Got my old USP 45 back!

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Uncle Malice

New member
As you all know, I was an early naysayer of the VP9. Recently, I have been converted and I am now a VP9 evangelist.

I love the VP9 platform so much that I've been considering letting my P30 go. As it turns out, my coworker that I sold my USP 45 to about 2 years ago said he would be interested in it. I knew he wasn't super big on the USP 45 - only because he just prefers 9mm. The USP is his only gun in 45 and he just keeps it around for home defense use. I told him that I'd trade him my P30 for the USP 45 plus $100 on his end. He was more than happy to do that deal.

The USP 45 is a bone-stock AG date code gun. It's got maybe 1,500 rounds through it or so. He only put about 150 through it the whole time he has owned it. The trigger is very smooth and well broken in.

He brought it in to work today and I brought my P30. We traded with $100 cash from him. It feels really good in the hand. A lot better than the USP 45 Tactical that I sold a couple of months ago. The grip actually feels somewhat smaller, I'm not sure why. It's definitely smoother in the grip than the Tacical was, because it's seen more use. I'm not sure how to explain it.

I took it to the range on lunch and put 150rds total through it and my HK 45 CT. Surprisingly enough(or unsurprisingly? I dunno.) I shot the USP 45 better than the HK 45 CT. Not by a mile... but enough to notice. Excited to get back in touch with the USP 45.

The only thing it's going to need are night sights and the extended mag release.... and of course some more mags. It comes with the 2 factory mags and 1 20rd ProMag. The ProMag feeds 100% reliable, it just doesn't lock the slide back. I had the ProMag back when I sold the gun to him. I didn't buy it, the guy that I got it from had picked it up. I've heard a lot of bad things about ProMag and I'd never use it for any serious use, but this one actually seems to work. A fluke!

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Hmmmmm. Now you have me thinking. I've been thinking about my next purchase and had been considering another Sig in .40S&W, a .22 pistol (believe it or not I don't have one yet), or possibly a P220. Now I have another to consider....
 
Wow. Just gorgeous.

I hear great things about all of the newer models of HK pistols, and I'm sure they're true, but for my money the USP is the best looking polymer pistol ever made. What a beauty.
 
Hmmmmm. Now you have me thinking. I've been thinking about my next purchase and had been considering another Sig in .40S&W, a .22 pistol (believe it or not I don't have one yet), or possibly a P220. Now I have another to consider....
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Considering which, the USP or the VP9? ;)
 
Uncle Malice -
I'd look for he USP. I just like the way a hammer fired weapon fires and I have a USPc in 9mm. The fact that I see them on the used shelves fairly often is not such a bad thing either. I am seeing a lot of police trade P220s around here though.
 
Ahh. In that case, I can wholly recommend it. Especially with a match trigger kit. There aren't a whole lot of triggers that rival the USP match trigger kit. Sig's with SRT beat it, sure... but not much else.
 
10mm4ever, I have H&K Mark 23 that I'm beginning to think might be the best .45 for me. I also have two SIG 1911s in .45, a H&K USP .45 Tactical and a H&K USP .45 Expert.

I tried to get a SIG P220 X-6 L1, but was told they're discontinued. If it is as good as the SIG P226 X-6 L1 then it would be an awesome .45.:)
 
I should have been a bit more specific...I think the 1911, USP45 and west german SIG 220 are the 3 greatest hammer fired, 45 auto's ever. You can still find some fantastic prices for used/like new w. german SIG 220's. The very best are of mid 90's production.
 
Well, that's a great trade since you both seem very happy!

I have a love/hate with the USP. I love the lines and look of the USP series (I blame the Rainbow Six video game) but whenever I handle one I'm reminded that they just don't fit me. Sadly.

Some day I'd love to shoot one to see if that trigger feels as bad "in action" as opposed to gun shop dry firing.

Some day.
 
Some day I'd love to shoot one to see if that trigger feels as bad "in action" as opposed to gun shop dry firing.
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One thing I've learned over the years is that a new HK trigger is generally not very good but a well broken in one, especially a match trigger... is exceptional. Right up there with Sig. Don't take the feeling of the brand new trigger as the way it's going to feel after you get some rounds through it.
 
That's a fine firearm you be got yourself!

6-7 years ago I was pinning for a USP quite badly. I wanted a 45 so bad I passed up a really good deal on a used 40 cal one at the local hardware store.

Of course my wife's car had to break down on me... And my own USP45 dreams never came true.
 
Got back out to the range today on lunch. This time I put the USP 45 against my beloved Gen4 Glock 21.

I was actually surprised that I outshot the G21 today. My accuracy wasn't great with either of them today. I was in a bit of a hurry... but the difference between the two was rather surprising.

USP 45 on top, Glock 21 on bottom. 50 rounds through each, shot off-hand from 30 feet. Should have been tighter groups all the way around, but the USP was certainly tighter either way.


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Uncle Malice - you take the 'bestest' photos - Thanks! Since I am of limited means - I don't and can't have the gi-normous collections of so many here on TFL - especially HK's!! So - I save some of your photo's (and many others) onto a photo app on my iPad. I'm very familiar with the rock near your swimming pool (well - that's what the environment looks like to me!). I have a VP9 photo at that rock along with a different HK .45 with a thread protector on the muzzle. So - pun intended here - if I want to check out a couple of nice HK's I just fire up the iPad. I haven't tried to check any of the EXIF (I think that's the correct acronym) data - but I assume you're using a DSLR and not a cell phone camry. I'm sure that neither Steve Jobs, nor especially Tim Cook, would approve such photo usage on the iPad - but it's my iPad till they pry it from my hands ... :D
 
haha! Thank you, I appreciate the comments. Actually, yes, the vast majority of my photos are taken with a cell phone(Samsung Galaxy Nexus). I usually do a bit of tweaking in Photoshop after the fact though. I would love to pick up a nice DSLR some day!
 
45 shootout, update #3.

Today, I put the USP 45 against the HK45. Still just 100 rounds between the guns. Still at 30 feet(10 yards).

USP 45 was the bottom group. HK 45 was the top group. This was the second target, only 50rds through this one.

It looks to me like they shot relatively equal sized groups. Perhaps the USP was just a hair smaller, but I think it's mostly an illusion since there's more 'target area' where the HK 45 was shooting at the head. I will say that while HK45 has a more ergonomic grip, I enjoy shooting the USP 45 more. The recoil impulse feels better on the USP 45 and the trigger groove in the HK45 was biting my finger during recoil (not during the trigger pull). This is strange because I've never really had this problem with the HK 45 and I've got about 1,200 rounds through it.

I'm going to have to call this one a draw though. So, to date:
- USP 45 vs HK 45 CT : USP 45 shot slightly better group
- USP 45 vs Gen4 Glock 21 : USP 45 shot a noticeably smaller group
- USP 45 vs HK 45 : About equal groups but prefer the feeling of the USP 45.

I'm going out of town this weekend but should get back out next week for my final test. The USP 45 against the M&P 45 midsize. Hope you guys are enjoying the comparisons!

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