carrying HK USP cocked and locked

[sar]

I have a usp-c in 40. It's designed so it can be carried with a round in the chamber, hammer back, safety on. I know a few folks who say they carry these in condition 1. To be clear, I have no problem with a 1911 cocked and locked and have carried that way (in fact that's the only way I carry a 1911) However the grip safety adds a measure of comfort to my carrying that way and the HK doesn't have one. If the safety inadvertently flipped off, then you're carrying cocked with no safety.
I realize that the trigger still needs to be pressed, but still is concerning in single action..
any input or experience?

[The Annoyed Man]

I have the same pistol, and when I carry it, I carry it de-cocked, safety off. I also carry a 1911 as my main carry piece, and which I carry cocked and locked. One of the reasons I bought the USPc in the first place was because it could be carried cocked and locked, like a 1911. However, I am left handed; and while ambidextrous safeties for the USPc are available in theory, in practical application they are not. I've been trying to get one since I bought my USP about 2 years ago, and there are none to be found.

So for me, de-cocked is the next best option. I don't worry about the safety being off because that long first trigger pull is atrociously heavy. That gun isn't going to go off unless I very deliberately pull the trigger. In retrospect however, I would have probably bought an XD, G-g-g-g... g-g-g-g... Glock, or an M&P instead had I known about the scarcity of H&K parts.

[boomerang]

I have a usp-c in 40. It's designed so it can be carried with a round in the chamber, hammer back, safety on. I know a few folks who say they carry these in condition 1. To be clear, I have no problem with a 1911 cocked and locked and have carried that way (in fact that's the only way I carry a 1911) However the grip safety adds a measure of comfort to my carrying that way and the HK doesn't have one. If the safety inadvertently flipped off, then you're carrying cocked with no safety.
I realize that the trigger still needs to be pressed, but still is concerning in single action..
any input or experience?

If it concerns you, don't carry that way. If you prefer a grip safety for cocked and locked, that's your choice. Just remember that the grip safety on the 1911 blocks the trigger but it doesn't block the hammer or sear.

[phddan]

I carry both the USP f and c 45. ( not at the same time )
Have never had a problem with the safety with either.

Dan

[Syntax360]

However, I am left handed; and while ambidextrous safeties for the USPc are available in theory, in practical application they are not. I've been trying to get one since I bought my USP about 2 years ago, and there are none to be found.

So for me, de-cocked is the next best option. I don't worry about the safety being off because that long first trigger pull is atrociously heavy. That gun isn't going to go off unless I very deliberately pull the trigger. In retrospect however, I would have probably bought an XD, G-g-g-g... g-g-g-g... Glock, or an M&P instead had I known about the scarcity of H&K parts.

You're not looking very hard. I picked up a USPc .45 about a year and a half ago and I also shoot lefty. It took me about 20 minutes back then to find several stocked dealers to choose from on the ambi safety. It's been so long that I can't recall who I ended up going with, but you could always hit up HKPRO.com classifieds if you are serious about getting a safety and can't locate one for whatever reason... I want to say I paid something like $60 bucks, but I've since sold that pistol and all the receipts went with it...

[CJATE]

I carry both the USP f and c 45. ( not at the same time )
Have never had a problem with the safety with either.

Dan

+1, carry both in C-1

[The Annoyed Man]

However, I am left handed; and while ambidextrous safeties for the USPc are available in theory, in practical application they are not. I've been trying to get one since I bought my USP about 2 years ago, and there are none to be found.

So for me, de-cocked is the next best option. I don't worry about the safety being off because that long first trigger pull is atrociously heavy. That gun isn't going to go off unless I very deliberately pull the trigger. In retrospect however, I would have probably bought an XD, G-g-g-g... g-g-g-g... Glock, or an M&P instead had I known about the scarcity of H&K parts.

You're not looking very hard. I picked up a USPc .45 about a year and a half ago and I also shoot lefty. It took me about 20 minutes back then to find several stocked dealers to choose from on the ambi safety. It's been so long that I can't recall who I ended up going with, but you could always hit up HKPRO.com classifieds if you are serious about getting a safety and can't locate one for whatever reason... I want to say I paid something like $60 bucks, but I've since sold that pistol and all the receipts went with it...

YES, I DID try pretty hard. I could find no left handed or ambidextrous H&Ks when I bought mine, but I bought mine anyway on the assurance that, since H&K is a "popular" brand, it wouldn't be any trouble to find parts for it. I probably made 50 phone calls to H&K last year, and I've tried other vendors too. They didn't have any in stock then, and weren't expecting any parts anytime soon. As of this time, hknet.com does not have the part. There isn't anything right now in the MLSECPRO forum at HKPro.com. There is a limit to how far I'm willing to bend over backward to make useful what is a reliable but otherwise very average pistol. The triggers on my 1911s are better right out of the box. The trigger on my wife's G19 Glock is better right out of the box. The accuracy on the 1911s and the Glock is better right out of the box. The trigger on my Keltec P3AT is better right out of the box, and it is no less accurate than the USPc. The trigger on my 642 revolver is no stiffer, and much smoother right out of the box, and only marginally less accurate than the USPc. I could live with all of that if the parts were readily available.

The fact is, they aren't - and I'm not the only one complaining about it. Search the web. H&K is notorious for parts unavailability, and the only folks not recognizing that are the die-hard H&K fans (who are as equally dismissive of people like me as were you). Parts for other imports are much easier to come by, and you don't have to belong to some kind of fanclub with a secret handshake to get them. You go to your neighborhood gunstore, order the part, a week later, it's in. End of drama. Not so with H&K.

