Posted: 5/22/2026 11:02:23 AM EDT
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TL/DR: Is the HK45 anywhere as reliable and durable as the USP45 has proven to be? Is it a bet your life on it pistol like it's big brother? I'd like a combat proven, double stack, SA/DA Hammer fired 45 ACP sidearm. It will complement my Glock 21. While a 1911 would be cool, I'm specifically looking for a modern polymer pistol. I currently own an FNX-45T and it's a good pistol. However, it's never been proven to a combat standard. My 3 recent Glock acquisitions have me really concentrating on getting sidearms that have been vetted by duty/military use with examples going hundreds of thousands of rounds with few if any failures. I've narrowed the choice down to HK, specifically the HK USP 45 or the HK45. According to my reasearch, the USP was based on the Mark 23, especially the USP 45 variant. It is my understanding that Larry Vickers and Ken Hackathorn both had a lead role in developing what would become the HK45. Essentially it seems to be a reframed USP45. The HK45 appears to have all of the same internals as it's older brother. The only con is a loss of 2 rounds in the standard magazine. I assume that was for grip ergonomics. It's also fits my desire to have a combat proven design as the HK45C variant was adopted by the Navy Seals as the Mark 24 Mod 0. If you've made it this far thanks, I look forward to your opinions. |
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If you’ve read how the HK45 was developed and tested, you know it’s as proven as a gun can be without two world wars under its belt. I’d put it right alongside the USP. The HK45 would get the nod today simply because of the light rail, which is what I consider to be the most practical feature of the upgrade. |
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Buddy of mine grabbed this used HK45 from Bass Pro's fine gun room.  I went and shot it with him. His group.  My group wasn't as pretty but I walked my shots up to the bullseye. I had a USP 45 back in the day, late AW Ban, and never shot it as well as this HK45. I think HK45 grip is slimmer. |
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I agree the HK45 grip profile is not a "blocky" as the older brother. I like my USPF in 45. I have Jarvis bbl to shoot lead through. But I like my USP |
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Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
R W Emerson
Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
R W Emerson
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Originally Posted By drobs: Buddy of mine grabbed this used HK45 from Bass Pro's fine gun room. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/41568/Kellys_HK45_JPG-3766399.jpg I went and shot it with him. His group. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/41568/Kellys_HK45_Group_JPG-3766400.jpg My group wasn't as pretty but I walked my shots up to the bullseye. I had a USP 45 back in the day, late AW Ban, and never shot it as well as this HK45. I think HK45 grip is slimmer. Wow. One of the best deals I’ve seen for HKs. My LGS had clearanced the old VP9s for $400-$450 a couple years ago, so I picked up a few. |
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I’ve got two full size hk45s and the compact. I’ve got an old police trade in that had an inventory tracker in it, and also a Tac. Both are great and all the mags I have for them fit 11 rounds. I had the USP45, but I gave it to my little brother for his birthday. It’s German and thick, just like his wife  . That’s what I told him. I never did warm up to it, and tried to sell it for years.
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Originally Posted By gunner76: I had one briefly and it was reliable but I just didn't care for the DA/SA. I also have short fingers and it was quite a reach to the trigger in DA. Did you have it in the "pre cocked"/decocked hammer position or were you dry firing with the full DA? A full size USP 45 would be unshootable for me due to this if it didn't have the precocked slop in the trigger for the first DA shot. |
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Originally Posted By drobs: Buddy of mine grabbed this used HK45 from Bass Pro's fine gun room. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/41568/Kellys_HK45_JPG-3766399.jpg I went and shot it with him. His group. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/41568/Kellys_HK45_Group_JPG-3766400.jpg My group wasn't as pretty but I walked my shots up to the bullseye. I had a USP 45 back in the day, late AW Ban, and never shot it as well as this HK45. I think HK45 grip is slimmer. Id buy a dozen at that price, by far my favorite .45 to shoot! Cocked and locked as God intended! |
| There’s at least some durability difference in the recoil springs. 45 Super is known to show wear faster in the HK45 than the USP. The USP uses the dual recoil spring where as the HK45 uses a plastic buffer. They are the same weight though, unlike the USP9 and P30 (which I think shoots noticeably worse than the USP). |
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Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-: There’s at least some durability difference in the recoil springs. 45 Super is known to show wear faster in the HK45 than the USP. The USP uses the dual recoil spring where as the HK45 uses a plastic buffer. They are the same weight though, unlike the USP9 and P30 (which I think shoots noticeably worse than the USP). Interesting, I have been toying with a USP 45 or HK45 for woods carry. I doubt I would ever shoot enough 45 super for it to be an issue though. |
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Originally Posted By -OdieGreen-:...unlike the USP9 and P30 (which I think shoots noticeably worse than the USP). I think the full size USP compares better to the P30L. The P30 compares better to the USP9 Compact. HK named the P30 weird. The L should have been called just "P30", and the P30 the "P30 Compact". |
