Another pistol thread...

[KevinA]

Seen a few of these threads lately, lots of good information, been reading the pros and cons on the USP in .45, and would like to know what the great minds of AO have to say about it. It would be my first pistol, and eventually I'd like to try my hand at compitition shooting. Would this be a good platform to start with? Thanks in advance for everyone's time.

Kevin

[DevilMan]

I personally favor the .40 cal guns.... easier to maintain and easier on the $$$ of ammo. But that's my take. I'm not sure how "competition" grade the USP is though... the most versatile 45 out there is the 1911 and it's clones to the best of my knowledge.

DM

[Steelrat]

If you want to go cheap, the best full-size round is 9mm. For competition, I think .45 is most popular. I'm not sure if it's because the weight of the round does a better job of knocking over the targets. You can't go wrong with H&K, just make sure you know what you want to do with the gun before buying it.

[Steelrat]

I personally favor the .40 cal guns.... easier to maintain and easier on the $$$ of ammo. But that's my take. I'm not sure how "competition" grade the USP is though... the most versatile 45 out there is the 1911 and it's clones to the best of my knowledge.

DM

How is a .40 H&K and easier to maintain than a .45?

And the 1911 isn't any more versitile than a USP. In fact, given the way USPs can be configured, I'd say the USP is much more versitile.

[KevinA]

May sound stupid, but.... I thought in competition shooting it was only .45... maybe I need to read up some more?

[Ole Unka Phil]

Naw.. I think some types they use various rounds. Some are limited though to .45 and some even limited to gun type like 1911...

Speaking of 1911...

The wife got me this one for Christmas




For CCW I chose .40 to carry though.

[DevilMan]

How is a .40 H&K and easier to maintain than a .45?

And the 1911 isn't any more versitile than a USP. In fact, given the way USPs can be configured, I'd say the USP is much more versitile.

Easier to maintain in terms of shooting... less recoil... easier to maintain site on target... on average you can have larger capacity mags that allow you more shots/misses before reloading reducing your overall competition time.

Sorry... didn't state it clearly.... Not a MAINTENANCE Maintain, but a sight picture/stay on target maintain. I give ya that the 9 is the cheaper of the 3, but I am just a person that favors the 40 as the happy medium between the 9 and 45...

By versatile... I am talking about the different mods that can be done to it... Grips, safeties, barrels, slides, springs, all the different little mods that can be bought and installed..... Not so much for the USP.... I mean I could be wrong here, but I thought you could swap the lowers of the 1911 with a short or long slide/action just by pulling it off and putting it on... Not 100% sure though.

DM

[Steelrat]

Easier to maintain in terms of shooting... less recoil... easier to maintain site on target... on average you can have larger capacity mags that allow you more shots/misses before reloading reducing your overall competition time.

Sorry... didn't state it clearly.... Not a MAINTENANCE Maintain, but a sight picture/stay on target maintain. I give ya that the 9 is the cheaper of the 3, but I am just a person that favors the 40 as the happy medium between the 9 and 45...

By versatile... I am talking about the different mods that can be done to it... Grips, safeties, barrels, slides, springs, all the different little mods that can be bought and installed..... Not so much for the USP.... I mean I could be wrong here, but I thought you could swap the lowers of the 1911 with a short or long slide/action just by pulling it off and putting it on... Not 100% sure though.

DM

I'd say the 1911s have more upgrades, but the USP can be configured numerous ways, like DAO, SA/DA, etc etc. Also, I'd argue that the 1911 needs those upgrades more than a USP.

*Keep in mind that I want to buy a 1911, and I love them. I just recognize it's shortcomings. For a pistol I'd take to war, I'd pick the USP every time over a 1911.

[Lohman446]

I find .45s easier to shoot than .40s. The .45 platforms are made for the .45, the 40 platforms are made for the 9MM and the recoil on the .40 tends to be excessively snappy to me.

[SCpoloRicker]

I find .45s easier to shoot than .40s. The .45 platforms are made for the .45, the 40 platforms are made for the 9MM and the recoil on the .40 tends to be excessively snappy to me.

Agreed 100%. I regularly shoot a USP 9mm, and I'm looking to pick up a Compact USP in .45.

[Lohman446]

First I don't like the USP. Just not my thing.

However, for versatility, IIRC, it can be carried in almost any mode of carry and be as safe as the guns that can only be carried in that mode.

[SCpoloRicker]

Modular design with customer-specific design possibilities, for example:

- SA/DA Variant Double Action/Single Action with safety lever for safety and de-cocking function, arranged on the right or left side
- SA/DA Variant Double Action/Single Action with safety lever only for de-cocking function, arranged on the right or left side
- Variant DA Double Action with safety lever for safety function, arranged on the right or left side, without de-cocking lever

H&K site

[MoeMag]

I have wanted an HK USP for a very long time.

It was actually the first handgun I ever shot. Loved it.

It was just out of my price range when I got my first pistol... and I still wish I had waited a little longer to save up for it.

That being said, I really wanted a carry weapon. And the USP is REALLY BIG compared to my 9mm glock.

I still want one, and I will get one. I want one with the O-ring barrel, not to mention the threaded barrel for some suppressor fun.

There is a store locally here that sells Mark 23's (they get them in stock of 3 at a time pretty regularly)
http://sgcusa.com/index.php?cPath=84...7388ded84290ed ( this place is really cool... browse around the site some...http://sgcusa.com/product_info.php?c...oducts_id=1438

[Spider-TW]

Look into the competitions you want to go to and see what everyone else is using. The USP is a long way from a 1911. The USP is generally more versatile, but for competitive tuning, the 1911 has a lot of depth. They also shoot very differently. Good trigger work on the 1911 is hard to beat, but depending on the event it may not matter. A few years ago, a lot of speed shooters were still using 1911s in 38 super.

Also look at resale value (including modifications). When you change your mind, a well maintained 1911 is pretty easy to unload. USP's should hold up fine, but not as large a market.

[KevinA]

Thanks for all the advice, now I know that the answer to this next question is going to be shoot one and see how you like the feel, but It's a little more difficult to try them out here in Okinawa. Is one better for a beginner, I mean between the 1911, and the USP in terms of handling, kick, things like that? Thanks again for everyone's help/