GLOCK vs USP for CCW

[Omni04]

alright here is the deal. I have been able to read up a lot on glocks, caliber, price, saftey information etc. Now even though so many people say how easy and safe a glock is to CCW, i would still feel better with a manual saftey. Preacherman mentioned something about cominolli(sp) who makes a manual saftey for a glock.

however being said that if i did buy a glock, i would also have the saftey installed (about $100). That being said a few people said if you will buy a glock knowing you will have to buy the saftey, just get a USP!

now i looked around on THR about USP, but it seemed kind of ocnfusing. Is USP a general term or is it always in reference to the H&K model? I know theres tons of GLOCK models, what about the USP?

im not sure what caliber i plan on buying (maybe something stronger than .22 and weaker than a .50 ) but i would like everybody's input on the main differences between the two options.

both polymer frames, both with manual saftey's, both probably in available in several calibers... If thats the case is the only real difference price? I mean i know theres subtle little differences in every firearm, but if i had to choose between a glock+after market saftey, or a H&K USP, what do you think would make the better CCW?

thanks everybody!

 

[IZinterrogator]

The U in USP stands for Universal, which is pretty accurate when describing the USP. You can get it with a safety/decocking lever, a safety only, a decocker only, or neither. You can have the lever on either side or both. You can now get it with the HK LEM trigger (a kind of DAO). You can get it in full-size or compact. You can get it with an extended barrel and slide in full size. You can get it with fixed sights or adjustable sights. You can get it with a threaded barrel for a suppressor.

For CCW, I would recommend a USP40 Compact with the safe/decock option. You can carry it DA with the safety on, DA with the safety off, or cocked and locked, depending on your level of comfort and how you train to carry it.

 

[Omni04]

what about a USP 45? looks about the same, and the same ammo capacity.


*edit* plus without the social stigma!!!

 

[Black Majik]

This is a pretty easy situation.

For just CCW, a compact Glock is every way better dimensionally than the USPc (compact). The Glock is thinner, lighter, and IMO conceals MUCH better than the USP. I'm not sure about magazine capacity, you'll have to ask someone else.

Now, since the Glock conceals better, you wanted something with a manual safety. This is where the USP shines, IMO. This gun can do it all! Condition 1 cocked and locked, DA/SA, and even DA/SA with a safety! The trigger is better on the USP than the Glock IMO. I absolutely hate the Glock trigger still.

For me, the USP points very well for me, the Glock points high. The frontstrap of the USP is pretty sharp IMO, and that would be my only gripe.

The magazine release on the USP is different, very much like the P99 mag release. It isn't the button release like the Glock is. Its a preference thing. The USP has a slide stop in "near" the same location as the 1911, and I like that very very much The Glock needs to have a ext. slide stop (or release) for me to use easier. The ext slide release on the Glock is very nice though, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, but it does work very well.

The Glock is the easiest pistol to take apart. Depending how much you like to clean your guns this would be an advantage.

Carry wise, the Glock wins. Everything else, I'd pick the USPc. It ain't that difficult to conceal a USPc IMO, but the Glock does have the advantage of concealing.

Good luck

 

[Omni04]

Condition 1 cocked and locked, DA/SA, and even DA/SA with a safety!

i would be able to do that as well with the glock right? If i had the additional saftey placed on it?

also can you explain a little more on the magazine release? I understand the button release, but the other one you mentioned? Would it kind of be like how my magazine release on my ruger 10/22 is? Not a button, kind of a lever.

thanks!

 

[Black Majik]

I'm not really familiar with what manual safety that you can use with the Glock. All I've heard about was the little tab that is placed behind the trigger, and to use the gun you push out the tab. But regarding safety, as long as you keep you finger off the trigger or out of the trigger guard, you should be fine. My problem with the Glock however, is the possbility of snagging. It is still very much possible.

The magazine release on the USP is a lever on the rear of the trigger guard. It is on both sides fo the trigger guard, all you have to do is push down on the lever to release the magazine. It is different in design with the 10/22. You'll have to take a look at one to fully understand what I mean. Its a good design, you can either use your thumb or trigger finger to release the magazine. Very lefty friendly.

