A few days ago I ordered a Heckler & Koch USP45 Elite online. This is a firearm that I've wanted for years now, but because it's an expensive premium grade pistol which is only manufactured/imported in limited quantities, I was never able to get one due to either lack of funds or availability...Until now.
The H&K USP45 Elite is essentially a long slide, match grade variant of H&K's Universal Self-Loading Pistol (USP for short) which was originally released in 1993 but has remained popular ever since. The USP is a successor to the H&K Mark 23, a massive .45 ACP pistol designed for the the US Navy SOCOM, made a bit smaller, lighter, and less expensive, and designed for the new .40 S&W cartridge. However, the USP, much like its predecessor the Mk23, is so overengineered that you can actually modify them to shoot 10mm Auto with no problem whatsoever.
Similarly, the USP45 can handle .45 Super right out of the box with no modifications necessary. For those who are unfamiliar with it, .45 Super is an overpressure variant of the .45 ACP cartridge boasting performance on par with 10mm Auto, only at substantially lower operational pressures, and needless to say with a larger caliber bullet.
Being the highest grade of the USP, the Elite model has all the bells and whistles. An elongated slide with a 6" match grade barrel, high profile adjustable sights, a tuned trigger, and just more care overall to fit and finish. So as you can imagine, these babies are expensive, typically selling for over a grand even at pre-pandemic prices. At pandemic pricing, I've seen these selling for $1500+, but I got lucky and found mine for $1061 online with free shipping, so I had to have it. I knew that I was unlikely to get another chance to buy one at that price, so I went for it, and I have no regrets.
I love the styling of the H&K USP45 Elite, which reminds me of the Walther PP with that long slide that tapers off at the end. Some folks think it looks ugly, with a common sentiment I've seen online being; "It looks like in needs a nose job." To me it looks absolutely gorgeous, but then again, I don't find long noses unattractive on women, (in fact, some of those that I fancy just come that way, and it just adds to their exotic charm as far as I'm concerned) so why would I find them unattractive on a firearm? As they say; "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
The USP45 Elite is surprisingly lightweight for a pistol of its size, even considering the polymer frame. It fits great and points naturally in my medium sized hands. The controls are not unlike that of the 1911 and just feel right to me. The trigger is long but smooth in Double Action, light and crisp in Single Action with very little takeup.
Overall, I'm absolutely in love with this pistol. It was already love at first sight when I first saw it online years ago, but now that I have it I love it even more. I can't wait to take it out shooting, but I need to get some ammo first, renew my range permit, and then find the time. For the time being through, I'm more than content just to fondle it.
I took a quick pic of it fresh from the box, but the lighting in the room doesn't do it justice, and since I hadn't cleaned/lubed it yet the finish just looks sort of dull, so I'll take some more pics later on.
The H&K USP45 Elite is essentially a long slide, match grade variant of H&K's Universal Self-Loading Pistol (USP for short) which was originally released in 1993 but has remained popular ever since. The USP is a successor to the H&K Mark 23, a massive .45 ACP pistol designed for the the US Navy SOCOM, made a bit smaller, lighter, and less expensive, and designed for the new .40 S&W cartridge. However, the USP, much like its predecessor the Mk23, is so overengineered that you can actually modify them to shoot 10mm Auto with no problem whatsoever.
Similarly, the USP45 can handle .45 Super right out of the box with no modifications necessary. For those who are unfamiliar with it, .45 Super is an overpressure variant of the .45 ACP cartridge boasting performance on par with 10mm Auto, only at substantially lower operational pressures, and needless to say with a larger caliber bullet.
Being the highest grade of the USP, the Elite model has all the bells and whistles. An elongated slide with a 6" match grade barrel, high profile adjustable sights, a tuned trigger, and just more care overall to fit and finish. So as you can imagine, these babies are expensive, typically selling for over a grand even at pre-pandemic prices. At pandemic pricing, I've seen these selling for $1500+, but I got lucky and found mine for $1061 online with free shipping, so I had to have it. I knew that I was unlikely to get another chance to buy one at that price, so I went for it, and I have no regrets.
I love the styling of the H&K USP45 Elite, which reminds me of the Walther PP with that long slide that tapers off at the end. Some folks think it looks ugly, with a common sentiment I've seen online being; "It looks like in needs a nose job." To me it looks absolutely gorgeous, but then again, I don't find long noses unattractive on women, (in fact, some of those that I fancy just come that way, and it just adds to their exotic charm as far as I'm concerned) so why would I find them unattractive on a firearm? As they say; "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
The USP45 Elite is surprisingly lightweight for a pistol of its size, even considering the polymer frame. It fits great and points naturally in my medium sized hands. The controls are not unlike that of the 1911 and just feel right to me. The trigger is long but smooth in Double Action, light and crisp in Single Action with very little takeup.
Overall, I'm absolutely in love with this pistol. It was already love at first sight when I first saw it online years ago, but now that I have it I love it even more. I can't wait to take it out shooting, but I need to get some ammo first, renew my range permit, and then find the time. For the time being through, I'm more than content just to fondle it.
I took a quick pic of it fresh from the box, but the lighting in the room doesn't do it justice, and since I hadn't cleaned/lubed it yet the finish just looks sort of dull, so I'll take some more pics later on.
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