Assault rifle Heckler & Koch HK G11. USP pistol - a triumph of innovators from Germany Application and trace in popular culture

The development of the G11 rifle was started by Heckler and Koch (Germany) at the very end of the 1960s, when the German government decided to create a new, more efficient rifle to replace the 7.62 mm G3 rifles.
Based on the results of the survey, it was decided that the Bundeswehr needed a light, small-caliber rifle with high shooting accuracy. To ensure a reliable defeat of the enemy, it was necessary to ensure that several bullets hit the target, therefore it was decided to create a rifle for a caseless cartridge of 4.3 mm caliber (later switched to 4.7 mm caliber) with the possibility of firing single, long bursts and with a cut-off bursts of 3 shots. The Heckler-Koch company was supposed to create such a rifle, with the participation of the Dynamite-Nobel company, which was responsible for the development of a new caseless cartridge. (In brackets, I note that Heckler-Koch was not the only West German company that developed weapons for a caseless cartridge - it simply achieved the greatest success in this matter.

For example, the company Vollmer Maschinenfabrik in the early 1980s also developed a number of samples of assault rifles of a very original design for a caseless cartridge, but they never brought them to mass production. Similar developments were also carried out in the United States in the 1980s by the AAI Corporation in the early stages of the Advanced Combat Rifle program, as well as in France by the GIAT concern).

The main development of the layout and mechanisms of the new weapon was carried out by Heckler-Koch engineers Dieter Ketterer and Thilo Moller, with the participation of Günter Kastner and Ernst Vossner. Army testing of prototypes of the new rifle began in 1981 at the Meppen training ground. In 1983, already 25 experimental samples of the rifle were tested at the Hammelburg army training ground. These tests continued for about a year.
In 1988, the first pre-production samples of the G11 entered the Bundeswehr for testing. Based on the results of these tests, a number of changes were made to the design of the G11, in particular: the sight was made removable, with the possibility of replacing it with other types of sights; magazine capacity was reduced from 50 to 45 rounds, however, it became possible to mount two spare magazines on the rifle on either side of the main (working) magazine; a mount for a bayonet or bipod appeared under the barrel on the body of the weapon. A new version of the rifle, designated as G11K2, in the amount of 50 copies was provided to the German military for military testing at the end of 1989. As part of these tests, 200,000 rounds of ammunition were used - 4,000 rounds per rifle. Based on the test results, it was decided to put the G11 into service with the Bundeswehr in 1990, however, deliveries were limited to an initial batch of only 1000 pieces, after which the program was closed by the decision of the German authorities. The main reasons for the closure of this technically quite successful program are most likely, firstly, the lack of money in connection with the unification of the two Germanys, and, secondly, NATO requirements for the unification of ammunition, which resulted in the adoption of the G36 rifle by the Bundeswehr under the standard ammunition 5.56 mm NATO.

In 1988-1990, the G11 was also tested in the United States as part of the ACR (Advanced Combat Rifle) program. The purpose of this program was to test new concepts (caseless ammunition, arrow-shaped sub-caliber bullets, etc.) to identify a potential successor to the M16A2 rifle. During these tests, the G11 proved to be a reliable and easy-to-handle weapon with good fire accuracy in all modes, but it could not achieve the 100% excess of combat performance over the M16A2 required by the Americans.
As part of the G11 program, not only the rifle itself was developed, but a whole range of weapons for a caseless cartridge, including a magazine-fed light machine gun and a personal defense weapon (PDW) in the dimensions of a compact submachine gun. light machine gun had a magazine located in the butt, with a capacity of 300 rounds.

Such stores were to be equipped only in the factory, and delivered to the troops already equipped and ready for use. Some sources also mention that the CAWS smoothbore combat rifle, created as part of the eponymous program for the US Army by Heckler-Koch in collaboration with American company Olin/Winchester was also based on the G11, but this is not the case. Despite some external resemblance to the G11, the HK CAWS shotgun used cartridges with a traditional metal sleeve and had an automatic device of a fundamentally different device (a short barrel stroke in combination with an auxiliary vapor mechanism).
As a final touch, it can be mentioned that the G11 rifle received the unofficial nickname “quick-firing cuckoo clock” among the developers, for a very complex mechanism that had a large number of swinging and rotating parts.

