Next USP: stainless or HE?
- Thread starter .357SIG
- Start date
Just to play the other side of the fence ... If it is just a range gun, why would the finish be subject to so much abuse ... I'd get the (less expensive) HE and use the savings to get something useful ... like a case of ammo.
Just being contrary ... I'd have taken Krept's tact if Krept had taken mine
Wait a minute ... Do you already have the USP40C? I love mine and THAT would be different if you don't.
saands
Just being contrary ... I'd have taken Krept's tact if Krept had taken mine
Wait a minute ... Do you already have the USP40C? I love mine and THAT would be different if you don't.
saands
I have a number of stainless sidearms, and I love the finish, durability and ease of maintenance. However, blued chrome-molly steel is harder than stainless. Obviously, both are more than adequate, but blue steel -- properly maintained -- will outlast any of us.
Specifically addressing the USP, I believe H&K's finish ("Hostile Environment") is similar to Glock's tennifer. To win its military contracts (such as SOCom's Mark 23) that finish was arduously tested. Accordingly, I would feel perfectly secure with their "blue" USP.
Specifically addressing the USP, I believe H&K's finish ("Hostile Environment") is similar to Glock's tennifer. To win its military contracts (such as SOCom's Mark 23) that finish was arduously tested. Accordingly, I would feel perfectly secure with their "blue" USP.
Get the stainless if: 
A) You wear platform shoes (preferably white)
B) You wear LOTS of gold chains, rings, etc.
C) You have a polyester fetish
D) You enjoy 'posing' with your pistol in front of mirrors
or
E) You just really like it
Seriously, I think they're both just as durable. The HE finish gets a bit of a shiny patina on the edges after LOTS of wear, but it doesn't wear through. I think it looks good this way, but I'm weird like that. I've got more if I ever need that spankin' new look.
My brother, the pimp, has the stainless slide, and it seems to hold up just as well, without the patina. He doesn't have a CCW, though, so it hasn't been carried...
Personally, I find the sun glare off the flat-topped, shiny stainless slide to be a pain in certain situations.
A) You wear platform shoes (preferably white)
B) You wear LOTS of gold chains, rings, etc.
C) You have a polyester fetish
D) You enjoy 'posing' with your pistol in front of mirrors
or
E) You just really like it
Seriously, I think they're both just as durable. The HE finish gets a bit of a shiny patina on the edges after LOTS of wear, but it doesn't wear through. I think it looks good this way, but I'm weird like that. I've got more if I ever need that spankin' new look.
My brother, the pimp
, has the stainless slide, and it seems to hold up just as well, without the patina. He doesn't have a CCW, though, so it hasn't been carried...Personally, I find the sun glare off the flat-topped, shiny stainless slide to be a pain in certain situations.
I called around today to get prices for the two. The stainless is only $30 more, so I'm gonna get the pimpgun. 
I already have one full-sized stainless and one full-sized HE, so it doesn't much matter which I get next. I'm probably gonna make this one a 357SIG conversion anyway.
Thanks for the help.
I already have one full-sized stainless and one full-sized HE, so it doesn't much matter which I get next. I'm probably gonna make this one a 357SIG conversion anyway.
Thanks for the help.
Chipperman
New member
Morgan,
That's a really interesting comment about the sun glaring off a SS slide. I never thought about it, b/c I don't have any SS guns. It makes sense though.
SO how about it: Do the owners of SS guns ever find glare to be a problem?
That's a really interesting comment about the sun glaring off a SS slide. I never thought about it, b/c I don't have any SS guns. It makes sense though.
SO how about it: Do the owners of SS guns ever find glare to be a problem?
With me, stainless went through phases. When I first got into guns, it was the "tactical" look of black polymer or blue. Then I got into stainless. Stainless wore out. Now, if given the option, I choose blued guns. Whatever floats your boat. Either way, just buying the gun is a joy
[This message has been edited by ArmySon (edited August 28, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by ArmySon (edited August 28, 2000).]
Chipperman - I've never had a problem with any other stainless guns (CZ, revolver, S&W, etc.), and it was really only an annoyance with the USP. Its the HK's flat-topped slide that makes it more suseptable to glare.
My brother says it doesn't bother him at all - then again, he always holds it sideways, being a pimp and all.
My brother says it doesn't bother him at all - then again, he always holds it sideways, being a pimp and all
.BrokenArrow
New member
All stainless is not alike. It will rust too, just not as fast. Some will resist rust in mil-spec tests for anywhere from 50-150 hours. Tenifer meets/exceeds that. So does HE. Glock does the Tenifer to the interior of the bore of the barrel, HKs HE is not. You can ding deep enough to go through Tenifer and HE to bare steel, stainless is all the way through.
SIG and HK have very rust resistant slides; the bores/chambers of the barrels will still rust pretty quick compared to Glock or Beretta's chrome lined, ss barrels. Seen more rust that made a difference to functioning in the bores/chambers than on the slides. You can have huge pitts of rust on the slide and everything still works fine. A little in/on the barrel/chamber area can screw it all up.
The German army uses the std pistol w HE; can't be that bad. Just take care of your tools?
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SIG and HK have very rust resistant slides; the bores/chambers of the barrels will still rust pretty quick compared to Glock or Beretta's chrome lined, ss barrels. Seen more rust that made a difference to functioning in the bores/chambers than on the slides. You can have huge pitts of rust on the slide and everything still works fine. A little in/on the barrel/chamber area can screw it all up.
The German army uses the std pistol w HE; can't be that bad. Just take care of your tools?
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http://home.att.net/~brokenarrrow/