H&K USP Variants

[JeremyIA]

I am familiar with the 9 Variant alternatives to HK USP's Variant 1. I've always wanted a full-size USP in .45 ACP. However, I hate manual safeties and I'm not all that fond of striker-fired pistols. That's why I've always preferred SIG pistols because they have a de-cocker and they are hammer-fired and not striker-fired.

With that being said, I'm very interested in Variant 3 of the HK USP. I've only seen Variant 1 actually sold. I heard that it was once very easy to convert between the 9 variants at home but is not so simpleanymore. The website said that any variant other than Variant 1 requires a special order.

What does a guy have to do in order to get Variant 3 of the USP without jumping through all kinds of special-order hoops? Do distributors like Davidson's carry the alternative Variants? I have a friend who is a kitchen-table dealer with an FFL who does all my ordering with me. I'd like to be able to have him place the order through one of his distributors as I like to do with most of my new gun purchases so that I can get a decent price and help him with his order volume so none of his distributors drop him.

 

[Quack]

try Cal's Sporting Armory

i believe that the only change that you need is the 3-4 Detent plate and the control lever. about $65 in parts.

you could also send it in to HK for the change and keep your warranty.

 

[clubsoda22]

I own a USP .40 decock only. It's a left handed model. Very happy with it. Wasn't hard to find either.

 

[Morgan]

You don't need the new control lever, either. The only difference is it doesn't have an "S" for safe. Identical otherwise.

So all you need is a $10 detent plate, and it's a three minute job, no tools or special skills required. Ask at HKPRO.com's discussion board for the part, and contact me and I'll walk you through the parts swap.

 

[JeremyIA]

I appreciate all the replies. I haven't bought the gun yet. I would honestly like more to find out if distributors actually keep popular variants in their inventory or if they only carry Variant 1 and if all the others require a special order from H&K.

 

[BlkHawk73]

The only common distributor of HK's that I'm aware of is RSR. Hk is - I believe - a dealer direct set-up where-as the FFL is authorized by HK to be a dealer for thier products. This usualy requires a fairly substantial inital order and a continued quota that needs to be met yearly (in $ purchsed) to retain the agreement. This is how it was a few years back and perhaps it has changed.
May be easier to simply buy in V1 and send it to be changed to V3 at HK in VA.

 

[JeremyIA]

My dealer (kitchen table) has an account with Davidsons. They stock the USP and are a fairly large distributor.