HK USP Compact 9mm questions

[CTGunner]

2 questions

1. I'm looking for a ballpark value on a used HK USP Compact in 9mm with no mags. The gun is in good working order with some wear on the slide. Standard sights and no box. It is a variant 3 I believe with the 1911 style safety and decocking lever.

2. Since the P30 came out and now the VP9 I have heard that the value on the USP is dropping off. Is the USP still worth considering or would one be better off going with a P30?

 

[Sergei Mosin]

The P30 has a significant ergonomic advantage over the USP Compact and carries three more rounds as a 9mm (one more as a .40) but it is slightly larger than the USPc. Whether that size difference matters to you is for you to say. I have both (plus a full size USP and a P30SK, as well as some others) and have a niche for each, but if I could only have one it would be the P30.

 

[CTGunner]

Sergei thank you for your reply.

 

[usp9]

As you describe the USPc I'd put the value at something south of $600. A nice looking pistol in good condition perhaps at $550 and less if the wear is evident. Missing mags are a $60 factor. A used USPc is still robust pistol that can have a high round count yet still offer a long life to a second owner.

The P30 offers features the USP does not, mainly a different grip with changeable panels. The newer model is nicer IMHO but both are rock solid designs. If I were looking at a near similar price between the USP and P30, I'd pick the P30.

 

[CoalTrain49]

There are USP 40 S&W LEO trade-ins out there for $425, with a mag.

I'd say 400 ish without a mag.

If you couldn't buy it for that I'd go for a P30. Much nicer pistol.

 

[RainDodger]

I would say the choice would be... the one that fits your hand better. Can't help you with value though. If your hand fits a USP, everyone is saying they're going for less money now. I have a full size USP and a Compact USP. They fit my hand perfectly, so.. if the shoe fits. Less money. Still 100% reliable and great shooters. I wouldn't pay more for a different HK unless it fit my hand a lot better than a USP, as any HK I've heard of is a great shooter.

 

[CTGunner]

This is helpful. Thanks for the replies. Given the relatively significant cost difference I'm leaning towards the usp. It actually fits me well and the single action trigger seems a little crisper on the usp. Still a tough call.

For anyone who has carried one in a holster, have you ever found that the safety tends to move on you? So, if carried safety off, hammer down, do you ever end the day and find that the safety has worked it's way into the on position? This is something I'm a little concerned about.

 

[jjones45]

For anyone who has carried one in a holster, have you ever found that the safety tends to move on you? So, if carried safety off, hammer down, do you ever end the day and find that the safety has worked it's way into the on position? This is something I'm a little concerned about.

I've carried a usp 45 compact on and off for about 10 years, give or take a year and I always carried it decocked with the safety off. I've never had the safety unintentionally be activated while in the holster and I've carried it in quite a bit of variety of holsters. With the exception of one cheap fabric Blackhawk holster all were good holsters, and even the cheap Blackhawk never game me problems with the gun. As long as you get a quality holster or one that covers the safety/decocker you will never have to worry about that. I still carry mine every now and then but as of late prefer to carry guns with no kind of manual safety. So no, the safety doesn't just move on you like say s&w shields with safeties in the past

 

[JDR]

Before I paid much more than @$500 for a used USP Compact V3 trigger variant without mags(?), for about $635.00 I'd get a brand new HK P2000 V2 LEM trigger variant with 2 mags in the box. The V3 trigger pull in DA isn't everybody's favorite, to put it mildly, my P30 is a V3, but I can work with it, but with the LEM trigger variant, every trigger pull is the same, and you can interchange springs to get the V2 close to the V1 Light LEM which isn't available on this pistol direct from HK. The HK P2000 V2 LEM trigger variant will probably be my next acquisition.

 

[Chuck R.]

Before I paid much more than @$500 for a used USP Compact V3 trigger variant without mags(?), for about $635.00 I'd get a brand new HK P2000 V2 LEM trigger variant with 2 mags in the box. The V3 trigger pull in DA isn't everybody's favorite, to put it mildly, my P30 is a V3, but I can work with it, but with the LEM trigger variant, every trigger pull is the same, and you can interchange springs to get the V2 close to the V1 Light LEM which isn't available on this pistol direct from HK. The HK P2000 V2 LEM trigger variant will probably be my next acquisition.

Plus 1 for the P2K LEM Recommendation if you're looking for a carry pistol. The USPcs are nice (actually have a better trigger too), but the P2000 is a more "refined" option for carry and has interchangeable backstraps. The LEM is hands down my favorite defensive trigger. Here's a list of some available on-line:

https://www.slickguns.com/search/apachesolr_search/M709202-A5

Chuck

 

[JTQ]

I'm not an HK guy, but my understanding is you can switch the USP guns around with all the various variations of trigger actions from V1 through V10 (one variant may possibly be LE only) and LEM. For instance, you buy a DA/SA gun, you can convert it to LEM.

On the other hand, with the P-Series guns you are limited to the version you buy. For instance, if you buy a DA/SA version, that's what you get. If you'd prefer LEM, you need to go buy an LEM version.

 

[Chuck R.]

I'm not an HK guy, but my understanding is you can switch the USP guns around with all the various variations of trigger actions from V1 through V10 (one variant may possibly be LE only) and LEM. For instance, you buy a DA/SA gun, you can convert it to LEM.

On the other hand, with the P-Series guns you are limited to the version you buy. For instance, if you buy a DA/SA version, that's what you get. If you'd prefer LEM, you need to go buy an LEM version.

You can convert the P series also, I've done several and they're no me difficult than the USPs. It's said HK won't continue the warranty, but that's not one of the things I worry about. Also for the P series I converted HK CS sold me the parts.......

Chuck

 

[RainDodger]

You can of course change the action of the USP. I believe there are 7 different variants available. I've carried mine a lot, although I carry with the safety off and the hammer down. I can't imagine the safety moving from holster contact. It's a very positive safety.