Rifle automation works due to the energy of powder gases discharged from the barrel. The gas outlet mechanism is located to the left of the barrel and slightly below it. The cartridges are placed in the magazine above the barrel, bullets down, in one row. The G11 rifle has a unique rotating breech chamber, into which the cartridge is fed vertically down before firing. Then, the chamber is rotated 90 degrees, and when the cartridge stands on the line of the barrel, a shot occurs, while the cartridge itself is not fed into the barrel. The junction of the chamber with the barrel was one of the weakest points in the design of the rifle, having a survivability of only 3000-4000 shots. In 1989, Heckler-Koch engineers promised to raise the resource of this unit to 6000 rounds, but it is not known whether they managed to achieve this. Since the cartridge is caseless (with a burning primer), the automation cycle is simplified by refusing to extract the spent cartridge case. In the event of a misfire, the failed cartridge is pushed down when the next cartridge is fed. The cocking of the mechanism is carried out using the rotary knob on the left side of the weapon. When firing, the cocking handle remains stationary. It should be noted that on early prototypes the cocking handle of the weapon was located in front of the weapon, under the forend, and only starting from prototype No. 13 (1981) did it take the form of a rotary “key” on the left wall of the receiver.
Interestingly, Heckler-Koch engineers made significant efforts to protect the rifle mechanisms from dust, dirt and moisture. The cutout for the trigger was closed with a special movable membrane, the hole for the magazine receiver was automatically closed by a spring-loaded cover when the magazine was removed.

The barrel, firing mechanism (except for the fuse/translator and trigger), rotary breech with mechanics and magazine are mounted on a single base, made of stamped steel sheet, which can move back and forth inside the body of the rifle. When firing single shots or long bursts, the entire mechanism performs a full rollback-rollback cycle after each shot, which ensures a decrease in the recoil felt by the shooter (similar to artillery systems). When firing in bursts of three shots, the next cartridge is fed and fired immediately after the previous one, at a rate of up to 2000 rounds per minute. At the same time, the entire mobile system comes to the extremely rear position already AFTER the third shot, so that the recoil begins to act on the weapon and the arrow again after the end of the burst, which ensures high accuracy of fire in short bursts (a similar solution was later used in the Russian Nikonov AN- 94).

Early G11 prototypes were equipped with a fixed 3.5x optical sight. The final (pre-production) version of the G11K2 had a 1X quick-detachable optical sight as the main one, with a backup open sight made on the upper surface of the optical sight. Stores originally had a capacity of 50 rounds and could be loaded from special plastic clips for 10 (later 15) rounds. In the final version, the capacity of the magazines was reduced to 45 rounds, and there was a transparent window on the side of the magazine to monitor the remaining cartridges. Two spare magazines could be mounted on the body of the weapon, on the sides of the main (working) magazine, since carrying very long magazines on oneself was difficult.
In the final version of the G11K2, at the request of the military, it became possible to install a standard bayonet-knife, while it was attached not to a movable barrel, but to special mounts located on the body of the weapon below the muzzle and partially recessed into the body. A light removable bipod for firing from the stop could be mounted on the same mounts.

The Heckler & Koch company is still a fairly young arms manufacturer, but almost every one of its developments was widely known and distributed around the world. The G3 automatic rifle was produced in Mexico and Iran. The MP5 submachine gun surpassed its competitors so much that it became a kind of "standard" for such weapons. But H&K pistols, despite their high quality and unusual design, could not achieve world fame for some time.

The situation changed in the 1990s. UniverselleSelbstladepistole USP entered the scene, proving that Heckler & Koch can achieve leadership in this area too.

History of creation

Heckler & Koch was founded after the Second World War by former engineers from the Mauser factory. Using the equipment that they managed to salvage from the destroyed workshops, they opened their own workshop.

The development and production of Heckler and Koch weapons began in the 50s, but the first pistol under the designation P4 appeared in 1967. It was small pocket pistol, similar in design to the pre-war Mauser HSc. His interesting feature it was possible to easily change the caliber (to one of four) by replacing the barrel and magazine.

In the seventies, H&K released the original VP70 pistol with a polymer frame and automatic fire capability.

