H and K variants

[Tdrake2]

Hi guys -- I am thinking about buying an HK USP COmpact in .40

I love this pistol and have the money for it but there is a small snag. I am left handed.

I want to order one that has just the decocking lever (no safety) and I want to be able to work the decocker with my left thumb. So which ariant woudl that be. DOes anyone know which side of the gun they consider the right side? I would think the right side would be the side where the shell ejects to. So left and right are determined as if you were pointing the gun down range.

Does that make sense?

The following is the options available for special order.

(Variant models other than Variant 1 available by special order and $25 surcharge)

Variant 1 DA/SA with control lever (safety/decocking lever) on left Variant 2 DA/SA with control lever (safety/decocking lever) on right Variant 3 DA/SA with control lever (decocking lever) on left
Variant 4 DA/SA with control lever (decocking lever) on right
Variant 5 DAO with control lever (safety lever) on left
Variant 6 DAO with control lever (safety lever) on right
Variant 7 DAO with no control lever
Variant 9 DA/SA with control lever (safety lever) on left
Variant 10 DA/SA with control lever (safety lever) on right


I think that means I want to order Variant 4.

The other thing I am thinking of ordering is Variant 7 since this piece will be mostly for defensive carry. Carrying my 1911 is just getting to be too heavy. What is the trigger pull on the DAO model if anyone knows. My 1911 is set really low at 3.5.

Thanks for any help. Tdrake

[ThePaul]

I think you need Varient 4. Is there any reason why you don't want the safety?

-Paul

[Tdrake2]

For a carry gun, I just dont like the safety being another thing I have to worry about when drawing. I have carried the glock 23 and 22 as well as the sw99 and the Springfield xd9. I am just used to the idea of not worrying about a safety when I draw my pistol.

I would go with no decocker at all but I think that it serves a great purpose since it reduces the amount of dry-firing. I dont think dry firing is bad for your gun by any means -- I just think the less actual times needed for dry-firing means the less possibilty of an accidental discharge.

I think Variant 4 has to be the way to go. It is awesome that it is only 25 extra dollars to be able to custom order your pistol. Usually, being left-handed is such a pain in the can.

[ThePaul]

I try to look at the safety as just anohter part of the gun I need to be proficient at manipulating. I like having it there to totally (in most cases) the gun when I want to. I don't just dont feel as comfortable with a gun that the glock or XD that has "3 passive" safeties, but is really only drop safe. If someone grabs it and pulls the trigger it still shoots. This is just my own personal hangup with DOA guns with no active saftey. Its like the difference between driving a 6 speed manual, and an automatic. You get so much more control of the car with the 6-speed, but the automatic is easier.

-Paul

[TBT]

ThePaul said:

I try to look at the safety as just anohter part of the gun I need to be proficient at manipulating. I like having it there to totally (in most cases) the gun when I want to. I don't just dont feel as comfortable with a gun that the glock or XD that has "3 passive" safeties, but is really only drop safe. If someone grabs it and pulls the trigger it still shoots. This is just my own personal hangup with DOA guns with no active saftey. Its like the difference between driving a 6 speed manual, and an automatic. You get so much more control of the car with the 6-speed, but the automatic is easier.

-Paul

Yeah ... what he said.

["DoubleAction"]

There are good and bad points to manual safeties, and the lack of such safeties.
One advantage to a manual safety is in the event that the pistol is grabbed by a perp. This is one issue regarding uniformed police officers, where they wear their duty pistol in the open. Although their holster has the thumb snap release, many have still been shot by their own gun during a struggle.
The advantage to no manual safeties is when the pistol is deployed for use during a crucial life threatening condition. Same can be said of the open top holsters, when deploying a pistol while under the gun of an attacker.
The 1911 is one pistol that I've found easy to manipulate with it's thumb safety; It is also a pistol that I've seen many ( including a certain cop) unable to locate it's safety, even when a wide paddle extended thumb lever is used.
Counterpointing to the advantages of both is reasonable and sound advice from both sides of this issue. I just hope if a gun is pointed at me, the perp forgets to take the safety off.

[Tdrake2]

Well, I shot the the HK Compact in .40 yesterday. It belongs to a buddy of mine and he was nice enough to let me put 100 rounds thru it. It was variant 1 and it was stainless.
IT is a great pistol. Nice crisp trigger and very accurate. All in all, I think it will make a great carry gun.

Hopefully by about xmas time I will be able to afford it.

[ThePaul]

Tdrake,

I think you will enjoy the HK USPc 40 no matter what varient you go with. I have carried this gun about half the time (I alternate with a 1911) for the last year and 1/2, and I have nothing but praise about it as a carry gun. It is extremly reliable, I have put 6000+ rounds through mine and it has never jammed, failed to feed, failed to fire, etc. I take comfort in knowing that I have an accurate and controllable gun with decent stopping power thats goes bang when ever I pull the trigger. I have heard people complain that it is too large for a convenient carry gun, but I am only 6'1" and I have no problem concealing this weapon. I do suggest that you invest in a good quality IWB or pancake holster for it. I recommend the Galco IWB SUMMER COMFORT holster.

Enjoy it,

Paul

[Tdrake2]

So I went to the store to buy the HK USP COmpact .40 and the counter guy showed me the new HK P2000 which is awesome. I liked it so much that I decided to wait a little longer and investigate this pistol some more.

The features of the p2000 that stand out for me are 1) a rear decocker (just to the left of the hammer). 2) No manual safety. 3) An ambidextriuos (but almost flush) slide release 4) a nice DAO trigger called the LEM and 5) a interchangeable rear grip to allow for thicker or thinner hands.

Does anyone have a p2000 or heard anything good or bad about it. I am still very much considering the USP compact, but just thought I would see what there is to see on this pistol too.

Thanks -- Tdrake

[MLB]

Tdrake2 said:

The features of the p2000 that stand out for me are 1) a rear decocker (just to the left of the hammer). 2) No manual safety. 3) An ambidextriuos (but almost flush) slide release 4) a nice DAO trigger called the LEM and 5) a interchangeable rear grip to allow for thicker or thinner hands.

TDrake: If I didn't know better, I'd think you were describing my P99.

Rear decocker, no manual safety, flush mag & slide releases (but not ambidexterous for the slide), DAO available, and interchangeable rear grips.

[Tdrake2]

Well, I actually had the sw99 for a while and liked it alot. I sold i when I decided to trade up to the 1911 - but the 1911 is not a practical carry option for me. (I am a city prosecutor and wear a suit everyday.)

on the p2000 the rear decocker is in a better position I think than the Sw99 is. Also, I am left-handed and so an ambidextrious slide release to me is like a gift from heaven.

Lastly, the p2000 is DAO whereas the sw99 I had was a DA/SA and my personal choice (being a former LEO) is to carry a DAO since that is what I am comfortable with. Though I understand that sw99 is now available in DAO.

But I would agree that the sw99 is a great pistol. I had conisdered buying another sw99 in .40 cal, but after shooting the HK USP Compact I was hooked. The left-handed slide release to me means a lot since it means my combat reload time will improve and I wont have to take my pistol off target as I naturally do when exchanging mags now.

Any other comments on the p2000? I have not seen it featured in any gun mags as of late but would be interested to read any reviews or comments out there.

Thanks - Tdrake