The Annoyed Man
Member
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.
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.