The Heckler & Koch P2000sk is a subcompact version of the P2000 pistol. The P2000 is essentially a redesigned USP Compact, with the biggest difference appearing to be ergonomics.
I acquired my P2000sk in a constantly evolving search for the perfect carry gun. Over time, I've come to the conclusions that my perfect carry gun is 9mm, has a 10+1 capacity, is less than 5" in height, has no manual safeties, and ideally has a consistent shot-to-shot trigger pull.
I have a Ruger SR9c, Glock 26 Gen4, and Walther PPS, but each of these lacked something I was looking for. I also have an HK45, and am completely in love with that gun, considering it to be perfect for its purpose as a full-size weapon. So why not see what HK offers for a carry gun?
I bought the P2000sk sight unseen. I had handled a P2000 fullsize, and liked the feel and trigger a lot. Now that I have my sk, it is the best carry gun I've seen to date, and I am very happy I took the risk.
Design
The P2000sk comes in two chamberings, 9mm and .40 S&W. I went with my favorite caliber, 9mm. It has an accessory rail, standard three dot sights, ambidextrous slide release, two backstrap sizes, loaded chamber indicator (in the form of some red paint on the extractor), lacks front serrations, and is hammer-fired. The magazine release is a paddle underneath the trigger guard; if you've ever handled a modern HK or Walther before, you are familiar with them. They are meant to be used with your firing hand, usually with your trigger finger, but some like to use their middle finger, or offhand thumb. This is one area that the gun could be improved upon. Not the style of the release, for I am a convert to this style and like it on all my guns. Rather, the P2000 series mag release is too small. I have a hard time reaching it. Fortunately, an extended release is available, and I installed it on my gun before taking it to the range for the first time. With this part installed, I have zero complaints about the mag release, and I think HK should offer it standard.
Size-wise, the gun is identical in dimensions to a Walther PPS, except the width. It is obviously going to be a little thicker due to being a double stack. It is not quite as thick as my Glock 26, but it is a little longer in the grip as well. I find it to be a good compromise of height and width.
Ergonomics
This is a very personal subject, and everyone's opinion will be different. My opinion, however, is that this is the most comfortable subcompact I've ever held. And I can't think of any that I haven't at least held in the store. It feels like it was designed for my specific hand, a comment that I hear often about HKs, and that I also feel about my larger HK45. The sides of the grip aren't too aggressively checkered, allowing comfortable carry against bare skin for extended periods. The gun's magazines come with a sort of shelf (its not quite an extension). I personally dislike these and replaced the floorplates of all my magazines with flush versions. The gun is fully ambidextrous; the mag and slide releases are ambidextrous, and in the DA/SA version, the decocker is on the back next to the hammer.
Standard Magazine & Standard Mag Release:
The trigger is serrated and curved such that you maintain solid contact with it throughout the firing process. Some guns (Glock) seem to have a curved trigger that encourages my finger to move on it while firing. I really appreciate the design of the trigger in this gun.
It is the first subcompact gun I have owned that I can fire hundreds of rounds with in one session and not experience any kind of pain or discomfort due to rubbing, pinching, catching, or other symptoms.
Trigger
Two versions of the trigger are available (well, really four, but more on that in a moment). The V3 (variant 3) version comes with a standard DA/SA with decocker. The V2 comes with HK's take on a double action only trigger, called the LEM or CDA trigger (Law Enforcement Modification, or Combat Defense Action). These models come with a bobbed hammer.
The LEM is a bit tricky to understand if you've never held one, but I will do my best. There are also some videos on YouTube demonstrating its use. There are two hammer springs at work, an external and an internal. When you rack the slide (either through chambering a round, or firing the gun), the internal spring is cocked. The external hammer is at rest, the trigger is fully forward, and it appears to the naked eye to be a decocked gun. This is how the weapon is carried. When pressure is applied to the trigger, there is a long but light pull, about 2lbs or so. While the trigger is being pulled, the hammer is moving back. Once the trigger is most of the way back, you meet a point of resistance. Pulling through this resistance drops the hammer and fires the gun. At this point, you can release out to the reset point, which is the same point the resistance starts. Or you can release the trigger all the way out and start over. The hammer will safely drop as the trigger is released.
