I’m a fan of the HK45 and 45C. I’ve always ran them single action cocked and locked but after following reading Vicker’s and Hackathorn’s interview on the pistol I decided to give the LEM a try in these guns.
I got one of the two kits in yesterday from HKparts and installed in the 45C. I took it out for a run today and this was the first five rounds fired from the gun, offhand, at seven yards. Ammunition was American Eagle 230 ball.
I won’t be going back to the previous configuration.
In the past I’ve ran my USP45C back and forth on the LEM configuration. I’ve always been lukewarm on the system but recently have grown to love it. I set up a friend’s P30 with the lighter configuration and that gun is a 9mm dream.
This group pictured is also a much tighter group than I’ve ever shot with the 45C previously single action. The LEM seems lighter and crisper to me and the removal of the thumb safety does wonders for comfort on the thumbs forward shooting style I live by.
I can’t wait for Tuesday. That’s when the second LEM kit is slated to arrive for the full size pistol.
Thanks for the post One. I too am a HUGE fan of the HK45 series and usually shoot them DA/SA. I’m soon to receive a V3 detent plate, omitting the safety option.
When I ran any of my HK’s cocked and locked the first thing I did was eliminate the decocker feature.
I went back and forth with the USP compact from LEM to single action so many times I can’t remember. Then one day it just all seemed to fit. Then as an experiment I took the top end slide and barrel assembly off the 45C and put it on the USP’s LEM outfitted frame and ran it that way for a while.
Groups immediately tightened up with the omission of the safety lever on the frame so I could comfortably improve my grip and the lighter pull and cleaner break of the LEM set up worked out well this go around. So I guess I’m going to have to consider myself, finally, a LEM convert.
I kept decocking accidentally and was scared to put it on safe unintentionallly if I kept my thumbs under the lever. I don’t like da/sa so I put in the LEM kit . I love it. All my HKs will be light LEM from now on.
I doubt you will find a V1 variant (light LEM) on a dealers shelf. You will probably have to buy a V2 and send it to HK for them to install the parts or buy the parts and install them yourself.
What is the trigger pull weight of the light lem? I was looking into getting an hk 45c in da/sa with the v9 plate, bit I have been herring good things about the light lem and might get one of those instead. Also have they come out with the match trigger for the hk 45/c yet? Thanks
Those look like Heinie Straight Eights for guns running suppressors…
(And nice H&K mashup by the way! I may have to do that with my stainless compact and my HK45C.)
Congrats go to the OP - I ended up with all LEM H&K’s shortly after my Light LEM experience as well.
Basically install the required components but do not change out your trigger return spring or mainspring and you’ll wind up with the 4.5-5.5 pull weight.
I’ve seen in the past that the HK45 and C come standard with the nickle leaf spring but neither of my guns have that. They came with the usual black one. I’ve always changed out the springs for the nickle coated ones and likewise ordered two and switched out with this pistol. (And the pending full size.)
Total with shipping came to $97 and some change.
And lastly E-man930 is correct on the sights. I do run all my HK’s suppressed as well.
