HK Expert trigger in USP compact
- Thread starter COHIBA
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I'm curious to know the same. My Tactical has a great trigger, and my compact has the typical HK trigger. I'd love to replace it with the match grade or the LEM. I believe there is a smith over at the HKPro store who does trigger jobs on HKs.
10-Ring
Member
Nope, the match trigger is not compatible w/ the USP compacts 
I have heard of gunsmiths being able to do nice trigger jobs on them, even met one guy that will McGyver a match trigger to the compact...all at the expense of your warranty.
You could do a simple hammer spring change. It would lighten the pull somewhat, probably still at the expense of the warranty tho.
I have heard of gunsmiths being able to do nice trigger jobs on them, even met one guy that will McGyver a match trigger to the compact...all at the expense of your warranty.You could do a simple hammer spring change. It would lighten the pull somewhat, probably still at the expense of the warranty tho.
Correct.
If you go with a lighter mainspring it will improve the trigger a little bit. Just use a pin punch to knock out the bottom pin where the lanyard insert is... push on the insert a little because it's under a little tension from the mainspring. Take out lanyard insert, mainspring will come out. Replace spring, put in block, then pin. That easy. You'll want to function test to make sure that you aren't getting light primer strikes. I replaced the mainspring in my USP .45 from 14# to 12# and the trigger did improve a tad.
If you go with a lighter mainspring it will improve the trigger a little bit. Just use a pin punch to knock out the bottom pin where the lanyard insert is... push on the insert a little because it's under a little tension from the mainspring. Take out lanyard insert, mainspring will come out. Replace spring, put in block, then pin. That easy. You'll want to function test to make sure that you aren't getting light primer strikes. I replaced the mainspring in my USP .45 from 14# to 12# and the trigger did improve a tad.
Teddy Jacobson/Actions by T has done a trigger job on a couple of my USPs, both full size and compact. Teddy is a great guy and his work is top notch. Only problem is he's often quite busy, so call and find out how long the backlog is. He's been dead-on with regards to ETA with only one exception, but that's because he got pretty ill. Cost was a bit more than the Match trigger, but given the entire menu of services he does, money well spent (I can shave on the mirror polish he puts on the breech face, chamber and disconnector).
I MUCH prefer Teddy's triggers to my ISP Expert's Match trigger; IMO the Match Trigger is the worst of the lot (yuk!!). Way too much take up, almost like a DA with a light hitch before firing. Now, that's not a problem, provided you shoot ONLY the Match trigger and train your finger/muscle memory through lots of dry firing to take up the slack. Match DA trigger <inhales violently>. But, if you're like me and typically take two or three guns to the range, its an exercise in frustration.
I'm sending the Expert to Bruce Gray for his magic, hopefully this week.
I MUCH prefer Teddy's triggers to my ISP Expert's Match trigger; IMO the Match Trigger is the worst of the lot (yuk!!). Way too much take up, almost like a DA with a light hitch before firing. Now, that's not a problem, provided you shoot ONLY the Match trigger and train your finger/muscle memory through lots of dry firing to take up the slack. Match DA trigger <inhales violently>. But, if you're like me and typically take two or three guns to the range, its an exercise in frustration.
I'm sending the Expert to Bruce Gray for his magic, hopefully this week.
Kobun
Member
The match trigger from the HK Expert WILL fit in the HK Compact!
But, the trigger overtravel/stop screw has to be removed to allow the trigger to go back enough to fire the gun.
I have personally handeled a Compact with this trigger, and it is very good.
This is a drop in part.
But, the trigger overtravel/stop screw has to be removed to allow the trigger to go back enough to fire the gun.
I have personally handeled a Compact with this trigger, and it is very good.
This is a drop in part.
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10-Ring
Member
larryw - would be great to see your impressions of the Gray trigger vs. the match trigger & T's trigger. Don't usually see 1st hand experience w/ all 3...please keep us posted.
BerettaNut92
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Heck if I can put a Gray trigger in my compact I may not need a fullsize.
Chipperman
Member
Just shoot the snot out of it.
My 45c trigger is almost as smooth as my Tac trigger, just because it's an older gun. They get better with age, and good cleaning of the pieces occasionally.
My 45c trigger is almost as smooth as my Tac trigger, just because it's an older gun. They get better with age, and good cleaning of the pieces occasionally.
10-Ring
Member
Smoother is one thing, but lighter, shorter & crisper on my Expert would be SWEET!
BerettaNut92
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10-ring when you get that Gray Expert, give me a call, and if I like it, I'll sell my KZ45.
10-Ring
Member
Nope the gray trigger has put on the back burner.
XLMiguel
Member
Good info. My USP45C actually has a pretty nice trigger (continues to improve with use), but ya never know.
Has anyone had any experience with Jarvis? They claim to do H&K work in their ads.
Has anyone had any experience with Jarvis? They claim to do H&K work in their ads.
I just got my Expert 45 back from Bruce Gray this morning. Turn time was a bit longer than expected, but there was a very good reason for the delay.
All through the process, communications with Bruce were great. I was surprised to receive a call from him a couple days after I shipped the gun during which we discussed how I shot the gun, my loads, what I want, my favorite gun, my ideal trigger, etc. All in all we spent about 30 minutes talking. A couple days later, Bruce called again me with a, "hey, I was thinking..." comment. And then he was off and running.
By the way, Bruce is one of the nicest guy's you'll ever speak with.
First thing he did was rework the action so the gun is single-action only. I've never shot that gun DA and had no intention to, so that wasn't a loss. Then he replaced the trigger with one that changes the angle and forces me to pull straight back: slick! Pull is 2.5# and is the absolute sweetest, crispest trigger I have ever had the pleasure to shoot.