It was followed by the H&KP7, designed specifically for the police and adopted by a dozen countries. But the real popularity of the Heckler and Koch personal weapons was brought by the USP that appeared in the nineties.

There is nothing surprising in the fact that the "universal self-loading" fell to become such a well-known weapon, no. Unlike their ancestors, H&K created it specifically for the American market.

This weapon, first of all, had to satisfy the desires of a huge mass of US civilian shooters. For the same reason, variants were immediately developed not only for the standard 9x19 mm cartridge for Europe, but also for the traditional American .45 ACP cartridge, and the new (and promising) at that time .40 S&W.

In the late 80s, a version of the pistol took part in a competition to create a new weapon for the American special operations forces. From this project, the famous Mk 23 for special forces eventually emerged, but the experience gained was also useful in fine-tuning the USP. It entered production in .40 caliber in 1993, followed by a 9mm version. Finally, in 1995, the USP 45 went on sale.

Gun device

Previous USP pistols "Heckler and Koch" were distinguished by the use of various non-traditional design solutions. For example, the P9 used a semi-free breech, a system similar to that used in the design of the G3 rifle. But the “Heckler & Koch” USP is basically a fairly traditional design, almost like the Browning M1911 and Hi-Power. Automation uses the recoil of the barrel to work with its short course. Trigger mechanism kurkovy, double action. And this is where innovation comes in.

A remarkable feature of USM is the variety of modes of its operation.

In the workshop, you can change the position of the fuse (or remove it altogether), add or remove a safe trigger release, make the mechanism only self-cocking. The recoil spring assembly incorporates a spring-loaded recoil buffer mechanism. According to the developers, it allows you to reduce the perceived return by 30%.

From the bottom of the frame there is a fixture for attaching flashlights or laser designators. However, this is not a universal Picatinny rail type mount, and therefore not every USP can be equipped with additional equipment. Thus, only InsightIndustries lamps distributed through the Heckler & Koch dealer network are allowed to be installed. To get around this inconvenience, some companies have launched the production of adapters that allow you to install a standard Picatinny rail.

Options

A wide variety of USP models are produced - from compact, for concealed carry, to long-barreled target:

1. CustomSport is a target modification for sports and practical shooting.
2. Compact - a variant with a reduced frame and a different recoil mitigation system. Only this pistol is available in .357 SIG.
3. The USP Tactical is a suppressed pistol equipped with an adjustable sight. A kind of "Mk 23 for the poor."
4. Compact Tactical is a small-sized model of a “tactical pistol”. Unlike the full-size, only one caliber is produced - .45 ACP.
5. Expert - a pistol similar to the "tactical", but not intended for use with a silencer. But it has an elongated frame and can use stores with increased capacity.
6. Match - a competition version that uses a special weight to reduce barrel bounce. Currently not produced.
7. USP Elite is the "final" version of the target pistol with a barrel extended to 153 mm.

Characteristics in comparison with analogues from other manufacturers

To compare the performance, let's take the standard USP 45 and European pistols of the same caliber, which appeared around the same time.

In terms of mass and dimensions, the pistol in question is generally similar to its competitors, reducing the decisive factor of choice to a matter of personal preference. For example, the ammunition of the Swiss SIG-Sauer may seem insufficient to someone. But Glock does not produce long-barreled models of .45ACP caliber. It is worth mentioning that although the production of the P220 series began back in the seventies, the production of the large-caliber P227 started only in 2014.

Interestingly, American gunsmiths mainly concentrated on the production of revolvers and variations on the classic M1911, rarely indulging the market with new designs.

Application and footprint in popular culture

In 1994, the USP nine-millimeter pistol was adopted by the Bundeswehr (under the name P8). The USP Compact (also in 9mm caliber) became the weapon of the German police, receiving the designation P10. The distribution was not limited to this - subsequently it was adopted by the military and police of various countries.

It can be found all over the world - in Serbia and Spain, in Thailand and Singapore, Australia and South Africa.

In most cases, nine-millimeter versions were adopted, much less often - .45 caliber. To have a .40 caliber weapon was expressed only by the US Immigration Service and Air Marshals.

