I fired the HK full size .45 and the Sig full size. Unffortunatley they don't have the compacts to shoot, even though they felt the best in my hand, and were easier for target acquisition. Which handgun do you like better? I hear great things about the sig & great things about the HK, is it a wash? I am most interested in reliabilty (since the gun probably shoots better than I do.) Thanks in advance for your input. N8.
HK USP Compact 45 vs. Sig 45 Compact
- Thread starter jadorem3
- Start date
Do a search on the topic. The 'brand x vs. brand y' debate pops up alot. There should be alot of info for you.
Personally, I have owned the Sig 220 and the USP 45 . Still own the USP.
As many guys that pick 'x' over 'y', you'll find pick 'y' over 'x'. Your best bet is to save your pennies, buy the one YOU like best and go shoot the snot out of it. What works best best me may not work best for you
Besides, I've known very few people who really did only own 1 gun 
Personally, I have owned the Sig 220 and the USP 45 . Still own the USP.
As many guys that pick 'x' over 'y', you'll find pick 'y' over 'x'. Your best bet is to save your pennies, buy the one YOU like best and go shoot the snot out of it. What works best best me may not work best for you
Besides, I've known very few people who really did only own 1 gun Mo_Zam_Beek
New member
Jad - you need to shoot them both or at least hold them.
The Sig has a shortend grip. The HK grip is narrower than the full size. The Sig is not reccomended to shoot +p ammo. HK - +p is not a problem.
I looked long and hard at a Sig 245. The grip length was an issue to me. I bought the HK. I have both the .45F and .45C. Just so you know - the .45C is not a small gun. I generally carry it in a shoulder rig. IWB is ok but not if you are in and out of the car a bunch.
Better trigger on the Sig.
If this is a carry gun and it is going to be your only carry gun - I say Glock 27. I carry this gun way more than any others I own (and I am not a glock fan).
The Sig has a shortend grip. The HK grip is narrower than the full size. The Sig is not reccomended to shoot +p ammo. HK - +p is not a problem.
I looked long and hard at a Sig 245. The grip length was an issue to me. I bought the HK. I have both the .45F and .45C. Just so you know - the .45C is not a small gun. I generally carry it in a shoulder rig. IWB is ok but not if you are in and out of the car a bunch.
Better trigger on the Sig.
If this is a carry gun and it is going to be your only carry gun - I say Glock 27. I carry this gun way more than any others I own (and I am not a glock fan).
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What Mo said. These are entirely different animals, the USP compact, while not big, isn't what I'd call compact in this day of Kahrs, Kel-Tecs and mini-Glocks. The baby SIG has that chopped butt that makes it pointless in a gun this overall size, IMO.
Neither gun will fit in a pocket, so I'd go with one that has a full grip, the H&K in this case.
Neither gun will fit in a pocket, so I'd go with one that has a full grip, the H&K in this case.
Eppy Thatcher
Inactive
HK USP .45 Compact. Other than perhaps trigger, I think the edge goes to the HK. Both have excellent reliability. The HK's lighter and has a small but full grip. Also, two extra rds per mag. Perceived recoil on the Compact is not much greater than on the Full-size for me. Also, they're easy to conceal IWB regardless of what people say.........then again, I am 6'5'' and 230 lbs.
Buy what you like and feels better to you. Can't really go wrong with either one, although the HK does look better.
Buy what you like and feels better to you. Can't really go wrong with either one, although the HK does look better.
I have a UPSc .45. I don't have a Sig 245, so I can't comment directly on that (though I do have a Sig P239).
The USPc has some advantages:
1. Can be carried cocked and locked.
2. Safety is frame mounted and works the right way.
3. Mag release is ambidextrous.
4. Perceived recoil is mild.
5. Reliable.
I think it also has some disadvantages.
