Help me pick a USP!

ghostie

ghostie

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I'm close to taking the plunge on another pistol. While I've considered a few different things, I've basically settled on some variant of the HK USP.

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on the various pros and cons of the following three variations on the USP design:

HK USP, 9mm, variant 1 (SA/DA with safety and decocker), 3 dot sights, 108mm barrel, polygonal rifling.

Looks like this, except in a 9mm:
usp.jpg


HK USP "Custom Sport", basically the same gun as above but with a match trigger, trigger stop, flat black adjustable target-style sights, and magazines that flare out at the bottom into a kind of finger groove.

Looks a bit like this, but in a 9mm and without the threaded barrel:
usp-tactical.jpg


HK P8, German military version of the USP, again, same basic gun but the safety is configured "backwards" from the normal USP system, "Translucent, dust protected magazines", land and groove rifling.

Looks like this:
p8.jpg


Let me know if I am missing something in my characterization of these pistols.

The "Custom Sport" seems to be a natural since it is the only one with a "match trigger". Can anybody give me a description of what the difference between the "match" and "standard" trigger is. Lighter pull? Less take-up? Different break point? Smoother? I'm thinking that the other two guns will have pretty sweet trigger in any event, match or not.

My problem with the "Custom Sport" is those sights. I tend to prefer three-dot sights to everything else I've tried. Sights that are just straight black seem weird to me. I was handling a USP Tactical at my local gun shop recently, and I can't say as I came away feeling too good about those sights. What have other people's experiences been with them?

Here's a picture of the adjustable sights from the HK website:
USP_tactical_sights.jpg


I have both a Glock and a few land-and-groove pistols. I don't find one system of rifling to be preferable to the other, other than that the hex/poly barrels are a bit easier to clean. I don't use reloaded ammo either, so that part won't really come into it.

Price is pretty close on all three from the quote I've got from the shop I deal with.

Any thoughts? Things to consider before buying?
 
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If you don't like the sights on the USP Match, you should buy a regular USP and put in a match trigger. Might be cheaper...

However, if you want to sell the adjustable sights after the fact, they will sell fast. Heck, I'll give you the three dot sights I just took off my USP the other day.

Not a fan of the P8...
 
Get a Custom sport to save yourself the hasle of changing things around. Buy an Ameriglo front tritium sight labelled for the "tactical" (same sights).
IMHO, if you were to use this in ipsc "production" division (9mm), than your first shot would be DA, so you would not need an external safety. You can buy a variant #3 plate for $12, and it is installed in 30 seconds. It will then be a DA/SA but the lever only decocks. I changed my USP to a variant #4, decocker only, with the lever on the right side of the gun. I am right handed, but I did this to free up room on the left side for my thumbs.
If you plan to use this just for the range/target practice, than leave as is.
 
Are you going to spend more putting a match trigger in a regular USP, or putting 3-dot sights in the custom sport? The magazine flare doesn't make much difference on my USP-T. I'd stay away from that backwards safety. The match trigger is nice, but it's not earth-shattering. It's definitely lighter. Try dry firing the USP-T at your gun store, and compare it to a regular USP.

The target sights work fine, the notch and post are a tighter fit optically (if that makes sense,) so I think it's potentially more accurate than the 3-dot. Harder to pick up and align in rapid fire though.
 
damndirtyape said:
Are you going to spend more putting a match trigger in a regular USP, or putting 3-dot sights in the custom sport? The magazine flare doesn't make much difference on my USP-T. I'd stay away from that backwards safety. The match trigger is nice, but it's not earth-shattering. It's definitely lighter. Try dry firing the USP-T at your gun store, and compare it to a regular USP.

The target sights work fine, the notch and post are a tighter fit optically (if that makes sense,) so I think it's potentially more accurate than the 3-dot. Harder to pick up and align in rapid fire though.
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IMO and experience with the USP, the trigger installation is much more detailed and time consuming. Changing the sights is much easier. I used a clear scotch tape, and aligned it with the front sight before removing it. This makes installing the replacement sight much easier if the post is equal in width to the original....

The only thing about the custom sport trigger I do not prefer, is the trigger stop screw. Make sure it leaves some room for follow thru, as you may contact the frame if and cause your shots to hit low when shooting faster than normal cadence. OR, remove the screw.
 
