USP40c - Stainless or HE Finish? Help.

Steve - I've got one of each here - 9mm stnls and .40 in HE. I can't holster & carry them in Germany so I really cannot speak authoritatively about finish wear. That said - the finish on the stnls looks like a very fine bead or vapor blast & should come out of the box with no blemishes. I bought the .40 last year (AA code) & it had a couple of minor blems out of the box. If you want it to look like new for years, as long as you don't drop it/etc, then I would go the extra bucks for the stnls. If you don't find the two-tone attractive - then the blued version will serve you fine as long as you don't mind some shiny spots where the slide contacts the holster. Only reasonable/realistic disadvantage to stnls that I can think of is alot more glare from the slide when you are shooting outside in bright sunlight. Some of the Compaq Commandos might mention that the stnls version is more visible to the bad guys after dark but thats a moot point to probably 99.5% of us. Perfect functionality through both pistols using FMJ by the way - can't buy/use pistol hp's over here so I can't vouch for defense ammo reliability. Good luck - Geo
 
I have a stainless compact which I've routinely carried for around 2 years. If the hoster wear on the parts that are still HE finished (sights, slide release) are any idication of what the slide would look like, then I'm certainly glad I got the stainless. If you're not planning to carry it, or at least not often, either will prolly do. If you are going to carry and would like it to continue to look new, get the stainless.

Rocko
 
I like the HE better because it holds up well. I've presented my USP .45 thousands of times from my thumb break equipped Galco OWB and it shows no wear other than very fine polishing of the edges. My GLOCK 19, OTOH, looked like hell after 2 months of holster wear. Forget about my SIG 229; it looks like it has been brushed with a set of car keys and it's never even been in a holster!

BTW, the extractor, sights, etc. on the stainless slide are not HE coated. They have some kind of Teflon on them.
 
We are issued the H&K USP full size 45 in the HE finish. We've had them for a litle over a year and some are showing a very little holster wear. However, I would still like to have the stainless. I tryed to talk the administration into buying the stainless, but no go. It's a money thing.
 
My preference

is for the HE. I have the USP Compact in .45 that has seen lost of draws and the finish is holding up quite well. It is my understanding that the HE actually stands up to saline testing better that the stainless, but that may just be a rumor from rabid HE lovers.
 
'Twas my understanding that all the USP's had stainless slides, with the difference being the "finish" applied.

My personal opinion is that the USP compact with the "stainless" slide is one of the most aesthetically pleasing polymer pistols ever.

But my full size is HE and I love it like it is.
 
I have to throw in a vote for the SS USP's because this what I prefer. I am currently searching for a SS USP 45 before the end of year when they are all gone.
 
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