Opinions on H&K USP

I like my USP45CT a lot. Still, as I shoot more and more with it, I realize that the flat sides on the grip make it more difficult to hold solidly for fast follow-up shots, compared to, say, the HK45 or P30, or a P220. I’ve had to work hard on engaging my pecs, to press my palms together to keep the gun from shifting in my grip. As I shoot more with different guns, I am definitely leaning toward the HK45 as an upgrade. Especially with the interchangeable backstraps, the way the grip fills my palms makes it so that a more natural-feeling grip keeps it in perfect control.

Also, it’s been said that HK magazine springs suck. I have 7 mags for mine, and I do get the odd failure to lock back, as well as the odd failure to feed during a reload - especially when causing the slide to drop by slamming home a magazine, and most especially with the extended 10-round mags. I used to attribute these failures to myself, but I now strongly suspect the mags. I’ve just ordered some Wolff mag springs, we’ll see if that helps.

Finally, the trigger is definitely odd. I don’t have a v1, not the LEM, and it’s been said that the LEM helps a lot. But my v1 is gritty, and it has a “fake” reset, where it clicks a little before it fully resets. I have to be careful not to short-stroke it on follow-up shots. I’ll also second someone else’s post about it feeling like you can snap the trigger by pulling it too hard while the safety’s on.

With that said, I’ll repeat: I love my USP45CT. It’s taken a beating during 1600 rounds and daily CCW by this clumsy noob - even the finish is still great. It eats Wolf ammo like a champ, which keeps me on the range longer. It’s easy to clean - I just dump the whole field-stripped mess in a bucket of Ed’s Red for an afternoon, then scrub for 10 minutes with Hoppe’s bore cleaner to get it pretty much spic and span. I’m in the process of putting it through the “2000-round challenge” - so far it’s got 475 rounds of mostly Wolf and Blazer with no hiccups other than 3 FTF’s during reload with the 10-round magazines.

I’ve been carrying a USP45 w/ LEM trigger for about a year and a half as my primary duty weapon. I use a GG&G adapter rail and a TLR-1, in a Bladetech WRX holster for work.

I personally am quiet fond of the USP, it’s a soft shooting .45, and with the LEM has a very good trigger. The only real issue with it is that it’s a double stack .45, it’s thick. If you’ve got big hands it’s a non-issue, and w/ the LEM trigger it’s quiet shootable even for people with smaller hands. I’ve got slightly below average hands for a guy, and it works just fine for me.

I’ve put probably about 5K rounds through it in the last year with zero malfunctions.

Awesome pistols, summitgunbroker is having a special on them right now…450 for police trade ins which is a price you really can’t beat

I have carried a USPF as an issued duty weapon for years. It is a very reliable gun, but it is not my choice to carry. It has a huge bore axis problem IMHO. It is very accurate, but due to the bore axis issue you will never be able to shoot it as quickly as a low bore axis pistol. You will probably be able to get good qual scores since it is not a really hard test of skill. My suggestion is to get a few of the gun you are considering together so you can compare them side by side. Push them all as hard as you can and see if your opinion changes. I am will to bet you will come to the same conclusion as I have.

Matt