They used a standard 21, according to the article.
My mistake.
I own both the USP and USPc .45’s, both V9. I had vowed never to shoot a non-V9 HK pistol, but when the HK45 was finally released, I was so excited that I compromised and bought one. I only have 775 rounds through my HK45. I lock up the trigger often enough that I decided not to expend additional ammo until HK is willing to sell me a V9 plate. My hands are skinny enough that an ambi-safety alone cannot produce the desired effect. I can relax my grip slightly so that it doesn’t happen, but I’m not yet willing to sacrifice that tiny bit of performance when there are other options available.
I also own a new M&P45, only 350 rounds so far. My first impression was that the recoil was harsher than the HK45 (I’m a small dude). And, I’m so used to cheating with 1911’s, HK’s, and Glocks that the M&P45 trigger makes me feel like I’m learning to shoot for the first time. The reset doesn’t bother me, it’s just the pull itself. The speed is there, I’m just not getting the accuracy that I’m used to. Also, the slide lock lever is a bit slick when my hands are sweaty, resulting in the occasional whiff. Kind of makes me want to go back to the overhand method.
Overall, I prefer the HK45, but Smith & Wesson provides a complete solution that is currently and readily available, so I have to go with the M&P45. I know I don’t have a lot of rounds through these guns at this point, but I’m not giving any advice. Just sharing my very limited experience.
As for complaining about HK’s bore axis, I’ve found them to be close enough to a 1911’s that there are other more significant factors at work that affect their shootability.
There is a huge difference between making a small grip adjustment (going from Glock to SIG, say) and switching to an altogether different grip technique.
Furthermore, with any thumb safety equipped pistol, it is a bad idea to use any grip technique that fails to ride the safety during shooting. This ensures that the gun is and remains off-safe when you want to fire.
I hardly think moving your thumb 1/4"-3/8" is a huge difference. It is not ideal, but it is better than changing the way you apply pressure to the gun to avoid decocking it. If you can’t ride the safety without decocking or locking up the trigger then it is a much worse idea to shoot with your thumb on the safety then below it. Many people don’t seem to have a problem with decocking the HK45 when riding the safety. If you do and you still want an HK45 or are forced to carry one because of department policy then you’re gonna have to change something to make it work.
^but if it’s your own dime, you shouldn’t have to “make it work”
I’m a 1911 shooter, and i just tried out a buddy’s HK45 with the LEM trigger. i had to work way too hard to make it work. but i grabbed a another buddy’s M&P, and i was quicker and more accurate, in a shorter amount of time.
I now have a M&P from Grant, sitting at my FFL, waiting for my paperwork to clear.
I hardly think changing from a thumbs forward safety riding grip to a low thumbs below the safety grip can be summed up as nothing more than a 1/4 to 3/8" difference. Just because you don’t have a problem doesn’t make it a rare problem, as evidenced by the number of people in this thread alone who have reported it.
It works for you. Be happy. No one said the gun sucks. Accept that it doesn’t work as well for a fair number of other folks.
I would be very interested to see what Hilton thinks of the HK45c. To my surprise I have no grip issues with it nor do I notice the higher bore line plus the thing is a tack driver. I wish I had not waited so long to buy one.
I never said it was a rare problem. Neither is having to change your grip on the gun to release the mag with most designs. Nor is needing to use snap caps to dry fire an M&P (wich is a PITA with a striker fired pistol by the way), to aviod breaking the fring pin. All I did was disagree with some of the points made in the article and offer counter points. As far as it not working for a “fair number of other folks” the same can be said for the M&P, Glock or any other platform out there.
The funny thing is, I shoot thumbs forward and ride the safety on my HK45–it has never occurred to me to do otherwise. I shoot it same way I do my 1911s. I don’t have the issue of the gun decocking. On my gun, it requires a fairly serious downward push on the lever to decock it. I do, however, use an extremely tight (gorrilla) grip that I use on all of my guns, and always have. I suspect this might be why I don’t have the issue.
b[/b] I have no major heartburn with the mag release. I prefer to use my trigger finger to drop mags (works well for me with my hands) and have done so since I started shooting Berettas back in the late 90’s. Then with SIGs, now with M&Ps. All else being equal I do prefer a button to a lever, and I prefer reversible to ambi. I have seen people drop mags out of guns with ambi levers … again, it’s a personal fit thing.
b[/b] You’re still getting defensive with all the “same can be said about other brands” stuff. If you have some personal negative experience with other brands, certainly you can post it. But if you’re just repeating what you’ve heard on the 'net because you want to point out that the HK45 isn’t the only gun with fleas, you’re not adding to the conversation.
Just because some people have problems with it and/or don’t like it doesn’t mean the HK45 is a bad gun.
Necro
Is the HK45 still king?
I do like the glocks and loved theG21sf I once owned and jeez you can pretty much buy two glocks to one HK but quality build and testing comes at a price I guess.
ahh who am I trying to kid anyways? Im just a dude that shoots rec and puts a few hun to maybe 1k a year through my pistols a year… Lol.
The HK45 is has got my goat for a few years now though. I need to shoot one.
After carrying an M&P45 for all of 2011, my thoughts remain exactly the same as what I wrote in post #45 of this thread on pg 3–that the M&P45 w/ambi safety and Apex parts is the best modern .45 ACP handgun to replace a 1911. If you are a Glock shooter with a large hand, the 4th Gen G21 is worth looking at. Larry Vickers has conclusively proved the efficacy of the HK45, however I am not a huge fan of the trigger, cost, and availability of accessories.
It’s not bad. The first HK pistol I could tollerate. I carried the M&P for a year or so. But the 45 that I shoot best is the FNP 45.
I just picked it up and was right at home instantly.
I am new to the M&P. I just started considering the purchase of one recently.
Could you explain briefly the Apex parts and why they are necessary or desirable?
The factory trigger is horrible.
Is S&W doing anything about the magazine springs? there are too many people on here my self included that had too many issues with them being bent and mag followers being stuck
I attended an S&W M&P armorers class in the spring of 2011.they readily admitted a problem although they said they had been unable to duplicate the problem at the factory.The new (improved !?!) version is marked with a green paint at the follower end of the spring(there seem to be red,purple and black paint on earlier mags).I had a stoppage twice due to the springs and the good news is Smith replaced 19 or 20 for me as soon as I asked.No problem at all with the service.I purchased several as well and as I recall the price was very reasonable.
I own the HK45 and the M&P 40 and 9. Like others, I like them all. But there is something about the subtle quality of the HK that is amazing. The one outstanding feature of the gun is the way it feeds. Smooth as silk. You can just tell be the ease at which it feeds, reliable is incredible.
If you haven’t shot the FN 45, throw that in the mix. Kinda big but is another worthy 45. Good luck