XD9 versus USP45

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mattw

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i am going to purchase a new handgun, this is the only thing i am sure of.

i have narrowed down my selection to the Springfield Armory XD-9 and the H&K USP45. i have never used either of these pistols but have read many reviews by gun magazines and private owners and am convinced that both are very reliable, soild pistols. Please someone with experience help me to decide! If you have experience with either or both of these weapons please share your opinion of them/it with me and convince me to buy one.

here are my conditions of purchase:

1.) I know .45 is more powerful, i do not care, i already have a SA 1911, that is my defense gun, i am looking for something that is fun to shoot.

2.) Money is no object as long as it is under $800, the XD is cheaper and so is 9mm ammo, i know that and i don't care

3.) ergonomics and reliablitiy are the only two issues, from what i have read the XD beats the USP in the first category and the USP beats the XD marginally in the latter

4.) the reason i have chosen the .45 ACP variant of the USP is because i hear that the recoil-reduction system is decent and if i am going to pay $600+ i would like a .45, please tell me about how the felt recoil of the USP 45 compairs to that of a standard 1911 in the same caliber


thanks in advance for the help guys, i look forward to reading your replies!
 
You've picked two very different guns to compare. If you're looking for a fun, reliable gun to shoot, the XD9 should suit your needs. It's less expensive, and ammo is less expensive, as you noted. It also has a lifetime warranty. It is a great gun.

On the other hand, the USP45 will have ammo interchangeability with your 1911. That counts for something. By all accounts this is a great gun, but more expensive. I think you're going to have to decide for yourself which to get.
 
My dad's HK is a big, tame beast of a handgun. Its recoil is very nice by .45 standards. However if you already have a 1911, I would get the XD.
 
No experience with the XD.

I'd buy a nice 1911 for fun and use the USP as the carry gun.
It's what it is meant for; tough and reliable.

If you do want to go the fun/target shooing route and don't mind spending a bit more, go for the USP Expert - an accurized version of the USP.

Still has a sub optimal trigger but once you get used to it; a tack driver.

Other than that, note that USP's are for guys with big hands. Friend of mine with smaller hands has trouble shooting mine.

I have one of the first USP40's to land in the states from 1993 or so and a USP45 Expert as well as a few nice 1911's . . . . among other things.

I enjoy shooting the 1911's; something about them.

It is damn near impossible to get the USP's to choke on anything. I go out of my way to feed them different ammo and they just keep shooting.

Recoil system is cool but odd . . . . takes the edge off the 45 and take some of the snap out of the 40 but almost a wash when compared to a heavy metal 1911.
 
I, too, would have to recommend the HK. I've owned both the XD (40) and the HK USP Tactical.

Both can take a UTL light, which doesn't seem like a plus judging from your post. Both are reliable but the HK will eat just anything. Both guns disassemble very quickly. XD mags are a bit cheaper. Are you a striker-fired fan or like an exposed hammer?

The big difference between the guns:

The finish. You will be constantly wiping the XD and wondering why the rust seems to recur.

Options. You can change (very cheaply) the variant of the USP series to suit your tastes.

Both felt very good in my hands but the USP with a Hogue handall just melted in place and came to target very quickly.

If you decide on the HK, go with the full size in the .45. The recoil is very manageable due to the recoil system.
 
The HK USP is a great choice.

Saying that though, you mentioned you have not tried them. It would be a good idea to try to find a place to rent one or someone who might let you let a few off.
 
I do believe the USP is a fantastic gun, but I lust more for an XD. If you get the one with a stainless slide, rust is much less of an issue. The XD is single action with all the safety of the "safe-action" type triggers. The XD also has a grip angle very similar to the 1911, and IMO the mag release on the XD is a work of pure genius- easy to use with either hand.

I have a 1911 as well, but had I seen a stainless XD before I made my purchase, things might be different.
 
I have an XD in 40SW and love it. This is one of the only pistols I have ever owned that I took straight from the box and have fed all sorts of ammo through it and it has not missed a beat. It is also as accurate as any Sig, Beretta or S&W I have ever shot in 40SW caliber. I carry this pistol on my dads ranch and it sees cold days, dusty days, grit sand and horrible heat and humidity and looks none the worse for wear. I'd trust this pistol to the ends of the earth.

I would only guess that an XD in 9mm would be even more fun to shoot. Less recoil and cheaper to feed, too.

Have you seen the latest issue of Handguns Magazine? They have done an extreme "torture test" on a dead stock XD-9. This guy did things to this XD that I would never attempt, then ran 20,000 rounds through the thing. Absolutely no malfunctions at all. This test ought to put to be any arguments from the Glock crowd, who seem to think the XD is not as serious as the Glock. It obviously is.

