H&K USP 45 Auto

[webber]

Can anyone tell me about the H&K USP 45 Auto handguns.
I know nothing about them but think the full size may be something I would like to have.
Please help me out with info.
Thanks in advance.

[bradshaw]

Nov 29, 2023 21:23:17 GMT -5 webber said:

Can anyone tell me about the H&K USP 45 Auto handguns.
I know nothing about them but think the full size may be something I would like to have.
Please help me out with info.
Thanks in advance.

*****

Webber.... spent some time with the Heckler & Koch (“coke”) Universal Service Pistol .45 ACP. Heckler & Koch introduced the polymer pistol frame to the shooting world: the VZ70 magazine held 18 rounds of 9mm Luger and, via a long, heavily sprung straight-pull trigger, fired double action only (DAO). Big, blocky, ugly. By attaching a special HK skeleton buttstock, the VZ70 fired by 3-round burst. Rate of fire is high from a burst fire pistol, around 1,200 rpm (rounds per minute). Unlike the Beretta M21 9mm pistol, which has a selector, an HK VZ70 with stock affixed fires burst only.

I watched a sheriff with VZ70 (no buttstock, semi-auto only) step to the line at a Richard Davis Second Chance Bowling Pin Match, confident in the smile on his face that with 18 round mag he would mow 5 bowling pins off the table no problem. As the VZ70 trigger is a real bear to squeeze, I had to see this. Suffice to say, the sheriff reached lockback before he could clean the table. This is where a lousy trigger makes accurate rapid-fire impossible.

The HK VZ70 introduced three innovations picked up years later by Glock:
* polymer frame.
* absence of thumb safety.
* unusually high mag capacity.

With the USP, HK brought the space gun down to earth. Or, a bit closer to earth. It continues the pre WW II Walther DA/SA trigger. It is a blocky pistol, with wide hips and fat slide. Thumb safety options are available. Thumb safety on the USP .45 ACP I spent time featured 3-positions:
* cocked & locked.
* fire.
* de-cock (press down).

Chamber section of barrel acts as a locking lug for the delayed blowback action., a design possibly introduced by SIG/Sauer. Ambidextrous magazine latch. I experienced a couple of stoppages while living with the USP, and a couple of stoppages from Glock 21 .45 ACP around the same time. I frequently carried a SIG/Sauer P220 .45 ACP during this period, which experienced no stoppages with the same ammunition fed the USP and Glock 21. The P220 is slimmer on the hip, and less obtrusive to live with, than either the HK or Glock .45 ACPs. The P220 shot tighter @ 100 yards, with the HK USP second and the Glock 21 third.
David Bradshaw

[webber]

Thanks Mr. Bradshaw.

[x101airborne]

I bought 5 HK USP 40's some years ago. I carry them in my boat (salt water). I have not had any stoppages nor any problems with the trigger pull. The first is a long stroke but I always hold the trigger back while firing and feel for the reset. I have no complaints. In full disclosure, I haven't put a ton of rounds through any of them either.

[paul105]

Had mine out shooting yesterday.

Some random observations.

As David mentioned above, these are big blocky guns. They are however soft shooting 45s and are purported to handle 45 Super ammo without modification if so inclined. Have two, both 45s (one converted to 460 Rowland) for six or seven yrs.

Only problem encountered was with the 460 R - required a heavier mag spring. Gifted the 460 to my son who carries bow hunting elk here in mt.

Guns can be carried cocked and locked, decocked double action, or double action with safety engaged. They are avail with 10 or 12 round magazines standard. The double action first round is quite heavy. I personally find the hammer fired guns easier to shoot vs striker fired.
.
Heavier than a Glock 21 but lighter than an all steel full size 1911.
.

My 45 has been upgraded with a Jarvis threaded barrel and HK adjustable night sights. Pictured below with Rugged Obsidian (short) suppressor. I don't use the suppressor much.
.

[jeffh]

Had one, but have no idea how they shoot. I traded into a HK USP, 45 ACP once - ten, fifteen years ago?

I had a Stratford 3", blued and 2" stainless Charter Arms Undercover for sale (mistake) and a friend wanted them and didn't have cash, so he offered the HK.

The 45 ACP is an old friend, so what the heck, I traded.

Once I got it in my hands, I realized that it was HUGE and I'd never carry or use it. My gunsmith knew someone looking for one and moved it for me rather quickly.

[bigbrowndog]

The most accurate factory 45 I’ve ever fired. Owned two and they were both amazingly accurate for factory guns.

