|
|
Post by TMan on May 18, 2004 17:44:58 GMT -5
Hey, my birthday is coming up in less than 2 months, and I'm wondering what I want. Got too many camera bodies and lenses, I don't dare ask for a Harley, and everyone says that you can't have too many guns.
I rented a H&K USP at the range in Plano, and I actually shot quite well with it. I looked at their Web site at the description of the USP Expert and USP Elite and I don't see much difference. It looked like the Elite was a newer design.
Anyhow, looking at their on-line manual, I noticed that they talked about O-rings on the barrel. Okay, anyone know what these O-rings are made out of? Hopefully not what the O-rings on the space shuttle booster rockets were made out of. Are they metal, rubber, etc.
Anyone have any comments on the USP in general or on either the Elite or Expert.
|
|
|
|
Post by BlueSteel on May 18, 2004 19:23:58 GMT -5
My friend has a USP 9 and i love it. I have a P99 in 9mm and i would rate it below the USP. It feels really solid when i shoot it plus i think it is an awesome looking gun. It has polygonal rifling like glock does and the checkering on the grip is sharp which can hurt somtimes but i don't think that is anything to really worry about anyways.
|
|
|
|
Post by "DoubleAction" on May 18, 2004 20:04:53 GMT -5
TMan; The little O ring, behind the barrel threads, is made of rubber.
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 19, 2004 5:52:40 GMT -5
DA, why am I not surprised that you would know. You are the man.  I was afraid that it might be rubber. Since the barrel of a gun can get rather warm, and rubber can do funny things if it get oil on it, that makes me a little nervous. I've taken rubber o-rings off the fuel-injectors in a car and they have been as hard a rocks. I guess since the pistol isn't compensated, hot gases don't hit it, at least I'm assuming that is true, so I guess this o-ring is just to hold the barrel firmly in the frame. Does this seem hokey or am I just old-fashioned? |
|
|
|
Post by Ricochet on May 19, 2004 8:31:46 GMT -5
The Elite has a 6.0" bbl and does not come in .40 Caliber, only 9mm and .45.
The Expert has a 5.2" bbl and comes in .40 caliber as well as 9MM and .45.
The Elite is slightly lighter in weight also.
What prices are you seeing on these babies??
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 19, 2004 8:51:37 GMT -5
Ricochet, www.sportingarms.com has them for $1299, which is less than their $1533 list price. Also, since they are in Lewisville, it is convenient to pick them up. Naturally you have to pay sales tax since they are sold in Texas. I've bought from them before and have been pleased. It is a Mom & Pop shop, with little overhead, so he heavily discounts. He is a high volume dealer, which frequently happens when you have good prices. For target shooting, I prefer 9mm so either one would work. Interesting that the Elite is lighter, but has a longer barrel. I guess internally they are the same? I shot the USP in 9mm at the place you told me about in Plano, and of the 4 guns I shot that day (they didn't have the P7M8), out of a possible 250 I shot 236 with the USP (9mm), 224 with the Kimber (.45), 212 with the Beretta 92FS, and a horrible 140 with the Springfield 1911 (it kept jamming and I think there had to be something wrong with it (all shots were low). "Had to be the gun" . That is the shooters version of the fisherman's: "You should have seen the one that got away." ;D The only thing I didn't like about the USP is that it doesn't have replaceable grips. |
|
|
|
Post by Ricochet on May 19, 2004 11:31:12 GMT -5
Tman,
I'll have to drive up to Lewisville and check that place out. Their website indicates they have a pretty good selection in many brands.
