P2000 is internally very similar to the USP:
Rather than using the "recoil reduction system" of the USP (two different springs), the P2000 uses a buffer system (that white thing):
Some of the differences between the P2000 and the P30s (partially my opinions):
- P30 has front cocking serrations and a picatinny-style equipment rail;
- P30 has interchangeable side straps and back straps, P2000 has only interchangeable back straps;
- P2000 has USP-style mag release; P30 has more of a Walther P99 "paddle"-style mag release;
- The grip on the P30 is longer. The P2000 is smaller and really (IMHO) requires the extended baseplates for a solid grip unless you have tiny hands (but the grip is fantastic with the baseplates - one of the best feeling guns out there IMHO);
- The P2000 started out as all LEM and DAO. Then they brought out the DA/SA guns a few years later and moved the de-cocker to the back of the slide, rather than the somewhat awkward location of the de-cocker on the USP. P30s seem to be just DA/SA (and just 9mm) right now, but there are always rumours;
- They went to a no-snag (what I think of as "1911"-style) rear sight on the P30. Two schools of thought on defensive handguns: (1) don't want it to snag; (2) want to be able to rack the slide off your belt. Probably comes down to different police contract requirements. The P2000, P30 and P30L all originate from different European police contracts.
I have a P2000. I've bought and sold a lot of pistols. I recommend this one highly. An absolutely fantastic pistol. My only proviso being, get those extended baseplates. They are available from Wolverine and other places. I'm not sure why HK and/or the Canadian distributor brought every single P2000 in with those flat baseplates, but they did.
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