Heckler & Koch USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol)

Semi-Automatic Service Pistol [ 1993 ]

The HK USP semi-automatic pistol entered production in 1993 and still sees service today.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/16/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

The Heckler & Koch USP (Universal Self-Loading Pistol) was an amalgam design by the German concern intending to bring together the best qualities of a security-minded firearm with the robustness and reliability of a military sidearm for the lucrative American market. The result became a well-made, highly reliable semi-automatic pistol that has since gone on to see widespread use at various levels including both special forces and law enforcement (the USP makes up the Mk 23 Mod 0 "SOCOM" pistol of the United States Navy SEALs). The USP was designed during a period spanning 1989 to 1992 to which introduction to the market occurred in 1993. The modified USP for SOCOM trials became one of the most tested pistols in history, assuring that the weapon was of a perfected design for high-level operatives.

Utilizing feedback from law enforcement and military personnel during its development, HK took a Browning-designed cam breech locking mechanism and mated it with their own patented recoil-reduction system while shrouding the critical internals in anti-corrosion metal and utilizing lightweight polymer construction where possible. The recoil reduction system aids in overall accuracy and lessens structural fatigue of parts while the use of plastics reduces carrying fatigue and handling weight. The pistol sports an easy-to-manage combo safety/decocking lever along the left side of the frame though this installation can be handily flipped over to the right side as the use requires. The trigger action can also be customized to suit the firer's taste through available double-action-only or combo double-action/single-action functions. The overall design is much in line with other semi-automatic handgun offerings, with many relating back to the original excellent Browning M1911 series including the widely-accepted ribbed rear frame sides for the gripping of the slide. The hammer is partially exposed at the rear of the frame and magazines are loaded into the pistol grip in the usual way. The magazine release lever is ambidextrous and a laser aiming module (LAM) or tactical flashlight can be affixed as optional accessories to the forward underside of the frame. A Picatinny rail is available for tactical models for mounting optics over, alongside and under the frame. The original USP line was marketed in three distinct popular chamberings - .40 S&W, 9x19mm Parabellum and .45 ACP. The .40 S&W design was the original USP chambering (as the USP40) and this was then closely followed by the USP9 of 9mm chambering to which then the USP45, with its .45 ACP cartridge support, was unveiled. Special versions utilize the .357 SIG cartridge (USP Compact).

The USP has since been developed into several major production forms - the base USP pistol, the USP Compact (small frame model), the USP Tactical, the USP Compact Tactical the USP Expert, the USP Match, the USP Elite, the USP Combat Competition and the P8 (German Army designation). A government agency model incorporates a double-action system sans the control lever for manual safety/decocking. The USP Tactical is a compact version of the basic USP design with the specialized features of the special forces-minded SOCOM Mark 23 pistol series. These differ visually by a portion of barrel extending past the front end of the frame for installation of a sound suppressor. The USP Compact Tactical is for US Special Forces use and sports a threaded barrel end for a sound suppressor within a compact .45 ACP frame.

The weapon - in its varied forms and at various defense group levels - has since been adopted by Albania, Australia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Poland (GROM special forces), Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, the United States and Uruguay.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1993

Origin

Germany

Classification

Semi-Automatic Service Pistol

Heckler & Koch GmbH - Germany

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

Albania; Australia; Brazil; Cyprus; Denmark; Estonia; France; Germany; Greece; Ireland; Japan; Jordan; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Poland; Portugal; Singapore; South Africa; South Korea; Spain; United States; Uruguay

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Pistol / Sidearm
Compact design for close-quarters work or general self-defense.

✓ Special Forces
Qualities of this weapon have shown its value to Special Forces elements requiring a versatile, reliable solution for the rigors of special assignments.

✓ Silenced
This weapon is either inherently silent/suppressed or can be made so through special assembly added at the muzzle, specialized subsonic ammunition or a combination of both.

Overall Length

194 mm
7.64 in

Barrel Length

108 mm
4.25 in

Empty Wgt

1.65 lb
0.75 kg

Sights

Iron front and rear; optional optics.

Action

Short-Recoil; Double-Action / Single-Action; Double-Action/Double-Action Only

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

9x19mm Parabellum; .357 SIG; .40 S&W; .45 ACP

Sample Visuals**

Graphical image of a 9mm pistol cartridge

Graphical image of a .357 SIG pistol cartridge

Graphical image of a .40 S&W (Smith & Wesson) pistol cartridge

Rounds / Feed

8-, 12-, 13-, 15-, 16- and 18-round detachable box magazines

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

164 ft
(50 m | 55 yd)

HK USP ("Universal Self-Loading Pistol") - Base Series Designation; original production mark.

USP40 - Chambered for .40 S&W cartridge

USP9 - Chambered for 9x19 Parabellum cartridge

USP45 - Chambered for .45 ACP cartridge

HK USP Compact - Appearing in 1996; available chamberings in .40 S&W, 9x19mm Parabellum, .45 ACP and .357 SIG.

HK USP Compact Tactical

HK USP Tactical

HK USP Expert

HK USP Match

HK USP Elite

HK USP Combat Competition

HK P8 - German Army Designation

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Images Gallery

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Image of the Heckler & Koch USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol)

Left side profile view of the Heckler & Koch HK USP semi-automatic pistol

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