Jim
|
|
|
|
Post by "DoubleAction" on May 19, 2004 16:19:41 GMT -5
TMan; The rubber O ring serves to aid in the fit of the barrel, which contributes to accuracy. I've seen alot of O rings that can be lubricated with products designed to prevent drying out. I use similar products on swimming pool pumps and automotive weather stripping. I've noticed alot of O rings exposed to mineral sprits, often last a very long time, whereas the same type O rings exposed to Ketone type solvents will dry out and shrink rather quickly. The type of lubricant I use on my weather stripping is manufactured by Dupont, called " Krytox",which is a performance lubricant. I would also investigate the possible application and use of Tetra lube. I have some O rings on my AR- 15 bore guide, that I lubed two years ago, and they are holding up fine, the last ones were not lubed and dried out withing a few months.
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 20, 2004 7:41:59 GMT -5
Tman, I'll have to drive up to Lewisville and check that place out. Ricochet, they don't have a store-front. They are a mail-order business. However, if you order from them, you can make arrangements to pick it up in Lewisville. I know that they do stock some, but not all of what is listed as available. It usually takes a couple of days if what you want isn't in stock. The only one I had a longer wait for was my S&W 41, which I wanted with a 7" barrel. DA, you never cease to amaze me with your depth of knowledge. Since the Jetta has to sit outside in the hot Texas sun, I'll give it a try on his door seals and his o-rings the next time I change them. |
|
|
|
Post by Ricochet on May 20, 2004 9:34:08 GMT -5
Quote: << Ricochet, they don't have a store-front. They are a mail-order business. However, if you order from them, you can make arrangements to pick it up in Lewisville.>>
Right, Tman. I called them after my last post and was informed of same. She did say that they had about 200 handguns on-hand and that I was welcome to stop by and look around.
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 20, 2004 17:00:34 GMT -5
Ricochet, I assume Becky gave you directions then ( they don't want them posted on the web for security reasons). It is worth the drive and time, but take your checkbook. Their prices are cash prices. It is more if you use a credit card.
|
|
ThePaul
Member
"the road to hell is paved with good intentions"
Posts: 24
|
Post by ThePaul on May 20, 2004 18:21:45 GMT -5
Tman,
Was the range you were at in Plano called Bullet Trap by any chance? I did not know any one on this forum lived close to me. We should meet up and go shooting some time. BTW, Found some info on HKPRO.COM that might help you....
The USP Expert. First introduced in 1998, the latest generation of USP variant is making impressive inroads in the European IPSC community with its exceptional accuracy. First available in the U.S. in .45 ACP, the Expert is offered in three calibers as shown above. The downside again for American shooters is the high magazine capacity of the guns as available in Europe. 12 rounds for .45 Experts, 16 rounds for .40 caliber Experts, and 18 rounds for 9mm Experts. Truly a European IPSC lover's gun, in the U.S. all are restricted to 10 rounds. The Expert has the extended magazine well in the 9mm and .40 caliber versions. If added to the .45 frame, the gun would not be legal in IPSC standard class.
The extended magazine well is called the "jet funnel" by HK in Germany.
Also, the slide of the Expert has been milled to lower the profile of the rear sight. I have not seen this modification on any other enhanced USP.
The Expert, like the USP Match, features an O-ring barrel, polygonal rifling, a trigger stop, and fully adjustable rear sight.
THE ELITE
First look exclusive from HKPRO, the USP Elite. Thanks to a tremendous and growing network of contributors, this first look is possible. The Elite is as of now in production. Preliminarily offered in calibers 9mm and .45 ACP, the Elite for European consumption at least, can accept the white 18 round 9mm magazines and the familiar 12 round USP magazine in .45 caliber. The Elite has a six inch barrel in either model.
This pistol appears to be a further stretch of the USP Expert, with a nicely shaped scallop in the area just in front of where the frame stops. Match trigger with stop standard, as is fully adjustable rear sight.
Unfortunately for the U.S. market, the Elite will not likely be imported. There simply will not be much demand for a pistol like this, neutered to 10 rounds in 9mm and .45 ACP. This is sadly, also the situation for the 9mm Expert.
