The Heckler und Koch USP (German universelle selbstladende Pistole, universal self-loading pistol) is a pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler und Koch.
Design
When Heckler & Koch introduced the USP (Universal Selbstlade Pistole in German, or Universal Self-loading Pistol) in 1993, it marked the first time HK chose to incorporate many traditional handgun design elements in one pistol. Two principles guided its development - the first being the use of molded polymer material, the second being the creation of a "pistol paradigm."
Heckler & Koch attemped to observe the strong points of its previous successful pistols for insight as to developing "the best" pistol. Previous HK pistol innovations include the unique squeeze cocking mechanism of the HK P7 , the precise roller locked bolt of the P9S , and the double action only used by the VP70Z . In contrast to these ambitious designs, the USP uses a Browning linkless locked breech action, developed by John Browning for use in the Government Model or M1911. Much like the 1911, the USP can be safely carried "cocked and locked".
The USP was originally built in .40 and 9mm models, but later evolved into a .45 variant and later spawned the USP Compact series, which is available in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and, exclusive to the Compact model, .357SIG. Other variants of the standard USP include the USP Tactical, USP Expert, USP Match, and USP Elite. The USP was based on the SOCOM Mk 23 MOD 0, .45 ACP handgun designed by Heckler und Koch for the US SOCOM. The frame and slide of the USP45 are slightly larger than those found on the USP40 and USP9 , much like the Mk 23. The prominent oversized trigger guard allows the use of gloves when firing. The USP Tactical (.45 ACP) incorporates a fully adjustable rear sight, a higher-profile front sight (so as to be visible above the suppressor), an extended threaded barrel and O-ring, a match grade trigger, and an adjustable trigger stop. A sound suppressor design for the USP Tactical is available from Knight's Armament. The USP Expert (9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) includes all the features of the Tactical, with the exception of the threaded barrel and higher-profile sights. It also features an elongated steel slide, which mostly hides the O-ring barrel. The Expert may be used with an extended magazine well, or jet funnel, in 9mm and .40 S&W calibers, which is intended for use in conjunction with larger-capacity magazines. The USP Match (.9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP) is specifically designed to appeal to target shooters. In addition to the features offered on the Expert, the Match distinguishes itself by its barrel weight, or compensator, which replaces the elongated slide found on the Expert. The USP Elite (9mm, .45 ACP) takes features found on the Tactical, Expert, and Match models, and combines them with a whopping 6.02" (153 mm) barrel and hand-fitted 9.45" (240 mm) extended slide. The Elite also includes higher-profile fully adjustable front and rear sights.
Major metal components on both the USP and Special Operations Pistol are corrosion resistant. Outside metal surfaces, such as the steel slide are protected by a nitro-gas carburized black oxide finish. Internal metal parts, such as springs, are coated with an anticorrosion chemicals to reduce friction and wear.
One of the remarkable features of the USP is the wide variety of the trigger styles avalible, which may be quickly swapped. There are nine commercially avalible modifications.
By using a modular approach to the internal components, the control functions of the USP can be switched from the left to the right side of the pistol for left handed shooters. The USP can also be converted from one type of trigger/firing mode to another. This includes combination double-action and single-action (DA/SA) modes and double action only modes.
Variants I and 2 allow the user to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode, with or without the manual safety engaged. Variants 3 and 4 provide the user with a frame-mounted decocking lever that does not have the "safe" position. This combination only allows the hammer to be lowered from SA position to DA position. It does not provide the "safe" position to prevent the pistol from firing when the trigger is pulled. For the double action only user, variants 5, 6, and 7 of the USP operate as double action only pistols with a bobbed hammer always returning to the DA position (forward) after each shot is fired. To fire each shot, the trigger must be pulled through the smooth DA trigger pull. Variants 5 and 6 have a manual safety lever. No control lever is provided on variant 7. Variants 9 and 10 allow the shooter to carry the pistol in a single-action mode (cocked and locked) with the manual safety engaged. This same pistol, without modification, can be carried in double-action mode (hammer down), with or without the manual safety engaged. The single action mode offers a second strike/double action capability in case of a misfire. The control lever has no decocking function on variants 9 and 10.
In addition to a wide selection of trigger/firing modes, the USP has an ambidextrous magazine release lever that is shielded by the trigger guard from inadvertent actuation. The rear of the USP grip is stepped, and combined with the tapered magazine well, makes magazine changes faster due to lack of user-assisted-guiding. Finger recesses in the grip frame also aid in magazine removal. On 9mm and .40 caliber USPs, magazines are constructed of an stainless steel reinforced polymer. Magazines on the USP .45 are all metal. All USP magazines will drop free of the pistol frame when the magazine release is actuated. Also, the USP does not have a magazine lockout feature - it possible to fire a chambered round even with the magazine removed. An extended slide release lever is positioned to allow easy operation without changing the grip of the shooting hand.
One of the most important of the USP is the mechanical recoil reduction system. This system is incorporated into the recoil/buffer spring assembly located below the barrel. Designed primarily to buffer the slide and barrel and reduce recoil effects on the pistol components, the system also lowers the recoil forces felt by the shooter. The USP recoil reduction system is insensitive to ammunition types and does not require adjustment or maintenance. It functions effectively in all USP models. Using this same recoil reduction system, one of the related HK Mk23 .45 ACP Special Operations Pistols fired more than 30,000 +P cartridges and 6,000 proof loads without damage to any major components. Abuse and function testing of USP's have seen more than 24,000 rounds fired without a component failure.
