Any word if HK will ever bring out a modernized sub compact pistol???

[bpnkrtn]

Originally Posted by Montrala

Exactly. Only if some le/mil will issue big contract for new subcompact (single or double stack). Look at last HK developments:

P2000 - developed for German Police tender
P2000SK - develped to German Police request for concelable P2000 variant for plainclothes officers
P30 - developed for German Borderguar tender
P30L - developed for Norway Police tender
HK45/45c - developed for JSP tender
HK416 - developed to SFOD-D request

Do you see pattern? HK is not developing and intreducing new products to "broaden" or "reflersh" market offer. They sit and wait for possible and juicy gov't contract. Take "Terms of Reference" and then modify old or prepare new design (if existing ones are not up to requirements) to fullfill this contract requirements. If succeded they start to make it sell also to other govt contracts and eventually to civilians.

For the P30L what is JSP please? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks

[G3Kurz]

Originally Posted by ripley16

I would absolutely love for HK to produce a slim, single stack, polymer frame, hammer fired, dedicated concealed carry pistol on the order of the Kahr line. Kahr makes an almost perfect gun for concealed carry. The "almost" part involves reliability.

The best HK makes now is the P2000sk, which is outstanding...just a bit big for certain concealment situations.

The primary obstacle to HK GmbH designing a small subcompact pistol is the BATFE restrictions on the importation of small handguns. The ATF point system penalizes imported small non-metal frame handguns that do not have external hammers or safeties and weigh and measure less then the allowable limit. If you recall the P7K3 in order to acquire the sufficient points had to have "target" sights installed and a "target" grip installed. HK provided standard sights and grips with each pistol. Not really an issue for the P2000SK but something smaller and hammerless would be prohibited. As the US is by far the largets market for such a handgun it would have to be made and assembled in the US. That is certainly possible but unlikely anytime soon I would venture.

G3Kurz

[Kravur]

Originally Posted by G3Kurz

The primary obstacle to HK GmbH designing a small subcompact pistol is the BATFE restrictions on the importation of small handguns. The ATF point system penalizes imported small non-metal frame handguns that do not have external hammers or safeties and weigh and measure less then the allowable limit. If you recall the P7K3 in order to acquire the sufficient points had to have "target" sights installed and a "target" grip installed. HK provided standard sights and grips with each pistol. Not really an issue for the P2000SK but something smaller and hammerless would be prohibited. As the US is by far the largets market for such a handgun it would have to be made and assembled in the US. That is certainly possible but unlikely anytime soon I would venture.

G3Kurz

+1 here

And also to add to this, the USA market had a lot to do with the production and manufacturing of the new HK45 & P30/P30L models. As did in the past with the USP (not so much so but still had some factor). The probability that H&K will design and produce another sub compact CCW, in my opinion, is very unlikely in the near future.

[ripley16]

Originally Posted by G3Kurz

The primary obstacle to HK GmbH designing a small subcompact pistol is the BATFE restrictions on the importation of small handguns.

G3Kurz

Then how do you explain small frame Taurus and Walthers, and maybe Berettas? They seem to be able to import small pistols. My guess is that HK could too if they wanted or had a suitable model.

There is an emormous market for smaller concealable guns made more specifically for the civilian market. It is a very crowded field, yes, but small, quality, reliable, concealable pistols are in demand.

[Montrala]

Originally Posted by bpnkrtn

For the P30L what is JSP please? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks

P30L was made for Norway Police tender.

It were HK45/45c made for JSP (Joint Service Pistol programme - already postponed) for US military. There are some other JSP program "orphans" on the market from S&W, FN, etc.

[SIGtrarian]

Originally Posted by Otis44

Personally, (my personal opinion, so not trying to spark a debate/flamefest), but Heckler & Koch "compromised", by designing a gun around the ultimate "compromise caliber", rather than aim development at the 10mm. I'm not saying for a nanosecond that the disappearance of the 10mm in favor of the .40 S&W compromise led to it's demise, but imagine if they had designed the USP around the 10mm....

HK doesn't dictate to the market, the market dictates to HK what they should develop. It would have been a huge mistake to develop the USP around the 10mm. The market had already settled on the .40 S&W, not the 10mm, and designing the USP around the 10mm would not have changed that. If they had developed the USP around the 10mm, it is likely the USP would have been a dead end design.