Posted: 9/9/2006 6:32:52 PM EDT
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Hello everyone, As I just stated in a previous topic, I recently bought a H&K USP compact V4 (decocker, no safety) for carry. I realized that I'm unable to leave a round in the chamber and have the gun uncocked. Because once I load the chamber, the gun is cocked. And the decocker only takes it down to half cock (a gross oversight on my part, but I'm accustomed to revolvers). Is it safe to carry a USP loaded at half cock with no safety? Or is there a safe way to fully lower the hammer? If not, how do I change the trigger configuration/what parts do I need? Also, which configuration is better, V2 or V10 (equivalent to V1 safety and decoker and V9 just safety) Thanks everyone 
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You can carry it perfectly safe with a round in the chamber with the hammer down in the decocked position. The only difference between the V1,2 and the V3,4 is that you cannot, or should not carry the V3,4 with the hammer cocked since there is no safety. However, it is perfectly safe to carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer in the decock notch. It is NOT as safe with the hammer all the way forward (like if you lowered the hammer by hand instead of using the decocker) because then the hammer would be resting on the firing pin and the only safety device you would have would be the firing pin block. You NEVER want to carry the USP/C, any variant, with the hammer all the way forward. It should ALWAYS rest in the decock notch. The V3,4 has two internal safeties, firing pin block and decock notch, sometimes called the half cock notch. The V1,2 has the manual safety as a third safety device but even the V1,2 is perfectly safe to carry with the hammer decocked and the safety off. V10 does away with the decocker for those who like to carry cocked and locked but also like to ride the safety. Some report riding the safety so hard that in the V1,2 version they decock the pistol while riding the safety. For those types the V9,10 is the way to go since they eliminate the possibility of decocking. |
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The early pistols without the half-cock notch did indeed let the hammer drop to the firing pin. In those pistols only the firing pin block kept the gun from discharging so as you can imagine, if the FPB failed one could fire the weapon when decocking. It is a rare occurrence but it has happened. That is why HK changed to a redundant safety system with the half-cock notch. That and because it was needed to pass safety tests issued by some states. One more reason why it is so important to practice safe gun handling at all times. Anything mechanical can fail, even the newer versions but in the newer guns both the half-cock notch and the FPB would have to fail, but it could happen. |