Bowie Tactical HK45

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
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UPS goodness the other day as my HK45 finally came back from David Bowie of Bowie Tactical. Known for his Glock work, he also tinkers with the newest uber pistol from HK. The work is subtle but makes a huge difference for me. Allow me to explain.

The HK45 came from Germany with a couple of things that needed to be addressed. One was excessive overtravel after a decently smooth and light SA/DA trigger pull. Mr. Bowie takes care of this with a fixed, internal overtravel stop. Big improvement over stock.

The second mod is the modification of the little “trench” that HK had inside the bottom of the trigger guard that really began to wear on your finger depending on your hand size and which part of your finger you use on your trigger. Some try the stock pistol and have no problem. I didn’t like it after a few dry fires so I had the work done. It is now much more smooth and contoured.

The overtravel and triggerguard work are part of the Vickers (yep, him :cool:)HK45 Package. Also included is a radiused mag release. The price of all of this work is only $85.

For only $25, I had a “reliability” done. Polishing of the feed ramp and chamber.

Mr. Bowie quoted me an 8 week turn around. Unlike some people, he pretty much meant it as total time was just under 9 weeks. Since overnight shipping was required both ways, the shipping ($120) cost more than the work ($110).

You can also get stippling (I love the grips, they fit my hand perfectly so I passed), a slight dehorning with either cerakote or melonite refinish and a trigger job. We spoke about it and he honestly told me not much can be done with the HK45 trigger except to shave a pound or two off.

Mr. Bowie was a gentleman to deal with and I highly recommend his services. Should a $900 pistol need anything? I don’t know but I had the work done plus Heinie night sights installed for less that the price of a 1911 Kart barrel and bushing. So, I prefer to look at the HK45 as 25% of the price of my custom Colt Tactical 1911. Yeah, I went there. :wink:

I will be taking it to the range this weekend with some other stuff so I hope to have a review soon.

This weekend’s movie selection, a surprise from HH6:

Tomorrow’s new blasters :cool::

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Fired a buddy of mine’s HK45 and that little groove beat the shit out of my finger. I think that’s one of the few times firing a weapon has caused me physical pain (there is an unfortunate incident with a shotgun also). That little groove is why I picked up an HK45C instead of the full size yesterday.

Does the overtravel stop do anything for the travel prior to firing?
How long was the turnaround?

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Bowie Tactical did a great job with mine as well. I have the Vicker 45 package, trigger job and 360 stipple. Hk45 shoot amazingly well, the travel stop plus lighten trigger pull make it a dream to shoot. Absolutely love the Heinie sight.

7 yard. 6 rounds.

7 yard 2 mags 6 round each speed reload. Need work with the DA first shot.

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Those Henie Straight Eights really complete the package on these guns. It’s a shame that these pistols come equipped with such poor quality sights. You can tell just by the pictures that the sights are of really good quality.
AwaySooner, the stippling job on your two .45’s give them a unique look that sets them apart. I bet you won’t have any trouble on a hot day with sweaty hands :D.

cohiba, I thought the HK45 already comes with a polished feed ramp? Mine was polished stock from the factory. Mine is in the 1200 range as far as serial numbers. Maybe on the later models they skipped polishing the ramp?

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Awesome guns! I am really considering an HK45 but in LEM because I am used to Glocks. Do either of you, or anyone else on these boards have any experience with the LEM trigger, and how does it compare to Glock’s (feeling wise, reset, Lbs of pull), and if it is a beast (lbs of pull), can work be done to better it.

Thanks

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Good info. I actually like the stock sights. I’m interested in LEM only because the thumb safety on both HK 45’s is in my way. i would have to try it first though.

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I also like the stock sights, in fact, I think they are excellent. Certainly better than the stock non-tritium sights on other guns (except for Berretta, who use the same type of sights).

I have over 10,000 documented rounds through my HK45, including several classes with Ken Hackathorn and Larry Vickers. Haven’t seen any need for polishing the ramp, but I am sure it didn’t hurt anything.