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Originally Posted By dmk0210: Are you comparing USP9 full size to P30 or P30L? I think the full size USP compares better to the P30L. The P30 compares better to the USP9 Compact. HK named the P30 weird. The L should have been called just "P30", and the P30 the "P30 Compact". This is likely a fair point. |
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Originally Posted By dmk0210: LEM conversion FTW.  The more I read and see of the Match LEM trigger, the more I'm inclined to believe it is the superior HK trigger. This is a great video about the LEM  What Is HK's LEM Trigger? Sean Burrows With The HK Shooting Team Explains |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: The more I read and see of the Match LEM trigger, the more I'm inclined to believe it is the superior HK trigger. This is a great video about the LEM  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVkWGMkOKEOriginally Posted By Lexustech48: Originally Posted By dmk0210: LEM conversion FTW. The more I read and see of the Match LEM trigger, the more I'm inclined to believe it is the superior HK trigger. This is a great video about the LEM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KVkWGMkOKEThe light LEM is my preferred system in DA-SA HKs. |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: The more I read and see of the Match LEM trigger, the more I'm inclined to believe it is the superior HK trigger. It's the closest you can get to a good striker trigger and still have a hammer. Crisp break, not mushy like strikers can have. I think a lot of folks confuse it with DAK and DAO, when it is nothing like either. HK discontinued LEM and that is very sad.  |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: It looks like they will still offer the conversion parts, just not in factory guns. For how long? Who knows. Fingers crossed that they will continue to produce them. The ability to readily swap trigger systems is one of the primary benefits of the USP (and HK45). It would really suck and kind of be a stab in the back, if they dropped support for that. |
The HK45 is likely the most reliable handgun ever built. I just got my 3rd (Sold previous ones) and its the light LEM with grayguns trigger and short reset. THAT is the ticket. 
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Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Originally Posted By RedFox1911: Did you have it in the "pre cocked"/decocked hammer position or were you dry firing with the full DA? A full size USP 45 would be unshootable for me due to this if it didn't have the precocked slop in the trigger for the first DA shot. I don't know, I didn't know there was a position other than full DA. The brief time I had it I converted the safety to safe/fire only and carried it like a 1911. |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: I'm pretty sure Ernest Langdon did 40k rounds with a Beretta PX4 with only lubrication (This is similar to Todd Green's P30 that broke at 90k but still ran, except the PX4 was repairable with a simple part replacement and Geen's P30 needed a new frame, albeit at a much higher round count)  Why I'm Finally Going to Try Carrying a Beretta PX4 for EDC |
| I’d say the HK45 is just as accurate and reliable as the USP, and feels better in the hand, but is slightly less durable. The USP can handle .45 Super right out of the box. I don’t believe the HK45, nor the HK45C are rated for the higher pressure round. Not that many people care about shooting .45 Super, but it is a testament to the USP being overbuilt. |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: I've never personally witnessed an HK pistol have a malfunction, therefore an HK45C with TLR-7 is my HD pistol. I have 3 USPs(40FS, 40expert and a 45FS), a HK45C, P30, P30L, and P2000. Most rounds are on the P30s, P2000, and USP 40 Expert. Between the P30s, two malfunctions ever, one was Makarov case that somehow got reloaded. The other was in the dark so I have no idea what happened. The USP 40 expert started having some feeding issues with one mag that had an extension on a JF that needed a new spring. Those are the sum total of all HK malfunctions I have had in somewhere north of 10K rounds. |
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Originally Posted By RedFox1911: I have 3 USPs(40FS, 40expert and a 45FS), a HK45C, P30, P30L, and P2000. Most rounds are on the P30s, P2000, and USP 40 Expert. Between the P30s, two malfunctions ever, one was Makarov case that somehow got reloaded. The other was in the dark so I have no idea what happened. The USP 40 expert started having some feeding issues with one mag that had an extension on a JF that needed a new spring. Those are the sum total of all HK malfunctions I have had in somewhere north of 10K rounds. Originally Posted By RedFox1911: Originally Posted By Andrewsky: I've never personally witnessed an HK pistol have a malfunction, therefore an HK45C with TLR-7 is my HD pistol. I have 3 USPs(40FS, 40expert and a 45FS), a HK45C, P30, P30L, and P2000. Most rounds are on the P30s, P2000, and USP 40 Expert. Between the P30s, two malfunctions ever, one was Makarov case that somehow got reloaded. The other was in the dark so I have no idea what happened. The USP 40 expert started having some feeding issues with one mag that had an extension on a JF that needed a new spring. Those are the sum total of all HK malfunctions I have had in somewhere north of 10K rounds. I've had a USP 40 for 15 years that has never had a malfunction, with thousands of rounds through it over that time period. All original springs and everything. They are absolute tanks and they truly live up to the reputation for extreme reliability. |
