I have never owned a gun before and was thinking of buying one. I am currently enrolled to take a concealed carry course next month. Soon after I will be making a decision on which pistol to buy. I have heard very good things about the USP Compacts from local dealers, but would like to hear from owners who carry on how they like it. I have fired one at a local range and like the feel, but since I am so green I don't feel comfortable making a good assessment Are they reliable, how is the accuracy, are they easy to carry concealed? Or would I be better off with a different gun?
HK USP Compact 9mm -- Good Buy?
- Thread starter Plato
- Start date
Plato - First, welcome to TFL. You've come to the right place if you are looking for completely objective opinions on firearms purchases, as none of us feel loyalty to any particular brands or designs 
Seriously, you'll get some great advice here as well as my humble opinion. I like the USP pistols, having shot many rounds down the pipe of a USP 45 full size. The ergonomics of the pistol are perfect for me. I've also shot a few mags through a compact USP 9mm and was equally impressed, especially due to the same placement of the controls. As a carry piece, the USP compacts are right in there with the mid-size Glocks, Sigs and Berettas, so it will really depend on how the piece feels in your hand. Try to rent a few different pistols before you purchase; it's helped me avoid a few impulse buys that I would have regretted.
Regards,
Noban
Seriously, you'll get some great advice here as well as my humble opinion. I like the USP pistols, having shot many rounds down the pipe of a USP 45 full size. The ergonomics of the pistol are perfect for me. I've also shot a few mags through a compact USP 9mm and was equally impressed, especially due to the same placement of the controls. As a carry piece, the USP compacts are right in there with the mid-size Glocks, Sigs and Berettas, so it will really depend on how the piece feels in your hand. Try to rent a few different pistols before you purchase; it's helped me avoid a few impulse buys that I would have regretted.
Regards,
Noban
Plato, welcome to TFL.
I have been carrying an HK USP Compact 9mm for a few years now. It is still my favorite pistol out of my whole collection. I would highly recommend it.
I chose the 9mm because it is a efective defense cartridge and I can place follow up shots on target very quickly and accurately.
So far I have about 4000 rounds through mine without a single failure of any kind. I am also impressed with the ergonimic placement of the safety/decocker and the slide release.
You won't be dissappointed with the USPc.
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
[This message has been edited by CMOS (edited June 23, 2000).]
I have been carrying an HK USP Compact 9mm for a few years now. It is still my favorite pistol out of my whole collection. I would highly recommend it.
I chose the 9mm because it is a efective defense cartridge and I can place follow up shots on target very quickly and accurately.
So far I have about 4000 rounds through mine without a single failure of any kind. I am also impressed with the ergonimic placement of the safety/decocker and the slide release.
You won't be dissappointed with the USPc.
CMOS
------------------
NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!
The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
[This message has been edited by CMOS (edited June 23, 2000).]
While I don't own one, I've shot a few (9's and .40's, full size and compact). USP is a great all around gun. My biggest complaint is that you can't get hi-caps for the compact .40 (it was introduced after the ban). You can still get 13 rounders for the compact 9mm, though.
If you like the USP, you should also look to the Glock 19/23 and the and the Walther P99. One isn't necessarily better than the others, but they are very competetive in size, weight, power and quality wise.
A new USP compact should run you between 600 and 650.
If you like the USP, you should also look to the Glock 19/23 and the and the Walther P99. One isn't necessarily better than the others, but they are very competetive in size, weight, power and quality wise.
A new USP compact should run you between 600 and 650.
ok, I'll play devil's advocate....
First tho, I have to admit that I am a USP lover. I have a USP45f and its my favorite pistol I have ever owned, warts and all.
You have heard a lot about the good things (and I heartily agree), let me tell you about the bad things....
1. the checkerboard stipling on the backstrap of the USP's hurts some people's hands. If you have outdoor hands or mechanics hands I cant imagine it would be a problem. But it hurts my wife.
2. The USP compacts arent. Compact that is... They are probably the bulkiest compacts money can buy. and they are kind squareish
3. Speaking of money... they arent cheap. not remotely. well, you can spend as much as you wnt on a custom pistol, but out of the box they are almost as expensive as you can go.
