HK UPS-C v. Colt Commander

HK USP-C v. Colt Commander

  • HK USP-C .45

    Votes: 29 34.5%

  • Colt COmmander .45

    Votes: 45 53.6%

  • HK UPS-C in another caliber (prob .40)

    Votes: 10 11.9%
  • Total voters
    84
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Sweet Vishnu, folks...

These are pistols, okay? Not religious denominations...

If you think that the One True Path To Enlightenment can be stuffed into a Milt Sparks IWB, then maybe it's time to step back and take a deep breath or two, hm'kay? ;)
 
Here ya go Bobarino. :D
I will preface this by saying that we got our HK's when they were a brand new unproven design. Many of the problems we encountered have been fixed since then, but my confidence with the weapon has not been restored.
I kept my Glock throughout this period of experimentation.

We had the USP 40 as our issue pistol for eight years.
Jams in training were abundant with both practice and combat ammo, fortunately none in combat.
Magazines failed repeatedly, the lips would spread so badly as to allow ammo to stand straight up in the magazine, also double feeding was a problem.
We went through four generations of HK mags and finally had to buy Wolff springs for the mags, since HK refused to acknowledge that there was a problem.
The mag release springs on the first ones were very light and had to be toughened up, since the mags were popping out at bad times.
The only gun I have seen more prone to rusting were early production Sigs, and we are in a desert, making rust even less likely if the finish was any good.

A buddy had a hammer reset spring break that resulted in his USP becoming a single action only gun, too bad the first shot was supposed to be double action. This was discovered during a routine check by the team armorer.

Yes, all guns have growing pains, but we were the Guinea Pigs for the growing pains and I have lost all confidence in the USP design.
Gladly I never carried one, but I did shoot them and they shot well.

All in all, I prefer my Glocks for many reasons, but they aren't perfect either.
 
1911 fans sure are a touchy bunch! Maybe they have reasons to be! What is that old saying? "Me thinks he protesteth too much" or something like that anyway. There is another one; "Don't cast your pearls before swine" In this case the HK's are the pearls!:neener:
 
Shhh!

Can you hear that? Can you hear what they're saying?

"I haven't let you down yet, and I'll do my best when you need me..."

attachment.php


Carry on... ;)
 
care-less,

As soon as I figure a way to get the other thirty-two handguns in the frame, I'll let you know; I just figured I'd show a representative sample.

Work on it. ;)
 
Sproles,

I've got a USP-C .40 and have enjoyed shooting it. However, I shot a Kimber and got bitten by that 1911 bug so badly I went out and bought a Wilson CQB compact. The USP-C has worked flawlessly digesting everything that I have fed it. The problem is that I have not picked up the USP-C since purchasing the CQB and am actually thinking of getting rid of it. I dont think you can go wrong with either. It's just a matter of preference.
 
I'd say one thing is obvious from this thread. The 1911 critics of the USP know much more about the HK product than the HK defenders know about the 1911. One can only guess what might account for that fact.:scrutiny:

There was nothing "wrong" with my USPc. There wasn't much "right" about it either. Unfortunately for my gun fund, this was just one of those pistols at the time too rare to find a shooter to rent before I acquired it. I never warmed up to its "charms" like the stupid magazine release and its imprecise and creepy trigger. Sticker shock for a third eight round mag (what German pixie dust makes such a limited cap mag cost $40?) was an added bonus. The experience has obviously doomed me to a lifetime of not flirting with half-baked designs from HK and I sleep soundly at night not wondering once when the P2000 will finally make it over.

If I ever acquire another uberpistole, it will be the P7, which has at least earned the raves it receives from many quarters and unlike the USP, has a really sweet trigger.:D Or I could save myself some money and get a proven SIG.

I heard a Glock owner tell me a bilingual joke once. Naturally, I wrote it down and threw it in my range bag.

"What does U.S.P. stand for?"

"Universal Service Pistol of course."

