Re: H&K-USP Handguns?
As already stated, the "List" and AG requirements are irrelevant if the guns are purchased by the PD on letterhead (one possible exception noted below):
- H&K has no intention of having their guns tested for MA or getting on the EOPS "List".
- Taurus will not "knowingly" allow any handguns to be shipped into MA, NOT even for LE0/Agency use! That was told to me by the Taurus National Sales Manager directly. Taurus sent some of their lawyers to meet with our AG and after the meeting, they decided to "kiss off MA" totally and want absolutely NO exposure here for any reason.
That attitude is prevalent amongst most mfrs for a couple of reasons:
- The Law and AG requirements are somewhat different, so passing one doesn't necessarily mean you meet both.
- The AG will NOT tell anyone if their guns meet his requirements. He tells them to make up their own mind and if he disagrees he'll send non-compliance letters and fines to the mfr and dealers for selling them! At $5K/gun sold civil fine, most mfrs want nothing to do with MA!
Now onto a technical matter of the H&K USP Compact! I own the .40c and the .45c so this is from personal experience and also evaluation from some firearms instructors.
- The trigger on these guns is terrible. There may be a LEM trigger or a custom trigger job that will make this better, but I'm not certain that these will make it significantly better.
- I took a high-intensity 3 day defensive handgun course with Jim Crews of Marksmans Enterprises (he's a certified LE trainer in a number of states near his home-base of Montana). I used my USP .40c for the entire 28 hour course. No malfunctions, just a brutal trigger leading to my disappointment in its performance.
- In comparison my Walther P99 .40 is infinitely better on trigger reset (and a couple of 1911s I've tried are as smooth as glass), and this makes a big difference in accuracy and ability to fire a fast and accurate followup shot. [Anyone who has taken training at Front Sight, GunSight, or with Gabe Suarez, Jim Crews, Randy Cain, Jeff Gonzales, Jeff Cooper, etc. will know exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure this will make sense to anyone else.]