4. Their double action trigger is one of the worst in the industry. You can spring 100-150$ to put in a match trigger, but that gets the price of the pistol near astronomical and still doesnt always solve the gritty trigger problem.
5. The compacts use a plastic bushing instead of a second recoil spring ro their recoil dampening. The full size use the second spring and it works better.
6. Now let me send some ideas your way of other pistols to look at that are not as expensive or not as bulky or both. And unless you are going to swim a river, low crawl a desert and wallow in a mudhole they are probably just as reliable and accurate.
Look at Sig, Beretta, CZ, and Walther. All make fine handguns that wil lprobably fit your bill a little more comfortably and cheaper with similar reliability and beter ergonomics.
If you want to look at more expensive pistols, look at the P7 by HK... now THATS a sweet compact nine mm.
All that said....
I'd probably buy a USP9... I like the feel, I like the controls and I can live with the crappy trigger. And they feed ANYHING!
Hell, the'd probably feed a .22 if you stuck it in there!
(just kidding, DONT try that)
J.T.
As usual, IMHO, YMMV, FWIW and all that
First tho, I have to admit that I am a USP lover. I have a USP45f and its my favorite pistol I have ever owned, warts and all.
You have heard a lot about the good things (and I heartily agree), let me tell you about the bad things....
1. the checkerboard stipling on the backstrap of the USP's hurts some people's hands. If you have outdoor hands or mechanics hands I cant imagine it would be a problem. But it hurts my wife.
2. The USP compacts arent. Compact that is... They are probably the bulkiest compacts money can buy. and they are kind squareish
3. Speaking of money... they arent cheap. not remotely. well, you can spend as much as you wnt on a custom pistol, but out of the box they are almost as expensive as you can go.
4. Their double action trigger is one of the worst in the industry. You can spring 100-150$ to put in a match trigger, but that gets the price of the pistol near astronomical and still doesnt always solve the gritty trigger problem.
5. The compacts use a plastic bushing instead of a second recoil spring ro their recoil dampening. The full size use the second spring and it works better.
6. Now let me send some ideas your way of other pistols to look at that are not as expensive or not as bulky or both. And unless you are going to swim a river, low crawl a desert and wallow in a mudhole they are probably just as reliable and accurate.
Look at Sig, Beretta, CZ, and Walther. All make fine handguns that wil lprobably fit your bill a little more comfortably and cheaper with similar reliability and beter ergonomics.
If you want to look at more expensive pistols, look at the P7 by HK... now THATS a sweet compact nine mm.
All that said....
I'd probably buy a USP9... I like the feel, I like the controls and I can live with the crappy trigger. And they feed ANYHING!
Hell, the'd probably feed a .22 if you stuck it in there!
(just kidding, DONT try that)J.T.
As usual, IMHO, YMMV, FWIW and all that
CMOS:
Yeah, I know someone wo shoots their compact better than their full size too... Dont know why. Guess it depends on the gun and depends on the fit. Ithink my point about the differences is the the Recoil Dampening system seems to work a little better on the full-sizes as they have the second recoil spring and the compacts only have a plastic bushing.
a final thing to you, Plato... If you have never owned a gun before I recommend that you spend some time in a class and try to fire as many pistols as possible. Many ranges rent their pistols for $10 or so an hour. Spent 100-200$ trying out several different ones. It will probably save you from a $600 mistake.
J.T.
Again, FWIW, YMMV, IMHO and all that
Yeah, I know someone wo shoots their compact better than their full size too... Dont know why. Guess it depends on the gun and depends on the fit. Ithink my point about the differences is the the Recoil Dampening system seems to work a little better on the full-sizes as they have the second recoil spring and the compacts only have a plastic bushing.
a final thing to you, Plato... If you have never owned a gun before I recommend that you spend some time in a class and try to fire as many pistols as possible. Many ranges rent their pistols for $10 or so an hour. Spent 100-200$ trying out several different ones. It will probably save you from a $600 mistake.
J.T.
Again, FWIW, YMMV, IMHO and all that
PLASTIC SIG
New member
Everyone I've met that has a USP compact seemed to like my sigpro just as much if not more. Take a look at the sig pro 2009. You might like it better and save a few bucks at the same time. If not, the USP is a great choice and I would say go for it.
Tim
Tim
J.T.