Only the normal capacity mags come with the finger extension. Our neutered Canadian 10 round mags have the flat baseplates. The match trigger is much smooter than the regular. I had the front sight replaced with a FO. If you haven't already, you should handle one as they are a big grip.
 
Thanks for all the responses.

I've handled these pistols and did try one of the standard ones briefly at my range. I don't have a problem with the grip. One question I do have for USP users though is... do you find that you put your thumb on top of the safety/de-cocker or under it? I find the pistol feels good with my thumb on top of the lever, so I'm assuming this is the way it was designed. I can't really see accidentally de-cocking the gun while firing. Your thumb would have to move way down in a way that seems unnatural. Any thoughts on this?

On the selection in general... it seems that the standard USP and the "Custom Sport" are pretty much in a dead heat with you guys. The match-trigger is nice but the trigger stop maybe isn't all that helpful. On the other hand, the standard USP seems to be a pretty solid choice too. Sights are a personal preference and can be changed anyway.

Not a lot of supporters of the P8 out there. I guess this particular variant has never really caught on. I wonder why that is. I should probably stay away from this one in any event.

I'm going to keep researching this for another week or two.

Other thoughts are most welcome.
 
ghostie said:
Thanks for all the responses.
... do you find that you put your thumb on top of the safety/de-cocker or under it? I find the pistol feels good with my thumb on top of the lever, so I'm assuming this is the way it was designed. I can't really see accidentally de-cocking the gun while firing. Your thumb would have to move way down in a way that seems unnatural. Any thoughts on this?
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I found that occasionally in a match I would press a little too hard while riding the safety. Going to the ambi-safety solved the problem as the thumb is on top and the finger is under the other side. About $55 for the ambi kit. Other than that, the choice between standard USP & Custom Sport could come down to $$$. If you find a good deal on either model - take it.
 
I shoot with thumb under the decocker. I also use the safety in matches all the time. I am not convinced the trigger is worth it, however the higher profile sites are quite nice. Theres also the Expert USP.
 
USP said:
I shoot with thumb under the decocker. I also use the safety in matches all the time. I am not convinced the trigger is worth it, however the higher profile sites are quite nice. Theres also the Expert USP.
Click to expand...


do you find you are pushing up against the underside of the decocker...? That is how I shot this year, and at the Nationals. It worked for me, but I find I like to have a higher grip with my left hand and thumb, which is under the right hand thumb. I find it feels better when that area is clear of obstructions. (ie: lever)

IMHO and thru trial and error, I have found that there is no need for the left sided lever,....it gets in the way of my shooting thumbs. I only use the decocker once in a stage; at the beginning. I am going to use the USP with the decocker on the right side, which will enable me to get a slightly higher grip.
 
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Yeah alittle bit..however I dont mind it..btw your new setup will work awhole lot better than mine for say use in Vermont in a nice in the waistband holster..no decocker sticking into yourself.

I have thought abit about an ambi switch..but there were always out of stock at Cals..It wouldve been handy on stages where you have to shoot week hand and drop the safety.. course maybe I should just stop using the safety to save time..
 
USP said:
I have thought abit about an ambi switch..but there were always out of stock at Cals..I.
Click to expand...

If you're in Ontario...Simmons had the ambi for me in 2 days. Cals has been O/S for 2 years.
 
I have a USP custom sport in 9mm and I love it. Its by far my favorite polymer pistol. I want to buy a USP tactical in .45, but what is this Hk45? I love HK firearms, if I could get my hands on a G36 I wouldn't flinch.
 
PUREVIL said:
I have a USP custom sport in 9mm and I love it. Its by far my favorite polymer pistol. I want to buy a USP tactical in .45, but what is this Hk45? I love HK firearms, if I could get my hands on a G36 I wouldn't flinch.
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The HK45 was a project that HK, Ken Hackathorn and Larry Vickers worked on to massage the USP to be more user friendly/ updated/ ergonomic. Like the USP which started out as a .40, and then was available as a 9mm and .45, the new HK45 should be available in other calibres. The thumb safety is thinner more like a 1911, and the grip is more rounded at the top to make it more comfortable. It also has three different grips, and is basically "less boxey" than a USP. Even the mag well opening looks better. It also sits slightly lower in the hand.
 
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