USP has gained considerable popularity in the media as well. With its help, gamers destroyed terrorists in games of the Rainbow 6 series, survived the zombie apocalypse in Resident Evil, shot back from mutants in STALKER. The "tactical" model with a silencer was present in the arsenal of the most popular online shooter of its time - Counter-Strike.

On the big screen, Heckler and Koch pistols were wielded by vampires from the Underworld film series, Blade by Wesley Snipes, Jason Bourne and Lara Croft of the 2001 model. On television, USP received a significant role in the series "24".

The USP pistol turned out to be a successful example, combining proven traditional solutions with innovative proposals.

High reliability and a variety of options allowed us to firmly establish ourselves in the market and earn popularity. The USP pistol can hardly be called the "most-most" type of weapon.

The Mk 23 weapon remains unsurpassed in combat performance. There are also newer pistols (HK45, VP9) among the Heckler and Koch products. But the "universal self-loading" remains in production, and its popularity is not going to decline. The USP model not only brought H&K pistols to the world level - it allows you to stay on it.

Video

The popular weapons manufacturer unveiled the new HK433 assault rifle in a press release issued to the general public in early February 2017. Now Heckler & Koch has presented a modern modular rifle at the ENFORCE Tac exhibition in Nuremberg to a professional audience.

We were also able to experience new model HK433 on ENFORCE Tac. Employees law enforcement and the military got acquainted with this assault rifle with enthusiasm, and there were a lot of people who wanted to get to know her better. Especially the focus on the weapons of the future and the number of shots, which makes it easier to maintain and troubleshoot this assault rifle.

Heckler & Koch from Oberndorf in Swabia, with its world-famous firearms such as the MP 5 or G36, has confirmed the brand's reputation as "Made in Germany". Assault rifles, pistols and submachine guns of this company are known all over the world and are popular among the police and military.

In addition to the past baptism of fire rifle families G36, HK416 and HK417, the company's product portfolio is now replenished with the fourth modular family of assault rifles: HK433. In NATO countries, in France (HK416AIF), Germany (G36), USA (US Marine Corps M27 / HK416), Great Britain (SA80), Norway (HK416), Spain (G36) and Lithuania (G36), assault rifles from Heckler & Koch are already regular models armed forces or their branches.

Many armies Western countries– including, for example, US special forces, command special operations Bundeswehr (KSK) and police forces special purpose(such as GSG9) - opted for assault rifles from Oberndorf.

Heckler & Koch HK433 Modular Assault Rifle

The latest HK433 is a 5.56 x 45mm NATO base caliber modular assault rifle that combines the strengths and best features of the G36 and HK416 assault rifles. The concept provides for the use of other calibers, such as 7.62 x 51 mm NATO (HK231), .300 Blackout and 7.62 x 39 mm Kalaschnikow (HK123), thus forming the basis of a whole family of weapons.

The HK433 is a vapor-operated weapon with a gas piston separate from the bolt carrier and locking with an optimized shaped bolt action. The monolithic, high-strength aluminum receiver top is fitted with a precision NATO-STANAG 4694 full-length rail for sight mounts. It accepts all commercially available scopes and night attachments at maximum length and low line of sight.

The receiver has a built-in sensor for the number of shots, which does not require maintenance and does not allow manipulation. With an eye to the future, weapon data can be transferred and archived wirelessly - either via WLAN or via Bluetooth, which turned out to be a real surprise for us.

An integrated bolt guide in the upper part of the receiver, made according to the G36 type, provides a consistently high functional reliability of the weapon. The bolt design is similar to the G36, however it is equipped with a firing pin safety as well as self-lubricating sliding elements.

The action of the new HK433 assault rifle is based on the Heckler & Koch G36 design, which has received worldwide recognition.

The reload lever, which does not protrude to the side and does not move when fired, is repositioned without the help of a tool and thus can be serviced from either side. In addition, it has a built-in locking function for silently chambering a cartridge.

When firing, the reload lever remains stationary. This, on the one hand, increases the safety of the shooter in stressful situation and, on the other hand, does not limit the shooter in choosing a stop or making a shot when firing a weapon. Due to the ergonomic location of the reload lever, the weapon remains directed at the target during reloading, and in the prone position it does not lead to the need to raise the body, which unmasks the shooter and increases the area of ​​destruction.

