Ruger P97 vs HK 45 auto

[Woody_in_MN]

Not that I need another gun, but after shooting my Molina 1911, I shot my buddy's HK 45 auto. I was impressed - I was more accurate w/ the HK. I don't know whick model it was, but he said he bought it new for around dealer cost for like $650. Pretty rich for my blood. So I started looking at used new design 45's. At first I was thinking Bersa or Taurus, but I see that I could get a Ruger P90 or P97 for around the same money.

How would the P97 compare with the HK's?

- w

 

[Lex]

I had a P-97, love my P-90 better, and really liked shooting my buddy's H&K.

Me personally, I'd go get a P-90 if the budget is a concern....unless you're hung-up on polymer guns.

My P-97 was a little sloppy with frame-to-slide fit. Functioned great, never a problem. Just my observations.


Lex in NC

 

[GlenJ]

Ruger P97-will perform flawlesly for about $350/made in the USA by American workers.

HK- will do the same for twice the money made overseas.

I had a P97 and totally regret selling it.

 

[Feanaro]

The Ruger P series will work. The H&K USP series will work. The Ruger P97 holds 8 rounds(P90 holds 7), the USP 45 hold 12. The USP can be had in DA/SA with a combination manual safety and decocker, DA/SA with decocker only, DAO with manual safety, DAO without safety, and DA/SA with manual safety only. All those, except for the DAO without safety, in left and right hand versions. The P97 comes in DA/SA with decocker and DAO without safety, the P90 in DA/SA with safety and decocker combo, and DAO without safety. P90/97 is made in the USA, USP is not. The P97 costs about three hundred and fifty dollars, the USP twice that.

Had I the money, I would snag the USP hands down. It feels better in my hand than any of the P-series, the controls seem better suited to me, and I think they look purdy. But is it worth the extra money over a P90/97? Go feel the two up(heh), maybe shoot them a little more, and find out.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

I went out to Sportsman's Warehouse. I held a $800 hk, a p90, a p97, and a p345. The hk had a nice feel. I like the p97 over the p90, and like the p345 better than the p97. The purdy award goes to p97 in a two-tone finish.

- w

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I got a Ruger 97DC for $279 from CDNN. Good gun at a great price. Just checked their catalog on their website and it appears that they still have them.

 

[Spot77]

My P-97 was a little sloppy with frame-to-slide fit. Functioned great, never a problem. Just my observations.

+1


It's the gun I'm most accurate with.

 

[Feanaro]

The purdy award goes to p97 in a two-tone finish.

I believe that is the first time I've heard ANY of the P series referred to as "purdy", or given any aesthetic compliment.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

The Ruger P series will work. The H&K USP series will work. The Ruger P97 holds 8 rounds(P90 holds 7)...

The original P-90 may have held 7, but the P-90s now use the same 8 rounders as the P-97s. Unfortunately, Ruger saw fit to discontinue the P-97 when they introduced the P-345.

Back in June I picked up a blued P-90. I compared it side-by-side with a P-345 and liked the feel on the older model better. YMMV on this point, of course.

The Ruger semiautos may not be the "coolest" but they very rarely malfunction and are very reasonably priced.

 

[albanian]

I had a P-95 that worked great and was as accurate in rapid fire as slow fire. I don't know how that worked but it was the gun I could shoot the fastest and most accuratly with. I regret selling it for that reason. I sold it because it had lackluster slowfire accuracy and at the time, factory hi-caps were hard to find.

I checked out a few H&Ks but never bought one. I felt they were as good as the Ruger at twice the price. I saw nothing that made me want to pay the crazy asking price of these other plastic guns. There are better plastic guns out there like the Glock and the SA XD. I know you are asking about the .45acp so check out the Glock 21, if it fits your hand, it may be the best bet if you have to get a plastic gun. If I were looking for a .45acp, I would get a SIG 220. IMHO, it is the best modern .45acp on the market. 1911s are great and all that but the SIG 220 is a classic.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

I believe that is the first time I've heard ANY of the P series referred to as "purdy", or given any aesthetic compliment.

