Can't get accuracy out of USP 40

[RetailNinja]

I am very good with a handgun, wheel gun or semi-auto, but I cannot get bullseyes out of my USP. I use the popular thumbs forward style with marrying the fatty thumb muscles together and locking the weak hand elbow down for the isometric tension. I've tried thumbs up, thumbs forward, and locking the strong hand thumb down with the weak hand thumb. Is there a particular way I should be holding this thing? I love the gun, looks and funtion, but I'm not going to keep a pistol that I can't shoot.

[nwusp45]

Almost as a rule Hk's are extremely accurate. Would like to know more info, like-is this pistol new to you, where are you shooting- low and left, etc? what type of other semi's do you have, how are you shooting it, DA, SA, how do you shoot your other pistols-DA, SA, etc.

[RetailNinja]

Shoot low and to the right at 20 feet it's not noticeable, still in the 8-9 rings on Walmarts 25 yard targets. At about 15 yards I'm barely in the black circle anymore. I've shot Hi-Powers, 1911s, Beretta 92/96s and .357s all in the 9-10 ring. With my duty gun (Glock 21) I'm extremely accurate and with my Glock 17 I was hitting bowling pins at 40-50 yards the other day.

[JLStorm]

Are the sights lined up ok? My P2ksk came with the front sight off center and had to be moved a bit. Other than that I cant think of why a USP would be inaccurate especially if you know you can shoot the 40

[Scooter]

Two words. TRIGGER CONTROL.

[MaD HuNGaRIaN]

10 times out of 10 low and right means you're flinching.

[orfeo]

Two words. TRIGGER CONTROL.

Yup, it's the trigger that you are having a hard time gettin' used to.

[50ae]

Let somebody else shoot it who is used to HK's. You never know, maybe the gun just isn't a good fit for you.

[FIX BAYONETS!®]

3 words: Get some training from a professional.

O.K... 5 words.

[Kost]

Operator error - concentrate on the 3 basics of shooting

1 - Grip
2 - Trigger control
3 - Sights
4 - Practice practice practice
*OK 4 basics*

If you always apply these basics, you should be able to shoot any weapon well in 20 shots, after learning each weapon's nuances.
The USP DA isnt that easy to learn, but the SA is very usable and should not pose any issues at all.

Going from my Colt 1911's & P35 (High Power) was pretty straight forward, except the USP DA, that takes a bit of getting used to.
Still my USP's blow out the bulls eyes at 50ft with boring regularity.

[Gerber]

3 words: Get some training from a professional.

O.K... 5 words.

Here it is in three words: Get Proffesional Training.

I know I will be.

[JLStorm]

The OP mentions a G21 is his duty gun so I would assume he has had training.

[Gerber]

Well, someone missed the sarcasm....

[smn_ss]

practice trigger control like the earlier posts. Thats what happened to me. I couldn't understand how my friend were being accurate and my bullets went in ten thousand direction.

[thatmanuhate]

3 words: Get some training from a professional.

O.K... 5 words.Where I went to school , that would count as 6 words lolI know its only a letter but the form you used makes it a word lmao . Just bustin' your balls man

[Scooter]

He ran out of fingers. lol

[bspring]

Possible trigger work maybe needed. Also the .40 can be picky, try different brands with different bullet weights. The load maybe your trouble.

Bill

[RetailNinja]

3 words: Get some training from a professional.

O.K... 5 words.

64 hours of handgun class with people who've won numerous handgun matches since the 70s.

Let somebody else shoot it who is used to HK's

This is my plan. My swat commander mentioned he loves USPs, it was his father's duty gun in Tuscon, and I'm going to have him take it to the range and see what's up. The trigger is definitely different than any of the guns I've fired.

The sights are Meprolight night sights.

[flamin126]

i shot a glock for 10 years and was very accurate with it. then i bought a 1911 colt 45 govt. I always wanted one. I couldint hit the house if i was standing in it!! I practiced and practiced and could never shoot the groups i could with the glock. I was lucky if i could keep it on the paper at 25 yards. However my brother was very good with it. So i gave up on that project. then i bought a usp .45 and i was almost instantly as accurate with it as i was the glock. Now i shoot even tighter groups with the usp. And in a tactical run and gun setting i am deadly. For me the 1911 just didnt work for me. I am not saying that the usp wont work out for you. but i have learned that sometimes a gun just doesnt fit.

