A Robust Handgun: H&K's USP 45

The H&K USP 45 is not their latest product, nor is it their most popular. It’s known as a pistol designed for hard use in challenging conditions. This alone explains why many boarding parties, specially equipped task forces, and agencies patrolling in weather not-designed-for-humans employ a USP.

If I had to describe the H&K USP 45 in a single word—overengineered. The slide is quite a bit beefier than most other polymer/steel guns. In fact, the USP 45 was originally conceived for the Special Operations Offensive Handgun Weapons System in 1991. During this test, they deliberately lodged a bullet in the barrel, then fired a cartridge behind it. The H&K USP prevailed.

The Heckler & Koch USP 45 was released in May 1995 in 45 ACP, although the original USP was built around the 40 S&W cartridge. It belongs in the category of timeless designs, which is its namesake, “universal self-loading pistol” or Universelle Selbstladepistole.

The USP 45 is a mechanically locked breech, short recoil handgun. It has a polymer frame and a steel slide. The slide is a subdued blue color with a Hostile Environment finish. The most notable features are its modular components, which allow 11 variants in the trigger/firing modes, the compact mechanical recoil reduction system, a magazine release that is ambidextrous, and a barrel with polygonal rifling. It comes with fixed, drift adjustable sights.

The recoil reduction system really does reduce recoil, which also adds to the inherent longevity of the product. The less slamming and torquing of the frame by recoil, the longer the product will last.

An armorer’s perspective

There are several different models of the USP, but the one I tested was one common to the American market. The other common model is the USP compact, which is a good companion to the full-size.

From an armorer’s perspective, the USP 45 is a dream. First, all of the major pins are roll pins, made from spring steel rolled up like a scroll. This type of pin lasts much longer, wears better, and rarely experiences breakage. The barrel and chamber are reinforced to the point of over engineering, especially the robust locking block. The extractor is external and easily replaced. Lubrication points are easily accessed. Field stripping is simple, and the fire control system is easily maintained.

Even the 12 round magazines, which come in flat or extended floorplate models, were easy to disassemble. One thing I liked right away was the fact that enough of the lip of the magazine extended beyond the frame, allowing users to rip them from the magwell if necessary.

One of the models from the H&K USP (USP Tactical) line has a threaded O-ring barrel for suppressor attachment.

The USP 45 has aggressive checkering on the backstrap and a granulated pattern on the sides of the grip. This particular design loans itself well to gloved hands, especially with an oversized trigger guard.

The USP slide basically contacts the frame at four points. There are two metal reinforced rails above the disassembly pin and two above the hammer pivot. Only a few years back, the philosophy was to have a significant amount of frame/slide contact. Many of the great guns in history, including the M1911, have had a slide with a full-length set of slide rails. With the market saturation of polymer frames these days, it is most common to see fewer contact areas with smaller slide rails that have metal inserts.

An agency’s perspective

From the agency’s perspective, maintenance on the USP is inexpensive. Although the standard version is rather large, it seems to fit a variety of hand sizes, which is deliberate considering H&K’s military roots, and it’s easily configurable to meet the agency’s needs.

“Easily configurable” means that the USP can be converted to 1 of 10 variants. Each variant has a different characteristic. For example, 1 and 2 are double/single-action with a decocking and safety lever. The difference between these two are whether the decocking/safety lever is placed on the left or the right of the frame. The model I tested came standard with a left sided decocking lever in double/single action, for a right handed shooter.

A consumer’s perspective

From the consumer’s perspective, the USP 45 is clunky. With an overall length of 7.91 inches and a width of 1.26 inches, it’s not exactly the most concealable handgun out there. At 31.29 ounces, it is relatively light for a big .45, but the USP 45 is more like a short rifle than a handgun. This is exactly why it is a desirable special duty and military handgun.

It really isn’t a short rifle, but it shoots like one. There is plenty of sight radius to align the three dots, and we found the gun was easy to steady, even when shooting rapid fire. This gun turned in a 1.25-inch group, center-to-center at 20 yards with very little effort.

I found that polygonal rifling was easier to clean and inspect than conventional rifling. Conventional rifling has “lands and grooves” twisted inside the length of the barrel. Polygonal rifling is more like a shape twisted in the length of the barrel, which imparts the spin on the bullet. The advantages of polygonal rifling include higher velocities and fewer surfaces that can trap fouling. Many polygonally rifled guns deliver great accuracy. The USP 45 definitely demonstrated these advantages well.

I didn’t rapid fire this gun very well, but Gene Whiesnand from Trident Firearms Academy seemed pretty much at home with it. The single action trigger was about 5 pounds, with only a little bit of slack. Firing from single action, it was easy to keep the muzzle steady and shoot straight. Since this was a Variant 3, the gun could actually be placed on safe in single action, like a Browning Hi-Power or a M1911.

The double action pull was a different story. It wasn’t just the approximately 12-pound pull, it was the long takeup. Since this was a Variant 3, one could carry it “cocked and locked”, sweeping the safety off when drawn. When I played with this, I found that we all naturally swept the safety/decocking lever all the way down to double action, kind of defeating the purpose. In this carry mode, it was best to carry it double action, safety off.

The H&K USP 45 is about as robust a handgun as can be purchased on the market today. The most likely users should be officers who regularly work in challenging environments, including patrolling near water, dust, or extremes in temperature or humidity.