Originally introduced for sale in 1993, the HK USP (Universelle Selbstladepistole or Universal Self-Loading Pistol) is an overbuilt tank of a pistol that first came to market chambered in .40 S&W. While many other pistols at the time were suffering from cracked frames and other issues due to taking 9mm designs and tweaking them to fit the bigger and higher pressure .40 S&W, the USP was designed from the ground up with this cartridge in mind. Some 9mm and .45 ACP variants would be released later.
Revisions through the years were limited to changes in both 1996 and 2006 respectively, in which changes were made to the firing pin assembly, as well as the hammer and control latch mechanism, which was altered from a single piece unit to a two-piece unit. These updates are required for compatibility with the factory match trigger if a user wishes to install one in an early model USP model.
Original models like this one included traditional rifling, which was later transitioned to a polygonal rifling that anyone who owned a glock in the past 20 years or so is familiar with (up until the release of the Glock Gen 5 with the newly marketed match barrels, which have reverted back to traditional rifling).
These early models also did not have the captured recoil guide assemblies that models after 1994 would ship with. Slide weight was also reduced slightly by 1.1 ounces with these models.
If you already own a USP and would like to know what year yours was made, you can reference the two-letter date code on your slide and convert them via HK’s date coder
A – 0 B – 1 C – 2 D – 3 E – 4 F – 5 G – 6 H – 7 I – 8 K – 9 (ex KD = 1993)
Other Models
Shooters who appreciate these design principles aren’t limited to just the original USP. HK expanded the lineup with several other variants of the USP, namely: the USP Compact geared toward concealed carry (although arguably outmatched by today’s decreased size and increased capacity wonder nines).
The Expert, Match and Elite all contained longer barrels, slides and factory match triggers. These were aimed at shooting sports, competition and target shooting.
The USP Tactical, SD and compact-tactical provided users with factory threaded barrels alongside a slightly stouter modified captured recoil assembly to aid with suppressor usage.
Design and Features
The design of the USP is rugged and simple, and I personally believe it’s one of the best-looking polymer pistols ever produced. While it lacks modern ergonomic curves and interchangeable back straps, it’s still a comfortable shooter. While I’m a fan of things like TALON Grips and custom stippling, as far as factory texturing goes, the USP is just right.
Many shooters will prefer the grip angle, which is more reminiscent of a 1911 rather than Glocks, which some people take issue with at first.
The controls are another high point of the USP (that is IF you like them). The most controversial aspect is likely the magazine release, which on this firearm is an ambi-paddle release. For someone with smaller hands, I find that I don’t have to break my grip like I do with my Glocks, but it is something you need to train with to get used to.
The slide stop/release, like the trigger guard, was designed with gloves in mind. It’s massive and very easy to manipulate. This is also the single piece that needs to be popped out to field strip the gun.
Depending which variant you get (there are a whopping 10 of them) will dictate what your control lever looks like and how it functions. The version I have has been modified with an ambidextrous lever and is a DA/SA. HK offers(ed) the USP with controls on either side, with and without decocking functionality. If a person chooses an LEM trigger, which provides an experience more similar to a striker-fired handgun, the control lever is removed entirely.
The trigger guard is large enough for any gloves I’ve ever seen. The grip length itself is on the shorter size, at least compared to other full-sized pistols, but the addition of the jet funnel magazine well helps a bit here (as does the rubber magazine baseplates which come with the compact model). Speaking of magazines, factory capacities are:
- 15 rounds 9mm > upped to 18 rounds with the Jet Funnel kit
- 13 rounds .40 S&W > upped to 16 rounds Jet Funnel
- 12 rounds .45 ACP > no factory Jet Funnel kit available.
Sights
Factory sights on the standard model are steel three dots, which considering the price of the pistol is nice since you don’t have to run out and replace them for $100 right off the bat. Adjustable sights are offered for full size USP’s dovetail if you desire.