It compares favorably to my reworked 44Mag revolver that raises the eyebrows of everyone who shoots it. Its better than my Ruger Mk II that's been worked and worked and worked until it is just perfect. Its better than any 1911 I've ever shot.
I can't compare Bruce's work to Teddy Jacobson because the jobs I had them do were entirely different, kinda like comparing a Ferrari to a LandCrusier. The Expert Bruce did is strictly a fun gun, the guns Teddy did are defense weapons. I'll be sending a USP 45F to Bruce next week for his $140 "defensive" package, that will offer a fair comparison.
But at this point, the $200 I paid Bruce for the work was the best gun money I've spent in a long time. It turned a nice gun that wasn't much fun to shoot (the Match trigger is the worst trigger I've ever owned) into my newfound favorite gun.
If I had to put the four USP triggers in order of favorite to least, it would be Bruce Gray's "ultimate" by a wide margin, then Teddy Jacobson's work, standard USP is third, and way, way out back is the Match trigger.
YOu can order Bruce's work online at HKPro
All through the process, communications with Bruce were great. I was surprised to receive a call from him a couple days after I shipped the gun during which we discussed how I shot the gun, my loads, what I want, my favorite gun, my ideal trigger, etc. All in all we spent about 30 minutes talking. A couple days later, Bruce called again me with a, "hey, I was thinking..." comment. And then he was off and running.
By the way, Bruce is one of the nicest guy's you'll ever speak with.
First thing he did was rework the action so the gun is single-action only. I've never shot that gun DA and had no intention to, so that wasn't a loss. Then he replaced the trigger with one that changes the angle and forces me to pull straight back: slick! Pull is 2.5# and is the absolute sweetest, crispest trigger I have ever had the pleasure to shoot.
It compares favorably to my reworked 44Mag revolver that raises the eyebrows of everyone who shoots it. Its better than my Ruger Mk II that's been worked and worked and worked until it is just perfect. Its better than any 1911 I've ever shot.
I can't compare Bruce's work to Teddy Jacobson because the jobs I had them do were entirely different, kinda like comparing a Ferrari to a LandCrusier. The Expert Bruce did is strictly a fun gun, the guns Teddy did are defense weapons. I'll be sending a USP 45F to Bruce next week for his $140 "defensive" package, that will offer a fair comparison.
But at this point, the $200 I paid Bruce for the work was the best gun money I've spent in a long time. It turned a nice gun that wasn't much fun to shoot (the Match trigger is the worst trigger I've ever owned) into my newfound favorite gun.
If I had to put the four USP triggers in order of favorite to least, it would be Bruce Gray's "ultimate" by a wide margin, then Teddy Jacobson's work, standard USP is third, and way, way out back is the Match trigger.
YOu can order Bruce's work online at HKPro
Yo
Member
Sounds like Gray does a super job.
On the other hand, $200 for his comp trigger plus $60 or so shipping... I'm not sure the gun is worth it.
I have an HK .45 fullsize with the drop-in factory match trigger. SA is crisp and sweet but double action still has tons of creep and horrible stacking. The gun also suffers from the rapid-fire reset problem many police agencies have observed. Basically you let the trigger forward till you hear/feel the reset, then pull back and no-bang. I've dubbed it the click-no bang phenomenon.:banghead:
If you want nice double-action .45, you'd be better off starting with a Sig 220. Get a nice two-tone, and it really doesn't need any trigger work to be competitive in IDPA.
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Personally, I'm selling my HK and getting a SW 1911. The HK has a very large chamber and soots my .45 reloads really badly. I've checked around and this appears to be a common issue.
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Other negative with the HK .45. I had a firing pin break while firing. As the slide slammed back, the rear half of the pin struck me in the face. The front half wedged between the slide and the right rear of the polymer frame, taking out a chunk of plastic about 1.5 cm square. 
If I was a cop, I would not trust the gun with my life.
HK ended up replacing the whole gun because they do not supply bare frames--all are matched and serialized to the barrel and slide.
What can you say about a gun that has to be destroyed when a firing pin breaks? Bad juju man....
On the other hand, $200 for his comp trigger plus $60 or so shipping... I'm not sure the gun is worth it.
I have an HK .45 fullsize with the drop-in factory match trigger. SA is crisp and sweet but double action still has tons of creep and horrible stacking. The gun also suffers from the rapid-fire reset problem many police agencies have observed. Basically you let the trigger forward till you hear/feel the reset, then pull back and no-bang. I've dubbed it the click-no bang phenomenon.:banghead:
If you want nice double-action .45, you'd be better off starting with a Sig 220. Get a nice two-tone, and it really doesn't need any trigger work to be competitive in IDPA.
- - -
Personally, I'm selling my HK and getting a SW 1911. The HK has a very large chamber and soots my .45 reloads really badly. I've checked around and this appears to be a common issue.
- - -
Other negative with the HK .45. I had a firing pin break while firing. As the slide slammed back, the rear half of the pin struck me in the face. The front half wedged between the slide and the right rear of the polymer frame, taking out a chunk of plastic about 1.5 cm square.
If I was a cop, I would not trust the gun with my life.
HK ended up replacing the whole gun because they do not supply bare frames--all are matched and serialized to the barrel and slide.
What can you say about a gun that has to be destroyed when a firing pin breaks? Bad juju man....
BerettaNut92
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- Dec 23, 2002
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Are you riding on the safety under stress? I did the same thing while shooting under pressure. After the adrenaline goes down, I realize that I'm squeeeeeezing my fist shut, including my thumb which is resting on top of the safety. Pressing down so far doesn't decock the gun, but pushes it down far enough to keep the trigger from going bang.
An ambi or no-decock variant may solve this.
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