Trapr

[squawberryman]

It's my bedside gun. They ARE big. I've got a USP compact 9 and a full size 45. Both were bought at pawn shops on different occasions for 399 each with little to no wear. Both are the stainless (?) slides. I later bought a 40 jet funnel. It's fun to shoot.

[bigbore5]

Never had a USP, but carried the Mark 23 it was derived from for awhile. Best tool ever for the job it was designed to do.

The USP is basically the civilian version of the Mark 23 mod 0 SOCOM pistol. I can't call it a sidearm really because it was designed around the concept of it being a primary weapon for some cqb tasks. It excelled at the task along side the MP5SD or PDW.

The original chambering was the 45acp, readopted by SOCOM after a few miserable failures to stop by the 9mm. To this day, I will not own let along carry another 9mm.

The major difference between the two was the USP lacked the slide lock of the Mark 23 for noise reduction if needed. They felt very much the same when firing them, but while it was accurate by most standards, the USP wasn't as finely fitted and tuned. Regardless, the USP still outclassed everything else of it's day.

[bula]

Handled one at a show yrs ago. Medium sized hands need not apply. 

[zeus]

Had a couple of them in late 90s early 2000s. Dependable guns for sure. I use the MK23 from time to time now. As a suppressed 45 goes, the MK23 is hard to beat. So I imagine the standard USP would be nice too, I just never had the opportunity back then to try them with a can. The MK23 is extremely accurate and I believe some of the USPs use the same barrel system with o ring etc. the slide lock on the MK23 was short lived if I remember right. I don’t remember it being on many other than prototypes and maybe a couple early ones.

[bigbore5]

Dec 24, 2023 11:02:56 GMT -5 zeus said:

Had a couple of them in late 90s early 2000s. Dependable guns for sure. I use the MK23 from time to time now. As a suppressed 45 goes, the MK23 is hard to beat. So I imagine the standard USP would be nice too, I just never had the opportunity back then to try them with a can. The MK23 is extremely accurate and I believe some of the USPs use the same barrel system with o ring etc. the slide lock on the MK23 was short lived if I remember right. I don’t remember it being on many other than prototypes and maybe a couple early ones.

The first few hundred to arrive had it. It's draw back was it could stick if employed often. Something was bending if I recall.

Mine was out of the second batch. The lock was hardened, but instead of it breaking, it would peen the slide bolts and stick. Still turning it into a hammer. Training protocols were modified to limit their use to field duty only.

I don't recall anyone mentioning having ever actually used it in the field. Usually if a hush puppy was needed the MP5SD was employed.

[zeus]

Dec 24, 2023 21:43:11 GMT -5 bigbore5 said:

Dec 24, 2023 11:02:56 GMT -5 zeus said:

Had a couple of them in late 90s early 2000s. Dependable guns for sure. I use the MK23 from time to time now. As a suppressed 45 goes, the MK23 is hard to beat. So I imagine the standard USP would be nice too, I just never had the opportunity back then to try them with a can. The MK23 is extremely accurate and I believe some of the USPs use the same barrel system with o ring etc. the slide lock on the MK23 was short lived if I remember right. I don’t remember it being on many other than prototypes and maybe a couple early ones.

The first few hundred to arrive had it. It's draw back was it could stick if employed often. Something was bending if I recall.

Mine was out of the second batch. The lock was hardened, but instead of it breaking, it would peen the slide bolts and stick. Still turning it into a hammer. Training protocols were modified to limit their use to field duty only.

I don't recall anyone mentioning having ever actually used it in the field. Usually if a hush puppy was needed the MP5SD was employed.

That’s great info. Thanks! I have 5 of the SDs arriving soon. Looking forward to running a few of them. I like the 5K with a short can. Fits in a backpack and is surprisingly accurate.

[bigbore5]

I tended to prefer the PDW. The K was concealable, but hard to control without the harness. When they added the folder onto the K and called it the PDW, it helped. It would still conceal, but I preferred it in Urban and Mobile scenarios for maneuverability.

Back then they were issuing the old Sionics cans. With some of the new small ones, it would be really nice. I had a K in a briefcase set I let go to build the house.

Sorry for the thread drift.

[parallaxbill]

Nov 29, 2023 21:23:17 GMT -5 webber said:

Can anyone tell me about the H&K USP 45 Auto handguns.
I know nothing about them but think the full size may be something I would like to have.
Please help me out with info.
Thanks in advance.

Have you considered the FNX-45?