I have been saving nickels and dimes and selling some handguns to save up to get my dream handgun an HK USP 45. I have looked at new prices, and used prices, mostly from dealers associated with M4C, and local dealers here. Someone recently brought up to me the fact that HK LE trade in’s are the way to go. Very low round counts, some holster wear, but otherwise great quality, and a few hundreds less than even used USP’s. So I was just curious as to who to go to for online dealers and such. Thoughts on LE HK’s?
I think Mark at Summit Gunbroker gets them. Last I checked he had a V2 (lever on right side of gun-easy switch)USP45 for like $550ish.
Thank you for the reply, is this a switch I should be able to do myself or does it require a smith? For reference I can do everything on my AR and my Glocks as far as changing things and installing goes, not sure if I would need special tools or not.
It’s a lot easier than installing LEM kits from what I understand. I’ve done 2 LEM kits and I’m a moron. You’ll be fine.
If you can work on a Glock you will easily be able to work on a USP. I bought a USP9 V1 and wanted to swap to V2 since I’m a lefty. Change took maybe 5 minutes and I had never disassembled a handgun that far before.
This set of videos is helpful for learning the location of the parts in both the HK45 guns and USPs since their parts are almost identical in the frame. It’s a LEM install video but it’s good info to know when you are swapping any of the parts in an HK pistol frame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSucZM_hFc&list=PLCBD5EF2B25E37E89
So let me get this correct, V1 is standard with safety de-cocker for left hand shooters, V2 is the same but for lefties, what are the other variations out there I should look for? I’ve only shot the V1 and I had no issues with that set up.
Here are the variants:
Variants 1 and 2 (double action/single action, decocking and safety lever)
Variants 1 (lever on left) and 2 (lever on right) allow the user to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode, with or without the manual safety engaged, and with the benefit of a decocking lever.
Variants 3 and 4 (double action/single action, decocking lever, but no safety)
Variants 3 (lever on left) and 4 (lever on right) provide the user with a frame-mounted decocking lever that does not have the “safe” position. This combination only allows the hammer to be lowered from SA position to DA position. It does not provide the “safe” position to prevent the pistol from firing when the trigger is pulled.
Variants 5 and 6 (double action only, with safety lever)
For the double action only user, variants 5 (lever on left), 6 (lever on right), and of the USP operate as double action only pistols with a bobbed hammer always returning to the DA position (forward) after each shot is fired. To fire each shot, the trigger must be pulled through the smooth DA trigger pull. Variants 5 and 6 have a manual safety lever.
Variant 7 (double action only, no control lever)
No control lever is provided on variant 7.
Variant 8 Never produced.
Variants 9 and 10 (double action/single action, safety lever, but no decocking)
Variants 9 (lever on left) and 10 (lever on right) allow the shooter to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode (hammer down), with or without the manual safety engaged. The double action mode offers a second strike/double action capability in case of a misfire. The control lever has no decocking function on variants 9 and 10 so one would have to carefully lower the hammer manually (or keep the safety on, remove the magazine, and eject any round in the chamber before lowering the hammer).
LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) Trigger (aka
Combat Defense Action)
Developed especially for the U.S. government, the Law Enforcement Modification (or LEM for short), is a USP DAO (Double-Action Only) model with a unique trigger mechanism. This mechanism improves the double action trigger performance and reduces the weight of the DAO trigger pull to 7.5–8.5 pounds-force (33–38 N), uses a stronger hammer spring, and shortens the trigger reset. Aside from the LEM mechanism, it is identical to the USP Variant 7 (DAO) model.
Now keep in mind when they came out with the HK45 and P30 series, they changed all these numbers.
Thank you so much for explaining that to me in terms I can understand. This is the best write-up I have seen on the HK USP variations.
just so this doesnt get lost in the mix, these variants aren’t the same across every model. for example, v1 on the HK45C is standard DA/SA with safety-decocker