The V2 variant of the gun is considered "heavy" LEM. The pull weight at the end is rated at 7.3lbs. There are medium and light variants as well, weighing in at about 6 and 4.5lbs respectively. My thoughts on the LEM, now that I've fired it, are twofold. First, that it is harder to fire accurately than my other, striker-fired guns with lighter triggers. Second, that I love it, and never want to go back. Because of the increased resistance, it requires a bit more attention to proper trigger control in order to shoot well. But the convenience, and inherent safety of the long trigger pull, means accidental discharges will be very difficult if the gun snags on something (especially if your thumb is over the hammer), and also that you have to really mean it when you fire the gun. I would feel comfortable resting my finger on the trigger in a critical scenario without fearing accidentally firing the gun due to loss of motor control or other phenomena.
I have the parts on order (two springs), to convert my gun to a V1 light LEM variant. With a 4.5lbs pull (usually measured around 5lbs in reality), I hope to have the best of both worlds. Either way, I believe the system is worth getting better with, and I already see improvement over the 300 rounds I've fired in two trips to the range.
Fit & Finish
It's an HK. It looks and feels like an outstanding piece of engineering, because it is one. The only place I have a complaint here is with the right side slide release. It rattles. Some people are driven crazy by this, I find it mildly irritating. It doesn't rattle while carrying (for me), but if I am handling the gun out of the holster, I hear it. It slides up and down loosely. At some point, I will remedy this by carefully cutting and applying a piece of adhesive felt to the back of the release, but for the money that goes into this gun, it really shouldn't be necessary. Otherwise, as I mentioned, the gun is outstanding to see, hold, and fire. The gun chambers smoothly, magazines insert solidly and "click" with authority, and there is no play anywhere. It disassembles quickly and easily, and is easy to clean, oil, and reassemble.
Overall Impressions
I was so in love with this gun when I got it, that I forced myself to avoid posting about it until I'd had a chance to take it to the range multiple times, carry it, and live with it for a while. This would give me a chance to get over the initial new gun euphoria and notice things I dislike. I'm here to say, I still really love this gun. It feels great, looks great, carries great, and shoots great when I do my part. The magazines aren't that expensive, surprisingly (about $35 online), and holsters are available from the two places I primarily do business with (High Noon and Raven Concealment). I do think the extended mag release is a necessary upgrade, and the slide release rattle is annoying. And I wouldn't mind some small front serrations for performing press checks. But other than these minor complaints, there is nothing I would change. This is my new favorite gun, and I believe to be the best carry gun made, at least that I have handled.
I acquired my P2000sk in a constantly evolving search for the perfect carry gun. Over time, I've come to the conclusions that my perfect carry gun is 9mm, has a 10+1 capacity, is less than 5" in height, has no manual safeties, and ideally has a consistent shot-to-shot trigger pull.
I have a Ruger SR9c, Glock 26 Gen4, and Walther PPS, but each of these lacked something I was looking for. I also have an HK45, and am completely in love with that gun, considering it to be perfect for its purpose as a full-size weapon. So why not see what HK offers for a carry gun?
I bought the P2000sk sight unseen. I had handled a P2000 fullsize, and liked the feel and trigger a lot. Now that I have my sk, it is the best carry gun I've seen to date, and I am very happy I took the risk.
Design
The P2000sk comes in two chamberings, 9mm and .40 S&W. I went with my favorite caliber, 9mm. It has an accessory rail, standard three dot sights, ambidextrous slide release, two backstrap sizes, loaded chamber indicator (in the form of some red paint on the extractor), lacks front serrations, and is hammer-fired. The magazine release is a paddle underneath the trigger guard; if you've ever handled a modern HK or Walther before, you are familiar with them. They are meant to be used with your firing hand, usually with your trigger finger, but some like to use their middle finger, or offhand thumb. This is one area that the gun could be improved upon. Not the style of the release, for I am a convert to this style and like it on all my guns. Rather, the P2000 series mag release is too small. I have a hard time reaching it. Fortunately, an extended release is available, and I installed it on my gun before taking it to the range for the first time. With this part installed, I have zero complaints about the mag release, and I think HK should offer it standard.
Size-wise, the gun is identical in dimensions to a Walther PPS, except the width. It is obviously going to be a little thicker due to being a double stack. It is not quite as thick as my Glock 26, but it is a little longer in the grip as well. I find it to be a good compromise of height and width.
