H&H USP Warning?

B

bobo

New member
I got this off my email, sorry for all caps
but that was the way it was sent.

SUBJECT:HECKLER & KOCH USP .45 CALIBER PISTOL WARNING

TWO LOS ANGELES COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THEIR USP .45 CALIBER PISTOLS DURING FIRING PRACTICE. FORTUNATELY

NEITHER OFFICER WAS INJURED. THE FRAMES OF BOTH PISTOLS WERE DESTROYED UPON FIRING THE CARTRIDGE IN THE CHAMBER. ONE FRAME WAS BLOWN INTO PIECES, THE OTHER FRACTURED ON BOTH SIDES. INSPECTION OF THE AMMUNITION USED IN BOTH INCIDENTS REVEALED THAT RELOADED AMMUNITION WAS USED.

HECKLER & KOCH ADVISES AGAINST USING RELOADED OR REMANUFACTURED AMMUNITION IN THEIR PISTOLS. USP PISTOLS ARE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION WITH QUALITY FACTORY LOADED AMMUNITION ONLY.

ALL OFFICERS THAT UTILIZE H&K USP PISTOLS ARE URGED TO USE ONLY QUALITY FACTORY LOADED AMMUNITION IN THEIR PISTOLS. FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING...


Sorry the contact information is being withheld.

[This message has been edited by bobo (edited February 15, 2000).]
 
Are you talking about LAPD, LA County Sheriff's or San Bernardino County Sheriff's? If it's the last they issue Glock 21s, and if it's LA County Sheriff's they don't authorize 45s. LAPD on the other hand does authroize the S&W 45. If LAPD has changed when did they authorize the H&K USP? I hope the officers recover quickly. Perhaps LAPD will reconsider the H&K and go with the SIG Sauer P220.

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So many pistols, so little money.

[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited February 15, 2000).]
 
I don't know which agency was involved. this is all the info I had this morning. This
should show how carful we should be when reloading. " When in doubt...throw it out"
 
I think we need to know a little bit more information about these instances before we take the advice to heart. Truthfully, in each and every HK-USP owner's manual is included the disclaimer that H&K recommends the use of factory-loaded FMJ ammunition designed for the caliber of chambering. This is to openly state that reloading is outside their control and anything you do to your gun with reloaded ammunition is at your own, personal loss.

That said, I have reloaded 700-800 rounds for my HK-USP45 fullsize and have had no problems whatsoever other than the occasional 'teething' issues as I worked up a load (failure to feed/chamber/eject, etc.). These loads are fired in IDPA competition and under conditions where I demand top performance from my ammunition - sometimes leading to unexpected tactical training (as in unintentional malfunction clearance).

The point is that reloaders are entirely on their own when it comes to the performance of their homebrewed ammunition. I take utmost care in the design and construction of my ammunition - but not all do. A single load of double-charged powder will create the effects described in the e-mail and the reloader may not even know what went wrong until it's blown. We need more information.

For the record, I chose the USP45f as my carry and competition gun specifically because it is overengineered - the USP45 and other chamberings have the distinction of being some of the most heavily tested firearms of the modern lot and passed with flying colors. Drop tests, freezing, dirt, water, sand, mud, you name it - it does it, and reliably. In fact, in one test, at USP45f was fired with a 'squib' (primer only) load to imbed a 230gr slug halfway down the bore, a full power cartridge was FIRED BEHIND IT and both bullets exited the muzzle producing a slight barrel bulge (but still operable) - accuracy afterward still met the military requirement for a new pistol.

The USP is a tough gun - I would like to hear more facts before making a decision about this. YMMV,
 
A double charged handload - or a load where the bullet was pushed back into the case can blow up any gun - even the mighty USP.
There is no question as to the strength of the USP - it can safely fire .45 Supers. The question is the handloads.
The subject of that email was misrepresenting - as this could have happened in any pistol - Sigs Rugers and Glocks... Even the USP... The subject line should have read "Ammo Warning".
You should always check you ammo. If you have a bullet that is pushed into the case - discard it or you could lose more than just one round.

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I mean, if I went around saying I was an Emperor because some
moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, people would put me away!
 
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