If I carried my USPs, I'd carry them cocked and safety on. To fire, I'd put the safety off (push downward to detent) and fire single action. My concern is that I would push beyond the safety off detent, and thus decock the gun.
In practice that isn't really the case. To go from SAFE to FIRE involves a sweep with the thumb. To actually DECOCK requires bending your thumb and shoving the lever down. I was concerned about the same thing as you, but at the range I actually had to TRY to decock it during the off-safe sweep. The thumb manipulation is sufficently different for each action that it's not a problem.
Yeotch! $62.50 per extra round. Guess I'll stay with the 10 rounders
Mozambeek:
I got out my calipers and measured slides (slides, not grips). My Kimber's slide is about 0.90 in. The USPc's slide is about 1.14 in. I stand by my statement that the USPc's slide is overly large. Now, that may not be an issue to you. It is to me.
dsk:
You may be right. I haven't done it enough to know just how much of an issue it is. And as Archer pointed out, you can get it converted to a different variant which eliminates the decocker, thus eliminating that issue entirely.
MZB's numbers are correct. But they're out of context.
The widest part of a 1911 is through the grips.
The widest part of an HK USPc is through the slide.
Slim slides translates to easier concealment. Especially given IWB carry.
Lay them side by side and note the difference.
Throw in a BHP or a CZ compact along side for reference, while you're at it. Compact pistols are supposed to be just that, compact.
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As to whether they are worth their relatively high price... Sure. Why not? Shop around, though. I've seen price disparity that has made me wonder how some dealers sleep at night.