USP 40 pros and cons?

infected

infected

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between a rock and a hard place.
I went to a local gunshop today to have a look at some pistols in .40s&w. I looked at a Glock 22 and a USP 40. They both fit my long fingered hands well (better than my M&P 9 with the largest back strap) but I would have to say of all the pistols I've ever held, the USP feels like it was made for my hands. I also prefer the look of the USP over the relatively plain looking Glock. I've also heard that because the Glock was originally designed for the 9mm cartridge, it doesn't function quite as well in 40s&w. I think I would prefer to buy the Glock 17 as my second 9mm and first Glock instead of the G22.
That being said I'm interested in hearing from USP owners (past and present) on what they liked/disliked about it. I asked the guy at the gunshop and he just said it was a "good" gun, he then went on to say that every gun I looked at was a "good" gun with very little additional input.


As a side note do any other younger gun owners get frustrated at some gunshops when they are reluctant to deal with you because of your age? I was ignored for a good 15-20 minutes before the clerk would deal with me and even then he wasn't interested in answering questions and was even hesitant about letting me hold the handguns. I probably would've put a deposit down on the USP if he had been a little more customer friendly.
 
infected said:
I went to a local gunshop today to have a look at some pistols in .40s&w. I looked at a Glock 22 and a USP 40. They both fit my long fingered hands well (better than my M&P 9 with the largest back strap) but I would have to say of all the pistols I've ever held, the USP feels like it was made for my hands. I also prefer the look of the USP over the relatively plain looking Glock. I've also heard that because the Glock was originally designed for the 9mm cartridge, it doesn't function quite as well in 40s&w. I think I would prefer to buy the Glock 17 as my second 9mm and first Glock instead of the G22.
That being said I'm interested in hearing from USP owners (past and present) on what they liked/disliked about it. I asked the guy at the gunshop and he just said it was a "good" gun, he then went on to say that every gun I looked at was a "good" gun with very little additional input.
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I have a 9mm USP. Owned it for a number of years...in fact, it was my first handgun. Pros: extremely reliable, accurate, typical top rate H&K fit and finish, nice SA trigger, aesthetically pleasing, doesn't feel like a plastic gun. Cons: grip could be more ergonomic, DA trigger is heavy and gritty, firing pin broke after several thousand rounds (common issue with pre-2005 USPs).

Overall, it's a great pistol and if it fits your hands, you won't be disappointed. You can't really compare it to Glock; quality-wise, HK is on a totally different level.
 
reliable,..reliable,..reliable,.and reliable. It is accurate enough,.and has a good SA trigger. I changed the lever to the right side of the gun so I could get my thumbs up high for a proper grip.I used it in IPSC production division,..so all shots were normally started DA. The lever only had one usefull function,...to decock. IF you use the .40 in say IPSC standard division,..you could leave the lever on the same side,.but put a $12 part in it to make the lever act as a safety ONLY. So you could start SA cocked and locked. MY hands are too small to get a proper grip this way for this gun. You could also get the longer white mags and put a magwell on it for standard division. You could also put the match trigger in it.
 
I've had both the G22 and the USP 40. I found that the USP just felt better in my hands and pointed more naturally. IIRC, the recoil felt a little easier to manage with the USP. As it turns out, I sold the G22 and kept the USP 40 sans regrets.
 
maurice said:
reliable,..reliable,..reliable,.and reliable. It is accurate enough,.and has a good SA trigger. I changed the lever to the right side of the gun so I could get my thumbs up high for a proper grip.I used it in IPSC production division,..so all shots were normally started DA. The lever only had one usefull function,...to decock. IF you use the .40 in say IPSC standard division,..you could leave the lever on the same side,.but put a $12 part in it to make the lever act as a safety ONLY. So you could start SA cocked and locked. MY hands are too small to get a proper grip this way for this gun. You could also get the longer white mags and put a magwell on it for standard division. You could also put the match trigger in it.
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Like I said my hands are fairly large and the USP fits me perfectly. I've heard alot of complaints about grip ergonomics with the USP. I can see how people with smaller hands might not like it but it points very naturally for me, which would probably be my only complaint about my S&W M&P9, takes a split second to align the sights properly when rising the pistol to a firing position. firing position.
 
