Firearm Hobbyist Catch-All

Now the question comes to USP.45 or HK45?

BadMojo wrote:

o The grips are rough on the hands if you have "soft" hands. When people shoot some rounds with the USP, that's the usual complaint. Didn't bother me much.

Edwin has very soft hands. *wink wink*

Edwin has taken control of GWJ in a bloodless coup. All smothering.

Big soft hands. Enough to cover your face and gently suffocate you.

I have a USP compact .40, and I love it to death. I hear a lot of people complain about the trigger in double action, but I'm not too concerned with it. I also haven't had any problems with the grips, but I have big rough hands, and I know that it's pretty easy to find replacement grips.

If I pick up another handgun for myself, I think I'd like to get a Sig 229 chambered for the .357 sig round. A lot of the DoD contractors carry the 229 or 226 in Iraq, and I got to put a few rounds through one on a makeshift range once. Too bad the ammo is so much more expensive than .40 S&W...

creatureparade wrote:

I have a USP compact .40, and I love it to death. I hear a lot of people complain about the trigger in double action, but I'm not too concerned with it. I also haven't had any problems with the grips, but I have big rough hands, and I know that it's pretty easy to find replacement grips.

If I pick up another handgun for myself, I think I'd like to get a Sig 229 chambered for the .357 sig round. A lot of the DoD contractors carry the 229 or 226 in Iraq, and I got to put a few rounds through one on a makeshift range once. Too bad the ammo is so much more expensive than .40 S&W...

word of warning. I'm told that pistol ammo in anything but military calibers is impossible to find in Iraq. Even 9mm is tough as well if your name isn't Lone Sailor.

Regarding USP grips, I found that when my hands would get sweaty, that I would have more difficulty holding onto the gun (USP Compact). I got a set of Brooks Tactical AGrips to put on the grip. The AGrip is sort of like skate tape for your gun. It doesn't add much bulk to the gun, but I found that it really improved the grip surface (and eliminated some of the roughness), especially when damp.

bennard wrote:

Regarding USP grips, I found that when my hands would get sweaty, that I would have more difficulty holding onto the gun (USP Compact). I got a set of Brooks Tactical AGrips to put on the grip. The AGrip is sort of like skate tape for your gun. It doesn't add much bulk to the gun, but I found that it really improved the grip surface (and eliminated some of the roughness), especially when damp.

I use a Hogue overmold thing that looks like a piece of bicycle inner tube with finger ridges. Works wonders.

Oh, and I installed tritium night sights too.

I found this review of the HK45 that pretty much says stay with the USP. Thoughts?

I've got Hogue rubber panels w/finger grooves on my P16. I love Hogue grips. The Hogue rubber grip on my former M29 fit my hand like butter.

Paleocon wrote:

word of warning. I'm told that pistol ammo in anything but military calibers is impossible to find in Iraq. Even 9mm is tough as well if your name isn't Lone Sailor.

Normally that's perfectly true, but a lot of contractors follow different rules than the military. I never saw a Marine with any sidearm but the 9mm Beretta, but the contractors I shot with were with some DoD contractor - a KBR subsidiary I think. Their Sigs definitely were chambered for the.357 sig round. I didn't find it that strange for them, though; there's a few federal agencies that use 229s chambered for the .357 sig round. Maybe they draw ammo from the same sort of federal armory or something?

It's a cool round, but I don't think I'd keep one around the home on account of what I've read about the .357 sig round's capacity for overpenetration.

Paleocon wrote:

I use a Hogue overmold thing that looks like a piece of bicycle inner tube with finger ridges. Works wonders.

bennard wrote:

I got a set of Brooks Tactical AGrips to put on the grip.

And here I was promising myself I wouldn't spend any more money on guns this summer..

Edwin wrote:

I found this review of the HK45 that pretty much says stay with the USP. Thoughts?

That review is pretty spot on. If the USP didn't already exist, the HK45 would be a slam dunk of a pistol. Unfortunately, it isn't *enough* of an improvement for me to ditch my already fantastic USP to upgrade to.

As for the O ring and what it does for accuracy... I'm not convinced it makes much if any difference. The barrell on the USP45 has zero play when in full battery and the slide returns to battery every single time. I imagine it *might* make a difference, but whatever difference it does make is really in the statistical noise. I, using my stock USP 45, routinely outshoot folks with equal amounts of range time using 1911 race guns or Sig 220's. It's plenty accurate and extremely comfortable to shoot.

Given the choice between a USP45 and any other gun, I'd choose another USP45.

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

creatureparade wrote:

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

I don't.

Paleocon wrote:
Edwin wrote:

I found this review of the HK45 that pretty much says stay with the USP. Thoughts?

That review is pretty spot on. If the USP didn't already exist, the HK45 would be a slam dunk of a pistol. Unfortunately, it isn't *enough* of an improvement for me to ditch my already fantastic USP to upgrade to.

As for the O ring and what it does for accuracy... I'm not convinced it makes much if any difference. The barrell on the USP45 has zero play when in full battery and the slide returns to battery every single time. I imagine it *might* make a difference, but whatever difference it does make is really in the statistical noise. I, using my stock USP 45, routinely outshoot folks with equal amounts of range time using 1911 race guns or Sig 220's. It's plenty accurate and extremely comfortable to shoot.

Given the choice between a USP45 and any other gun, I'd choose another USP45.