 

[drf]

Omni04, I responded to your other post about not thinking the Glock is a safe pistol and I would not carry one IWB for that reason but what I will tell you is that a manual safety is NOT NESCESSARY on a defensive pistol.....
My favorite is SA/DA with decocker..I also have a Kahr P9 which is DAO and I feel it is a safe carry gun...

You can install a manual safety on a Glock but if I were to buy a Glock a New York trigger would do the trick without a manual safety.....drf

 

[CB900F]

Omni04;

I'm in the USP camp. I carry the USP compact in .40 every day. I'm not a large person, 5'10" 165 lbs, & am very rarely 'made' when carrying it. That's like 3 times in over 8 years. I'm a locksmith, a fair number of LEO's use our shop, don't even get a raised eyebrow. I also unlock cars at any hour of the night in any part of town.

The gun's never given me a problem. The controls are all factory standard, not an accessory. Mine's set up with the ambi operating lever retrofit by H&K. The controls are also ergonomically correct, a la 1911 pattern guns.

It's no contest for me, but then I've already spent my nickel & made my choice. And yes, I did look at & try the Austrian plastic fantastic before I bought. I like the fully supported chamber of the H&K better, I like the grip MUCH better, I like the trigger better also.

900F

 

[RicVa]

I am also considering both of these (G19 and USPc9) for carry and I think I am going to go with the USPc. I like the Glock, it is a fine weapon. I do like the manual safety on the USPc. I wouldn't be 100% comfortable with the after market Glock safety that wasn't part of the initial pistol design or even put in by the manufacturer.

Someone mentioned the Glock is more concealable, not sure which Glock model they were talking about. In the case of the two weapons I am comparing, the dimensions are comparable between a USP and a G19.

USP9c
Length – 6.81
Height – 5.00
Width – 1.14

Glock 19
Length – 6.85
Height – 5.00
Width – 1.18

 

[usp_fan]

I had the full sized USP .40, traded it for the Glock 22, and now am back to H&K with a USP 40c. No contest in my opinion. Yes the Glock is narrower, that's the end of the advantage list. The H&K is simply a stronger pistol and for me, it points better. Concealment with this pistol is not hard.

--usp_fan

 

[AlaskaErik]

I don't understand why you want a safety. If you are buying this pistol for concealed carry then you want it ready to shoot when you draw and pull the trigger. My HK USP Compact 40 has a safety, but I never use it when carrying. When I carry my duty Baretta 92 I am required to have a round chambered and the safety off. If you're all hung up on safeties, then you may want to reevaluate your decision to carry concealed. Because if you ever find yourself in a firefight and the adrenaline rush causes you to forget to take the safety off, the bad guy isn't going to wait for you to do so. If you're going to carry concealed you need to be confident about your pistol and you need to have the mindset that you may have to use it one day and that you're prepared to do so.

Erik

 

[Omni04]

you know it would be a lot easier to pick a gun if you all didn't have conflicting tastes!!!

and about the manual saftey- everybody says my ccw, is my decision. it is quite possible for my decision to change later on the line and go with something with no manual saftey. But for the time being i would still feel more comfortable with a manual saftey. I know even they are not 100% (only the saftey between your ears can get that close) safe, but i don't feel that a manual saftey on a CCW is that out of the ordinary (i may be wrong though).

also just because my preference would be a manual saftey, i don't think i should have to reevaluate my choice on wanting to CCW. Accidents happen, we train to prevent these accidents from happening. Part of training with a handgun is also training to draw it and remove the saftey. It was also mentioned in al older post that even trained professional shooters will occasionally fumble with a saftey, even without the stress of a deadly-force situation. Also mentioned in that post was the same professionals will occasionally try to put a magazine in backwards, or forget to chamber a round.

that being said i am still learning from everything everybody says. In every thread i have read on THR i take a little something out of it. Which once again leads me to more questions because there is such a variance of opinion. Maybe i should blame all of you guys for keeping this a free country

i am really liking the USP at this point. But the glock seems equally favorable. Luckily these are both quality firearms and i am almost certain at this point that if i do select one of them, i will not be dissapointed.

i'll probably post more tomorrow when i have a clearer head. its 5am

thanks all!