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Originally Posted By Andrewsky: I've never personally witnessed an HK pistol have a malfunction, therefore an HK45C with TLR-7 is my HD pistol. It happens. Thankfully not very often. I keep a vp9 by my pillow always. I’ve had a p30l choke on factory 115gr a few times. I saw my buddies Vp9sk have numerous failure to feed with factory 115gr as well recently. Fiocchi and PMC. My old usp45 has choked on ammo as well. I can’t recall any issues with my HK45s, though. Well, except Buffalo Bore 45 super rounds would get mildly stuck in the chamber when trying to clear the gun. They fired fine, though. |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: LGS has a HK45 with 1 mag and box for $549. Mags seem unobtanium currently. Mags will come back at some point. HK produces all their things in batch cycles. They don't just churn out everything at once, all the time. Unfortunately that can lead to cycles of feast or famine depending on demand. |
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Originally Posted By dmk0210: That's a good deal for a great gun. Mags will come back at some point. HK produces all their things in batch cycles. They don't just churn out everything at once, all the time. Unfortunately that can lead to cycles of feast or famine depending on demand. Originally Posted By dmk0210: Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: LGS has a HK45 with 1 mag and box for $549. Mags seem unobtanium currently. Mags will come back at some point. HK produces all their things in batch cycles. They don't just churn out everything at once, all the time. Unfortunately that can lead to cycles of feast or famine depending on demand. I think I paid $1000 for my HK45CT used from a ARFCOM member a few years ago...Id be all over any deal $500 or less... |
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Yes, the HK 45 is a fine pistol. Not 100% the equivalent of the USP, but if you have narrowed your choices down to those two, then I believe you should choose the one that fits your hand/you shoot the best. I have owned and fired both in LEM and prefer, and still own, the USP 45. If you are open to a third option, consider the HK 45C. I shoot and carry it much more than I do my USP 45. It has both 8 and 10 round mags. |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: yeah, after tax, this one would be almost $600. Too much for it only including one mag and maybe no backstraps. Good point about the mag. That's going to add another $40ish. That's one good thing about the P30, P2000, USP compact, and VP9. In 9mm at least (maybe 40 too), they all share the same mags. All the other HK pistols have bespoke and expensive mags. |
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Originally Posted By EncoreGolf: I ended up on a local seller deal I could NOT say NO to. HK45 V1 converted to light LEM, gray guns flat trigger, XS night sights, Talon grip, case, backstrap, 4-10rd mags, HK Mod1 comp, HK OWB holster and 100rds of FMJ .45 for $700 cash. I have noticed that LEM guns often seem to be hard sells though. I've seen a few collecting dust in the display cases. It's got to be due to ignorance of what LEM actually is. |
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Originally Posted By dmk0210: For a defensive gun, and a well practiced shooter, I think it's the superior hammer fired trigger period. Of any brand. One trigger pull. No safety lever to train for. Tuning options from heavy, to medium, light, to match. It's the closest you can get to a good striker trigger and still have a hammer. Crisp break, not mushy like strikers can have. I think a lot of folks confuse it with DAK and DAO, when it is nothing like either. HK discontinued LEM and that is very sad. Originally Posted By dmk0210: Originally Posted By Lexustech48: The more I read and see of the Match LEM trigger, the more I'm inclined to believe it is the superior HK trigger. It's the closest you can get to a good striker trigger and still have a hammer. Crisp break, not mushy like strikers can have. I think a lot of folks confuse it with DAK and DAO, when it is nothing like either. HK discontinued LEM and that is very sad. HK still lists the V1 as LEM on the P30. |
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Originally Posted By drew5337:HK still lists the V1 as LEM on the P30. On the P30 V1 is Light LEM and V3 is DA/SA. On the USP, V1 is DA/SA and V7 is Heavy LEM.  I don't know why they didn't sell the USP with Light LEM.  Recently, they have discontinued LEM across all models. They still show the LEM variants on the website, but they are no longer producing them. They also list all the P2000 variants on their website, and they are all also discontinued. |
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Originally Posted By CFII: https://pistol-training.com/hk45-endurance-test-week-thirty-seven-2/ Yes this https://pistol-training.com/hk45-endurance-test-week-thirty-seven-2/ Attached File Reliability: There’s almost no way the HK45 could have proven more reliable. Only twice in 50,000 rounds did the gun fail to go through its entire cycle of operation, ready to fire again with nothing more than a trigger pull. Once was a light primer hit, the other was a broken trigger return spring. That’s a Mean Rounds Between Stoppage of 25,000 rounds… ten times the industry standard. |
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Originally Posted By thorm001:Yes this https://pistol-training.com/hk45-endurance-test-week-thirty-seven-2/ https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/160746/IMG_3947_jpeg-3778587.JPG Reliability: There’s almost no way the HK45 could have proven more reliable. Only twice in 50,000 rounds did the gun fail to go through its entire cycle of operation, ready to fire again with nothing more than a trigger pull. Once was a light primer hit, the other was a broken trigger return spring. That’s a Mean Rounds Between Stoppage of 25,000 rounds… ten times the industry standard.  |