I don’t have or personally know anyone who has the pinch problem, but I am glad that Bowie has such a high-quality, and reasonably priced fix for those who do.

I wouldn’t mind the over-travel stop. That is a nice touch that I wish gun companies would go back to doing (non-adjustable).

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The current wait for Mr. Bowie’s services is I believe up to 12 weeks. Well worth it so get in there.:smiley:

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AwaySooner Those are awsome looking guns. How does the stippling feel compared to the stock gun?

JediMindTricks I’ve got lot’s of time behind several LEM HK’s. My duty gun is a USPc .40 with the standard LEM, and my HK45 has the light LEM.

When you chamber a round, it “pre-cocks” a piece inside the hammer (HK calls this the cocking piece) and the hammer returns to rest against the back of the slide. As you pull the trigger, initally there is a very long take up, the hammer moves back, and then you get to the sear engagement. As the gun cycles, it again cocks the cocking piece. The trigger reset is very short.

I think the best way I describe the feel, is like a long two-stage rifle trigger, or a light DAO.

It will never be confused with a good 1911 trigger, or my G-34 with the Ghost 3.5# connector. But I think it’s a great defensive trigger.

I really need a set of those Henie’s for my gun. And I’ve never ben bitten by the trigger, but I have smaller hands.

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What’s the difference between the LEM, and LEM Light? Is the “light” an option from HK, or someone else’s work?

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I think the standard lem is around 8#, and the Light is 4.5-5#. The only difference is a lighter Firing pin block spring, and lighter trigger return spring.

You can get the springs, and do it yourself, on the USP’s and P2000’s. HK won’t sell the LEM kit for the HK45, you have to send the gun to the factory.

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It’s my understanding that the LEM light trigger is really light but I have not tried it myself.

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As much as I really like the full size the HK45c shoots just as well for me with less muzzle rise. Lots of fun shooting it with the 10 rounds mags.

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I have a full size USP tactical and I find it to be a bit on the large size,I also have a ATAS supressor for my tactical .So I take my supressor down to the local gunshop to see if the sites cleared the suppressor on the threaded barrel
No they did’t.Im trying to figure out why they did’t install higher profile site on the threaded barrel model?

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Not to get readers confused, you’re talking about the USP series, and not the newer HK45.

I’ve always thought that the HK USP Tactical series had pretty huge sights. They are certainly much taller than the stock sights found on the standard USP lineup. In fact, one of the reasons that they are so much taller is so that they can supposedly accommodate the attachment of a suppressor. Head on over to HKpro and maybe they can help you.

Just a quick question, you do have the original adjustable sights that are found on the HK USP Tactical correct? My only guess is that perhaps someone changed out the sights on your Tactical :confused:.

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That stippling looks very consistent, effective, if not artistic. I have to ask though, how hard is it to keep it clean?

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The gun actually feel more even and comfortable, the stipple is consistent 360, compare to the small dots and uneven line that the stock one has. Stock grip does not fair much better with cleaning, I use wet cloth and blow it out with air compressor. I am not doing stipple on my summer carry gun (p2000sk), this grip is too rough on the skin without undershirt.

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I am glad to see so much thought going into HK45 mods. Mine is approaching 11,000 rounds without any failures. It has run through several 2 and 3 day courses without a hitch. I am a huge fan of the stock gun. The only thing I ever consider doing is putting a front trit dot on my gun. I might just blacken the rear and have tool tech install one in the front. I just hate to give up the glow in the dark sights. While it is true they fade, when they are charged, for example when the sun is going down, they are bright as hell. As I recently told Dinger, if you had a tritium dot that bright everybody in the neighborhood would have Leukemia.

GHB

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If your asking about the stippling keeping clean, I have several pistols that Bowie stippled. I carry one of them every day. The plastic stippling doesn’t tend to load up with skin like metal stippling does. When it does need some cleaning just a light brushing with an old tooth brush seems to do the job