 

[litework]

and about the manual saftey- everybody says my ccw, is my decision. it is quite possible for my decision to change later on the line and go with something with no manual saftey. But for the time being i would still feel more comfortable with a manual saftey. I know even they are not 100% (only the saftey between your ears can get that close) safe, but i don't feel that a manual saftey on a CCW is that out of the ordinary (i may be wrong though).

Then you'll probably want to buy the HK...it is the one that gives you the ability to change your mind down the line. As others have said, you can carry an HK Variant one with the safety engaged (DA/SA or cocked and locked) or carry it DA/SA with the safety disengaged if you change your mind.

 

[drf]

When I first started carrying concealed I thought I needed a manual safety also..

I have been carrying now for about 2 yrs. and I wouldnt have a CCW gun with a manual safety either....

Omni04, Think about why so many major manufactueres concealed guns dont have safeties....
Maybe they are experienced gun carriers who already know that a safety is not needed....
With a hard double action pull with a DAO or DA/SA with decocker gun it is hard to pull the trigger accidently...(except with a Glock)....... After yoiu read all of these posts and think hard about it if you still want a manual safety go for it...
Its your decision and no one elses......drf

 

[Omni04]

it is hard to pull the trigger accidently...(except with a Glock).......

which is another reason i mentioned the cominolli saftey's


another think i haven't mentioned. i have never fired a GLOCK! I am 19 years old, and the only way i can shoot is to go to knob creek shooting range.

Well also at knob creek is the stipulation "only people 21 or older may shoot handguns, only people 18 or older can shoot rifles"

i always thought that was a little odd, because i am legally allowed to own a handgun (since i didn't get it from a federal dealer)

that being said, i still take my S&W model 41, and nobody really says anything to me. But i havn't attempted to 'rent' a handgun there, pending they actually provide the service. Maybe i will bring a friend who can rent one for us to experiment with

 

[10-Ring]

I currently have a USPc 9 & a Glock 19. I am equally comfortable in use & carry w/ both...it really comes down to which one you prefer & which one you can devote enough time & effort to become proficient & comfortable using as your CCW...personally, I recommend the HKs 1st

 

[Omni04]

when you boil it all down, it seems everybody has tried glocks and enjoy them. but USP is very versatile as well. Over time i will more than likely own all of them. Perhaps a USP in 9mm would be good for a starting one. And later on the line get a glock chambered for .45 or 10mm?

i have my saftey crutch (manual saftey) and cheap practice ammo to start out with, and then when i become more experienced, a stronger load with no manual saftey!

ive gotten a lot more out of this thread than i intended.

 

[dolanp]

If you like the Glock style but you want something more than just the trigger safety you might also look at the XDs.

In your predicament though I guess you might want to step up to a USP if you can get one for a good price. I'd probably get a Sig.

 

[Omni04]

i would be buying it NIB, so not too much shopping around rerquired. Sig XD? Hmm im surprised nobody has mentioned it to be before (even sig heads!) is there a reason this wouldn't be an ideal ccw?

other than the cost of course, i have heard they are quite expensive. Are any of them polymer? (im doubting it though)

 

[dolanp]

The XD is sold by Springfield Armory. I was saying if I was going to spend more money than a Glock I'd probably get a Sig. XDs are cheaper than Glocks.

 

[Omni04]

how small is too small?

that springfield is tiny! I like that though, havn't checked the price tag yet

*edit* now that i think about it, unless i am carrying it for pocket CCW, wouldn't that thing be a little small? If i planned on doing IWB or something, i mine as well get a larger weapon that is more comfortable on the hands or even a higher ammo capacity. But of course i am as indecisive as a woman at Macey's and i will probably never make up my mind!