WHOOPEEEEE! I just got home with my new pistol!

[The Annoyed Man]

I just picked up a new in the box H&K USP Compact in .40 S&W at Sportsman's Warehouse in Lewisville. I was looking around for a new carry gun, and I wanted the capacity of a semi-auto, but with the simplicity of a revolver. I own two 1911s in .45 and a Colt Government in .380, but I wasn't completely comfortable with any of them as carry weapons. They are great pistols, and I enjoy shooting all three, but they are more or less worthless to me for concealed carry because, no matter how I try, I just can't get past the idea of carrying cocked and locked. I know lots of guys are perfectly comfortable with that, and that's fine, but it just wasn't for me. Call me a sissy, but there it is...

I had settled on .40 S&W because it is a fairly powerful round that still permits high capacity magazines without huge grip frames. I did some shopping around, trying on different compact size carry pistols. I looked at a couple of models of Glocks, the Taurus Millenium, some Sigs, a Walther, a S&W M&P (or, a Walther in S&W clothing), and of course, the H&K USP.

I settled on the H&K for two reasons. First, it just felt the best in my hand. Everything was the right size and it seemed to point naturally. Second, being left handed, it was important to me that the controls be easy to use for a left handed shooter. It helps that the safety/decocker lever can be remounted on the right side of the pistol for left handed users, and it has a bilateral magazine release with buttons on either side of the pistol. The only lever that remains on the "right handed" side of the pistol is the slide release lever, which in this pistol is not necessary for releasing the slide as it can be released by pulling back on it and letting it go.

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. I may go over to the indoor range at Bass Pro this eveing after dinner and try it out. If not tonight, then tomorrow afternoon for sure.

I'll be uploading pictures shortly, but I wanted to get this post up.

 

[10-Ring]

Great choice --- congrats on the new HK

 

[Lonestar49]

I'm an Annoyed Man now.. lol

Quote:They are great pistols, and I enjoy shooting all three, but they are more or less worthless to me for concealed carry because, no matter how I try, I just can't get past the idea of carrying cocked and locked.

I know lots of guys are perfectly comfortable with that, and that's fine, but it just wasn't for me. Call me a sissy, but there it is...
_________________
...

what?.. I'm a little annoyed about that..

Congrats on the new gun


LS

 

[v35]

I have one... for each hand.



How much $$, if I may ask?

 

[The Annoyed Man]

I paid $739.99. I have no idea if that is a good deal or not, or what MSRP is supposed to be. Sportsman's Warehouse generally has good prices for new firearms, but I don't know if H&K gives them enough margin to reduce the selling price to below MSRP.

 

[rcellis]

Hard to overpay for an HK - by that I mean that they are so durable and reliable and accurate that over time you'll forget what you paid for it and appreciate it for the rock-solid pistol it is.

Besides, I'll sell you my P2000SK for $10,000.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

Make it $5,000 and you've got a deal.

 

[1BLINDREF]

Congrats on a fine gun
It's a great feeling when you get a new gun - Good luck with it.

 

[possum]

congrats sounds like you had a good day.

 

[gudel]

I own two 1911s in .45 and a Colt Government in .380, but I wasn't completely comfortable with any of them as carry weapons

I know the feeling
At any rate, you got yourself a superior weapon. Where are the pics?

 

[The Annoyed Man]

Where are the pics?

Ask and ye shall receive.

 

[quickcanary]

Nice piece. Let us know how she shoots!

 

[The Annoyed Man]

My son and I took her to the range yesterday and shot it straight up against my Sig 1911, which although not too reliable, is very accurate. The USP was at least as accurate as the 1911, possibly more so. It's a little hard to say because I was just trying to familiarize myself with the pistol rather trying to shoot tiny groups. The groups were wider than the .45's, but not so strung out vertically. I was able to put all 12 rounds from a magazine load into the 9 ring of an 8" target at 21 ft. Curiously, the 12 rounds grouped into two distinct groups of 2"x1.75" and 2"x.75", with the bottom of the second group almost touching the left side of the first group. Taken all together, they grouped into about 2.25"x3". That 12 rounds were my last magazine of the day, and they were the Federal Hydra-Shoks. It took me a bit of practice to get to that point. Either gun shoots minute of center of chest with ease, but the H&K seems moderately more dependable in that regard.