Heckler & Koch HK433 assault rifle barrel

The HK433 rifle gives the shooter a choice of six barrels of different lengths, so the weapon can be adapted to any application scenario. Heckler & Koch offers barrel lengths of 11", 12.5", 14.5", 16.5", 18.9" and 20" for this purpose. All barrels can be replaced by the shooter or in the field workshop.

The barrel is made by cold forging, heat treated and chrome plated inside. With additional optimization measures, the already high survivability of Heckler & Koch barrels has increased even more. Serial barrels are equipped with an improved and tool-free venting device for silent and flameless shooting, as well as a mount for 40-mm HK269 and GLM / GLMA1 grenade launchers. The base of the front sight and the bayonet mount can be installed optionally.

The receiver of the new HK433 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch

The interchangeable lower part of the receiver makes it possible to define the control concept and thus reduces the cost of training the shooter. Depending on the level of shooting training, the shooter can choose to control in the style of either G36 or HK416 / AR-15. All controls are made double-sided, symmetrically arranged and can be configured to the user's taste.

Drop-in solutions at the bottom of the receiver expand the functionality of the weapon by customizing match triggers or combining modular triggers.

The Slim Line handguard, developed by Heckler & Koch, connects to the lower part of the receiver with a kinematic lock and without backlash. It detaches without the aid of a tool and features sling attachment points, a modular HKey interface at 3 and 9 o'clock, and a solid MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail on the underside of the handguard.

Other design features of the HK433 assault rifle

The magazine shaft according to the NATO-STANAG 4179 (Draft) standard allows replacement with interchangeable magazine shafts from rifles of the G36, HK416 families, as well as models on the AR-15 platform available on the market.

Pistol grips are similar to those of the HK416 family of weapons. With grips with interchangeable pads and backs, similar to the P30 and SFP series pistols, the rifle can be best adapted to different hand sizes.

The new HK433 assault rifle, unlike the HK416, does not have a side-folding buttstock, but is equipped with a folding retractable buttstock.

Ergonomic folding and length-adjustable shoulder rest with height-adjustable cheek is connected to the receiver without backlash. The length adjustment has five fixed positions and thus allows you to quickly adjust to the shooter's personal equipment. A straight, convex or curved butt plate provides the necessary comfort when making weapons. The shoulder rest can be folded to the right in any fixed position. Due to this, exceptionally small dimensions in the stowed position are achieved.

At the same time, access to the trigger is not blocked. The ejection window remains open, so that in case of an emergency, the weapon remains operational and in the transport position.

The HK433 is completed by a special combination of materials and surface finishes. They provide minimal maintenance for weapons in extreme conditions while maintaining its high resource.

On request, the new Heckler & Koch assault rifle is available in camouflage and IR-absorbing coatings.

The weight of an empty HK433 rifle with a 16.5 inch barrel is 3.5 kg.

Conclusions on the new Heckler & Koch HK433 rifle

Heckler & Koch developed the HK433 to meet the increasingly complex requirements for infantry and special forces weapons. The HK433 guarantees the highest performance and functional reliability. This applies to all possible combat situations and all climatic conditions. The Heckler & Koch HK433 has intuitive controls combined with modularity, accuracy and safe handling.

With it, Heckler & Koch, among other things, set its sights on the German market. The new HK433 is regarded as one of the participants in the competition for the new Bundeswehr Assault Rifle System. The German armed forces intend from 2019 to replace the former standard rifle with the G36 standard rifle with a more modern system.

We will be following all the current information about the new HK433 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch in the future.

Submachine gun "Heckler and Koch" MP-5 (Germany)

Submachine gun "Heckler und Koch" MP-5.

One of the most popular post-war submachine guns. Unlike most of its competitors, it has a blowback mechanism with a pair of rollers to slow down the shutter (like the HK G3 assault rifle). It is produced in a significant number of modifications, distinguished by the presence of a buttstock or a folding shoulder rest, a silencer (in the photo, model HK MP-5SD2), the ability to fire in fixed bursts of 3 shots. Recently, a modification of the MP-510 has appeared chambered for 10 mm auto, more powerful than the standard 9 mm par. (9x19). The design of the MP-5 also allows the use of 9 mm Silvertip cartridges, which explode when they hit the target. In addition to Germany itself, the MP-5 is produced under license in Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, and Turkey. Interestingly, the German Army (Bundeswehr) never accepted the MP-5 into service, using as a PP ... an Israeli-designed UZI submachine gun, which was released in Belgium under license. By the way, of the post-war designs, ultrasound is perhaps the only competitor of the MP-5 in terms of the number of samples produced in its class.