What about for someone like me who doesn't have any known .45 ACP's in their collection? It sounds like I should just get a standard USP .45 and add a nice rubber grip, flashlight/laser.

Edwin wrote:
creatureparade wrote:

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

I don't.

Paleocon wrote:
Edwin wrote:

I found this review of the HK45 that pretty much says stay with the USP. Thoughts?

That review is pretty spot on. If the USP didn't already exist, the HK45 would be a slam dunk of a pistol. Unfortunately, it isn't *enough* of an improvement for me to ditch my already fantastic USP to upgrade to.

As for the O ring and what it does for accuracy... I'm not convinced it makes much if any difference. The barrell on the USP45 has zero play when in full battery and the slide returns to battery every single time. I imagine it *might* make a difference, but whatever difference it does make is really in the statistical noise. I, using my stock USP 45, routinely outshoot folks with equal amounts of range time using 1911 race guns or Sig 220's. It's plenty accurate and extremely comfortable to shoot.

Given the choice between a USP45 and any other gun, I'd choose another USP45.

What about for someone like me who doesn't have any known .45 ACP's in their collection? It sounds like I should just get a standard USP .45 and add a nice rubber grip, flashlight/laser.

Pass on the flashlight/laser. Get tritium night sights and a Surefire 6P. Spend the rest of the money on ammo, range time, and a course or two. Lasers are for pussies.

creatureparade wrote:

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

I've been in the market for something smaller than my 1911. Though I'm licensed, I almost never carry.

Paleocon wrote:

Pass on the flashlight/laser. Get tritium night sights and a Surefire 6P. Spend the rest of the money on ammo, range time, and a course or two. Lasers are for pussies.

Sounds like a HK45 missing two rounds in the clip.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
creatureparade wrote:

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

I've been in the market for something smaller than my 1911. Though I'm licensed, I almost never carry.

I live in the People's Republic of Maryland. CCW is NEVER going to happen.

If I did have a CCW permit though, I'd probably go for something like a Kahr PM40 or even an NAA Guardian with the gutter snipe. I don't understand folks who carry mid sized "carry" guns like the Glock 30. I'm 5'10", 185lbs, and have a 10" drop (44 jacket 34 waist), which should be ideal for hiding a pistol and even I have a hard time hiding anything larger than a cell phone. There simply isn't any way to make something like that look unobtrusive.

I'm 6'3", so I have no problem concealing my USP compact, but I meant more in terms of holsters and what have you. I've had my concealed carry permit for a few weeks, but I haven't carried in public yet because I don't have a holster and don't want to tuck it into my waistband or wear a fanny pack.

Then stay away from any of the Walther products. They're made for midgets and carnies.

Sadly looks at hands, looks at his Walther products, and concedes the point.

creatureparade wrote:

I'm 6'3", so I have no problem concealing my USP compact, but I meant more in terms of holsters and what have you. I've had my concealed carry permit for a few weeks, but I haven't carried in public yet because I don't have a holster and don't want to tuck it into my waistband or wear a fanny pack.

Well, if you live in Seattle and wear goretex everywhere, you can just about hide a typewriter without looking obtrusive. I live in the DC area where heat and humidity makes such things pretty uncomfortable.

This summer is actually quite warm. A mixed blessing for me, I guess..

Yeah, I'm not too concerned about it when Fall rolls around. I could wear a shoulder holster and still have it concealed since I'll never take off my coat.

I could wear a shoulder holster and still have it concealed since I'll never take off my coat.

Alright Sonny Crocket.

I have a Galco leather belt holster. During the winter I wear a trench coat, so I could probably hide my 590 under there if I wanted.

creatureparade wrote:

What do you guys do for concealed carry?

When I was licensed I carried my Glock 23 (mid-size compact .40 S&W) in a belt holster. Was comfortable and not too much trouble.

I've got a Tucker Gunleather "The Answer" IWB holster for concealed carry. The combination of leather and kydex is just right, especially in a high humidity environment where leather holsters will swell and bind. It's not cheap, and they've got a pretty good lead time right now, but it's very comfortable.

Taurus has an equivalent to the HK45/USP for sale at a significant smaller price. Plus their office is here in Miami. They have another line called 24/7 which might be worth a look.

IMAGE(http://taurususa.com/images/247contentPage2.jpg)

The Zombie Targets rule. Everyone that's seen them so far has been at least mildly entertained by the idea.

Edwin wrote:

Taurus has an equivalent to the HK45/USP for sale at a significant smaller price. Plus their office is here in Miami. They have another line called 24/7 which might be worth a look.

IMAGE(http://taurususa.com/images/247contentPage2.jpg)

There is no "equivalent" to the USP45. There are imitators, but nothing equivalent.

I know how that sounds, but let me start by saying that I have a world of respect for the Taurus wheelguns. The quality of the Taurus wheelguns now is easily as good if not better than the current crop of S&W's and they are closing fast on the Rugers. Part of this has to do with the fact that they hired pretty much the entire handfit machine shop from Rossi when they went out of business.

When it comes to autos, they still have a great deal left to learn. The PT92 is supposed to be a M92F "equivalent", but is nothing close. I'm not a huge fan of the Berretta, but have to admit that they make a solid firearm with a very intuitive and reliable control set. That pistol is bombproof and I, personally, know the engineers that were involved in making it that way. The Taurus is to the Berretta as an Atol is to the Sidewinder.