This was my first ever experience shooting a .40 S&W, and I admit that I was a little surprised at the amount of zip. Subjectively, the recoil feels much like shooting the Corbon +P 180 grain JHP out of the .45. There was more muzzle flip, but less "push" than with the standard 230 grain ball or JHP loads in the 1911.

It goes without saying that the more I shoot it, the better I'm going to get with it. But I will give it this: it digested all loads I fed it with complete equanimity and without nary a hickup or a FTF. I shot Winchester white box FMJ's (with a truncated cone shape with a flat nose), Remington 180 Gr. Golden Sabres, and Federal 180 Gr Hydra-shoks. The federals are what I have it stoked with for HD. My Sig 1911, even after having the ramp polished, does not feed as reliably as that, and we experienced 2-3 FTF out of about 50 rounds fired with the sig, if I recall correctly. Maybe time and more rounds through it will fix that. If not, I'll sell it.

One thing I learned and which I don't like but have no choice about is that the closest H&K licensed armorer to the DFW area is in Atlanta, Georgia. H&K is not releasing parts to gunsmiths, so I have to ship my new pistol back to Atlanta to get the left handed safety/decocker control installed.

 

[rcellis]

The .40 S&W *is* a snappy round. My first .40 was a Sig - took me a while to get used to it, but I did.

 

[[email protected]]

Great Choice!!

I`ve just created a new thread on the .40 versus the 9mm. After you shoot check out my post and give me your opinion. I paid $375 for my P94 .40 and sent it to ruger so that they could go through it because it was used. The gun is in absolute perfect condition inside and out but you can never be too safe when it comes to firearms. Hope you enjoy it. I`ve put 150 rounds through mine in about twenty minutes with NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. It`s accurate as any pistol that I`ve shot and as comfortable as any. Try the 165 grain hydro-shocks by federal if your in question of an ammo. They are awsome without a doubt.

 

[gudel]

But I will give it this: it digested all loads I fed it with complete equanimity and without nary a hickup or a FTF. I shot Winchester white box FMJ's (with a truncated cone shape with a flat nose), Remington 180 Gr. Golden Sabres, and Federal 180 Gr Hydra-shoks. The federals are what I have it stoked with for HD. My Sig 1911, even after having the ramp polished, does not feed as reliably as that

come on, you know what you're buying here and that is to be expected
Now what you need to do is to buy another

 

[usp_fan]

You won't be able to tell by my user name, but the USP40c is one of my favorite pistols. I fits, it hits what you point it at, it's build like a tank, and with it you have options of how to carry and the trigger mode you like to use. I've had the same experience as you, mine eats whatever I feed it. My only complaint is that my wife has started calling it "her's". I may have to buy another one.

Enjoy your fine choice.

 

[Autolycus]

You can change the control lever yourself if you need to. Just go on over to www.hkpro.com and check out the forums. I am sure someone there could help you and tell you where to procure the parts.

 

[possum]

thanks for the pics we all love gun porn, great choice but don't think for a minute that you settled for anything, you got a great weapon and a great caliber. tell us how it shoots for you when you get out to the range.

 

[REPOMAN]

H&k Fan

I've been the proud owner of a H&K USPc .40 since 2002 4-5k downrange and not a problem w/ anything.....GREAT CHOICE!!!!!!

 

[Rob1035]

So is it true you can just switch the control lever? That's always been a turn off for me, being another lefty, and other posts claimed switching was a $150+ ordeal from HK...

 

[Gustav]

Great to see a new pistol find a good home.
Your choice is one that I am also considering from my short list of options I am curious as to how you will like it once you have had some trigger time with it.
Any money is money well spent if you are happy and it is on a top quality piece.

 

[Black Majik]

Now that is a great choice and a superb review.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

I'll be going back to the range again soon and putting some more rounds through it. But the more I look at and handle the gun, the more I am convinced that it really was the right choice. It's the only other semiauto pistol I've ever held that felt as natural in my hand as do my 1911s, and that is high praise.

I REALLY like this pistol.

You can change the control lever yourself if you need to. Just go on over to www.hkpro.com and check out the forums. I am sure someone there could help you and tell you where to procure the parts.

Thanks for the link. I'll give them a try.

 

[Autolycus]

The Annoyed Man: PM me and I will send you some information that can help you with your lever change.