I've carried the same H&K USP Compact in .40S&W for the past 5 or 6 years as my duty weapon.  I've never had a single problem with this weapon ever, no issues ever.  I always shoot this gun every time I got to the range not counting quarterly qualifications.  When we were issued these guns we were told the service life was around 16,000 rounds (I think that seems way to low, but that is what we were told).

I figure I have near 23,000 to 25,000 rounds through my gun.  The last few times I've shot it I felt I was not shooting as good as I normally do.  I was thinking it was me and not the gun.  Last Tuesday was a Qual day and I shot about 8 points lower than usual.  I once again just figured it was me.  I did not clean my gun when I got home because I knew I was going to the range today.

Today at the range I wanted to really practice and get my groups back to being tight and bring my scores back up.  Well, I noticed again today I just was not shooting the H&K very well.  I shot my Glocks, XD, and Sig just fine.  I just was not happy with how I shot the H&K.

When I got home and went to clean the H&K I noticed a ton of brass shavings all over the inside of the gun, they were around the barrel, all over the frame, just about everywhere.  I mean there was a lot of brass shavings.  I cleaned it completely and inspected it for damage but everything looks fine.  I wish I had collected the brass at the range and inspected it.  I never gather up the .40 brass because I don't reload it.

Do you think this is part of the problem causing me to shoot poorly lately?  Think it is time to request a replacement gun?

Thanks

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts it is.  If brass shavings have built up in key areas that can cause the pistol to not lock up the same with each shot.  If the pistol is not locking up the same it will not shoot accurately.  Now that you have all that crap out of there I will not be at all surprised to see the accuracy return.  While I do not know the "stated" service life of a USP I have a hunch it is closer to 100,000 rounds than 16,000.  I have 11,000 through my carry Compact .45 and it is just now getting broken in.  Also, if you like to dabble in math, the Tactical comes with 5 o-rings.  Each o-ring is good for 20,000 rounds if care is given.  That means, to me anyway, that HK expects the Tac, Expert, Elite, SOCOM, and Match to last at least 100,000 rounds.  

I'll make another trip to the range next Saturday to try it out again unless the armorer wants to have it sent back to our firearms unit for a complete inspection.