I have tried few at the firing range. I have tried a Berreta, a SIG, and the HK. Some of the other guns do not have the features I am looking for. For instance, the Glocks have no manual safety Neither did the SIG I fired. The HK also felt better in my hands than the rest. It was slightly larger and a little easier to control. I also like the positioning of the slide release, safety-decocker, and mag release in relation to my hand. I have been reading bad things in other forums on the D/A on the HK. I didn't notice too much of a difference from the other guns I shot. The SIG did seem smoother though. It may just be my naivety though. Can anyone comment on this?
Oh, and thank you all for your comments so far.
I have tried few at the firing range. I have tried a Berreta, a SIG, and the HK. Some of the other guns do not have the features I am looking for. For instance, the Glocks have no manual safety Neither did the SIG I fired. The HK also felt better in my hands than the rest. It was slightly larger and a little easier to control. I also like the positioning of the slide release, safety-decocker, and mag release in relation to my hand. I have been reading bad things in other forums on the D/A on the HK. I didn't notice too much of a difference from the other guns I shot. The SIG did seem smoother though. It may just be my naivety though. Can anyone comment on this?
Oh, and thank you all for your comments so far.
Plato:
Great! Well, if oyu have fired several at a range then you are on your way to making an informed decision. I agree with everything you say about the benefits of the USP compact...
As to the trigger... If you havent fired many pistols much and havent fired the ones that you have fired very often, then I think it would probably seem that one trigger is similar to another. After all, a Double Action trigger no matter how good, will never seem like a single action trigger (barring some glocks I suppose).
But once you have put a few thousand rounds throug several different guns then you start getting a little more critical of the triggers. When firing a USP slowly the DA trigger is horrible. Often is "catches" and binds on its way to finally firing which you never know exactly when that will be. If you just pull the trigger quickly it doesnt matter as much. But if you pull it slowly, its horrible.
Now I think the main complaint about that (for me anyhow...) is that its NOT a cheap gun. Its supposedly one of the best autopistols that money can buy straight out of the box. They should have been able to make a better trigger. Ther eis no excuse for it.
I know people that otherwise like the USP but refuse to give HK any money because of their inability to get teh trigger right. They are voting with their dollars.
Turns out for my purposes (remote camping and jeeping and home defense) that the grittyness of the DA trigger is not that big of a deal. You have to decide that. As to the SIG trigger, its a nice one. It is very predictable... You KNOW when the hammer is going to drop on a DA shot. stil ldoesnt make that much difference in a panic situation buit makes the gun a finer piece of machinery to own and possess.
As far as a manual safety goes, why do you want one? not saying you shouldnt... but for CCW I would probably *NOT* want a manual safety. I prefer the idea that no matter what contortions my brain is going through under a panic situation that when I pull the trigger the round goes off. The USP is the first manual safety auto pistol I have ever owned. I am far more concerned about the pistol not discahrging if I drop it, if the hammer falls due to a mechanical malfunction or when decocking the pistol than I am worried about it firing with my finger on the trigger. After all, I keep my finger OFF the trigger unless I am planing of having to shoot it.
I am not trying to talk you out of the USP9c, but I am trying to show you its warts. Its not going to be comfortable to carry compared to several of the others due to its width and squarish shape. If you are 6'3" 250# then who cares? But if you are 5'8" 140# then it will be difficult to conceal well.
Me personally, I find that the safety arangement on the USP9c is acidentally hit sometimes. If I pick up a USP from a table and its not on safe, I have a good chanvce of accidentally putting the safety on when I grasp it with my right hand. The tumb can ride up and flick it on accidentally. Thats because of the way I usually handle my pistols and the position of my thumb. It doesnt seem to be a problem for *me* on the full sizes.
IMHO, for a CCW pistol you should be looking for three things:
1. What fits you well; both in your hand AND on your body, size as well as weight.
2. What functions well; you need to be able to use its functions wihtout ever thinking about it.
3. What performs reliably; it needs to be able to feed your chosen self defense ammo without a hitch and needs to function reliably when all linted or sweated up
4. What you have confidence in; its only YOUR life at stake, not mine... if you dont think you can trust your life to it, get a differnt pistol.
