USP Tactical or P14 / LDA ?

S

sedwards

New member
Looking for some opinions...

I'm in the market for a "large" hi-cap .45 auto appropriate for pins and USPSA 3-gun (I say "large" because I like fat grips... I put Pachmyers on my SiG P226 and I love it, although everyone else hates it).

Considerations include reliability / maintainability, shooting qualities (accuracy & feel), availability of hi-cap mags, and local / factory support.

Top contenders are the USP Tactical, P14, and LDA.

I liked the HK for size, it had a nice trigger, and a good reputation (extremely rugged & accurate). Not sure I like that mag release, no ambi safety (retrofit?), doubtfull I could find an HK-certified local gunsmith (?), have no idea about source for hi-caps. Factory support is rumored to suck like Hoover.

My dad has a bone-stock P14. Shoots well, could use a trigger job / beaver / dual safety / rod guide / throat & polish. Factory hi-caps are $100 (while they last). Anyone will work on it (including me, and the guy in Ellicott City who's running an 8 month backlog... sheesh...).

Saw an LDA today... strange beast. Having owned SiGs for 15 years it's... well... weird. Crisp trigger, shocking DA pull, but seemed heavy at the break (maybe it just needs to be broken in?). And no SA? Same mags as the P14, but doubtfull that I'd find anyone local to work on it.

I considered a P220 (I do, after all, have a "thing" for SiGs) but decided that 10rnds was better than 7, and 14 is what I was really looking for.

I also considered the Kimber hi-cap polymer but the grip doesn't feel as good as the others (swap out the flat backstrap for arched?) and availability of hi-cap mags is questionable. (??)

I'm currently leaning heavily towards a P14 limited (black frame / stainless slide... not even sure if I can order one that way?).


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The value of my life, my Rights, and those of my family are incalculable;
your life and your Rights, should you choose to threaten mine, are worth exactly $1.79 --
delivered 230gr at a time.
 
I have a Tactical and love it. I have not fired the other two so will reserve comment.
As far as your comments/questions on the Tactical:
1. Mag release-- I love the design. Easy for me to get with either hand. It can't be changed, though so if you don't like it...
2.Ambi safety/release-- This gun is extremely versatile. You can get ambi, decocker or no decocker, safety no safety, DAO, etc.
3. Gunsmith-- I sent mine to Burford Arms in TX for the conversion from Var1 to Var2. They did good fast work. HK will take about a month to do any work.
4. HiCaps-- There are no legal ones. There is some fdebate about this. HK says they do not exist, so that's good enough for me. If you want some anyway, the mags go for over $100 each. According to HK these are stolen mags, so you are taking a great legal risk.

The bottom line is that I love mine. It was The Best gun for me when I was looking. Like any gun it is not for everyone though. Good luck with your choice.
 
TACTICAL, for sure. It might not be hi cap, but it makes up for it many times over in almost any other area. If the HK fits you well, get it. You won't be disappointed.
 
Try both the standard & Limited P-14s. Love my standard; admittedly it is totally massaged. Hate the adjustable sights on the Limited, they stick far out over the hammer and get in my way. (Yes, I am one of those heretics who do not carried cocked & locked, but hammer down on a chambered round, requiring to cock the gun. After many years of single action revolvers, it's not a problem for me).
 
Forgot to mention the toys that you can get with the Tac. Flash Suppressors, Sound Suppressors (if your rich), UTL.

I have a FS from CCFA on mine, and it kicks butt :)
 
I have no experience with the ParaOrdnance pistols, but a LOT of guys on this bb slam them like they were Lorcins. I do own a USP45, and LOVE it love it love it. I have fired a Tactical, and it felt even lighter than my standard, shot touching holes at 15 yards, and was just plain SWEET! Get the tactical. I've never seen a thread where everyone stepped up to the plate and bashed the HK. Can't even pretend to say that about PO. (Do a search.... there are several)

Oh, sorry... I didn't read the mag release and ambi safety parts.

I thought the Tactical actually HAD the ambi safety. I know that one of the racier model USP's does. If it's not the Tactical, it's a matter of 5 minutes to change the safeties. Anyone with a little gun experience and the safety lever for hte other side could do it.

As for the mag release, it took me about 2 weeks to go from hating it to it being my favorite method of releasing a magazine EVER! It requires very little effort, range of motion, but is not in danger of accidental release. I used to think that Glock releases were acceptable, but since I've owned my USP, I hate ALL other methods of mag release, especially Glock (which is still my second favorite pistol, so don't think I'm a G-Basher)

So again, I don't know how you'd fare with the other choices, but I KNOW you'd grow to love your Tactical like no other pistol in that class.

[This message has been edited by Onslaught (edited August 27, 2000).]
 
Hmm... interesting commentary.

I don't like the idea of "no legal hi-caps for USPs". I'm also leary of the mag release; not because it's superior/inferior, but only because it's different than all my other pistols, and I've grown accustomed to "standard" mag releases, and wouldn't want to confuse one for the other at "the wrong time."

I did a search on "Para Ordnance"; the two complaints that concerned me the most were the magazine catch (polymer -- replace it with steel) and loose rear sights (no detent for the screw?). Failure to feed was a close third, generally attributed to mag lips or follower. Comments regarding factory support were very positive. Saw several posts slamming Paras, but not one included anything to the affect of "I sent it back to the factory, and it still didn't work."

I wound up going with an all-stainless P-14 Limited -- same shop my dad got his, good price ($200 cheaper than the best price I found on the USP Tac), and instead of the 10rnd mag it had a hi-cap (and a coupon for 2 more). I'll expect to do a little work on it to "sweeten it up" and pay a premium for mags, but on that score it's no different than my Springfield Officer.

Thanks for the opinions.


------------------
The value of my life, my Rights, and those of my family are incalculable;
your life and your Rights, should you choose to threaten mine, are worth exactly $1.79 --
delivered 230gr at a time.
 
Hi-caps are so overrated. My two carry guns, a Smith 60 (5 rounds) and Wilson Combat CQB (7 rounds) have less then most of the "hi-cap guns". I trust my life to both guns and above all else, I trust my shooting abilities.

The Para is a decent gun. You'll enjoy it!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Hi-caps are so overrated. My two carry guns, a Smith 60 (5 rounds) and Wilson Combat CQB (7 rounds) have less then most of the "hi-cap guns". I trust my life to both guns and above all else, I trust my shooting abilities.[/quote]

Granted... and my carry guns (SiG P245 and Springfield Officer) are also 6/7+1 ... but I wasn't looking for another carry gun, I wanted something for competitive shooting (hence the high-cap requirement).

Besides... I'm 6'4" / 170lbs -- can you imagine me trying to conceal a double-stack .45? :)


------------------
The value of my life, my Rights, and those of my family are incalculable;
your life and your Rights, should you choose to threaten mine, are worth exactly $1.79 --
delivered 230gr at a time.
 
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