HK USP Compact .40

[LovespongeJones]

Quick question about the HK USP Compact .40 - Do the 12-round magazines stick out of the bottom of this gun any longer than the 10-round magazines? I'm talking about the extended floor plate magazines in case that makes a difference. Lame question, but I've already researched it and cannot come up with any answers.

Thanks.

 

[obiwan1]

nope

 

[LovespongeJones]

Thanks, and that's good to hear. I've been trying to decide between a USP Compact .40 or .45 for about six months now, and I've come down to deciding that if the 12-round magazine of the .40 doesn't stick out of the grip any longer than the 10-round magazine, I'm getting the .40, most definitely. I know that sounds ridiculous, but concealability is playing a slight factor in my decision, as well as looks and style, and to be straight forward, I think any handgun with a magazine overly-protruding from the handle is just plain ugly and needless.

 

[jeffreywt]

Also, it is easy to switch to flat floor plates and they can be had for under 10 bucks.

12 rounds in the .40, 13 rounds in the 9mm, and 8 rounds in the .45 are the standard capacities. All three look the same on the outside.

 

[240SX]

I've got the .45 APC of the same model (USP Compact) and I LOVE it. It's my carry gun since the weather's gotten hot. I'm not following you on why you took the .40 cal instead, it only hold four more rounds than the .45, and .45's is a real show stopper. I guess I just like .45's...oh well.

But congrats on choosing a great handgun. The USP Compact line HK has developed is awesome, I must say I would like one of each model if I could afford it. But I am happy with my .45 ACP.

PS Try Impact Guns (online) - I think they my have the magazine you are looking for, but don't hold me to it. Happy shooting!

 

[LovespongeJones]

Jeffrey, are you sure? The cheapest magazines of any kind that I've seen for any H&K is $35. They're of course known for having very pricey magazines.

240SX, the reason I chose .40 over .45 is that .40 does indeed hold four rounds more than the .45, it's slightly shorter than the .45, and recoil is expected to be slightly less, thus letting you perform double-taps more easily if I'm not mistaken (I'm taking a guess here, as I'm a handgun newbie). And those extra four rounds (or extra 12 if you're carrying three magazines) could come in handy if you ever get into a jam that needs more than eight rounds (which would probably be never, especially where I live, but still). And believe me, I too would own a USP Compact in every model as well if I had the green for it, but the green I do have must be dispersed to several other types of guns I'm looking to buy in the future. And funny, because Impact Guns is one of only two places online that I have really bought from.

 

[240SX]

Granted, you have 4 more rounds...recoil...a little less, but doesn't have the power of the .45. The size difference is minimal at best. I carry mine every day and you'd NEVER know it.

I guess it's up to what you feel comfortable with, and that is the most important thing when buying and using a firearm. I was a 9mm guy for the longest time (I have 6 of them) and I got this HK and now I have the CZ97BD, so I've got .45 fever. But for what it's worth, I'm getting the CZP-06 next month (.40S&W)...would have it now, but I dropped $1200 on new (Apexi) coilovers for my car.

Happy shooting!

 

[anythingshiny]

i have both the compact 40 and a compact tactical 45.

i carry both without issue but prefer the 45 simply for the power...as far as shootability the 45 to me, is faster back on target. the 40 is a bit sharper and "snappier" to me.

i shoot both well...but as they are just about the same size, i prefer the bigger hole.

bottom line is shoot what you want but shoot it a lot!

 

[LovespongeJones]

Ahk. Now I'm back in the inner debate of whether to get it in .40 S&W or .45 ACP. I guess the final deciding factor has come down to the recoil. Can you easily double-tap with the .40 model? How about at least getting off a very fast series of fairly accurate shots? I'm not that much concerned with power, as I'd be using Hydrashock or similar ammo, but I'd want to acquire double-tapping as a standard for the first shots of defense.

These are indeed clueless and maybe even pointless questions, but I am a handgun newbie to the maximum when it comes to this stuff. I've only shot a 9mm and .38 in my life and the last time I shot one was six years ago. But I know I'm built and strong enough handle any caliber of handgun, heavy recoil or not, so that's of no concern. Just double-tapping and quick firing I'm concerned of.

 

[obiwan1]

My duty gun is a P2000 LEM .40 and I own a USPcLEM.40 that i bought through my agency (don't ask) a few years ago. I have NO problems qualifying quarterly (i usually max the course). We do some rapid fire - not strictly "double taps", but pretty rapid. I do like the .40, but I also like .45 cal. With me it's a no brainer as I get free ammo to qual and practice. Were I to buy, with no ammo subsidy, I probably would look at the .45 before I made a final decision. I know that doesn't help much and I've never had an opportunity to shoot any H&K .45, but I'd try to rent one of each and decide after. Having said all of that, you shouldn't have any recoil problems with either. By the way - we have some fairly small (read "small female") shooters that do well with the .40.

 

[LovespongeJones]

Free ammo? I'm jealous. Well, at this point I have decided on the .45 Compact USP. After spending hours researching the .40 recoil as opposed to the .45 (especially in a light polymer frame), I've decided that I'd much prefer a "push" than a "snap up", especially for follow-up shots. The only problems I have choosing the .45 over the .40 is of course the .45 only holds two more rounds than a standard revolver (although I doubt I'll ever need more rounds than that, but it's comforting with 12), and it's 6mm length difference (which isn't that big of a problem at all, really). So, until convinced otherwise, I think I've made a decent choice.

 

[jeffreywt]

Lovesponge, I was talking about just the floor plates, not the entire magazine. If your mags have the finger-rest floorplate and you want the flat ones instead, you can purchase just the flats and swap them out. When I said all three look the same, I mean the way the mag protrudes from the grip. Sorry for not being entirely clear.

Oh, and it holds three more rounds than your average revolver. 8+1