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H&K Compact .40 great first handgun?

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  • ScottyBear
    Member
    • Jun 2007
    • 137

    H&K Compact .40 great first handgun?

    Any others I should look into? I kind am looking for something not too bulky yet is still accurate, and can put cool attachments like laser and tac lights onto it (hence the H&K).
  • #2
    Knight
    Senior Member
    • Dec 2006
    • 1723

    I assume you're referring to the USP Compact.

    I'd look into the HK P2000 and P2000SK. A slightly different take on the USPc. I'll be buying a P2000 V3 .40 in a couple weeks as my 21st birthday present
    sigpic

    Comment

    • #3
      aplinker
      I need a LIFE!!
      • Feb 2007
      • 16762

      Originally posted by ScottyBear
      Any others I should look into? I kind am looking for something not too bulky yet is still accurate, and can put cool attachments like laser and tac lights onto it (hence the H&K).
      USP series is a bad choice if you want something on the rail. It's a proprietary one.

      My first question is why are you worried about bulk? Especially if you're adding a laser * such. I pretty much always recommend a full size to a new shooter, unless they live in a CCW friendly place.

      The P2000 mentioned would be better -- standard rail.

      I might suggest Sig P229, if you want something high quality like the HK, or a Glock or XD, if you want something good that's reasonably priced. They will all be more accurate than you for a good long time.

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      This post is based on actual events. Some facts may be altered for dramatic purposes. All posts are pure opinion. All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental, and should not be construed.

      Comment

      • #4
        The SoCal Gunner
        Veteran Member
        • May 2006
        • 3319

        The HK USP compact will definitely be a great buy but you will need an extra attachment if you want to use the rail, that is unless you buy accessories made specifically for the USP rail.

        Any reason you want a .40s&w? 9mm will be cheaper to shoot and for me .40s&w prices are close to .45acp without the extra knock-down power.

        1 out of my 5 pistols are in .40s&w and the rest are .45acp. I am looking for a 9mm though (particularly an HK USPC) so I can shoot more.

        Comment

        • #5
          markymark
          Senior Member
          • Oct 2005
          • 1295

          I really like mine but I'm not sure it's a great gun to start with.

          Comment

          • #6
            Teletiger7
            Veteran Member
            • Oct 2005
            • 2720

            they are good guns. High quality and well designed. They come in different variants and some have LEM trigger which is more like DAO. I prefer the double action with safety and decocker version myself. If you train it's not hard to learn the guns operation. They are designed to be user friendly. I've tried the USP in 40 and 45. Personally i like the .45 version better.

            Comment

            • #7
              pnkssbtz
              Veteran Member
              • Oct 2006
              • 3555

              I highly disrecomend the USPc .40 for a first time gun. I would go with either a USP.40 Fullsize, or switch to 9mm.

              The trigger pull and "snappy" ness of the usp with a .40 round is different unless you are used to polymer frame pistols with +P rounds.

              Comment

              • #8
                aplinker
                I need a LIFE!!
                • Feb 2007
                • 16762

                Originally posted by pnkssbtz
                I highly disrecomend the USPc .40 for a first time gun. I would go with either a USP.40 Fullsize, or switch to 9mm.

                The trigger pull and "snappy" ness of the usp with a .40 round is different unless you are used to polymer frame pistols with +P rounds.
                +1

                Let me reiterate and add some things.

                .40 in a compact, polymer package is quite a bit of fast recoil. As a first gun, I honestly think a near full-size 9mm is a better choice. I'm saying this as someone who bought a .45 first.

                Along with that is the issue with the USP's rail. It's proprietary. You can add a conversion rail, but it drops things down. The one below is the best there is.

                Here's pics for comparison.



                Next is the issue of compact for the 1st gun. Why compact? Is there a compelling reason? I see so many people by teeny tiny guns for their 1st. I just don't get it. 99.9% of these people are putting them in night stands or small safes. They won't be highly concealed. For a first gun, assuming you want to shoot a lot, you should pick something you can actually enjoy shooting and improve with.

                Lastly, 9mm is a cheaper round than either 40 or 45, but about 30-50%. That means more practice. Sure, for a defense weapon it's not the match for KE or velocity, but with hollow points the difference is tiny. Remember, a lot of the complaints are made by military people that are restricted to FMJ.

                That's my full response. I will also add you won't regret buying a USPc 40 (even less the P2000 -- NOT the P2000SK, much too small), but you won't enjoy it as much as, say, a Sig P229, Glock 17, XD service, etc. Pick a shooter!
                Last edited by aplinker; 06-30-2007, 2:01 AM.

