HK USP 9mm: A Brief History And First Thoughts

[@ASPextra]

Yes, I am a moron who got USP and P2000 mixed up as far as which came first. My bad! :)

[@doktorfaustus]

Owing to your self-effacing retraction, I vote your status as an "HK Brand Ambassador" be suspended for only a week.

[@warfumble]

You got things backward. The USP came out in the 90s. Good to get channel engagement though! HK was the first company to use a rail on the dust cover, that’s why it’s proprietary.

[@ericgroves300]

The USP was introduced in 1993, well prior to the P2000 (simply a more ergonomic USP compact). The second handgun I ever owned was a USP40, and my love affair with HK was born.

[@brianshuler6951]

In the year of our Lord 2000, I purchased what I considered to be the best designed, most rigorously tested, and most reliable combat pistol known to man, the HK USPc. I had shot 1911s since the 1980s and wanted to modernize my carry gun stable. My only mod was the installation of a LEM trigger system. Only once has it disappointed me. Last year, after 23 years of service and somewhere in the range of 40,000+ rounds through it, the firing pin sheared in half. In disbelief, my only thought was, " HKs don't break." After $85 In parts and an hour of time, it was back up and running. What a great pistol.

[@GrippinTheGauge206]

40,000 rounds with no issues is pretty damn impressive. Everything fails at some point

[@brianshuler6951]

@@GrippinTheGauge206 Everything made by mankind fails.

[@ASPextra]

Yeah I have 60k through a P30 that is going strong. I had it gone through at 55k and it’s awesome. It’s now my training gun.

[@brianshuler6951]

@ASPextra Despite it's age and antiquated technology, I am faster and more accurate with it than most of my newer carry pistols.

[@varanid9]

@@brianshuler6951 What's the "antiquated technology"? Just because it doesn't have a picatinny?

[@pauljohnson9445]

USP is the most overbuilt pistol ever made, its lineage coming from the Mark 23 and first released in 93. USP40 was the first pistol designed around the new cartridge. USP45 came next, and the USP9 afterwards. Then came the USP compacts. P2000 and P2000sk came after, then the P30, originally called the P3000 but changed in house prior to release. P30 is the most ergonomic pistol ever. VP series came later. Too expensive is what people often say but there's nothing to upgrade, other than sight choices, unlike most other pistols. In 95, a USP40 full size was just over $600. USP was kind of a combat 1911 type, often carried cocked and locked in a V1 variant, but lots of trigger options exist. The Germans do love proprietary, which why the USP rails limit options, because it was the first pistol with a rail. Lots of people would love HK to upgrade the USP45 into a 10mm, with a modern rail, optic cut, and re-engineered mag base plate to hold 15 rounds. Ultimate grizzly country carry gun, when your Ruger 375 isn't handy. The P7 is what made the expensive accusation take hold. Very expensive to manufacture, and try and find one now.

[@Chris09978]

Actually the VP9 is an old pistol, coming from its roots from the VP7 which is the first striker fired pistol ever invented which was around the 70s I believe. The VP7 is a pistol but meant to ran how the Mauser pistol runs just more "modern" in that sense, the VP7 was meant to be fired in burst didn't really see any action until HK decided to make a reliable pistol for the German army this was the 90s. The USP was designed in 93 and the german militsry adopted it in 95 due to the German army wanted the USP in 9mm instead of .40cal that it was designed for. So technically the Vp came put first then the USP, in the early 2000s hk came out the p2000 series ironically released in 2002, the VP9 series came out in 2005 or 2008 About the USP in 10mm I believe HK did make one it 10mm. Not 100% sure on it but I have seen one in 10mm, and they are a rare find and HK sells a conversion kit for the USP in 10mm

[@pauljohnson9445]

@@Chris09978 Lots to discuss here, my lil' fren. P7 was designed in 1976 and produced from 1979 to 2008 in a variety of variants, with some never released, after the Munich debacle. The VP9 was released in June 2014 and was named handgun of the year. News of a 10mm kit for the USP has been wished for but to my knowledge, never produced. If it's not working towards a military or LE contract, HK tends to not make it. Civies be damned, or so some say.

