These are two of the pistols that I was considering when I made my last purchase. I tested them side by sie with a couple of others including the USP45compact. What follows are excerpts from the impressions that I wrote atthe time I tested them.
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*****HK USP45*****
This was the first pistol I shot along side the HK USP40 for a side by
side comparison of the two calibers in what is essentially the same
gun. I found the accuracy of the .45 to be quite good at the ranges I
fired which were 15ft, 25ft, and 50ft.
The weapon I was using was a range rental that the range opperator
said had about 15,000 rnds through it. It never misfired and seemed to
fit my hand pretty well, especially considering that I do not have
overly large hands and this is a pseudo doublestack .45cal.
I was expecting it to be a handful recoil wise but it was surprisingly
mild mannered. It pushed me good but never with that hard snap that
the 1911's seem to have. Apparently the "recoil reduction" system they
have with a double recoil spring works. Smooths out the felt recoil.
An armorer at a local gun store said it "lengthens the recoil pulse"
spreading the same force over about 30% more time, softening the blow.
Whatever... It seems to work.
I was able to line up the sights with both eyes open quite easily as
the two rear sight posts are far enough apart that the prominent front
sight was easily positioned with both eyes open. The gun felt solid,
the mechanical pieces were all still not sloppy and I felt that the
weapon was marginally more accurate than me at ranges out to 50ft.
The controls were pretty nice. I liked that the mechanical safety
doubled as a decocking lever. I was a little concerned that the manual
safety might be accidentally flicked on in a preasure situation
because it is on the frame, not high up on the slide.. but no matter
how I picked the gun up off the table I never mangagted to
accidentally set it. All in all, this seemd like a durable, well
constructed weapon that performed quite admirably; I liked it.
*****Sig P220 .45 cal*****
I own a sig. I own the little .380 auto (P230). I love the pistol. Its
in stainless and I know its essentially a nicely crafted walther clone
but damn its a nice gun! I really like it. So I came into firing the
full frame .45 Sig with a lot of anticipation. I had never fired them
before and I have several Police Officer clients who swear that they
are one of the best handguns made. It did not disappoint.
I chose the .45 to try after my experience with the USP's. At the same
time I fired the HK USP45compact. I'll tell you this much, the Sig is
a nice gun! My first magazine through it at 25ft firing at a medium
pace gave me a group of 1 3/4 inches! For me thats great! I was
stunned. I was not trying to get them all that tight. But round after
round kept going through the bulls eye!
The trigger.... oh the Sig trigger.... I know this gun has had many
rounds through it (range controller said about 20,000) but that double
action trigger was the smoothest and quickest I have ever felt. No big
"last bit" to get over. It just fired with the slightest hesitation to
let you know you were about to drop the hammer. Single action was
equally as snappy. I had a smile on my face!
But not about the controls. The slide release is hard to disengage and
if when I did it with my right hand thumb, the ridges on the slide
scraped my thumb as the slide went forward. I know the wife wont like
that. Plus it is doubtful she will even be able to disengage it. The
decocker was surprisingly light, considering that the decocker on our
P230 is hellishly stiff. It sure breaks down easy though.
Now one of my main gripes about the gun... It has only a 7 round
magazine. I know the M1911 has only seven rounds, but that remains one
of my principal compaints about it. The HK USP45 has a 12 round clip!
(not in my state tho.... 10rnd max). Heck, even the *compact* USP45
has eight rounds! Seems to me a nice pistol to shoot but becasue of
the dificulty in releasing the slide and the lower capacity magazine,
it just didnt seem like as nice a choice anymore.
Recoil was a little tougher than on the USP for all that the sig is a
slightly heavier gun (if I recall correctly). Again, the USP gets
points for their recoil reduction system. It actually seems to work as
billed. I was kinda disappointed that I found flaws with the Sig as I
was really leaning that way coming into this. Still... I would like to
own this gun!
PRO's and CON's
*****HK USP45 (full sized)*****
PRO: Well made, solid weapon with good accuracy and great controls.
easy to fire with both eyes open, seems virtually indestructable with
large, easy to opperate parts. Recoil is surprisingly light, lighter
than the .40cal and the 10rnd magazine of .45cal is quite sweet!
CON: Its big, its bulky. No way can I conceal this baby. The trigger
guard is so large most holsters wont fit it.
*****Sig P220 .45cal *****
PRO: amazing trigger, very accurate pistol. Finely machined, well
executed design. Its hard to imagine not using a gun like this for
most law enforcement tasks and home defense. It shoots so nice it
makes you want to practice! Easy to take apart.
CON: hard to opperate controls. Only a 7 round magazine. No manual
safety. It is finely machined and that makes me not really want to
take it camping. Only seven rounds. Most armorers have said "dont get
it too dirty!" Only seven rounds... (have I mentioned that already?)
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
Well... after all was said and done I was convinced. I was about to go
back to the .45cal after 6 years of being a "Forty" man. I loved the
feel of the Sigs action, but my wife needs to be able to opperate the
controls. I put the USP 45 in her hand and she did a full functions
check without a sweat. In her words, "Thats not as bad as I thought!"
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I did buy the HK USP45f and put a match trigger in it... I have never looked back and am thoroughly happy with the purchase.
I hope this helps!
J.T.
as usual, FWIW, YMMV and IMHO...
