I shot an HK USP .45 rental gun :)

[jashobeam]

Sunday night I fired about 25 rounds out of a .45 USP rental gun at my local indoor range. That gun was great. The SA trigger was so light and smooth I couldn't believe it. I was sharing the gun and a box of ammo with another guy, and when we were down to 10 cartridges I suggested we each fire 5 DA shots. After inserting the mag and racking the slide, I used the decocking lever (also the safety lever--v1) to lower the hammer. I decocked after each shot. The DA trigger pull was super smooth and easy. There was nothing gritty or jerky about it. Smooth and easy. Very accurate.

A buddy of mine has the exact same gun in .40. I've shot his gun on a few different occassions and I don't remember it making such a great impression on me as this particular specimen did. I'll have to shoot my friend's gun again and see if it's as good as this rental . If all HK USPs are this smooth I'll definitely have to get one. BTW, the rental had a longer 'Match' barrel (~6") and a Hogue rubber overgrip.

I just wanted to tell all of you HK owners and fans, and everyone else for that matter, just how impressed I was by this gun. I've been wanting to get a .45, now I know which one to get.

 

[P0832177]

Were you shooting an Elite or Expert variant of the USP? They come with match triggers. A stock USP does not have that same trigger. But, after a lot of dry firing and real firing things do smooth out. You learn where the trigger reset is, and most of all your first shot from hammer decocked position becomes one with the follow up shot!

 

[Norton]

I have the 9mm and enjoy it tremendously. I haven't shot the USP .45, but did get a chance to run a magazine through a Mk23 a while back.....if the USP45 shoots half as nice as that, I really need to get one.

Too bad they are all so blasted expensive

 

[Devonai]

The USP .45 (stock) is my primary carry weapon, and it's also the one I qualified with to get my armed security guard license. I was already happy with it, but after the qual course of one-handed firing, weak-handed firing, quick-draws, barricade firing, double-taps, triple-taps, and kitchen sinks, I was even more pleased with the weapon.

I got mine in excellent condition for $550, so shop around.

 

[Moonclips]

What it lacks in looks are compensated for by utter reliability and accuracy.

 

[wardog]

You won't be dissapointed.

Of my many handguns, a full size USP .45 is what rests in my nightstand. Dressed up with night sights and a Streamlight M6 stoked with 12 +1 Cor Bon 165 gr +P's.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I've owned USP's in all three calibers and the .45 is the best of the bunch.
USP's are too big for a 9mm, inaccurate in .40, but juuuuust right in .45acp.
Accurate and soft shooting, reliable as the sun. It's the only brand of pistol that I've never had any kind of failure with.
(IMNSHO)

 

[gudel]

I've owned USP's in all three calibers and the .45 is the best of the bunch.
USP's are too big for a 9mm, inaccurate in .40, but juuuuust right in .45acp.
Accurate and soft shooting, reliable as the sun. It's the only brand of pistol that I've never had any kind of failure with.
(IMNSHO)

the USP40 is inaccurate? is it in your head because you don't like the 40S&W or the gun is really inaccurate? I heard different from USP40 owners.

I saw a sheriff behind me while I was waiting in line buying some food. I asked, "so how do you like your USP?". The answer I got: "Love it!"

 

[usp_fan]

My usp 40 compact has really smoothed out over the years. I guess the secret to a good trigger pull in these is to just use it lots.

PO2Hammer: This same pistol is very accurate with my reloads. It is pretty good with factory stuff too. I'm sorry your experience was different.

--usp_fan

 

[Moonclips]

My USP40 compact is like an extension of my shooting arm. I like it better than my USP45 fullsize.

 

[PO2Hammer]

[is it in your head because you don't like the 40S&W or the gun is really inaccurate?/QUOTE]
-
I have actually become a huge fan of the .40. My Glock 20/10mm converted to .40 proved to be so accurate that I figured a USP had to be at least as good. I bought a NIB USP .40 full size. It was totaly reliable and a pleasure to shoot, but I just could not get decent accuracy out of it. Flat points, JHP's, FMJ's, off hand, bench rest, it just never shot under 5" at 25 yards. Perhaps it was just one bad apple.
I have a Sig P226ST in .40 now that I am very happy with, and am planning on buying a USP in .45acp.

 

[Onmilo]

I never could get any .40 caliber pistol to shoot to my level of acceptable accuracy and I tried a bunch of them.

A pistol should be able to group less than 3.5"@25 meters benchrested consistently or I lose interest and no .40 I tried could do that.

Are .40 caliber pistols combat accurate?, They most certainly are.
Are they powerful? You bet, right up there with the best of the 9mm and .45 offerings.
Was this caliber really neccessary?
Only because Smith and Wesson convinced a whole generation of Cops that it was and then Glock beat them to the punchline, LOL
When you look at the sum whole of the cartridge it was something that didn't really need to be, but man, it sold a lot of guns to cop shops, and as a bonus, some civilians began picking guns in this caliber.
End result, cops are happy with the guns in this caliber because it will do the job and let's face facts.
Most Police Officers just aren't that gun crazy and many don't shoot to a level of proficiency that a truely accurate weapon can show.
2nd. end result, most serious shooter citizens are not that fond of .40 caliber guns.
If it works, fine.

Anyway, I'm quite happy with my USP Elite in .45 acp.

 

[psyopspec]

What I love best about the USPs I've owned is that they don't break down. They break in.

 

[Caseless]

I find all USPs to be very accurate, but USP 40 makes me practice more to achieve the same consistent accuracy as 9mm and 45 ACP. It takes a while to get used to the different, some may say, snappy recoil impulse. I also found 155gr ammo in 40 S&W is a lot more accurate than 180gr ammo at 25yards+.

 

[hartzpad]

Now they just need to make a USP or the new P3000 in 10mm, 10mm would really shine in an HK pistol.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Bought a USP40 the day they signed the brady Bill way back when. Has never hiccuped once. went hrough a week or turmoil at thunder ranch and gave zero problems. I finally brought home a USP Elite a couple weeks ago. No way I'd spend the money on that if my other Hk's didn't give me 100% reliability and great accuracy. #5 will likely be here in a couple months.

 

[Val USP]

I got different tools - in 22lr, .380, 9x18, 9x19 caliber.
I tried to shoot .45, but don't like it + expensive food.
When I saw USP - I decided - it should be only in .40
I want to have something more than 9mm
And for today HK USP 40c is chieftain of my toys!

 

[Shipwreck]

I needa find someone nearby to try one out. Always wanted to try one...

 

[Edmond]

The high price has kept me from getting a USP or maybe even the compact in 9mm.

 

[10-Ring]

Yeah, those USPs are quite addicting!

 

[gudel]

The high price has kept me from getting a USP or maybe even the compact in 9mm.

That didn't stop me from repeating it 4 times so far, nor did it stop a bunch of other people.