So, what is a reliable but otherwise average pistol to own, turns out to be a lot of trouble to own. For me, anyway. But that isn't because I "didn't try very hard." That's just nonsense.

[hi-power]

I have a usp-c in 40. It's designed so it can be carried with a round in the chamber, hammer back, safety on. I know a few folks who say they carry these in condition 1. To be clear, I have no problem with a 1911 cocked and locked and have carried that way (in fact that's the only way I carry a 1911) However the grip safety adds a measure of comfort to my carrying that way and the HK doesn't have one. If the safety inadvertently flipped off, then you're carrying cocked with no safety.
I realize that the trigger still needs to be pressed, but still is concerning in single action..
any input or experience?

I carry a BHP cocked and locked. Every once in a while something will knock the safety off. It's weird, but it seems it happens most often in the grocery store. I think the basket must be just the right height to make it happen. Anyway, I've developed a habit of stealthily checking the safety a few times each day.

[RPW]

With a good holster nothing is going to knock your safety off. I'd even be perfectly comfortable carrying condition zero.

[CJATE]

I have the same pistol, and when I carry it, I carry it de-cocked, safety off.

I re-read this and disagree with this, Although the hammer is recessed, I would hate for something to snag it or the trigger… I feel C-1 is safer.

Arguments?

[Furyataurus]

I carry my USP 9 "de-cocked" and safety on. But then again I have practiced ALOT drawing and flipping the safety off.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have the same pistol, and when I carry it, I carry it de-cocked, safety off.

I re-read this and disagree with this, Although the hammer is recessed, I would hate for something to snag it or the trigger… I feel C-1 is safer.

Arguments?

The trigger pull with it de-cocked is heavier than my Model 29 S&W, and roughly on a par with my Model 642 S&W (in other words, fairly stiff). In my opinion, it is no more unsafe to carry the USPc de-cocked than it is to carry a double action revolver. The trigger is well covered in the holster, and nothing is going to snag it, except my own booger hook - and that would be on purpose. The hammer has no spur to get snagged, so that's not going to be a problem either. And even if something miraculously got under the hammer and cocked it, the trigger still has to be pulled to fire it, and the trigger is well protected in the holster, as I said above. The gun is completely safe to carry this way.

On the other hand, I would prefer to carry it cocked and locked, like I do my 1911s, because the single action pull on the USPc is a darn sight better than the double action/de-cocked trigger pull. But since I can't unlock it easily if I have to draw it (no left handed safety), then I can't carry cocked and locked. Hence the original source of my dissatisfaction with the pistol - since what I really have now is the practical equivalent of a 12 round revolver in .40 cal. with a speed reload capability. I could have gotten a Glock-and-a-half for what I paid for the H&K, and had a better trigger.

[Syntax360]

You're not looking very hard. I picked up a USPc .45 about a year and a half ago and I also shoot lefty. It took me about 20 minutes back then to find several stocked dealers to choose from on the ambi safety. It's been so long that I can't recall who I ended up going with, but you could always hit up HKPRO.com classifieds if you are serious about getting a safety and can't locate one for whatever reason... I want to say I paid something like $60 bucks, but I've since sold that pistol and all the receipts went with it...

YES, I DID try pretty hard. I could find no left handed or ambidextrous H&Ks when I bought mine, but I bought mine anyway on the assurance that, since H&K is a "popular" brand, it wouldn't be any trouble to find parts for it. I probably made 50 phone calls to H&K last year, and I've tried other vendors too. They didn't have any in stock then, and weren't expecting any parts anytime soon. As of this time, hknet.com does not have the part. There isn't anything right now in the MLSECPRO forum at HKPro.com. There is a limit to how far I'm willing to bend over backward to make useful what is a reliable but otherwise very average pistol. The triggers on my 1911s are better right out of the box. The trigger on my wife's G19 Glock is better right out of the box. The accuracy on the 1911s and the Glock is better right out of the box. The trigger on my Keltec P3AT is better right out of the box, and it is no less accurate than the USPc. The trigger on my 642 revolver is no stiffer, and much smoother right out of the box, and only marginally less accurate than the USPc. I could live with all of that if the parts were readily available.

The fact is, they aren't - and I'm not the only one complaining about it. Search the web. H&K is notorious for parts unavailability, and the only folks not recognizing that are the die-hard H&K fans (who are as equally dismissive of people like me as were you). Parts for other imports are much easier to come by, and you don't have to belong to some kind of fanclub with a secret handshake to get them. You go to your neighborhood gunstore, order the part, a week later, it's in. End of drama. Not so with H&K.

So, what is a reliable but otherwise average pistol to own, turns out to be a lot of trouble to own. For me, anyway. But that isn't because I "didn't try very hard." That's just nonsense.[/quote]

I'm not arguing that it's a marginal pistol at best - that's why I unloaded mine. The trigger is absolutely unacceptable for a $750+ handgun. I spent five minutes on google and found a guy over at HKPRO that has them - check out user "leedway" (I'll PM you his name/contact #). I think I got mine from hkpartsonline.com... They may not be the most common part going, but you can't expect me to believe you have been diligently searching for two years and have come up with nothing - puuuuhlease.... Especially when I picked up my pistol at roughly the same time and had zero issues locating the part and finding a local smith to install it:

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http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l46/S ... 0/usp3.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;