The MP-5 owes its success, in addition to the very successful marketing policy of the company, to its properties such as reliability, ease of use, and high shooting accuracy. Especially for US law enforcement agencies (including the FBI), in the 1990s, limited batches of MP-5s were produced for more powerful 10mm Auto and .40S&W cartridges. These variants are easily distinguishable from the 9mm models thanks to the straight box magazines made of plastic (9mm models have steel magazines).

The shutter consists of two parts with rollers protruding from the front part (larva) of the shutter. The more massive upper part lies on the larva in readiness for firing and the inclined planes between the rollers push them into the recess in the receiver.

Submachine gun "Heckler und Koch" MP-5A2 with night passive device.

Submachine gun "Heckler und Koch" MP-5A3.

It is in service with many armies and special police units of the world due to its strength and reliability. Especially for the civilian market, Heckler-Koch for some time produced only self-loading versions of the MP-5, designated as HK-94. For the US market, some of these "carbines" were equipped with 16-inch (406 mm) barrels in accordance with local laws.

MP-5 modifications:

MP-5A (with a retractable shoulder rest) MP-5A2 (with a fixed plastic butt) MP-5A3 (with a retractable shoulder rest) MP-5SD (with a device for silent shooting, which is a casing with 30 holes, put on the barrel) MP-5K (has a front grip, but does not have a stock; designed for concealed carry)

Submachine gun "Heckler und Koch" MP-5N.

On the MP-5N variant, created by order of the US Navy, the barrel is additionally threaded for attaching American standard silencers.

TACTICAL - TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

*Note: on special orders it can be equipped with a device for firing bursts of 3 shots.

HK USP pistol with attached tactical flashlight and .45 ACP ammo

In 1993, the USP pistol (Universal Selbstladen Pistole) was introduced and put into mass production by Heckler und Koch. self-loading pistol), designed for use in the police, army, special forces, as well as ordinary citizens for self-defense and sports shooting. The design of this model was started in 1989. The head of the design work was Helmut Veldle. The purpose of the creation was a pistol that could be successfully used both in the police and the army, and for self-defense by ordinary citizens, as well as adapt to perform various tasks.

USP was planned to be sold mainly on the American arms market, so it was originally created for a new, rapidly gaining popularity in the United States, and very promising cartridge. 40 S&W. Pistols of 9 mm caliber were based on the frame of the 40 caliber models and differed from them only in the barrel and magazine. In 1995, after the launch of the .40 S&W and 9mm Parabellum models, a version chambered for the American .45 ACP cartridge was introduced. Adapted for use in the Bundeswehr, the 9mm USP was adopted by the German armed forces in the same year under the designation P8 (Pistole 8), where it is now successfully used, earning a reputation for being an extremely reliable and durable weapon. P8 is in service with the famous special forces of the German Federal Border Guard - GSG9 (Grenzschutzgruppe 9). Army special forces KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte) also adopted the P8.

USP pistols were adopted not only in Germany, but also by various law enforcement organizations and intelligence agencies of other countries of the world. For example, in the United States, USP is used by the Presidential Security Service - Secret Service, the Immigration Service - INS, police departments of various states and army special forces. 9mm pistols are the most versatile, as they are produced in huge quantities, in a wide variety of equipment options, and can be found all over the world. However, weapons chambered for .40 S&W provide the best combination of such qualities as high stopping power of a bullet, acceptable dimensions, weight and recoil force. It should be noted that at the same time, 9 mm pistols are traditionally the most popular in Europe, and in the USA - chambered for .40 S&W.