Expert models come factory with adjustable target sights, while the tactical models ship with blacked out suppressor height sights. If you do decide to change the sights on the expert, beware, the dovetail is different and sits lower in the slide, and aftermarket sights are not typically interchangeable and are model specific.
Shooting Impressions
The double action pull is, in my opinion, quite bad. It’s heavy, with the double action being around 11 pounds with a pretty long amount of travel. But who wants to shoot these on DA anyway? The SA trigger, while being nothing to write home about, is far from terrible. It is slightly better than adequate but is still enjoyable for the range and confidence inspiring for self-defense use. Luckily, there are upgrades and configurations galore to fine tune it (or convert it to LEM) should you desire.
The USP is more accurate than I am.
Reliability
If there is one thing the HK USP has a reputation for, it’s reliability. The USP features a dual spring recoil reduction system (and a modified buffer for the compact), which results in a marginal reduction in felt recoil. This system really shines in keeping the gun running. USPs have been tested with 20,000+ rounds (with the larger brother, the MK23, seeing over 30,000 rounds) without failures. What HK refers to as the “hostile environment” finish protects the slide, along with other anti-corrosion coatings protecting internal springs against wear and tear, mud and even salt water.
Customization & Aftermarket
The aftermarket for these guns is not as robust as something like a Glock, but there’s still plenty to modify if you feel the need. Factory options like the match trigger, Jet Funnel magwell and magazines are popular options.
The Short Reset kit from Grayguns is also exceptionally popular. As with any gun, sights are interchangeable.
This is where the USP begins to show its age. Today, many shooters have migrated more and more toward pistol-mounted red dots, and the USP (while still being in production) does not offer a factory slide cut option. Companies like Langdon Tactical, fortunately, do offer packages.
HK was also one of the first to market with an integrated mount for a weapon light. Insight developed the UTL (Universal Tactical Light) to mount to the proprietary HK system. Now, 1913 rails have long since won that war, resulting in the need to use an adapter such as the GG&G, or the long discontinued Surefire MR09 mount to utilize a modern light.
Aftermarket barrels are also available, such as the RCM threaded barrel pictured (as is the Tactical recoil assembly from HK’s web shop) for suppressor use or those looking to shoot cast lead reloads. This USP is currently rocking a Silencerco Octane 45k. You can pick one up at Silencer Shop and wait times to get all your approvals taken care of have gone down drastically.
Holsters, especially with the addition of an adapter and a light, are few and far between. Your best bet to get what you need is from a custom or smaller batch manufacturer such as Next Level Tactical. Finding an off the shelf solution in 2024 is going to be a bear.
Value and Pricing
Paying MSRP on a USP in 2024 may be a tough pill to swallow for some, depending which version you’re getting. The .40 S&W is no longer in vogue, and there are droves of older police trade-ins, which can be found used for solid deals (if the chambering isn’t a dealbreaker for you). The 9mm and .45 variants typically fetch a premium in any version of their 40 brethren. Starting price for new USPs typically starts at the $900 price point and increases depending on caliber and version, with the Expert’s costing and additional $300-$400.
There are certainly more modern guns, with more features, less weight and greater capacity, that are on paper “better” guns…but they’re NOT a USP. If you’re a buyer of one of these “outdated” guns, you probably know what you’re getting into, and don’t care anyway!
Final Thoughts
Is the HK USP for you? While this gun is exceptionally reliable and offers various configurations tweaked for the end user, it’s outpaced by many features that some shooters consider “necessary” in today’s age. If it’s your only gun, nobody would knock you for the purchase, but your dollars are probably best spent on something newer with moderately improved ergonomics and increased capacity.
However, if you already have a few handguns in your collection that “cover your bases” and you’re considering expanding that collection to include another solid-shooting performer from a classic line of handguns, this is your sign to go ahead and pick one up ASAP!
Need Ammo? Check out Ammo To Go, the ammunition retail sponsor of TTAG gun reviews and simply a cool online place to fulfill all your ammo needs.
