[Rapier]

Rocky,
I bought a H&K USP 45 ACP for my son when he graduated from the Pipeline, the two year Pararescue schooling program. The idea at the time was to give him a handgun that was rated at the time as the most reliable handgun in the world, to carry as a life saver when needed. The gun has some good points and bad as I found out while getting it prepped and ready for presentation. As this was a working gift, it did not go from me to him new in the box. New in the box under the circumstances would have been foolish. Here are some good and bad things:

Bad
1. It is a very large handgun and if you do not have large hands you probably want to rethink the choice.
2. It has a polygonal rifled barrel, for function, but that lends to it being minimally accurate and it will not shoot cast without getting dangerous, due to lead fouling. Cast is prohibited by H & K. If function is the criteria and 2-4 inches at 25 yards is OK then it is acceptable.
3. The trigger needs to be worked over, as it is pretty rough out of the box.
4. Lack of 45 ammo outside the US.

Good
A. It feeds anything from sneakers to 45 ammo, if it will fit, it will feed and fire.
B. It is the only production gun that will fire the 45 ACP and the 45 Super without modification. Although H & K does not recommend the 45 Super be fired without modification to the recoil spring and buffer, it will fire the round and if not a regular diet does so without apparent ill effect.
C. It is like a Randall Knife, you are always well dressed with the H & K USP on your hip.

Ed