Everything that we say about what's good or bad is based on our body size, our impressions with the limited expereinces we have and what makes US feel confident. The info we give is a great place to start. It lets you know what SOME people think... but there are always people that have had bad experiences with the guns *WE* like.
Hell, I have had constant trigger issues and a broken firing pin in my USP. I still like too much about the rest of the gun so I deal with them and drive on. They are mechanical devices and no matter how finely crafted they are subject to malfunctions.
Good luck in your search and enjoy the process! I find I enjoy the anticipation, the research, the discussion about getting a new gun almost as much as getting it! :]
J.T.
As usual, YMMV, FWIW, IMHO and al lthat
Great! Well, if oyu have fired several at a range then you are on your way to making an informed decision. I agree with everything you say about the benefits of the USP compact...
As to the trigger... If you havent fired many pistols much and havent fired the ones that you have fired very often, then I think it would probably seem that one trigger is similar to another. After all, a Double Action trigger no matter how good, will never seem like a single action trigger (barring some glocks I suppose).
But once you have put a few thousand rounds throug several different guns then you start getting a little more critical of the triggers. When firing a USP slowly the DA trigger is horrible. Often is "catches" and binds on its way to finally firing which you never know exactly when that will be. If you just pull the trigger quickly it doesnt matter as much. But if you pull it slowly, its horrible.
Now I think the main complaint about that (for me anyhow...) is that its NOT a cheap gun. Its supposedly one of the best autopistols that money can buy straight out of the box. They should have been able to make a better trigger. Ther eis no excuse for it.
I know people that otherwise like the USP but refuse to give HK any money because of their inability to get teh trigger right. They are voting with their dollars.
Turns out for my purposes (remote camping and jeeping and home defense) that the grittyness of the DA trigger is not that big of a deal. You have to decide that. As to the SIG trigger, its a nice one. It is very predictable... You KNOW when the hammer is going to drop on a DA shot. stil ldoesnt make that much difference in a panic situation buit makes the gun a finer piece of machinery to own and possess.
As far as a manual safety goes, why do you want one? not saying you shouldnt... but for CCW I would probably *NOT* want a manual safety. I prefer the idea that no matter what contortions my brain is going through under a panic situation that when I pull the trigger the round goes off. The USP is the first manual safety auto pistol I have ever owned. I am far more concerned about the pistol not discahrging if I drop it, if the hammer falls due to a mechanical malfunction or when decocking the pistol than I am worried about it firing with my finger on the trigger. After all, I keep my finger OFF the trigger unless I am planing of having to shoot it.
I am not trying to talk you out of the USP9c, but I am trying to show you its warts. Its not going to be comfortable to carry compared to several of the others due to its width and squarish shape. If you are 6'3" 250# then who cares? But if you are 5'8" 140# then it will be difficult to conceal well.
Me personally, I find that the safety arangement on the USP9c is acidentally hit sometimes. If I pick up a USP from a table and its not on safe, I have a good chanvce of accidentally putting the safety on when I grasp it with my right hand. The tumb can ride up and flick it on accidentally. Thats because of the way I usually handle my pistols and the position of my thumb. It doesnt seem to be a problem for *me* on the full sizes.
IMHO, for a CCW pistol you should be looking for three things:
1. What fits you well; both in your hand AND on your body, size as well as weight.
2. What functions well; you need to be able to use its functions wihtout ever thinking about it.
3. What performs reliably; it needs to be able to feed your chosen self defense ammo without a hitch and needs to function reliably when all linted or sweated up
4. What you have confidence in; its only YOUR life at stake, not mine... if you dont think you can trust your life to it, get a differnt pistol.
Everything that we say about what's good or bad is based on our body size, our impressions with the limited expereinces we have and what makes US feel confident. The info we give is a great place to start. It lets you know what SOME people think... but there are always people that have had bad experiences with the guns *WE* like.
Hell, I have had constant trigger issues and a broken firing pin in my USP. I still like too much about the rest of the gun so I deal with them and drive on. They are mechanical devices and no matter how finely crafted they are subject to malfunctions.
Good luck in your search and enjoy the process! I find I enjoy the anticipation, the research, the discussion about getting a new gun almost as much as getting it! :]
J.T.
As usual, YMMV, FWIW, IMHO and al lthat