In the spirit of not being totally close-minded, I’m looking at buying a 9mm USP for a few months of T&E. I’ll probably shoot a few thousand rounds, maybe shoot a match or two, then put it on the Equipment Exchange.
I’m looking at the standard USP, the USP Tactical, and (maybe) the USP Expert. Not terribly interested in the Compact or in calibers other than 9mm.
Thoughts?
Okie John
Thoughts on what ?
I love my USP. Its my favorite handgun and i’m so glad i grew out of the striker fad and got rid of all my glocks and went back to DA/SA.
If it wasnt for my beretta love i would have more than one USP, but i’ve been thinking of liquidating the 1911’s to fund a couple since i’ve pretty much lost interest in those as well.
I dont think you can go wrong with a USP. it is a big gun though so be prepared.
I’ve long considered one in 45 ACP. My understanding is they are not as ergonomic, but more robust than the HK45.
Personally, I like the USP guns for what they are, robust and accurate or actually, extremely accurate. In my limited exposure to them, I have the same dislikes everyone else has; the stock TDA trigger on the FS and compact generally isn’t even close to being as smooth as a Sig, though it is shootable. Also I would prefer a standard rail, but it doesn’t sound like you’ll be using it anyway.
Ergonomics are preference, so there’s really no way to address that.
The downsides? In your case, unless you buy at a really good price, you might take a decent financial hit trying to sell it. If that doesn’t matter; cool. And from what I understand, detail stripping takes six hands, but if you aren’t going to do that, it doesn’t matter.
I own both. They really are not as ergonomic as the HK45’s are you are correct. They are on par with accuracy and reliability though, as most would expect for HK. Even the 9MM though is a big, bulky gun. I have smaller hands, and the USP doesn’t fit them very well, especially in double action.
If price is not a consideration, I would recommend the USP 9 Expert. It has a longer slide than the standard full-size USP 9, and a hand-fitted barrel/slide. It has the O-ring for consistent lockup positioning.
It also comes with the HKs match trigger which is actually pretty good once you break it in. I’ve done about 1,000 trigger pulls with my match triggers and they have all really smoothed out over time.
The new experts should come with all metal 18-round mags. The Expert also comes with adjustable black/black match sights. If you don’t swap them out for the Mepro adj night sights, you might want to put a little neon paint on the front sight post.
Personally, my Expert 9 is my favorite 9mm with the VP9 a close second.
My wife’s and mine…
I have a standard in .40 S&W. Personally, I could take it or leave it. It was given to me by a family member who did not want it anymore(score right?). They’re comfortable, very accurate and real smooth shooting. Now, the paddle mag release, high bore axis and DA/SA trigger along with the non-standard rail make them no-go’s for me personally. The cost of the magazines don’t help either.
My extremely unpopular opinion that they don’t do anything special enough to justify the ridiculous price tag(when compared to Glock, S&W so on) still stands as well.
I can completely understand what you are saying. Mine pretty much hang out in the safe while my Glocks and VP9 get take to the range every time.
As much as I like the USP and P30, the P2000 was the “just right” bowl of HK porridge. Though I would like to have a USP Expert in my collection just for fun. The P2000 checked all the right boxes for me in a DA/SA mid size gun. And man is that thing an accurate pistol when I do my job right.
I love me some USP. I converted my 9mm to LEM and it’s really nice. Much better than the P-series HKs. 4.5# trigger and a nice, short reset.
You don’t say. 
I am partial to the USP in HK 45 cal pistols. The 10 round capacity and the +$200 price tag really killed the HK45 in my eyes. I’ve never put a gun through more and it ask for less (nothing) than my USP45. A little over 12k through it at this point. Not terribly impressive but they’ve been some hard miles.
The USP 9 is probably the most unstoppable 9mm available. It is a supertanker of a 9mm. Basically it is the 9mm Mk23 Socom.
That is probably the best looking USP I’ve seen. Nicely worn in and that rail…believe it is the GG&G? just looks right.
The HK USP9 is a superb pistol. Easy to shoot, accurate, very reliable.
I have maybe between 10k-15k on mine. Very reliable and accurate and the platform is known to be durable. The grip might be too big for some but if it fits you then there’s nothing lacking here.
The Expert isn’t still in production is it?
Yes, still in production.
Yessir, it’s the GG&G. It’s been very solid. I have one on each of my three USPs.
And thanks, I love that thing.
I’m a big fan of the USP series of pistols. I currently own a fullsize and compact 9mm, and have previously owned a fullsize 45. They’ve all been perfectly reliable, and superbly accurate.
Thanks for the pictures… Whenever I go out with my friends who claim to be shooters then get schooled during drills, which they later give an excuse, I will show them those pictures (their firearms always look NIB.) That is a picture of a firearm that has been used and enjoyed. Being a strictly dedicated 1911 user I have been pondering the USP line or the HK45c for some time now and I think you just made my choice that I at least need at least a HK.
It’s one of those cases where even after around 20 years it’s still hard to beat the original.