One of the few HK guns I don’t actually own. One day I might get one for museum purposes if nothing else. But with the advent of the HK USP45 Tactical is there really any reason to own one at all?
My primary issue with the Mk 23 is that it is huge. The silent decock, while quieter, is hardly silent. And of course it takes a unique mag that won’t fit in a Compact USP45. And of course there is price.
So is there any real advantage of the Mk23 over the USP45 Tactical?
It’s the only pistol on earth that would literally survive a trip to Hell. But no, it’s not very practical for much else IMHO.
I’d still love to have one…
So is there any real advantage of the Mk23 over the USP45 Tactical?
No, definitely not. There a few handguns as pointless as the Mk23 IMO.
Good collectable, no tangible advantage over USP45 Tactical.
I prefer the fire controls and trigger on the Mark 23 to the USP series, as they function more like a Sig where the first trigger pull acts like a true double action rather than a “pre-cocked” DA trigger pull that has slack at the beginning of the pull.
The huge grip and flat decocker are my only complaints with the Mark 23.
Its one of those pistols you just need to have in your collection. It may not be patently practical but it certainly isn’t pointless.
It’s a slow pistol, unless you are a gorilla. Its like using a sledge hammer for surgery. Whereas the HK 45 and 45C are like scalpels.
When it was designed I think HK was trying to compete with DE for the biggest, slowest, most expensive, and worst shooting pistol on the market.
I see no purpose whatsoever for a pistol like that. I had the opportunity to purchase one for a song. I passed then, and I’ll pass again.
TC
Pretty pointless.
What you can’t see in the picture above is the crane above the frame that helps Bruce Willis lift that behemoth with a can.
When the teams were playing with the Mk23, some played with putting a foregrip on the rail when using a can…at that point, it became laughable.
If I was going to live as a hermit in Afganistan that would be the pistol for me.
I’ve heard it described as a “crew served handgun”
Yes it was…
I am surprised that it is still in production 15 years after introduction, without any major sales contract behind it.
I would prefer an HK45 w/ threaded barrel for the same role.
I could list the advantages, but I think they are pretty apparent.
I’ll bet it really doesn’t cost that much more to produce than other HK guns, but because of the “cool” factor they can get away with charging more. Nice big profit margin. Plus, they already have the equipment to make it, no sense letting it go to waste.
Actually, I believe HK is soon to, or just did, discontinue production of the Mk23. I don’t know the exact reason, but I would have to imagine it would have something to do with the very narrow market for that pistol.
I have never used one to weigh in on their worth, but I do know a lot of HK fans that view it as the one pistol they can do without.
I’m a huge HK fan and shoot HK45’s/P2000’s on a regular basis. Next shoot my P7M8 will make an appearance. I’d love to have a Mk23 but I’m in NO hurry to get one. Being that I live in California, it will be a while until one comes up for sale. Am I missing out on anything? Probably not.
At a TigerSwan class, Kyle DeFoor(former SEAL) said all the Mark 23’s they had sat collecting dust. I have shot one, but that gun is huge. Not for me. On a side note, have seen an industry professional from this site do well shooting one in classes. But, he has switched to the G17.
There is a good thread on HKPro comparing the two.
http://www.hkpro.com/forum/showthread.php?37855-HK-Mark23-vs-45-Tactical-Head-to-Head-Comparison&
Wouldn’t mind owning either, but as you pointed out HK needs to universalize their magazines (and their platforms for that matter).
I dunno, if you run out of ammo and have to beat the badguys to death with your handgun, I could see the Mk23 having an advantage.
Either that, or keep it under your bunk and you can use it as an improvised dumbbell in your off-hours.
It was discontinued last year along with the SL8 rifle. I think it has a collector’s value…but a HK45 is more practical imo.