I'd say, if the XD fits your hands well, go for it. I love mine and I have two slightly customized 1911s and a tricked out Hi-Power, so I am one hard bastard to impress, but I'd be lying if I said the XD did not impress me. It sure does!

-Brickboy240

PS - I used to own a Glock 17 and would not trade my Xd-40 for the thing...no friggin' way!
 
have seen some customised XDs and they are sweet....a huge cottage industry has rapidly grown-up around the XD much like Glock a few years back..if it is a fun gun you want then the XD..esp. since parts availability and customisation options are usually limited for USPs....
 
Having shot both, I'd go with the USP simply on the basis that it fit my hand better. Price being no object, it comes down to reliability and ergonomics. Ergonomics is largely a personal matter, and I'd trust my life to either pistol in the reliability department after a break-in period.

Comparing the HK .45 to a 1911, I didn't notice much of a difference, though I didn't own both at the same time and thus did not shoot them side by side. The heft of a 1911 is great for absorbing recoil, but the buffer in the HK really took the edge off as well. Shoot before you buy if possible. YMMV, but I'm sure you'll be satisfied with either.
 
thanks alot, you guys have helped me out and i believe i have decided to go with the XD9, i have probably what i would consider smaller than average hands so i think it will come down to which feels more comfortable with a loaded magazine. I grew up shooting nothing but 1911s in 230gr. .45 ACP FMJ and this is the first time i will shoot anything other than .45 in a handgun if i get the XD. I have experience with the glock 21 and the 1911 so i am confident the XD should feel right at home in my hands where as the USP might take some practice.

I believe i will make a trip to a reputable pawn shop that happens to also be an authorized H&K and Springfield Armory dealer. I will have no way of test firing before i buy, as there are no places to rent weapons and none of my friends have either weapon. I will decide on which feels better.

one last question:

What is so bad about the finish on the XD? I live in south Mississippi and attention to detail is a must where the finish on firearms are concerned due to the high humidity and sweaty conditions firearms face down here. Do you really think it will rust? I have never had a firearm of mine rust in 8 years (i'm 18) and I am religious about wiping down the metal surfaces of weapons with a silicon impregnated cloth after ANY handling. I do not forsee a problem with rusting unless there is just something so horrible about this finish that i have never heard of.

bottom line of that question (sorry,i ramble): Why is the finish rust-prone on the XD? How were you taking care of it when it rusted?
 
From what I understand, the finish on the "regular" XD seems to wear off rather quickly, leading to rust issues- it is NOT as durable as the finish you would find on a Glock. If you opt for a stainless steel slide model, you sidestep that problem entirely. If not, expect to need refinishing (like a hard chroming or Armory-Kote job) eventually. But, since the frame is plastic, it isn't a huge expense.
 
I had the same dilemna a year ago. I decided on....a Browning Hi-Power :) .

Seriously, either is fine. The USP gets a + in that it can share ammo with your 1911. The XD is a little cheaper. I'd do enee-menee-minee-moe.
 
hay!......... if money is not an object i would buy both :D i have a xd9 and i love the gun, i don't have H&K USP45 but if money was no object i would have one ;) have fun with your xd 9 mine shoots well with speer gold dots.
 
I don't see the point in buying a second full sized .45. If it's for a fun range toy I'd go with the XD. Ammo is significantly cheaper and they've got a good reputation.

To be fair I have to admit that I think the HK's are ugly as sin and I want an XD myself.
 
HK
just more comfortable than the XD in my hands and I'm a sucker for gadgetry. The recoil reduction system counts in that area.

To be honest, there are better 9mm handguns out there than the XD. CZ75B is an all-time favorite as is the Hi-Power. CDNN is doing awesome deals on FN marked Hi-Powers right now. You could also look at the FNP-9. Great polymer decocking 9mm. Light, good capacity, same dimensions (roughly) as a Sig 229 except the FN is lighter.
 
i have been reading these forums for a while and am glad i decided to start posting here, you guys are very helpfull. i was thinking about the USP and realized that i just like .45s and the legendary HK reliability kind of got to me. i don't really need another full sized .45, i don't really need another handgun either.. the 1911 is all anyone could need (in my opinion). really what i want is a 9mm that has a very small gripframe width and i think the XD might fit the bill at a little over 1"
 
Why not check out the HK P2000's? Get the regular size P2K which is the same size as the USP compact or get the SK which is much smaller. You can get either in 9mm which would give you the best of both worlds.

Might be an interesting alternative. They are made in DA/SA, with the decocker next to the hammer or LEM (DA) versions.
 
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