1. The slide is HUGE. It's really thick. Compare it to an M1911 slide. That makes it hard for me to carry IWB.
2. The gun has a lot of muzzle rise.
3. The ambidextrous mag release is in a weird location -- you can't reach it with your thumb so you have to use your index finger. If you just carry an HK all the time, then it's fine. But if you carry other guns from time to time, this difference might be an issue for you. It is for me.
4. The SA trigger is ok. Not great and certainly not as good as the SA trigger on my Sig P239.
5. The DA trigger is f*cking awful! I need 2 fingers and a come-along to pull the bloody thing. Not a real issue for me, since I would carry it cocked and locked. But still, it's just plain silly.
My USPc lives in the safe. I carry my Kimber Compact, which fits my hand better, has a much better trigger, and is thinner as well. YMMV.
M1911
The USPc has some advantages:
1. Can be carried cocked and locked.
2. Safety is frame mounted and works the right way.
3. Mag release is ambidextrous.
4. Perceived recoil is mild.
5. Reliable.
I think it also has some disadvantages.
1. The slide is HUGE. It's really thick. Compare it to an M1911 slide. That makes it hard for me to carry IWB.
2. The gun has a lot of muzzle rise.
3. The ambidextrous mag release is in a weird location -- you can't reach it with your thumb so you have to use your index finger. If you just carry an HK all the time, then it's fine. But if you carry other guns from time to time, this difference might be an issue for you. It is for me.
4. The SA trigger is ok. Not great and certainly not as good as the SA trigger on my Sig P239.
5. The DA trigger is f*cking awful! I need 2 fingers and a come-along to pull the bloody thing. Not a real issue for me, since I would carry it cocked and locked. But still, it's just plain silly.
My USPc lives in the safe. I carry my Kimber Compact, which fits my hand better, has a much better trigger, and is thinner as well. YMMV.
M1911
Thanks!
Thanks for all of your input! I am leaning towards the HK, but will also check out the Kimber compact. I am most familiar with 1911 style handguns, but I like the feel of the combat oriented ones. I will let you know what I go with! Thanks again. (P.S. I did note that on the slide release for the HK I had to tilt the gun to the side to use it! I didn't find the trigger THAT atrocious....I will also be checking out the Glock 27.)
Thanks for all of your input! I am leaning towards the HK, but will also check out the Kimber compact. I am most familiar with 1911 style handguns, but I like the feel of the combat oriented ones. I will let you know what I go with! Thanks again. (P.S. I did note that on the slide release for the HK I had to tilt the gun to the side to use it! I didn't find the trigger THAT atrocious....I will also be checking out the Glock 27.)
Mike in VA
New member
I went thru this about 18 mos ago. Handled both and bought the H&K. Tho I am an avowed SIG bigot, the 245 just felt stumpy to me, and the 6 shot capacity w/o the extended mag turned me off. Throw in the extended mag, and there's no particular advantage. If you want a SIG .45, get a 220.
My H&K took a couple hundred rounds to break in, but its now got a nice trigger, is very accurate, eats everything I feed it, etc.. It's still blocky/bulky as 'compacts' go, but I found the real answer is a Kimber Ultra Carry. The H&K is now my car gun, stoked with Cor-Bon 185 +P's and the Kimber rides behind my right hip, 'cept when I'm carrying the 239 in a Galco shoulder rig, except on paranoid days when I carry both. Life goes on. The 245 is an answer to a question no one really asked seriously IMHO. YMMV.
My H&K took a couple hundred rounds to break in, but its now got a nice trigger, is very accurate, eats everything I feed it, etc.. It's still blocky/bulky as 'compacts' go, but I found the real answer is a Kimber Ultra Carry. The H&K is now my car gun, stoked with Cor-Bon 185 +P's and the Kimber rides behind my right hip, 'cept when I'm carrying the 239 in a Galco shoulder rig, except on paranoid days when I carry both. Life goes on. The 245 is an answer to a question no one really asked seriously IMHO. YMMV.