                Google Map of OLL Dealers

                List of CA-friendly Manufacturers, Dealers, Middlemen, and Magazine rebuild kit dealers
                Click me-->So you're a n00b and you want to build an AR? <--Click me
                This post is based on actual events. Some facts may be altered for dramatic purposes. All posts are pure opinion. All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental, and should not be construed.

                Comment

                • #9
                  ScottyBear
                  Member
                  • Jun 2007
                  • 137

                  Is it true that the Sig P229 does not have a lever safety (will always fire pulling the trigger)? I really like that the H&Ks have the extra lever safety.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    The SoCal Gunner
                    Veteran Member
                    • May 2006
                    • 3319

                    Originally posted by ScottyBear
                    Is it true that the Sig P229 does not have a lever safety (will always fire pulling the trigger)? I really like that the H&Ks have the extra lever safety.
                    No safety on the p229, just DA/SA with safety decocker.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      neomentat
                      Senior Member
                      • Nov 2006
                      • 1358

                      if you have shot a .40 before and know how it recoils then i would say buy the compact USP with the expectation of more recoil, if not then I think you should buy a full sized pistol.

                      I have a Beretta PX4 storm in .40 and the rotating barrel reduces alot of recoil, there's not much "snap" to it, it seems more like a straight push. Check it out if you are shopping around, Bud's gun shop has them for $470 nib. I've had alot of .40 pistols (my favorite caliber) and the PX4's quality and recoil is equivalent to the USP for less $$$.
                      "I will not fear, fear is the mind killer... I will face my fear and let it pass through me, only I will remain." Bene Gesserit training

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Greg-Dawg
                        Banned
                        • Oct 2006
                        • 7793

                        Have you shot an Hk? Not sure if you had, but I'd first try one out before putting down the 'Benjamins. Or try out different guns, until you find the right one.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Greenspartan117
                          Senior Member
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 534

                          A P-226 would be a better gun since it is full sized so it will handle recoil alot better. I've shot a range 9mm Glock 19, had a little recoil to it. I then bought a P-225, even less recoil. When I bought my P-226 in 9mm it had just about no recoil and I could easily place more shots in the center of my target at a faster rate than the two previous guns. Point is get a full sized gun first, then get compacts later. A P-226 CPO (certified pre-owned) will run in the neighborhood of $500. A new XD-9 either service or tactical would run about the same, etc. Go rent a compact and a full size and shoot them both. Decide which is more enjoyable to shoot and go from there. :-)
                          Originally posted by ar15barrels
                          It will only get better now that I'm here too...

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            MedSpec65
                            Senior Member
                            • Mar 2007
                            • 634

                            Originally posted by uclaplinker
                            +1

                            Let me reiterate and add some things.

                            .40 in a compact, polymer package is quite a bit of fast recoil. As a first gun, I honestly think a near full-size 9mm is a better choice. I'm saying this as someone who bought a .45 first.

                            Along with that is the issue with the USP's rail. It's proprietary. You can add a conversion rail, but it drops things down. The one below is the best there is.

                            Here's pics for comparison.



                            Next is the issue of compact for the 1st gun. Why compact? Is there a compelling reason? I see so many people by teeny tiny guns for their 1st. I just don't get it. 99.9% of these people are putting them in night stands or small safes. They won't be highly concealed. For a first gun, assuming you want to shoot a lot, you should pick something you can actually enjoy shooting and improve with.

                            Lastly, 9mm is a cheaper round than either 40 or 45, but about 30-50%. That means more practice. Sure, for a defense weapon it's not the match for KE or velocity, but with hollow points the difference is tiny. Remember, a lot of the complaints are made by military people that are restricted to FMJ.

                            That's my full response. I will also add you won't regret buying a USPc 40 (even less the P2000 -- NOT the P2000SK, much too small), but you won't enjoy it as much as, say, a Sig P229, Glock 17, XD service, etc. Pick a shooter!
                            I agree. I bought a .45 USP Compact a few months back and now wish I had bought a full-size USP for better accuracy. The compact is not really that concealable, even in a Milt Sparks VM-2. HK's are great firearms, but their compact USP's don't really serve any practical purpose. For concealment, get a Kahr.
                            "We're surrounded. That simplifies our problem. We can now fire in any direction and strike the enemy." ....Colonel Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller, Commanding the 1st Marine Regiment at The Battle of The Chosin Reservoir, Korea 1950

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              ScottyBear
                              Member
                              • Jun 2007
                              • 137

                              Thanks guys, I just rented a USP Compact and reconsidering purchasing one. It is a little bit snappy, I found the Springfield .45 'Loaded' model much more accurate; but may not be the "ideal" 1st gun.

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