[@Chris09978]

@@pauljohnson9445 thought the Vp9 was released in the early 2000s not in 2014, also another interesting part people failed to miss about the USP there are some metal inside of the frame of the pistol, I actually looked that up cause I didn't believe it at first

[@Verdha603]

The only thing you got backwards was the calibers; USP was introduced in .40 S&W to target the law enforcement market, and later that year released it in 9mm because it was relatively easy to fit a 9mm barrel and magazine into the existing .40 frame and slide, and also made it accessible to the military market. The .45 version would take another two years to hit the market because they had to increase the dimensions of parts of the pistol to accept the .45 cartridge.

[@justing7631]

I can only comment on my own limited experience but I have a P30SK and a Glock 19 and the ergonomics are night and day. With all due respect to Glock, once you hold them both in your hands, and especially shoot them side by side, it's a no brainer to go with HK. It's Toyota Camry versus Mercedes, except in this case the Mercedes is actually more reliable than the Toyota.

[@tyw2675]

The Air Marshals mostly carried the Sig 229 in .357 Sig. Pilots who were designated and trained as flight deck officers were carrying HK USP’s in .40.

[@Breakingtime91]

John, you have your hk history backwards. As a p2000 lem snob I can't just let that happen. The usp was developed prior to the p2000. The p2000 was an evolution of the usp. This is evident by the more modern rail to resemble other manufacturers and the removable backstrap. The p30 was a continuation of this line with the introduction of different slide lengths, a spider man grip (ability to change grip characteristics was getting required in contracts in Europe). Other than that the three systems share many parts and are very similar to work on. All 3 great guns. I think the p2000 is slept on a lot and I'm probably one of 10 people who appreciates them as the perfect appendix pistol. A g19 sized gun I can block the hammer on when drawing and holstering. Doesn't get much better. Throw in a gray guns short reset trigger, medium trs, and lazy wolf 12lb hammer spring and the trigger is about 5 lbs with a glock short reset (if you care about thst thing)

[@doktorfaustus]

It is worth noting that the "dumb, dumb, dumbity-dumb" rail system on the USP series is not there because HK thinks you suck and they hate you. When the USP was designed HK was very forward-thinking and one of the first companies ever to put a rail on a handgun out of the box. Consequently, there was no standard. Nobody else had released a mass-produced gun with 1913/Pic rail on it yet. As other companies followed suit and a standard coalesced, HK started using the 1913 pattern on subsequent evolutions (P2000, P30, etc.). "So," you ask, "why not just retrofit the USP?" While I am not privy to inside-information on this point, I can take a few educated guesses: 1. The USP still has quite a few military contracts (including the German army if I am not mistaken). Changing literally anything on a weapon system which has been adopted by a government will generally result in miles of bureaucratic red tape, new trials, etc. 2. They sort of did update the design with a standard rail; it's called the P30, and at this point merely putting a 1913 rail on the USP and leaving it otherwise unchanged is not worth the cost of retooling, since it would see such marginal success compared to a more modern design in other respects. 3. You suck and HK hates you.

[@justing7631]

I get and agree with all of the above, own a P30, love it, etc, but few pistols can ever match the aesthetics, aura and absolute manliness that a USP exudes. HK does hate me, and I will keep coming back until I own an example of absolutely every pistol they have made.

[@SpartanG062]

Gun nerd time, it actually goes USP -> USP Compact -> P2000 -> P30

[@cameronmorrison4519]

Really glad to see some HK love being spread around! A few videos on the P2000 would not be a bad idea....

[@RicArmstrong]

I seem to remember the US Air Marshall's carrying Sig 229-R in .357Sig. That's what I saw when I worked at BWI.

[@pauljohnson9445]

Yep, same as Secret Service. Ran drills with both on non-standard protocols. I think G19 is where they're at now. Dudes brought FALs to a rifle class where everybody else was 5.56.

[@touofthehighplains]

Back when the USP there was no industry standard for mounting a light. There is nothing dumb about inventing something before there was a standard.

[@bebop_557]

I will always remember the USP-9 pistol from Way Of The Gun and Blood Diamond (2 very good films when it comes to gun detail).