Get ready for another shocker. Glocks are ugly, and HK's marginallly good looking.

- w

 

[Morgan]

The HK has a larger capacity, can be carried cocked and locked, and is better for a thumbs-high grip (better overall ergonomics, IMO).

Both are reliable.

 

[10-Ring]

I've shot both, own the HK USP. I prefer the feel and the accuracy of the Ruger.

 

[gggman]

I have owned both. The Ruger is a reliable, fairly accurate gun, but the HK, which I still own, is much more accurate, feels better in my hand, and is milder shooting. For the money, the Ruger is a good buy, but for my money the HK wins hands down. You would be well armed with either, but you would be VERY well armed with an HK USP.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

I forgot about the CDNN sale on P97's. Lordy, that sure is tempting - that's just $30 more than what I paid for a used Ruger Security Six 357 - and this is a 45 auto NEW for crips sake. I will say part of this is brand loyalty. I love Ruger pistols.

- w

 

[bakert]

I carry a Ruger P97 almost every day. It's more accurate than I can shoot, the trigger gets better with use or dry firing. It's reasonably light and it's reliable and affordable. If you need more than than 8 or even 7 rds of .45 ACP for most social purposes you are definately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

[litework]

I’ve never handled a P97, but have handled a P95 DA w/decocker. I didn’t like the gun. It is the very minimum I would accept as a self-defense weapon for a couple of reasons. I don’t think the grip is suitable for wet/sweaty hands or extremely dry hands. I took this pistol on a summer shooting session and the slick grips became immediately apparent. Ruger changed the texture on later models. I don’t think it’s enough and prefer P89/P90’s grips. I don’t like the controls on the Rugers either. The magazine release is smallish and flimsy. For these reasons, I would not consider the P97/P95 guns for my personal defense weapon. The fact that it is well made, competitively priced, and made in the US isn’t significant enough to overcome what I perceive to be “deal-killer” design flaws. Ruger has made some significant improvements in these areas with the P345. The lower magazine capacity of the Ruger isn’t terribly important to me. I don’t like the Glock 21 either.

 

[P0832177]

The USP is not even in the same league as Ruger! Not even close! The USP is great gun! Goes bang every time! Accurate as all get out!

 

[Woody_in_MN]

John,

You caught up to my little plan...Your HK is really sweet - I just don't have $800 laying around.

- w

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Update - CDDN is sold out on their P97 dael. - w

 

[MachIVshooter]

Both are hell-for-stout and will function with boring reliability. That said, I have never liked the way Ruger P-series balanced in my hand and would opt for the HK. I used to own a USP stainless .45 and loved it, but sold it when I found a LNIB S&W 1006 that I couldn't afford.

 

[kirkcdl]

I strongly urge all who posted here to give a good look at the Taurus 24/7 in 45.I own all three(P97,USP45f,24/7-45).The 24/7 has the same capacity as the HK,and I think feels better than the P97,in my hand,anyway.It will be my CCW during the cooler months ahead.Paid $369 OTD for mine.Just another option...

 

[MachIVshooter]

I strongly urge all who posted here to give a good look at the Taurus 24/7 in 45.I own all three(P97,USP45f,24/7-45).The 24/7 has the same capacity as the HK,and I think feels better than the P97,

........And the slide jams in the rearward position past the slidelock when you use +P ammo. No thanks. I'll stick with my S&W 4506.

 

[Feanaro]

The original P-90 may have held 7, but the P-90s now use the same 8 rounders as the P-97s.

Thanks for the correction. I had thought it might be like that but I wasn't sure.

If you need more than than 8 or even 7 rds of .45 ACP for most social purposes you are definately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Which will be a real comforting thought if you do need it. I agree with the idea, really. But since the Ruger feels like a brick anyways, I figured they should have squeezed at least ten rounds in there to make up for the grip.

 

[Justin]

I'm not a fan of Ruger anything or the HK USP series.