Ergonomics
This is a very personal subject, and everyone's opinion will be different. My opinion, however, is that this is the most comfortable subcompact I've ever held. And I can't think of any that I haven't at least held in the store. It feels like it was designed for my specific hand, a comment that I hear often about HKs, and that I also feel about my larger HK45. The sides of the grip aren't too aggressively checkered, allowing comfortable carry against bare skin for extended periods. The gun's magazines come with a sort of shelf (its not quite an extension). I personally dislike these and replaced the floorplates of all my magazines with flush versions. The gun is fully ambidextrous; the mag and slide releases are ambidextrous, and in the DA/SA version, the decocker is on the back next to the hammer.
Standard Magazine & Standard Mag Release:
The trigger is serrated and curved such that you maintain solid contact with it throughout the firing process. Some guns (Glock) seem to have a curved trigger that encourages my finger to move on it while firing. I really appreciate the design of the trigger in this gun.
It is the first subcompact gun I have owned that I can fire hundreds of rounds with in one session and not experience any kind of pain or discomfort due to rubbing, pinching, catching, or other symptoms.
Trigger
Two versions of the trigger are available (well, really four, but more on that in a moment). The V3 (variant 3) version comes with a standard DA/SA with decocker. The V2 comes with HK's take on a double action only trigger, called the LEM or CDA trigger (Law Enforcement Modification, or Combat Defense Action). These models come with a bobbed hammer.
The LEM is a bit tricky to understand if you've never held one, but I will do my best. There are also some videos on YouTube demonstrating its use. There are two hammer springs at work, an external and an internal. When you rack the slide (either through chambering a round, or firing the gun), the internal spring is cocked. The external hammer is at rest, the trigger is fully forward, and it appears to the naked eye to be a decocked gun. This is how the weapon is carried. When pressure is applied to the trigger, there is a long but light pull, about 2lbs or so. While the trigger is being pulled, the hammer is moving back. Once the trigger is most of the way back, you meet a point of resistance. Pulling through this resistance drops the hammer and fires the gun. At this point, you can release out to the reset point, which is the same point the resistance starts. Or you can release the trigger all the way out and start over. The hammer will safely drop as the trigger is released.
The V2 variant of the gun is considered "heavy" LEM. The pull weight at the end is rated at 7.3lbs. There are medium and light variants as well, weighing in at about 6 and 4.5lbs respectively. My thoughts on the LEM, now that I've fired it, are twofold. First, that it is harder to fire accurately than my other, striker-fired guns with lighter triggers. Second, that I love it, and never want to go back. Because of the increased resistance, it requires a bit more attention to proper trigger control in order to shoot well. But the convenience, and inherent safety of the long trigger pull, means accidental discharges will be very difficult if the gun snags on something (especially if your thumb is over the hammer), and also that you have to really mean it when you fire the gun. I would feel comfortable resting my finger on the trigger in a critical scenario without fearing accidentally firing the gun due to loss of motor control or other phenomena.
I have the parts on order (two springs), to convert my gun to a V1 light LEM variant. With a 4.5lbs pull (usually measured around 5lbs in reality), I hope to have the best of both worlds. Either way, I believe the system is worth getting better with, and I already see improvement over the 300 rounds I've fired in two trips to the range.
Fit & Finish
It's an HK. It looks and feels like an outstanding piece of engineering, because it is one. The only place I have a complaint here is with the right side slide release. It rattles. Some people are driven crazy by this, I find it mildly irritating. It doesn't rattle while carrying (for me), but if I am handling the gun out of the holster, I hear it. It slides up and down loosely. At some point, I will remedy this by carefully cutting and applying a piece of adhesive felt to the back of the release, but for the money that goes into this gun, it really shouldn't be necessary. Otherwise, as I mentioned, the gun is outstanding to see, hold, and fire. The gun chambers smoothly, magazines insert solidly and "click" with authority, and there is no play anywhere. It disassembles quickly and easily, and is easy to clean, oil, and reassemble.
Overall Impressions
I was so in love with this gun when I got it, that I forced myself to avoid posting about it until I'd had a chance to take it to the range multiple times, carry it, and live with it for a while. This would give me a chance to get over the initial new gun euphoria and notice things I dislike. I'm here to say, I still really love this gun. It feels great, looks great, carries great, and shoots great when I do my part. The magazines aren't that expensive, surprisingly (about $35 online), and holsters are available from the two places I primarily do business with (High Noon and Raven Concealment). I do think the extended mag release is a necessary upgrade, and the slide release rattle is annoying. And I wouldn't mind some small front serrations for performing press checks. But other than these minor complaints, there is nothing I would change. This is my new favorite gun, and I believe to be the best carry gun made, at least that I have handled.