"That's what they say in English, but the word service, in German, does not begin with the letter S. Do you know what USP stands for in the Austrian dialect of German?"

"No."

"Ungesund, Schwerfallig Puter. Unsound Ponderous Turkey.:neener:
 
If you think that the One True Path To Enlightenment can be stuffed into a Milt Sparks IWB, then maybe it's time to step back and take a deep breath or two, hm'kay?
Click to expand...

Hey now! I resemble that remark!
 
Well written, Tams - - -

- --The Path to enlightenment thing.

Boats, you make some good points, some of which I've been making for over 30 years.

When are we gonna learn that NONE OF US are going to convince anyone who is already convinced to change his/her mind? Those who are admitted newbies, or unfamiliar with a particular design, okay--You MIGHT be able to influence them, until they gain enough insight and experience to make their own decisions. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Is it my imagination, or do those who have the broadest experience the most tolerant of the choices made by others?

While I haven't tried every type handgun, I've been the whole circuit of actions, calibers, and brands, and keep circling back to fairly near where I started. I have given many types a fair chance, and remain unconvinced that any of them are better for my particular use than the 1911 type, in caliber .45. I carry a Commander pretty much daily, but if I had to go back "on the bricks," I'd use a full size, full weight pistol. I have a couple of .38 snubs which are very neat for special purpose use.

If I HAD to go with a 9mm, I have an excellent Browning High Power. I have tried Glocks, and like 'em better than I anticipated, but not for daily use. I keep one in the car as a primary spare, because I don't want to risk a nicer pistol for that purpose.

There's a GSSF Glock match coming soon. I'll probably shoot a G19 in it. My horizons are not so narrow that I need to sneer at such.

There are a couple of decent .357s in the safe, and I could live with one of those if need be. I don't currently own any H&K or SiG or Beretta, but I could afford to buy one if I liked it enough. Same with Walthers, though I still have the PPK I bought new in 1966.

I know the stakes in the game, and I'll play my own favorites. I hope yours serve you so well.

;)
Johnny
 
Its funny, i've never had a tactical fantasy about my HK, So stop sippin on the hatorade. In my opinion and eperience, the USP is a better weapon than the Colt 1911. Thats my opinion. I believe its built better out of the box, it just is... I'll put .+p+ , +p and .45 super through my HK all day...

A good friend and THR member's Colt finally died after about 60000 rounds. Then he sent it to be refurbished and it runs like a champ again.

60,000 rounds? thats it? The HK is just getting warmed up at 60k! Even Glocks go 100k rounds without refurbishing.

Enjoy your 1911s, one day i'll have one, and it will look really pretty in my glass display case.:neener:
 
USP = ....

WEll, this little poll has turned out to be quite an interesting debate. It's interesting that at the time of this response, the votes are tied at 33 each. 33 v 28 v 5...33 for Colt Commander and 28+5 for the HK USP-C (Of varying valibers.)

I believe that I have decided to keep the Colt Commander for now (until it gives me problems or I end up hating it) and might add a HK with a portion of next quarter's bonus check.

I appreciate EVERYONE'S input and advice and "unbiased" insight!:rolleyes: Thanks again.

By the way USP = Universal SELF LOADING Pistol...thought you would be interested to know.

David
 
I dont have 60k rounds through my HK, will it go 60k plus? u bet it will. guns and ammo has the hk usp .40 at 70k+....thats what "ive read" I didnt question mr 60k rounds through his friends 1911 I've got no doubt it will make it, ive got no doubt my HK will make it to 60+ as well. Its a quality gun, thats why I bought it, thats why I love it. someone called the hk junk, he stated his opinion, i stated mine. whats the problem? How is the HK Junk? Ive only got 3,000+ rounds through mine with 2 failures due to brass shavings on UMC ammo, all the other times, i wouldnt want to be at the wrong end of the gun. Is it possible to get a bad HK? duh! guns are man made, they will have problems, even glock has recalls, and IMO, they are right up there with HK and Sig quality. whats not to like about a gun that has all the saftey features I want, goes bang when it should, can carry cocked and locked, is polymer, is comfortable, has very light recoil for a .45, handles .45 super, deadly accurate out of the box, from a company that manufactures rifles and pistols,since 1949, used by armed forces and law enforcement around the world? Dont like it? thats OK, but its not junk. There, I rest my case. I'm going to sleep. When I wake up tomorrow, im going to the range and get intoxicated from the smell smoke and powder. from this point, I have no need to defend my USP...i'm secure in its ability. keep em in the 10 ring. flame away fellow high roaders. :cool:
 
