HK 45

[30 cal slut]

i don't know how value-added this thread is gonna be, as i am late to the HK 45 game ...

but ...

i ...

went ...

to ...

the ...

store ....

on ....

Friday ....

and picked one up.

and shot it.

verdict: i like it a LOT.

* the thing that struck me right off the bat is the vastly improved trigger pull. on single action it is an order of magnitude smoother than the chunky USP's and the Mk23. that translated to effortlessly accurate shots. i don't train as much with a 45 ACP as I do with 9mm, but i was getting 9mm-like groups without too much warming up.

* being able to carry cocked and locked is nice.

* the lower bore axis is a nice touch.

* i find the trigger groove in the trigger guard a little weird.

* i'm not sure if i'm holding it right, but the thumb of my firing hand rests on the decocker. i don't recall ever doing that on another pistol.

* spidey grips are ghey IMO, but that's an aesthetic call.

* i think LAV mentioned something about the frame ergonomics not being quite perfect on the earlier versions, but i haven't found any issues.

some real thought went into this design. me like. a lot.

was it worth the $1K+ that i paid for it? that's something that's going to vary individually, i guess.

i would put the HK 45 at the top of the tupperware .45 ACP pile, though.

it's definitely going into my CCW toolkit for those days i don't feel like lugging around a $2,500 1911.

[Palmguy]

I was dang close to picking one up recently, until I looked at the availability/price of magazines. Has this improved at all? The few places I looked had mags pushing $70 per which is absolutely insane to me.

My thumb has always located on the control lever of USPs and the HK45.

I agree, it is a fantastic pistol.

[30 cal slut]

I was dang close to picking one up recently, until I looked at the availability/price of magazines. Has this improved at all? The few places I looked had mags pushing $70 per which is absolutely insane to me.

doh!

well, i can rationalize that i will always be able to get the mags down the road ... since the hk 45 uses 10 round mags. and that they won't be banning those. i think. or hope.

[Boomer10]

I was able to find a local source of HK45 mags for only $55, but they only had 1 in stock. I don't even have my HK45 yet, but I snagged up the mag at that price.

[CJFirefly]

Did you get one of the newer ones that are made in the US? I want one of these but am reluctant until I'm sure quality isn't suffering after switching from German to US made.

[Greg Bell]

Very nice. By far my favorite non-1911 45.

[Mark71]

Did you get one of the newer ones that are made in the US? I want one of these but am reluctant until I'm sure quality isn't suffering after switching from German to US made.

So far the US made HK45 and the German models look and feel exactly the same. From what I have seen the quality is the same with no difference other then the serial # prefix and other markings.

[BrentPete]

I was dang close to picking one up recently, until I looked at the availability/price of magazines. Has this improved at all? The few places I looked had mags pushing $70 per which is absolutely insane to me.

I agree, it is a fantastic pistol.

I absolutely love mine. But the lack of availability and insane cost of the mags is a kick-in-the-pants. The BEST price I have found is SGC for $49.99, but they have been out of stock for a while. You know something is wrong when they have the best price.

[30 cal slut]

So far the US made HK45 and the German models look and feel exactly the same. From what I have seen the quality is the same with no difference other then the serial # prefix and other markings.

Mine is U.S., I think.

[Mark71]

Mine is U.S., I think.

The U.S built HK45's have a HKU serial # prefix. Also on the right side of the gun above the trigger guard it says...
"Heckler & Koch, Inc
Newington, NH
Made in USA".

These guns are also shipping in a grey hard case instead of the usual black.