Testing
As the USP was developed at the same time as the SOCOM Mk23, the pistol underwent much of the same rigorous testing. The barrel is cold- forged from chromium steel for increased life. The USP barrels are a polygonal profile to further increase muzzle velocity and barrel life During testing, a bullet was deliberately lodged in a USP barrel. Another cartridge was then fired into the obstructing bullet. The second bullet cleared the barrel, resulting in a barely noticeable bulge. The pistol was then fired for accuracy and the resulting group measured less than 4 inches at 25 meters.
Temperature testing required the USP be frozen to -42 °C and fired, frozen again, and then be heated up to 67 °C and fired. These temperature tests were continually repeated with no adverse effects on the USP.
The gun was also subjected to NATO Mil-Spec mud and rain tests which it passed without difficulty. Water immersion and salt spray also presented no problems. German Navy combat divers have used the USP for two years without any signs of corrosion.
Safety testing exceeded the ANSI/SAAMI requirements adopted in May 1990. These included dropping a USP with a primed cartridge and decocked hammer on a variety of hard surfaces without discharging. The USP surpassed these commercial requirements, as well as German Army and police tests, including repeated drop tests from six feet, hammer first, onto a steel backed concrete slab. Proof round firing resulted in no cracks, deformations, or increase in head space. Attempts to fire the USP pistol with an unlocked breech proved unsuccessful.
Testing with a variety of ammunition proved the USP meets these high standards. During the USP testing phase, it was shown the recoil-reduction system reduces the force on the USP grip to approx. 300 newtons (67 pounds-force). Peak force shock on competing .40 caliber polymer and metal framed pistols was around 5000 newtons (1,100 pounds-force). The primary benefit of low peak shock is a decrease in wear and tear on pistol components, a great concern with the +P cartridge in 9 mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. Reduction of peak shock forces also contributes to softer recoil for the shooter, although these "felt recoil" values are much more subjective.
Service
Two variations of the USP have now been adopted in Germany: the P8 - by Bundeswehr (German Army) and the P10 - by German Police . The P8 is a standard USP with specific features, such as a safety/decocker lever and translucent plastic magazines. It has only minor differences from the standard USP model, these being a reversed safety/decocker lever (on the P8, down indicates 'safe', and up indicates 'fire' - this is the opposite of the standard USP), and the 'S' and 'F' letters being printed onto the frame instead of onto the lever itself. The P10 is in fact a USP Compact with the addition of a spurred hammer. Both P8 and P10 are chambered in 9x19mm Luger (9mm NATO) only.
Technical Data
- Calibers: 9mm (USP9), .40 S&W (USP40), .45 ACP (USP45), .357SIG (USP Compact)
- Operating Principle: Short Recoil
- Action Type: Modified Browning, linkless Peters-Stahl type, Double Action or Double Action Only
- Sights:
- USP9: Fixed 3-dot style
- USP40: Fixed, 3-dot style
- USP45: Fixed 3-dot style
- USP Match: Fixed 3-dot style
- USP Expert: Adjustable target
- USP Tactical: Adjustable target
- USP Compact: Fixed 3-dot
- Dimensions:
- Overall Length (Barrel):
- USP9: 7.64 in (4.25 in) / 194 mm (108 mm)
- USP40: 7.64 in (4.25 in) / 194 mm (108 mm)
- USP45: 7.87 in (4.41 in) / 200 mm (112 mm)
- USP Match: 9.45 in (6.02 in) / 240 mm (153 mm)
- USP Expert: 8.74 in (5.20 in) / 222 mm (132 mm)
- USP Tactical: 8.64 in (5.09 in) / 219 mm (129 mm)
- USP Compact:
- .357SIG: 6.81 in (3.58 in) / 173 cm (91 mm)
- 9 mm: 6.81 in (3.58 in) / 173 mm (91 mm)
- .40 S&W: 6.81 in (3.58 in) / 173 mm (91 mm)
- .45 ACP: 7.09 in (3.80 in) / 180 mm (97 mm)
- Height:
- USP9: 5.35 in / 136 mm
- USP40: 5.35 in / 136 mm
- USP45: 5.55 in / 141 mm
- USP Match: 5.94 in / 150 mm.
- USP Expert:
- 9 mm: 5.87 in / 149 mm
- .40 S&W: 5.87 in / 149 mm
- .45 ACP: 5.94 in / 151 mm
- USP Tactical: 590 in / 150 mm
- USP Compact:
- .357SIG: 5.00 in / 127 mm
- 9 mm: 5.00 in / 127 mm
- .40 S&W: 5.00 in / 127 mm
- .45 ACP: 5.06 in / 129 mm
- Weight (empty):
- USP9: 1.65 lb / 748 g
- USP40: 1.66 lb / 753 g
- USP45: 1.74 lb / 789 g
- USP Match: 2.38 lb / 1080 g
- USP Expert: 2.30 lb / 1043 g
- USP Tactical: 1.90 lb / 862 g
- USP Compact:
- .357SIG: 1.47 lb / 667 g
- 9 mm: 1.47 lb / 667 g
- .40 S&W: 1.53 lb / 694 g
- .45 ACP: 1.60 lb / 726 g
- Magazine Capacity:
- USP9: 15 rounds (9 mm).
- USP40: 13 rounds (.40 S&W).
- USP45: 12 rounds (.45 ACP).
- USP Match: 18 rounds (9 mm), 16 rounds (.40 S&W), 12 rounds (.45 ACP).
- USP Expert: 18 rounds (9 mm), 16 rounds (.40 S&W), 12 rounds (.45 ACP).
- USP Tactical: 12 rounds (.45 ACP).
- USP Compact:
- .357SIG: 12 rounds.
- 9 mm: 13 rounds.
- .40: 12 rounds.
- .45: 8 rounds.
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