[@timunderbakke8756]

Love the USP family. I learned to shoot handguns on a USP Compact in .40 because that’s what my dad had as his first defensive handgun (manual safety version, which also doubled as a decocker ). Never did buy one.

[@BenBelkin]

You can get 18 rounds with the factory Jet Funnel mag well and the jet funnel mags

[@mrmcbeth]

For some reason, I thought the P2000 came after the USP. Interesting. I carry a hellcat now. I've almost worn it out. I'm going to switch back to my P30sk and switch to a P30L V1 light when the funds appear.

[@JGcd001]

In case you happened to miss the top comments, the P2000 did indeed come out after the USP 👍

[@mrmcbeth]

@@JGcd001 Ha. Thanks.

[@shortyberg1425]

FYI … If you didn’t know,Wright armory in Mesa,Az also cuts the slide for the HK P30 series not sure on usp series

[@ASPextra]

I know Brian personally.

[@justing7631]

I picked up mine today and took it right to the range. All my other HK handguns are compacts and sub compacts. Harder to shoot accurately, so perhaps that made me better with this, but I shot tight 3 inch groups out of two full mags at 10 yards. Best shooting, and most fun handgun I have. I'm also a P30 fan and my next purchase will be a P30L (already have the P30SK).

[@ASPextra]

I looooove my P30L!

[@fearnonebutone4977]

USP was born in the 1990’s, then the p2000, then the p30, then the vp9.

[@caritas8984]

Significant differences between the P30 and the USP. The USP has a roomy trigger guard, generous safety lever and slide release for thick gloves. And on the SA/DA version, the USP safety lever also acts as the decocker.

[@shortyberg1425]

Who doesn’t love his curls or perm ? Sheeesh ! Love ur content brotha

[@fattigla]

I never clean/lube a pistol before a range session. I see that as a perfect opportunity to test reliability. Same for a new pistol. Lubricating the pistol is best, but it is a good test to give you the warm and fuzzies for reliability.

[@me2ontube]

What extended mag do you recommend for the usp 45 - i heard there's 1 to be avoided at all costs

[@ugatobekittenme]

None, trust me do not mess with anything in a Usp, they're damn near 100% reliable, no reason to make them 95% reliable just for 1 or 2 extra rounds that you won't need

[@me2ontube]

@@ugatobekittenme hopefully - thx

[@ASPextra]

I don’t own any aftermarket mags for the USP so I can’t help on that front. Sorry!

[@user-ub9xw8ro3y]

I put an HKparts +5 extension on my USP 45 (LE) duty gun around two years ago, giving me 18 rounds of 45 ACP. It works perfectly but does make the gun quite weighty when fully loaded. It seems well made out of aluminum and only adds two inches to the grip length.

[@grimeye1]

The usp is a great gun but its amazing in 40. Hop has a great segment on why the Hk usp 40 is king of 40cal guns. I know people are not a fan of the cartridge, but in the usp it’s an amazing experience unlike the Glock 22 and 23.

[@glasstetris832]

The USP has a proprietary rail because it was the very first production handgun with a rail. It worked back then, it has adapters now, and it made the look of the gun. I hope as long as the USP is in production they never change it. I’d love to see HK OEM adapters like the GGG though

[@fattigla]

John,correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you carrying/shooting an HK VP9 pistol before they approached you to be a brand ambassador?

[@ASPextra]

Yes, started carrying a VP9 in 2015.

[@peterhour7256]

I Got this. Great pistol, i dont need any gadgets on it. I like what a manufacture offers. Very accurate. Big.

[@theChestnutMtnTinman]

Happens to me too. Often I have to do some maintenance etc once at the range👍👍😎😎

[@crominion6045]

HK sends you guns and money? You are living the dream, man! 👍

[@ASPextra]

Yeah, they do. And I know I am. :)

[@GLOCKCOPG23]

HK was first to put a rail on a pistol with the USP hence it being proprietary. There were no standard rails then. Nothing “dumb” about it. It’s more properly called “innovative”. Good video.

