what to look for when buying a used EXPERT

[VaGunTrader]

I came across a used .45 expert for $700.
The cheapest I've found new is $1100.

Are there any problem issues I need to look out for when buying a used expert?

Thanks !!

[Big Bore]

First is make sure the pistol has not been shot with no o-ring. If it has, the slide can damage the o-ring groove and throw up burrs which will eat your o-rings. Look at the o-ring. If it is not there, I'd pass. If it is present, look at its concition. Cycle the slide a few times and recheck the condition of the o-ring. If it looks good and there are no tears in the ring, all is likely OK. Other than that it is the same as any other HK pistol. Function check to make sure all controls work properly, feel the trigger and how it breaks in both SA and DA. If it does not release in one of them it is likely just the trigger OT screw that needs adjustment, but there may be other problems. If the trigger works fine look at over all condition. A gun that looks well cared for usually is. Check the interior of the barrel for rust. Break it down and check the exterior. Wear on the outside of the barrel and chamber area are normal so if the black is worn off the barrel that only indicates round count, not excessive wear. Of course the top of the chamber should not be blackened.
Check it out inside and out. If it is filthy dirty and shows it has not been well kept, let that be a red flag. I never trust a used gun that is filthy. If one does not care about the pistol enough to clean it before trying to sell it then it has likely never seen much maintenance in its life. I pass on dirty guns. Sure I miss deals but I feel I miss a lot more dogs.
Check front and rear sights to make sure they are tight. The take down lever should be tight. It fits much more tightly on the Expert than it does on the USP so if you have to use something to push it out, that is good. If it falls out easily like it does on the USP then that can indicate excessive wear on the Expert. Not always, but let that also be an area you look at closely.

Last, is the deal complete? Soft case unless it is only a couple of years old which they would only have shipped with hard cases, extra o-rings, sight tool, lock out tool, manual, extra bobbed hammer (the Expert ships with an extra bobbed hammer), cleaning kit, cable lock. Any time parts are missing I start worrying. Again it boils down to care for the pistol. And it should come with either two or three mags. If not, DEDUCT. Police bound pistols ship with three mags, civilian with two. And there is no way to tell how many it shipped with so don't deduct if it has only two but don't pay too big a bonus if it has three because it could have come that way. The Expert uses the same mags as all other USP .45 pistols so if the seller tries the old "it has the Expert target magazines with the finger grip" be aware that the seller is a BSer and proceed with caution.
Good luck and $700 is a darned good price.

[VaGunTrader]

I'm not familair with the o-ring on the barrels. Tell me more about them. What are the benefits of the o-ring?

[Hired Gun]

Here you go:
http://www.hk-usa.com/images/shared/USP%20Manual%20REV%203-07.pdf

Unless you find some problem with the weapon, that price is unbeatable.

[benderx4]

I've been looking for one too! That's the best price I've seen by over $200. HKs are hard to mess up, so unless this was repeatedly run over by a truck, it's probably a good deal.

[Kost]

Like BigBore said, check everything specific to the Expert as well as other normal things you should look at before you decide on buying or passing.

Two things BigBore said come to mind on any used firearm purchase. Is it clean, and are there any hard parts or certificates that normally accompany the firearm missing?

I also pass on anything thats for sale, but dirty. Last year I did purchase face to face an OD Green Tactical .45 with under 50 rounds on it, that some of these things did come into play. Its OD Green and rare, so I had to make some very fast decisions while I talked to the very polite seller who works in the public service as a fireman.

The pistol was spotless clean as was everything else like the correct OD Green soft case, and the price was great! I did a quick examination of the usual things, and found pretty much all was good. Like I said 'pretty much', tho the HK factory adjustable sights has been replaced with MMC 3 dot whites, and the HK factory cleaning kit was also absent.

Some quick basic math in my head, for how much to replace the correct sights and cleaning kit.

.o0O(hmmm cha ching cha ching...replacement costs + price Im paying, still saves me $200 over a run of the mill black Tactical .45 at market prices...buy it, its still a very good deal for a 1 of 500 Tactical thats no longer made, it does come with 2 high caps, and 3 of the 10 rounders, all are pristine or new...so this is a plus.)


I almost always buy gently used face to face now...just have in mind what to look for, what you can live with if the example is not perfect, and how much youre paying...hopefully things work out good and you get what you want for your price.

Side note: The OD Green Tactical now wears LNIB factory adjustable sights it shipped with, and there is now a NIB cleaning kit in the beautiful green soft case, with EVERTHING the Tactical ships with...its a complete/correct package...Im more than happy I ran across the deal and what I paid, even if it took a bit of work after the deal.

[VaGunTrader]

well...I missed out on it. The buy-it-now was for $699 and someone didnt hesitate like I did.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=127229123

[USP_KD999]

I find it strange they sold it for that low. It must have had a lot of good times at the range.

[MaverickH1]

What kind of magazines are those?

http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/127229000/127229123/pix81931796.jpg

[mustang400]

Take BigBore and Kost advise

[Big Bore]

I am pretty sure they are the Pro-Mag 10 round mags. They certainly are not HK factory. Pro-Mag limits capacity by the divot in the side and if you remove the divot the line right at the divot, breaks and the mag is useless, not that they are much good anyway.