A US 7th Army Reserve soldier trains with a service P8

The .45 USP is very popular in the US, where the .45 ACP is preferred for having the highest stopping power of the most common pistol cartridges, regardless of its size and impossibility of being concealed under light clothing. The operation of the automation is based on the Browning design with a descending barrel, which enters with its rectangular protrusion located above the chamber into the window of the shutter-casing for ejection spent cartridges, but the reduction itself here is carried out using a special part at the rear end of the return spring rod. This part is a recoil dampening device and is equipped with a buffer spring. This solution allows you to reduce the recoil momentum and make the automation more tolerant of the difference in the power of the cartridges used.

The barrel, made by cold forging on the frame, has a channel with polygonal rifling. Such a barrel has a large service life and minimizes the breakthrough of powder gases. The shutter-casing, made of chromium-molybdenum steel, is subjected to nitrogas treatment. Its coating has an extremely high resistance to corrosion. Reinforced polymer frame reinforced with steel inserts. There are slots in the front of the frame for attaching a tactical flashlight or laser designator. The trigger, magazine latch and safety levers, magazine cover and feeder are also made of polymer. Trigger mechanism of hammer type, double action, with safety cocking. Trigger pull in single action mode - 2.5 kg, in self-cocking mode - 5 kg.

By replacing the locking plate, the trigger can operate in five different versions: double action - SA / DA (upper position of the safety lever - blocking, lower position - fire), while the safety lever in different versions can also perform the functions of a safe release of the trigger when turn on the fuse or work only as a fuse; single action or only self-cocking - SA and DAO (the upper position of the lever is single action, the lower position is only self-cocking, while moving the lever to the lower position safely pulls the trigger from the combat cocking); single action - SA (the lever serves only for safe descent of the trigger); only self-cocking - DAO (without flag fuse); only self-cocking with a flag fuse. Lever used in various purposes and options for trigger operation, can be located both on the left and on the right side of the frame. The weapon is equipped with an automatic striker safety that prevents it from striking the cartridge primer with a striker until the trigger is fully squeezed out by the shooter.

Lever arm shutter lag located on the left side of the frame. A double-sided lever magazine latch is located at the base of the trigger guard. To detach the store, the shooter needs only a natural movement. thumb push the lever down. Double-row magazines of military P8 are made of transparent plastic for easier control over the consumption of ammunition. Sights, consisting of a front sight and a rear sight, fixed in dovetail grooves with the possibility of making lateral corrections, are equipped with white inserts to speed up aiming at night or in low light. Pistols can also be supplied with an adjustable micrometric whole for sports shooting.

Warranty resource - 25000 shots. The resource, according to the experience of the owners, is about 110,000 shots. 9 mm pistols have a very long service life, they withstand long-term firing with especially powerful handloading cartridges and +P +, due to the fact that they are based on the variant chambered for .40 S&W. After USP pistols gained wide popularity on both sides of the Atlantic, Heckler und Koch began production various options basic model, adapted for various highly specialized purposes, for example, IPSC practical shooting or use in conjunction with a silencer.

The few drawbacks of the pistol include a manually operated safety lever, which complicates the handling of weapons, because an inexperienced or not sufficiently trained owner may forget to turn it off in a critical situation. And with the function of protection against an accidental shot when the weapon falls, the automatic safety of the striker does more than an excellent job. German pistols USPs have extremely high reliability in harsh environments and when using cartridges with a wide variety of ammunition options, high service life and strength, excellent corrosion resistance, shooting accuracy, very high quality materials and workmanship.

HK USP Compact pistol chambered for .40 S&W

HK USP Compact pistol chambered for .357 SIG and USP Compact 45 caliber

Introduced in 1997, the USP Compact has a smoother shutter-casing and frame contours, has a reduced in length and somewhat modified trigger guard. These changes, combined with smaller dimensions and weight, make it possible to carry weapons concealed. The main change in the design is the absence of a buffer spring. However, to mitigate the impact of recoil, a plastic sleeve-shock absorber with a resource of 25,000 shots is installed at the end of the return spring rod, which has a rectangular section. The changes also affected the trigger mechanism. Trigger force when firing with a pre-cocked trigger is 1.9 kg, self-cocking - 4.3 kg. Trigger travel in single action mode is reduced to 5.1mm. In 1997, the USP Compact was adopted by the German police under the designation P10 (Pistole 10).

