USP Tactical, Expert, Elite Differences

[RT13]

Aside from the obvious slide differences and threaded barrel of the Tactical, are they basically identical guns? Sights, match trigger, barrel O rings, etc? And do they all use the same ten round magazine as the USP45? Thanks.

[ridesdirt]

I have the same question posted in the newbie section with no reply so I did a little research.

If I understand the HK website correctly...

USP Combat Competition has; combo-trigger, Novak fiber sight and funnel kit. 9 and 40
USP Tactical has; threaded barrel, adjustable trigger and adjustable sights. 9, 40, 45
USP Expert has; adjustable trigger, adjustable sights and funnel kit. 40 and 45

The barrel length is different on all three types.

[Big Bore]

Aside from the obvious slide differences and threaded barrel of the Tactical, are they basically identical guns? Sights, match trigger, barrel O rings, etc? And do they all use the same ten round magazine as the USP45? Thanks.

Yes, they are roughly the same where it counts. Same inherent accuracy and lower halves, as well as same mags.
Differences are:
Tactical, taller sights for seeing over can, uses USP slide.
Expert and Elite, longer slides, Elite's slide is milled at an angle to reduce weight and is actually lighter than the Expert. Both have rear sights milled into the slide and are not as tall as the Tac's sights, but taller than standard USPs.
The Elite's barrel is the longest and has the longest slide and sight radius which helps some shooters shoot it better, followed by the slightly shorter Expert, and then the Tactical's being the shortest of the three. All have o-ring but in slightly different places due to the difference in slide length.
All three us the same lower.
The Tactical, Expert, and I believe the Elite as well all use the same recoil spring assembly which is slightly different than the USP recoil spring assembly. Different, but not by much differing only in the spring.

In the following picture you can see the differences in slide length, sights, and barrel lengths.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/BiggBore/Redclocksmall.jpg

This picture shows the angle difference between the Expert/Tactical slide's shape and the Elite's slide shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/BiggBore/ExpertandEliteM.jpg

[RT13]

Thanks guys for feedback! Thanks alot BigBore for all that info. Just why I was looking for. The different location of the O ring is ery interesting. That's the first I've heard of it. Thanks again.

[Big Bore]

The difference in o-ring location is due to the slide's differences in length.
The Match pistol, even though it has a 6.02 inch barrel, uses a standard USP slide, just as the Tactical does, so their o-rings are cut for the USP length slide. Since the Expert has a slightly longer slide, the o-ring has to be cut further out. And since the Elite has a longer slide still, even though it too has a 6.02 inch barrel, the o-ring cut is even further out. That is why the Elite's 6.02 inch barrel will not work as a Match clone barrel, the o-ring will be beyond the slide in the wrong location. And that is why when one clones a Match and one orders a 6 inch barrel from Jarvis, they must specify that the o-ring should be in the "Match" location.

[Dusty]

I found this post very helpful.

[benderx4]

Big Bore, I was lucky enough to pick up a USP45 Tactical recently for a song, and just shot it the first time today. Am I imagining things or is the trigger much much better than my ordinary USP45? After staging, it was VERY crisp. Reminded me of the Mark 23 I got rid of recently. (Don't ask, seemed like the right thing to do at the time.) Double action also felt a bit smoother.

Is this the same trigger of the Elite and Expert as well?

[Big Bore]

Big Bore, I was lucky enough to pick up a USP45 Tactical recently for a song, and just shot it the first time today. Am I imagining things or is the trigger much much better than my ordinary USP45? After staging, it was VERY crisp. Reminded me of the Mark 23 I got rid of recently. (Don't ask, seemed like the right thing to do at the time.) Double action also felt a bit smoother.

Is this the same trigger of the Elite and Expert as well?

The trigger on the Tactical, Expert, and Elite are all the Match trigger and they are indeed quite an improvement over the standard USP trigger. The only part that is adjustable is the over travel screw in the trigger itself but the trigger is set up to have almost no creep after take up, minimal over travel, and is considerably smoother and much more crisp. Even though the weight of pull is not much different the crispness and smoothness of the pull makes it feel about a pound lighter to me.

[benderx4]

Even though the weight of pull is not much different the crispness and smoothness of the pull makes it feel about a pound lighter to me.


Thank you, Sir, that is exactly the same "experience" as I had. Big difference! (I think my "regular" USP45 is going to be traded very soon, my local range has another USP45T [AH] for $800)

[99999]

This picture shows the angle difference between the Expert/Tactical slide's shape and the Elite's slide shape.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/BiggBore/ExpertandEliteM.jpg

Wow, looks like the new USP's such as the P30, HK45 and Hk45c, etc... are modeled after the Elite... I didn't realize that the elite had the same slide milling as the newer guns do... interesting.

[smschulz]

Wow, looks like the new USP's such as the P30, HK45 and Hk45c, etc... are modeled after the Elite... I didn't realize that the elite had the same slide milling as the newer guns do... interesting.
I think the Elites are underrated somewhat. The more conventional look of the Expert may be more appealing to many but the longer sight radius and the lighter feel and balance of the Elite is IMO better. I guess I need to get the 45acp version now ~ {sigh} to go with my 9mm.

[Big Bore]

Thank you, Sir, that is exactly the same "experience" as I had. Big difference! (I think my "regular" USP45 is going to be traded very soon, my local range has another USP45T [AH] for $800)

NEVER sell, just get the Tactical. You can always upgrade the trigger in the USP to the Match trigger. The trigger is $125 and I am not sure what HK charges to tune and install it. A lot of people drop the match trigger in but a word of experience. Every single problem that I have heard about occurring with the match trigger has come from two things. One and most common is the layman's attempt at adjusting the overtravel and getting it out of whack, but that is easily fixed. The other is a stacking of tolerances and the outcome of "dropping it i" is somewhat less than expected. To assure you get all the trigger has to offer let HK set it up and adjust it.
However, there is nothing wrong with dropping it in and seeing what happens. If you are happy with it, good. If not, then HK can do the tune up.