I actually broke a firing pin on my USP,.but that was before they beefed it up. After that,...I had a absolutely no problems. I think after 10,000rds,.I replaced my extractor spring and perhaps the extractor.......
 
infected said:
As a side note do any other younger gun owners get frustrated at some gunshops when they are reluctant to deal with you because of your age? I was ignored for a good 15-20 minutes before the clerk would deal with me and even then he wasn't interested in answering questions and was even hesitant about letting me hold the handguns. I probably would've put a deposit down on the USP if he had been a little more customer friendly.
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What gunshop was that? I go to Target Sports quite a bit and the customer service is excellent.
 
infected said:
Reasons?
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Ok, Ill bite.

HK over engineering and quality is a PRO. I like Euro design and cool factor of it.

However. .40 is a lame duck in my book. More fashion and flinch than fight. More money = less training/practice.

Save $ and space and go 9mm for more heat. Or go big and get .45.

.40 is indecisive.

See my sig for thoughts on stopping power.

As such go with more shots.
 
too be honest,...I would take a .40 over a .45,...money wise,..the price is much better. If you want to get your gun for just plinking or perhaps into a shooting sport (idpa,cdp,ipsc,.etc) than get a 9mm. If you want something prepare yourself for work (ie: you carry for a living),..than get the damn near same firearm,..and get the same calibres.
 
maurice said:
too be honest,...I would take a .40 over a .45,...money wise,..the price is much better. If you want to get your gun for just plinking or perhaps into a shooting sport (idpa,cdp,ipsc,.etc) than get a 9mm. If you want something prepare yourself for work (ie: you carry for a living),..than get the damn near same firearm,..and get the same calibres.
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I don't agree. A box of 9mm is $17 give or take abit. .40 is about $25.
If you want to go big just spend the extra $1 over the .40 and buy a box of .45 at $26 or so a box.

It's a better round and way more to the point.
 
Jon_M said:
I don't agree. A box of 9mm is $17 give or take abit. .40 is about $25.
If you want to go big just spend the extra $1 over the .40 and buy a box of .45 at $26 or so a box.

It's a better round and way more to the point.
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You are paying way too much. Buy in bulk. Do you realize you are paying $17 per box of 9mm (50rds)....that equals out to about $34 per 100,...or $340 per 1000rds~~~~~! (I am not sure if you included Taxes in that price:eek:) I buy by the crate. If you are in Ontario,...try Wolf Hoffman. I think you could get it for about $60-80 cheaper going thru Wolf. I have seen .45 for $34 per 50rds locally. That is just absurd.

If you are paying $25 per box of 50rds of .40,...I would tell you to look around. That is $500 per thousand!!!!!!!!!!!! Again,..totally way too much.

Why is it (.45) a better round:bsFlag:, for what? paper holes are a few mm diameter difference.

I go thru about 6000-8000rds a year,...this is a conservative estimate,..it could be more. If I had more time to practice it would be much higher.
 
yyyyy said:
Ok, Ill bite.

HK over engineering and quality is a PRO. I like Euro design and cool factor of it.

However. .40 is a lame duck in my book. More fashion and flinch than fight. More money = less training/practice.

Save $ and space and go 9mm for more heat. Or go big and get .45.

.40 is indecisive.

See my sig for thoughts on stopping power.

As such go with more shots.
Click to expand...

More than anything I'd like variety in my calibers as well as my pistols, I already have a 9mm S&W, I really like the HK so the next logical step for me is the .40s&w, then of course the .45acp in a 1911. Then I'll start all over again.
 
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