HKcentermass,

I dont have 60k rounds through my HK, will it go 60k plus? u bet it will.
Click to expand...

Must be nice. :) Personally I don't bet that any of my pistols will fire one more round without jamming or breaking; that's why I practice malf drills and carry a backup gun. ;)

See what I was getting at?

Have fun at the range tomorrow! :cool:
 
Haven't you been listening to Michael Moore?

"How can there be error in comedy?":D

I am not so down on HK as I am down on the unearned mystique surrounding what is arguably the worst product in their current line-up.:evil: I still would like to add a P7M13 if the mag ban dies.
 
Bobarino,

The USP 40's we use sometimes fail to fire in DA. Pulling the trigger cocks the hammer back, but it just won't quite fall, no matter how hard you keep pulling. Also, the roll pin on the recoil spring assembly has a nasty habit of working its' way out and getting caught in the coils of the spring. That brings the gun to a screeching halt. Front sights frequently fall out of their dovetails. Shooters used to shooting 1911's and using a high-thumb grip tend to cause the USP to de-cock in the middle of a string of fire if too much pressure is put on the safety lever. That's not a major thing, but is distracting to say the least.

The guns rarely malfunction when they do shoot. I can't think of too many failures to eject or stovepipes or anything of that nature, so ammo is not a factor. We use Speer Lawman 180gr TMJ for practice & carry Speer 180gr Gold Dot for duty. We practice with duty ammo frequently to ensure the guns will function with that.

HK has been great at working with us and trying to fix the problems with these and our G36 rifles, but there comes a point where good customer service just can't overcome the mechanical failings of the product. By the way, the G36's work just fine- we had some major problems with the cheesy sights they put on them.

A couple of our guys still love the USP's because they're black and sexy and say "HK" on them, but most of us are looking forward to getting rid of them.
 
I keep hearing about this so-called "unearned mystique" regarding the USP, but fail to see it is an issue with the people I know who own H&Ks.

Pretty much the only place I see this discussed is on internet firearm BBs by people who don't like H&Ks.

As far as it being the worst product in their line-up. . . If their worst product fires everytime I pull the trigger, is the most accurate handgun I own in my hands (among numerous other makes and styles and in the "inaccurate" .40 S&W no less), fits my hand perfectly, has what is for me the fastest mag release around, can be configured to just about any fire control variant a person cares for, is easy to take down for cleaning, and is durable. . . H&K isn't doing too bad.

Seriously, does liking one design to the point of exclusivity mean that all others are POS? Many of you have come off as believing that to be the case.

I've found the USP to be my favorite gun for reasons listed above. The fact, though, that I like it best doesn't mean I think all other designs are ****. I can't stand GLOCKs because of their grip angle, but I happen to think they are great firearms regardless of some of their current problems.

YMMV, IMO and all that. . .

Shake
 
TAKE THE SAFETY OFF!!!!!! You can engage the safety of a USP with the hammer down. In which case THE HAMMER WILL COME HALF WAY BACK, BUT WON'T QUITE FALL.!!!!!! Why would anyone shoot with the high thumb position? Just plain dumb! Front sights on mine are so tight that it takes a really good whack to get them to move a hair; but if one is a little loose, a simple peening does the job. Jeeeeeeeeez:banghead:
 
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