H&K 40 USP advise

[supernachos]

Hello All,
I need some advise from any H&K users. This will be my first handgun purchase after several years of shooting other peoples handguns...

A LEO neighbor of mine is offering to sell his H&K 40 USP for $500 he says he is the second owner and the gun has around +/- 2000 rounds.
So I shot it and liked the feel and shoots very accurate. The cosmetic appearance is acceptable. It does not come with a holster but will supply 3 *disassembled* high capacity mags with it.

Question:
1. For this high round count handgun is there anything I need to check for? Will a barrel replacement or any other part be expected soon?

2. I understand there are * variants*. Is there a particular variant a civilian living in CA cannot PPT?

3. Since he only has high capacity mags will I be able to d a PPT without a Magazine or will I need to purchase a single 10 round mag for the PPT?

4. I am not aware of the manufacture date but is $500 a fair price and does the manufacture date dictate the asking price for this firearm?

Thanks for any advise!

[PatientCone]

To determine the manufacture date you use the two letter symbol on the slide. For example, if the slide says KK it is a 99 or if it says AG it is an 06. Here are the letters and numerical equivalents:

A B C D E F G H I K
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

[Cato]

I have one and regret buying it. The trigger is awful; it feels like it's connected with a rubberband. All other aspects of the gun are good, though.

[Senna]

2000 rounds on a quality firearm is not even broke in, well it is broke in but nothing in the life of the pistol.

[tbc]

An HK for $500 is a steal IMHO. 2000 rounds is nothing.

Can not give you advice on the legality though.

[Ubermcoupe]

Question:
1. For this high round count handgun is there anything I need to check for? Will a barrel replacement or any other part be expected soon?

2000 sounds like a low/normal round count depending on the year (look for the letters before the serial #. Should be “K _” or A _”

Is there a particular variant a civilian living in CA cannot PPT?

No.

However:
Stock "tactical model” USPs and stock “MK23s" are illegal because they come with a threaded barrels (and a non-maglocked pistol with a threaded barrel is an assault weapon by CAs laws)
NOTE: USP tacticals and MK23s are legal to own with non threaded barrels.

2. I understand there are * variants*.

The variants are:
V1 DA/SA + Decocker w/ safety lever on left side of frame (for a RH person)
V2 DA/SA + Decocker w/ safety lever on right side of frame (for LH person)
V3 DA/SA + Decocker - no safety on left side of frame (for a RH person)
V4 DA/SA + Decocker - no safety on right side of frame (for a LH person)
V5 DAO w/ safety lever on left side of frame (for RH person)
V6 DAO w/ safety lever on right side of frame (for LH person)
V7 DAO no Decocker or safety lever
V8 - ? (never made)
V9 DA/SA w/ safety lever on left side of frame (for RH person)
V10 DA/SA w/ safety lever on right side of frame (for LH person)

There is no variant that is restricted by PPT.
There are some variants that do not appear on the roster and cannot be sold to a non-exempt person by a dealer.

(Since you are PPTing it, you are GTG )

3. Since he only has high capacity mags will I be able to d a PPT without a Magazine or will I need to purchase a single 10 round mag for the PPT?

Because you cannot assemble or buy mage larger than 10rds unless you are an exempt person so you will have to buy a 10rd mag to shoot the thing anyways. USP fullsized .40SW mags are usually around $20.

If the location you are doing the PPT @ has a “hicap mag permit” from the DOJ they will be able to assemble the mags for you to complete the safety demo. They they must disassmeble them back into kits before they turn them over to you.
NOTE: This also depends on the dealer you do the PPT @. Certain dealers may not be allowed to do this (because they lack the HC mag permit from DOJ) OR the may disagree to do this for whatever reason they choose so verify with them before.

Again: you will have to buy a 10rd mag to use the pistol anyways...

4. I am not aware of the manufacture date but is $500 a fair price and does the manufacture date dictate the asking price for this firearm?

$500 seems like a pretty fair deal. USPs are known for their reliability so assuming the pistol you pick up has been taken care of, it will last you a long time.

Obviously a newer date code may be worth more than an older one assuming they were same condition.

$500 is on the low end of how much a “good” condition USP goes for.


Hope that helps. I am building my HK collection as we speak. Picked this one up last night: (fullsize in .40SW)


PPT'd this one (from a fellow calgunner) last night for pick up in 9 days!!! (compact in .40SW):




Hope that helps!

[drunktank]

Regardless of year, that is a great price in California. 2000 rounds is nothing in just about all modern firearms. If you can't find answers here, hkpro is a great website to learn on. The USP is my favorite platform. I say buy it right away before someone else does. Some people I know change their recoiled spring between 12k and 20k (I can't remember). It's preventive maintenance for them though, not because they broke. I never had any malfunctions with any usp in our family except once (but it was to extremely bulged brass that wouldn't chamber. The whole batch was bad.

Good luck with your decision.

[jyo]

2000 rds is really very for one of these---price seems about right---I have three (two 9mm and one 45)---all are DA/SA and I don't mind the trigger action.

[DrewTheBrave]

$500 seems like a great deal for a USP in good condition. I would get it if I had the cash. And 2000 rounds is more than acceptable. Most modern firearms will digest many tens of thousands of rounds and function reliably with regular maintenance.

FYI, it's generally accepted that the recoil springs need to be replaced every 3,000 or so rounds as general maintenance. Other than that, you should be good to go!

[PandaLuv]

not a uhhh HK USP guy, but those guns are awesome. Everyone already answered your questions, but I give you my opinion as well, why not

$500 is a great price for a used USP, H&Ks are kinda pricey brand new, here in east bay, they can cost up to 1200 with night sights, but over in South Bay they cost about 1K, just like a p226. So half off seems fair to me. Besides usually gun manufactures have great warranties for pistols. It is a service pistol after all, designed to be through hell and back, I'd say reliability shouldn't be a problem, if it bothers you that much internals can be easily swapped (do it yourself or send it back to HK). I've been a gun owner for a while now and I've never heard anyone so far that they needed to replace their barrels in their modern guns, unless they wanted a custom one or a different caliber barrel. So +10K rounds shouldn't matter.

He most likely has the standard variant, DA/SA Decocker/Safety for right handed shooters (Ubmer, I am very impressed with your knowledge)

HiCap rebuild kits are yours to own, and I can't stress rebuild kits part more. LEO is not responsible cause he is just selling parts, not the actual mags. I'd just buy 10 rounders and keep the hiCap rebuild kits in the safe if SHTF or if (which I highly doubt) the bad gets lifted.

Buy the gun, OP. HK USP 40, 45 and 9 are all on my list, if you won't like it, you can sell it to me


PS

One more thing, since it's a polymer piece, it will last longer, the frame won't get rusted for the most part, it's easier to clean, it's more scratch resistant, it's also lighter.

[Ubermcoupe]

He most likely has the standard variant, DA/SA Decocker/Safety for right handed shooters (Ubmer, I am very impressed with your knowledge)

[PandaLuv]

shh, don't tempt me !

I really want that CZ, but I've been eying all these new American railed p226s in .40 and HK USP 9s in the classifieds...

[kielbasavw]

I bought my usp 45 and love it, I really want a green one though, maybe in a compact at some point.

You will love the gun, I can't help but take mine out every night and just admire, personally, I think its the best looking hand gun ever made, and to top things off, it has been proven over and over, to be one of the best functioning gun aswell

[Ubermcoupe]

shh, don't tempt me !

American railed p226s in .40

OD Green" list.

[PandaLuv]

That’s on my “black list.” I will eventually get to that list after fulfill "OD Green" list.

OD green is pretty cool, but I love them evil black pistols.