[50ae]

This is exactly what I'm saying. I'm pretty darn accurate with my HK and any 1911 but hand me a glock and I'm throwing all the bullets over the top of the target. Maybe you can practice up and get as good with the HK as you are with other guns but who knows.

[Scooter]

It all comes down to sloppy trigger control.

[Kost]

It all comes down to sloppy trigger control.
+1 +1 +1!

[MadMax2012]

Guys... come on.....


If your going to answer then you should be required to do a little thinking as well.

He already said he has fired several different types of handguns before with good results. (Clue.. he doesn't have a problem with trigger control on them.)

I'm just hoping for a little more constructive criticism... rather than just criticism.

[Scooter]

There's only two things involved in shooting any gun. Sight picture and trigger control. Anyone can line up the sights to get a good sight picture. Trigger control is where people have problems with. Don't believe, try this test. Have someone else pull the trigger. So all you have to do is hold the gun and keep the sight on target, then get someone else to pull the trigger. Magically all your shots will end up in a small group where you want it. A lot of instructors do this test to show that it's not that you can't line up the sights correctly, it's you poor trigger control.

[Would]

There's only two things involved in shooting any gun. Sight picture and trigger control. Anyone can line up the sights to get a good sight picture. Trigger control is where people have problems with. Don't believe, try this test. Have someone else pull the trigger. So all you have to do is hold the gun and keep the sight on target, then get someone else to pull the trigger. Magically all your shots will end up in a small group where you want it. A lot of instructors do this test to show that it's not that you can't line up the sights correctly, it's you poor trigger control.

so how does some one fix a trigger control problem? just let other people pull the trigger for them!?!!!

[JLStorm]

so how does some one fix a trigger control problem? just let other people pull the trigger for them!?!!!

First you learn to have faith in the gun, then practice enough to have faith in yourself. If it takes someone else pulling the trigger to have faith in the accuracy of the weapon so that you can concentrate on your own shortcomings than so be it.

[RetailNinja]

First you learn to have faith in the gun, then practice enough to have faith in yourself. If it takes someone else pulling the trigger to have faith in the accuracy of the weapon so that you can concentrate on your own shortcomings than so be it.

I'll try this but it has lack of range safety written all over it. My side is that i watched people go from zero to sharpshooter with all different kinds of guns. USP 45s, Sig P226 DAKs and P220s, Beretta 92s and Cougars and XD40s and 45s. I have never had a problem with any kind of trigger. Obviously double action pulls in a Smith and Wesson 681 are different than a Colt King Cobra and are different than a USP 40 and a Beretta 96, but I am referring only to single action pulls.

My plan is to find someone in the area who can qualify well with a USP and get their take on it.

The good news is that if I can't shoot this thing for ****, I will sell it and the ten mags I have for it and the money will go to a 416.

[softmentor]

When I first started shooting less that a year ago, I just naturally shot the HK better than any of the others. I have only recietly come to understand why. When I take a natural, just grab the gun, grip, my hand falls in a certain place. That place on an HK is better aligned, for me, than with other guns. For the same reason I shoot atrociously with a 1911. For most people it's probably the other way around, the 1911 is the more natural feel.
Most people don't have hands as big as mine. (I'm 6'3 and my hands are huge and longer that most people even those my height). So here is my idea.
It may be the alignment of the gun in your hand. Try shooting one handed, very slow pull for the "suprise the gun went off", no compensation shot. Use your strong hand of course, and have someone watch your hand durring recoil. Do you move a little left or right? If so then rotate the gun in your grip. While pointed downrange, rotate the tip left or right, so the grip is turning in your hand, until you have zero left or right movement durring recoil. This means that the recoil is straight through the center of your arm.
any way, since this one seems to be a mystery, maybe it's worth a try.
Here is a Jerrett how to shoot vid. that shows what I'm talking about.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48&mode=related&search=

[robicon]

I'll try this but it has lack of range safety written all over it. My side is that i watched people go from zero to sharpshooter with all different kinds of guns. USP 45s, Sig P226 DAKs and P220s, Beretta 92s and Cougars and XD40s and 45s. I have never had a problem with any kind of trigger. Obviously double action pulls in a Smith and Wesson 681 are different than a Colt King Cobra and are different than a USP 40 and a Beretta 96, but I am referring only to single action pulls.

My plan is to find someone in the area who can qualify well with a USP and get their take on it.

The good news is that if I can't shoot this thing for ****, I will sell it and the ten mags I have for it and the money will go to a 416.


My opinion and worth what you paid for it...