Owners about their USP Compact: “The impressions are good. The gun is made very soundly, obviously with the expectation of the army and the police. It fits very tightly in the hand, it seems that it was made under it, the sights are clearly visible. At the same time, I must note that it is certainly easier to wear a Glock, although it may just be out of habit. Externally, the USP Compact makes a more bulky impression. Very high accuracy when shooting with a doublet. “Very durable and amazingly reliable pistol. Made in the best German traditions for these qualities. But, unfortunately, it is complex in design, which is again typical of the German weapons school. Thousands of rounds fired and not a single delay. Works stably with cartridges of different brands, including cheap Wolf. Excellent accuracy. A friend did not like the handle, but for me it is quite convenient. Not everyone likes the design because of its angularity and massive shutter-casing, but they do not argue about tastes. The quality is excellent."

The USP 45 CT pistol was designed for use by US Special Forces as a highly effective compact weapon with the ability to mount PBS. CT is short for Compact Tactical. Unlike the conventional USP Compact, this pistol features a barrel with a protruding, threaded muzzle, as well as large and tall sights, which are necessary when using a weapon in conjunction with a silencer. The weapon comes with two magazines, a set of tools and accessories for cleaning. Length: 196mm; barrel length: 113 mm; height: 146 mm; width: 29 mm; weight: 780 g; magazine capacity: 8 rounds.

According to the impressions of the owners, as well as people who have experience with the USP 45 CT model, the gun fits perfectly in the hand, the grip is very comfortable, the grip is tight and stable. The weapon is also convenient for people with large hands thanks to the magazine cover with a front ledge. The large breech block, safety levers and slide stop levers are easy to manipulate without any problems. However, with thick gloves, it can be somewhat difficult to work with the magazine latch levers due to their small dimensions, but it should be clarified that this is a problem with most combat pistols, and not just this model. After shooting 45 CT leaves only positive impressions.

Firstly, when fired, there is no strong recoil, which is perceived here as smooth, without sharpness, with a slight toss of the barrel. Secondly, a comfortable grip greatly reduces the impact of recoil and helps a lot to control the gun during high-speed shooting. Aimed shooting at a short distance, it is comparable to the results of a standard USP of the same caliber, which is facilitated by an elongated barrel, again a convenient handle shape and a smooth, not long trigger stroke. The weapon, of course, is well suited for high-speed bursts of fire and "instinctive" snapshots. Reliability, as always, for pistols of this model range from Heckler und Koch is beyond praise. It is not even worth mentioning the high resistance of the coating to corrosion and abrasion, as well as the stability of operation under severe operating conditions.

The gun shoots without delay with cartridges of a wide variety of equipment options and from any manufacturer, even the cheapest ones. As for wearing, not everything is clear. Although the model is called Compact, in reality the gun is quite large, but not very wide. 45 CT, designed for concealed carry, however, it will unmask itself under light clothing and in countries with a warm climate it is recommended to carry it in a special belt bag. If you wear it under a sweater, light jacket or other loose clothing, there are no problems with stealth. The gun is comfortable to wear, does not cling to anything when drawing and does not burden when performing the usual work. In general, the USP 45 CT is an excellent choice for a person who wants to have a pistol that is effective in shooting and influencing the enemy, more than accurate enough in shooting, as reliable as possible, does not require very careful and long maintenance, which is comfortable to wear and from which it is simply pleasant fire.

Specifications of the HK USP pistol

• Caliber: 9mm Parabellum / .357 SIG / .40 S&W / .45 ACP
• Weapon length: 194 / 194 / 200 mm
• Barrel length: 108 / 108 / 112 mm
• Weapon height: 136 / 136 / 141 mm
• Weapon width: 38 / 38 / 38 mm
• Weight without cartridges: 770 / 830 / 890 g
• Magazine capacity: 15 / 13 / 13 / 12 rounds

TTX pistol HP USP Compact

• Caliber: 9mm Parabellum / .40 S&W / .45 ACP
• Weapon length: 173 / 173 / 179 mm
• Barrel length: 91 / 91 / 95 mm
• Weapon height: 128 / 128 / 129 mm
• Weapon Width: 34 / 34 / 34mm (30mm excluding safety)
• Weight without cartridges: 727 / 777 / 802 g
• Magazine capacity: 13 / 12 / 8 rounds