The latest sales flyer says that the Elite is "featured to achieve the highest levels of accuracy by combining a six inch barrel with a new elongated target slide design." It adds that the high accuracy is achieved by hand fitting of the barrel and slide. It also has the popular o-ring feature.
From the flyer: "The Heckler & Koch USP Elite: Brand New - Unique - Elitist."
Hope that helps,
-Paul
|
|
|
|
Post by 9mm on May 20, 2004 19:52:16 GMT -5
SportingArms did an online order for me. They were prompt, attentive and beat most places by $100 on my P220ST, even after credit card surcharge, shipping, background check and transfer.
I highly recommend them.
I believe Bachman Pawn is a competitor of theirs in the area, I see them online too. I have no experience with Bachman though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ricochet on May 20, 2004 20:26:11 GMT -5
I just joined the Bullet Trap in Plano. My son-in-law introduced me to it a few months ago. It's about a 30 minute drive for me (in non-rush hour), not too bad.
Fairly nice pistol range. They have two indoor long gun slots too (but still only 25 yards).
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 20, 2004 21:04:34 GMT -5
ThePaul, thanks for the info. I didn't have HKPRO.COM in my "bookmarks" so I added it. (I think I need to backup these bookmarks like I do the Microsoft Money file. If I ever lost them I'd be hurting.)
If people outside the state ask me where I live, I say: "Dallas". Nobody ever heard of Colleyville, which is the suburb that I'm in. From a driving the freeways standpoint, I'm actually 2 miles closer to Fort Worth than Dallas, but for some reason I say Dallas.
Yes it was the Bullet Trap, and I liked the people there, but the range itself was much like the one I shot in when in Atlanta (again Atlanta is generic). It was quite noisy. I like Bass Pro Shops better because of all the egg crate foam they have on the ceiling and walls. I've lost 35% of my hearing (probably Vietnam related - never been to a rock concert), and I'm quit sensitive to noise. The big problem for me is that the Bullet Trap is an hour's drive.
I usually drop the wife off at DFW on Monday mornings and then get to Bass Pro a little after 9am. ;D I know, I know, when the cat is away... Then I can come home and clean guns on the floor of the family room and make all the mess I want for a few days. Oh yeah, watch all the Fox News Channel I want to without complaints either.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ricochet on May 21, 2004 7:04:51 GMT -5
Tman,
Actually I didn't know that Bass Pro (at Grapevine Mills) had a pistol range. I'll have to drop by and see it. Is it more expensive than Bullet trap??
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 21, 2004 7:38:28 GMT -5
Ricochet, they charge $8/hr and they have 7 lanes indoors, but w/o A/C. Actually, unless I was just shooting .22's I couldn't last an hour. Included with the range fee is 2 targets.
Oh, they are really busy on Saturday and Sunday.
|
|
|
|
Post by TMan on May 30, 2004 18:41:27 GMT -5
Well guys, thanks for your help and advice. I ordered it today and expect I'll get it some time this week unless people are on vacation. Hmmm, since this is a made in Germany gun I guess I should say "holidays" vs. "vacation".
It was a hard decision between the Expert and the Elite, but I figured since hte Elite is the newer model...
I ordered it in 9mm since it is less expensive to shoot than the .45. (Okay, okay, I'm cheap, but I hate to admit I like shooting 9mm better because of less recoil) I had intended on getting another 1911, but after shooting the Sig P220S, I don't care so much for the 1911 anymore. So now it is German guns to go with my German cars.
|
|
|
|
Post by newtopistol on Jun 18, 2004 1:09:46 GMT -5
Don't know if you made your purchase yet, but just wanted to chime in for the H&K USP .45
Great gun, outshoots me (not saying much), but I shoot it better than anything else (so far). Big enough to say "STAY AWAY," but not uncomfortable. The replacement grips for it are called Hogue wraparounds :-) I wouldn't shoot one of the USPs without them (that frontstrap can be brutal after about 300 rounds)
In any case, you won't be sorry.
|
|