The USPc in .40 is NOT an easy gun to shoot well for first timers. The height over bore and light weight of the pistol can contribute to "snappy" recoil. The DA trigger is looooong, while the SA requires ~.25" of take up before sear break.

I was a P226 and 1911 shooter before adopting the HK USP platform. I will say it took some time to adjust to the USP trigger and idiosyncrasies. I have been practicing, competing (IDPA), and carrying the USPc .40 for a little over 2 years now and have complete confidence in the weapon. Conversely, I do not shoot my other pistols as much and my trigger control with the 1911 is horrendous (lots of low and right, until I "reacclimate"). Again, this is simply a training and familiarity issue.

The .40 cartridge isn't as inherently accurate as the 45ACP or the 9mm, but nice groups are possible. For example, two weekends ago my range buddy and I decided to shoot for groups at the 25 yard line, offhand/standing, I was able to get 4.5" groups with Winchester White Box. Out of a 3.5" barrel, polymer framed pistol, a shooter of mediocre ability...that's pretty damn impressive.

[dmg311]

from the sounds of it you hold the gun very much like i do. the trigger is quite different on a usp than other gun imo. note i said different not better or worse. i believe that comes down to personal preference. furthermore, i really disliked (hate is too strong) the uspc40 initially. i had the same trouble even though i could shoot my usp45f spot on. give it some time and don't make a hasty decision. it will be worth the effort. as for me, i love mine now... hopefully your swat friend can help you or the other instructors you mentioned.

i don't think it's the grip that's messing your shooting up. I believe you will find it very helpful to buy some snapcaps and begin dryfiring your pistol 200 times a night or so. especially helpful if you can have a paper target or something to aim at. i know it sounds ridiculous but my initial shooting was jerking all over the place then as i've continued doing this my poa has gotten more and more steady as my fingers and muscles learn the process. after all shooting is a lot of "muscle memory" as they said in my wife's nra class the other day.

another suggestion from someone else was to put a dime on the front sight when you can dryfire without it falling off you've mastered the trigger? i don't recall where i heard that from though. and that is really hard btw. i still can't do it. i get oh so close but it falls off right afterwards. i haven't done this in months.

[Scooter]

Dry firing at home is nowhere near as effective as dry firing at the range. If you find yourself dead on for the first shot, then you get worse and worse. Try firing one shot, then dry firing 10 shots, than fire another round, dry fire some more, keep repeating this cycle. Then increase to firing 2 rounds cycles, 3 rounds, etc. At any moment where you drop a shot, go back to dry firing. Using the gawd awful USP double action trigger will do wonders for you trigger control.

[fadlan12]

I had a USPc 40 and could not get comfortable with it at all. Very snappy and extremly difficult to get small groups. I bought it from a friend who had similiar problems. He asked a range officer to try it and he shot it well....
I traded it for a kimber UC and now have an M&P .45.

In my experience now I would purchase a USPc or full size .45. I'm not much fan of a the .40 round unless its in a large platform.

[robicon]

/snip/
I'm not much fan of a the .40 round unless its in a large platform.

That's a sentiment echoed by many.

But

The USPc lends itself to the .40 round so well. There is not another pistol with the capacity, reliability, and accuracy in the same size as the USPc.

I think the OP needs more practice with the trigger. I have found that the pistol requires a firm grip to prevent high shots.

IMO, the USPc.40 is golden...just takes some practice.

[RetailNinja]

The Glock 27 does just fine in that category. As for this



http://youtube.com/watch?v=ysa50-plo48&mode=related&search=

That video is nice, and that is damn near how I hold my pistol but 1) I shoot excellently with a 1911 and 2) Take a look at his first round of shooting. I highly doubt that is duty ammo.

[softmentor]

lol, no... I doubt that its +P+ heavy grain. More like puff balls I would guess.
RE 1911, that is my point, you shoot well with 1911 but the HK is giving you a fit. I would be having your problem with the 1911, since I'm just the opposite, HK is sweet spot for me and 1911's give me a fit. Rotating my grip has helped me improve with the other guns I've been shooting (Neos, Trailside, Walther PP, 1911, Sig 226, FN57) especially those with a narrow grip. Any way, it was just a thought.
Any progress with the HK mystery?

[FIX BAYONETS!®]

The good news is that if I can't shoot this thing for ****, I will sell it and the ten mags I have for it and the money will go to a 416.

Hey Ninja, if you're still not satisfied with it...I'll take it out of your hands.