USP Elite, Glock 34 compared

[Onmilo]

The picture is crappy but several threads have been posted asking about the comparison of the H&K and the Glock.

Pictured above is my USP Elite .45 and below is my Glock 34 9mm

Both wear Meprolight adjustable, tritium dot, rear sights.
the Glock has a Mepro tritium front while the USP has an MMC tritium front.
I didn't see the need for the shark fin out front so I elected to use the MMC .185" tall front in place of the .305" Mepro front.

The factory front on the USP is the same height as the Mepro-light front and the gun hit point of aim at 25 meters right from the box.
Unfortunately the rear sight was adjusted 15 clicks from bottom and this just wasn't neccessary in my opinion.

I think H&K went with the 'look' of the MK 23 SOCOM by using higher than neccessary sights.
The tall sights are neccessary on the MK 23 SOCOM pistol so that one can aquire a sight picture with the Knight Suppressor screwed into place.
I have no intention of using a suppressor so,,,lower sights for me.

I will probably use an MMC on the Glock too, the front sight is really too tall and I worry about knocking it off if I get careless in a combat shoot.

The Glock is legal in all shooting sports depending on the magazine capacity.
The USP Elite is not legal for IDPA.

Both are as reliable as the other.
The Elite has a better trigger and is more accurate.
I can't decide if this is due to the caliber or the gun, but am quite pleased with the results.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Nice. I just picked up my Elite in 9mm last week.


I wanted a gun to use for steel plates as my club has weekly informal plate matches. Couldv'e proberly used an existing gun but wanted the longer bbl/slide/sight radius. Where as everyone else uses 1911's i wanted something different. The Glocks just don't fit me as well as other guns but it was a possiblity anyways. I'd owned a USP40 for quite a few years and was used to the manual of arms/controls. Went back and started looking for an Elite in 9mm. The .45 fames are just too big for my hands. Another deciding factor was that I already have a HK mount that I'd picked up years back I'd used with my USP40 with a Leupld/Gilmore dot. May give it a try on the Elite too. Now to give it a range session.

 

[jlh26oo]

A more appropriate comparison for the 34 might be to the usp 9 expert, which is IDPA legal (as opposed to the .45 elite).

For me, it was tough to save the cash and go with a 34 instead of the expert, just because of the USP's edge in quality and accuracy. The 34 fit my hand better, is lighter, and somehow has a longer barrel and sight radius, despite being smaller in every dimension. While the expert obviously has the superior trigger, I prefer the type of trigger on the glock (& no safeties, hammer, decocker etc). Seemed like the glock had the lower bore axis, but nothing to support this other than holding them in my hand, the expert felt more top heavy. But that might be due to the fact that it's just heavier.

I'm sure it doesn't keep up with the elite/expert, but my 34 does average 2.5" from a rest at 25'. Generally out of ten five inch groups, a few are under 2", best so far has been 1.5". Though the USP's will probably group under 2 consistently.

Given a choice though (if money was no consideration), I would have taken the Expert. Very smooth.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I used to own the USP Elite in 9mm. From a good rest I was getting groups under 2" easily at 25 yards. I shot some great off hand groups with it as well.
Unfortunatly, USP ergonomics do not work for me. I have trouble with the safety/decocker and the USP's just don't return to sight allignment for me as well as Glocks and Sigs.
Now I shoot a Glock 17L wich would be a direct competitor to the Elite.
The 17L just works better for me. I may invest in a fitted Barsto barrel and burried Bomar sights. Besides, all I need is a nail to strip it down to it's bare essentials for repair if necessary.
I still find myself looking fondly at the H&K's behind the glass though.

 

[jlh26oo]

Yeah 17L is the analog to the elite.

17:USP::34:Expert::17L:Elite

 

[GunMac]

"The USP Elite is not legal for IDPA."

I thought any stock gun would be legal. What is the difference with the Elite?

 

[Onmilo]

I don't own an Expert, I don't own a Model 17L.
I do own a Model 34 and an Elite hence these are the weapons I compared.

IDPA rules consider the overall size of a legal weapon as 'Practical for carry"
The Elite and Longslide 1911 pistols are not considered 'practical'.,,,,

 

[GunMac]

Looking at the IDPA rule book it says the pistol must fit into a box with the dimensions of 8 3/4 x 6 x 1 5/8. The Elite at 9.45 is too big. So is the Mark 23. The Glock 17L and 24 also are too big at 8.85.

I guess the Expert at 8.74 inches just makes it.

Good to know before you make a purchase in the future.

 

[Onmilo]

I didn't buy my Elite for IDPA, I use the Glock 34 for that,,,,