[@ramennoodle9100]

Hey John. I am a 22 year old living in Florida and have been watching your videos for 5+ years. I plan on getting my license to carry in Florida. What is a good H&K to start with? What do you recommend. I was thinking about the .45

[@Dulex321]

Have you ever shot a handgun before?

[@229glock]

I’d buy it if it really made that cool “bwaaaan” sound from your video.

[@Christopher-pe6zj]

Dot snob... I think it might be more of wanting to use what's most effective?

[@martincolvill5453]

What was to HK V? That carried 21 rounds of 9mm and had a SCCY length of trigger pull back in the 80s?

[@samuelboyer7842]

I appreciate the insight. what holster do you used for your p30? and the one you are using in this video for your usp thank you in advanced

[@ASPextra]

My regular holster is a Dark Star Gear Orion. For the USP I got a KSG Armory Lexington.

[@samuelboyer7842]

@@ASPextra thank your quick response. i've had a p30 for almost two years, i couldn't carry it because i couldn't find a holster for it. thank you once again.

[@ASPextra]

darkstargear.com/product/p30orion/

[@ericanderson2791]

It is not a proprietary rail. It can't be since the USP was the first gun to have any kind of accessory rail. It came out before the pica tinny rail was invented. If anything, HK did everything they could to make it "industry standard" by essentially making it an upside down weaver rail, which was the industry standard to scope mounts when the USP was invented.

[@reker.a5790]

Always greatly preferred the USP myself. However always felt that the 9mm model made the least sense and the durability was mainly good for the 40 and 45 caliber specifically. Not to mention 12 rounds of 45 is competitive still but 15 rounds standard in 9mm for a full size is not. Jet funnel mags at $90? Yeah right.

[@J96342]

Can you review the p2000

[@Nierlock]

Think you got it backwards John. Evolution was USP -> P2K -> P30 / HK45 -> VP9

[@gregorystoneberger2528]

I like hk I just can't afford them

[@pauljohnson9445]

VP series can be had for 500-600 samolians. Change sights, grab a holster and you are GTG.

[@ASPextra]

I am seeing VP9s at retail around $500 now!

[@smptactical259]

USP and Mark 23 predates Picatinny Rail so yes proprietary.

[@knndyskful]

/wave hey John (Just cuz you say hi at the start of the video)

[@ASPextra]

[waves back]

[@craigfarmer6358]

Jet funnel mag well will accept 18rd magazines

[@jesserodriguez8504]

Didn't the Air Marshals Carry the Sig P229 in 357sig the Border Patrol and CBP field operations officers carried the H&K P2000 in 40S&W

[@ASPextra]

I think those are both right.

[@jeffreyfoster3105]

Please take care of yourself. Sore foot or bad hip?😢 Love this and other asp channel

[@ASPextra]

Just a sore knee from my run. :)

[@Scashod]

Using the technology available to us (dots) is not being a snob. We no longer use Windows 3.1... Or floppy disks... ~~Susan

[@rondobrondo]

I love your channel man, but this is either extreme trolling on your part or a really poor lack of knowledge for an "HK Ambassador". The USP didn't have a 'proprietary rail' for no reason. It was the first standard handgun to have a 'universal' rail system like this. It didn't use picatinny because Picatinny on handguns didn't exist yet. And they were just trying to come up with the best system they could at the time. It's THE FIRST handgun with a rail system lol

[@ugatobekittenme]

Why would you get one chambered for 9mm? The gun is designed for 40sw and they're the same size. I just dont understand wanting an inferior caliber. Like taking an ar10 but only loading it with 5.56

[@yuriboykaundisputedman4971]

I would prefer next time you open the slide, can't tell if that firearm is unloaded. Safety 1st

[@ASPextra]

Then you'll have to trust me.

[@skelt11]

Way off here bud.

[@jc-vc7xq]

Hk isn’t what they used to be. If I wanted a USP I’d find one made back in the 90’s when they were making them right. The new ones aren’t quite as good. Especially for the HK price.

[@ASPextra]

What is it specifically that makes you say they 'aren't quite as good'?

[@jimmyreese918]

No sir I do the same thing going to the range. And always forget something😂

[@kobebryant3830]

Every American Love German guns and Cars No need feel ashamed dude