Help with my USP .40 Compact!

[Medic]

Hey all,

I'm having trouble shooting my USP. As the title says, it is a .40cal Compact model. Other posters have raved about the "shootability" of the HK, but I must say it is not at all easy to shoot. For one thing, the trigger simply has too much creep. Also, it is variable. It does not break at the same pressure consistently. The recoil is rather substantial, probably the worst of any gun I own including my .357 (but that's ported so it's not quite a true comparison).

In overall terms, I can keep a 5 inch group at 25yds, but in every string of 5 shots one will be a flyer, usually low. That's probably flinching from the recoil mentioned above.

I know that this performance is not that bad, but with the same amount of effort I put into shooting my USP, I get much tighter groups with my SIG or Beretta. Am I missing something with the USP? I like the modular design (yes, I am left handed too :D) and the light weight (but this factors into the recoil issue). The sights are good, it has never failed to function, and is very well made. I side-by-side shot it with a rented SW (model SW99, compact .40) and I must say, the HK was superior in every aspect except for the trigger.

Did I just get the proverbial "lemon?" What are other people's experiences with the USP trigger, and are there any tips I could pick up on?

Thanks,
--Medic

[M1911]

Medic, you didn't say how many rds you've put throught your HK but if it's only a few hundred or less, it's possible that the trigger might improve with more use. :rolleyes:

I wouldn't be too upset in any case as long as it's 100% reliable; if you can keep your shots on a pie-plate at 25 yds, that should be plenty good enough for what this gun was intended.

After all, you're not planning to use this for bullseye shooting are ya?
:)

[Medic]

True. I'd guestimate I've put around 600-700 rounds through it by now, the thing is it hasn't noticibly improved. I've also shot it side-by-side with another new USP .40 Compact, and while the other Compact's trigger was a bit firmer and crisper, there was still a noticible bit of creep.

The variable pull on the trigger wasn't there though.

Of all he pistols I own, this USP would be the best combat or carry gun, were it not for the trigger. A hefty trigger pull I can adapt to (my father taught me to shoot pistols largely on his old Browning Hi-Power, with the stiffest trigger I have ever found in single action!) but the squishiness and the inconsistency on my HKs trigger prevents me from adapting to it.

All you out there who love your USPs, did I just get a lemon? Should I try to have a gunsmith tinker on the trigger mechanism (I believe it would involve replacing a bunch of springs and levers, to try to find a better fit.)? Or maybe send it back to HK?

Does the fact that it is a Compact have something to do with it? I believe one of the major selling points of the USP was some sort of nifty recoil damper, and the Compact doesn't sport it because of space limitations (instead, the Compacts have a standard buffer spring and guide rod assembly). This factors into the recoil issue mentioned above, but I can't see how it wouild impact something like the trigger...

Any input would be appreciated.

Take Care,
--Medic

[hooligan]

5 Inch group? Sounds like you have a good one there. I ponied up the extra dough for the USP 40 and I am so far a pretty unhappy customer.

A few weeks ago I shot a 15+ group at 25 yards. I've written them to see if they have a policy where they will work on a gun that is not up to their standard (No Compromise) but have heard nothing.

It is the most expensive least accurate gun in my rather small collection.

Some people have recommended a competition barrel, but I'd really kick myself if I dumped another $200 into it and it still shoots like crap.

I can recomend the hogue grip sleeve though. It really improved the feel of mine.

[Medic]

Thanks for the input hooligan. Glad to know I'm not the only one having troubles with the USP.

As far as the match barrel, I doubt that'd help. As far as inherent accuracy (i.e. getting rid of the human factor, how well does the machine perform?) I'll put money down that the USP is as solid as a custom 1911 or other high end pistol.

Where I am running into trouble is the interface between the pistol and the person, the "shootability" of the weapon. This is not my term, I believe I picked the concept up from an American Rifleman some years back, but it basically involves the knowledge and experience store a person must call on to shoot a firearm well. I must say that the creepy, squishy trigger on my USP lowers the "shootability" of the pistol markedly. This is a true pity aside from the cost--in all other respests it is a very good little weapon.

And as far as getting a Hogue grip, I'll have to decline. HK's synthetic frame has a very good texturing to it which enables pistol control during rapid-fire. That was one of the advantages I noticed over the SW99: they were roughly the same size, maybe the HK was a tad bit heavier. But recoil control of the SW99 was much more difficult because the grips weren't textured like the HKs--they were nearly smooth in fact, with a wide pattern of raised dots. Ick. At 15 feet I can pepper a pie plate rapid-fire with the HK and not worry too much about recoil or the pistol shifting in my grip.

Thanks again for the input, take care.

--Medic

[P0832177]

You have to realize that the 40 Short and Weak has a sharper recoil impulse then that of the 9mm or 45ACP. The USP is not a target gun, either. But, I have to say that my Compact 45 is a shooter and the fullsize is the most accurate factory semi-auto gun I have owned. I have been shooting 45ACP platforms for over 20 years. I have real love affair with the 625 SW. But, back on track the USP is more accurate then most shooters are capable of realizing. A person has to invest trigger time to get acquainted with any gun. The trigger is a service trigger and the first shot DA is a bit of a stroke!

[darjeeling]

Someone mention .40 HK USP compacts? Not only are they innacurate, but they sound clunky. Everytime the slide moves it sounds like all the moving parts are smacking each other, making a disconserting sound that I can even hear while firing. I feel almost like its going to dissasemble on every shot. It is decently fun to shoot, but I couldn't complain with 5" groups at 25 yards with that pistol. I can only shoot that on a very good day. The days when I'm getting 2" groups at the same range with both a charter arms undercover and a PPK.

Oh yeah, the recoil is even worse than a .44 mag S&W 3 inch snubbie (can't remember the series right now) that I had the pleasure to shoot this weekend. Sounds crazy, but its true.

I'd say your USP is typical, but I've only handled mine.

[Taquito971]

First of all, I have a HK USP 40 Fullsize. Mine has the recoil dampener in it and the recoil is manageable but noticably sharper than my father's Kimber 1911 Pro Carry.

Accuracy is what i expect from a combat/service firearm. 5" at 25 yards is what I expect from my HK and when I can keep up that's what it gives me. A friend of mine has a similar HK and he swears it's very accurate. I suspect he hasn't fired it as much as I've fired mine...

I'll second the fact that I shoot better groups with my Beretta 92FS.

The trigger isn't something I'd noticed. Which is good for me. Mine's thoroughly used by now and probably has 3-5K rounds through it, only half or so are mine though. The trigger does have some creep but seems to break crisply for me.

I neclected to purchase the hogue handall grip as well. The texturing is top notch and though I placed a hogue handall grip on my airsoft USP the real USPs grip is far superior without it.

Overall I really like the weapon, and find it truly entertaining to shoot. My number one peeve isn't one that's been mentioned. It's the closed rail on the dust cover. I wish it were a standard accessory rail.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. If it doesn't fit it doesn't fit though.

Brian