been superior.

I've only been able to shoot each of these once and only for a magazine's worth...the VZ 70 had the advantage of its attached shoulder stock which enabled burst fire

 

[usp9]

All of my HKs, six so far, have been exceptional. Even the police trade-in P7 works just fine. Reports of major failures are few. Reports of reliability issues are rare. Well made, dependable guns. If going towards the sound of gunfire, it's what I'd want in my hand.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I've red so few HK pistols problems over the years that I can't recall the sources. One was a complaint about how loose was the slide to frame fit on a USP or USP Compact (the owner ammitted the gun functioned well with no jams).

 

[Destructo6]

For a duty weapon, HK make a fine pistol.

They often don't have a great trigger (maybe not even "good"), accurate, but not match guns, etc, but they will go "bang" with minimal maintenance.

That's not to say that I haven't broken a few, but I don't think any other brand would have done significantly better under similar circumstances.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Right, and any gun will break eventually with enough use. I have yet to hear complaints of a lemon though.

 

[Old Dog]

While my employer issued the USP for many years, we universally hated on it. It was bad strictly in terms of the horrid ergonomics, nasty DA trigger pull, cheese-grater frontstrap, excessive weight ... we went through mags like nobody's business, got crappy support from the factory ...

But, yeah, the USP was durable and reliable ... Alas, for me, and many of my fellow gunfolk with whom I worked, we believed there were better options, and thus we felt it was a bad pistol.

Of course, since we transitioned to another duty pistol from another maker, lo comes the HK45 and P30, both of which correct all the prevous deficiencies of the USP ... I love the HK45C (still haven't purchased one yet) and suspect I'd much rather be carrying one of the new HK pistols over the M&P, given a choice.

(still a 1911 and SIG boy at heart, though)

 

[JWH321]

The only thing I've ever found wrong with an H&K is that none of them are mine. I have used a bunch of them over the years. to me, they are the "Rolex" of the pistol family.

Maybe someday.

 

[mnhntr]

Have two USPc one in 45 and one in 357sig, never had any malfunctions with either. Have thousands of rounds through the 45 and hundreds through the 357sig

 

[gym]

I can't remember hearing of a bad H&K from anyone who I have met. Perhaps on a forum, but never in person. I am sure they exist, and I didn't think the trigger was that special until I tried the LEM 45 caliber that belonged to an ISPC shooter I met.
I was really impressed, he said it was the stock trigger.
But who knows people exaggerate or mislead others for their own reasons.

 

[HKGuns]

I own a lot of HK Rifles and pistols.....No lemons or bad one's yet. But I've not had any other lemons either so perhaps I'm just lucky.

 

[Willie Sutton]

"The trigger felt like the old plastic disc launchers"

Sadly, a cultural reference that the youngsters among us don't get, but that old farts like me understand most perfectly. I think the term "stacking" is the new-fangled way to describe it.


Willie

.

 

[Old Dog]

I have used a bunch of them over the years. to me, they are the "Rolex" of the pistol family.

Uh, not to bash H&K pistols, but Rolex watches are generally pretty doggone good looking ... H&K pistols, not so much. Now, if yourereference was intended to compliment the reliability, I get that ...