USP Compact .45ACP

[Newton]

Well I finally got to shoot a USPc in .45ACP and what a gun that is. It just screams quality when you either handle or shoot it, and that .45 round, oh boy.

The recoil is very very mild, my wife even proclaimed that in her opinion it had NO recoil but the muzzle blast and flash from the UMC ball we were using that was something else.

The blast caused my wife to develop terminal flinch after just a few rounds and the flash was like a 16 inch naval gun going off at night, but I was fascinated by the amount of obvious power going downrange. I didn't care for the low capacity (8 + 1) and that 8th round was a bear to load, but the accuracy was excellent and function was, well, it's a H&K so the issue doesn't really arise.

Bottom line, I want one in Stainless with night sights and a tac light, but it did remind me why we use .38 Spl +P out of a 4 inch bbl for home defence. I wonder how the GI's went on using .45s in tunnels during Vietnam, that must have been unbelievable.

Newton

 

[BerettaNut92]

Bottom line, I want one in Stainless with night sights and a tac light, but it did remind me why we use .38 Spl +P out of a 4 inch bbl for home defence. I wonder how the GI's went on using .45s in tunnels during Vietnam, that must have been unbelievable.

Hiya. Maybe I can help. I have one in stainless, it's sitting right here next to me. *plop* Say hi, Henrietta. *ching-ching*

If I weren't selling it, I'd get night sights on it. Nothing wrong with it except I don't shoot it well. I don't think this is the right gun to put a taclight on. Even if you did, it would still hang a little out, even with the more compact UTLs.

 

[XLMiguel]

I've been real happy with mine. I've never had any sort of misfeed/malfunction, eats everything, and is quite accurate. it is a soft shooter, though due to its light weight, it does have a little muzzle flip. My trigger has smoothed out nicely, even to the point of being a little light in SA mode. I really like the type 1 trigger module that provides a safety/decocker plus the ability to go C&L if you want to. It's a keeper.

 

[CB900F]

Newton;
Try the USP compact in .40. Had mine 5 years, joy to shoot. Never noticed any such bright lights & loud noises with the .40.
You get a 10 round mag & every bit as good stopping power with good ammo according to OSS data. 900F

 

[Newton]

Hmmm .40 cal maybe, seems to have a good safety reputation in the USP's.

Maybe less blast, 2 more rounds - could be a good call.

Thanks

Newton

 

[larryw]

Woah Newton, hold on there! If your wife developed a flinch from the light blast of the 45, 40 is not the way to go.

My wife bought a USP 45C after shooting the gun in 9, 40 and 45. 40's recoil was, in her opinion, much worse (very sharp) and the muzzle blast was significantly greater. Remember the 40 is a high pressure round, 45 is low pressure and many find it more manageable.

As for muzzle blast, we found the only way my wife can shoot without the flinch is if she uses plugs and muffs. I bought a couple boxes of 30db NRR disposable plugs and when used with her 29db NRR Peltor muffs, she'll burn the hearts out of many targets and fire several hundred rounds before she's done (and she doesn't punch me in the arm any more if I blast away with the 44 Mag when she's on the next line).

Speaking to mag capacity: if you need more than 2X8+1 of 45ACP to solve the problem, break out the rifle.

 

[Mike990]

There should be no reason for that much muzzle flash. For comparison, try remington golden saber ammo and or Federal Hydra-shok. The powder makes all the difference. You might have to put up with it in cheap target ammo. Its amazing the difference ammo can make in muzzle flash. Might want to try Federal Personal Defense ammo too. Most of the line is geared toward shorter barrel lengths.

 

[10-Ring]

Sounds like your USPc 45 has found a good home! I can recommend the night sights. Quickly changing my opinion re: them especially on a house/ self defense gun. The UTL is a personal preference thing.

 

[caz223]

Can't agree more, the only downer about that gun is that the trigger kinda sucks in DA for the first 3000 rounds or so.
It does get better on it's own.
But if you don't want to wait, I hear Teddy Jacobson does a mean action job on them.

 

[tech]

I can say that T Jacobson vastly improved my USPc 45 in both double and single action.

Mike

 

[mpthole]

I really, really, really like my USP .45c! Its both my "carry" gun and my IDPA gun. AFAIK, I'm the only one in my IDPA club that shoots an H&K. I shot my best match ever yesterday with it. I don't see 8+1 rounds as much of a detractor. Just practice those tac-reloads and shot placement.

My only complaint is that in S/A I get too-light of stikes on some of my reloads. Of course, that could be a reload issue and not an H&K issue. With factory ammo I've never had a hiccup.

If I were to hang a light on a pistol, I think I'd want it to be a full-size model instead of the compact. I've never shot anything with a light though... so I really have no idea.

 

[gbelleh]

I shoot my USP .45 Compact more accurately than any other pistol I own (including the P7M8). I've never noticed any excessive muzzle flash, but I don't use UMC ammo. I usually use either Winchester White Box, PMC, or American Eagle, all 230 gr. for target shooting.

My USP .45 Compact

 

[larryw]

We keep a UTL on my wife's Compact USP. Hangs over the end just a bit, but functions fine.

 

[M1911]

Woah Newton, hold on there! If your wife developed a flinch from the light blast of the 45, 40 is not the way to go.

I with Larry on this. I've got 2 USPc, one in .40 and one in .45. In terms of recoil, I'd say the .40 has a bit more recoil than the .45. Both have significant muzzle rise.

 

[caz223]

Agreed.
The .45 is a soft shooting round.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Skunk your selling your Usp???