[FenixMike]

I thought id pick anyones brain that owns both a USP/USP Tactical AND a USP Expert 45 and noticed less recoil with the Expert. It seems like certain models have more "felt" recoil than others (my 45CT "felt" like it had less than the MK23, and for some reason the USP Tactical feels like it has even more).

Just to be clear, Im not looking for opinions on 45, how much you love 45, or what your favorite color is, strictly a comparison between the USP 45 Expert, and other USP models.

 

[Spike785]

I'd say just stay away from .45 then since you don't like it. This felt recoil stuff is pretty subjective though, I'm a smaller guy than you but I don't find .45 to be anything but smooth but forceful. For me a .40 Glock 22 was the worst recoil I've ever experienced, I'm saying even if someone tells you what you want to hear it might still be what you don't want. Buy one anyways.

 

[FenixMike]

I'd say just stay away from .45 then since you don't like it. This felt recoil stuff is pretty subjective though, I'm a smaller guy than you but I don't find .45 to be anything but smooth but forceful. For me a .40 Glock 22 was the worst recoil I've ever experienced, I'm saying even if someone tells you what you want to hear it might still be what you don't want. Buy one anyways.

oddly enough ive had .40 cal duty weapons for 6 years and that round doesnt bother me, FNX 45 seemed ok, but the HKs just have more "felt" recoil. Im going to try it with my can on it and see how it does... maybe I'm just too used to baby bullets

 

[Condition0]

Really? When I shoot my full size Colt against my various 45 cal HKs, i notice a reduction in recoil. Something about your post doesn't add up. Seems a bit troll like.

 

[OlDirtyBastard]

i use the crush grip method taught by my favorite shooting instructor Massad Ayoob . 5 things that he stresses are the power stance, high grip, crush grip, front sight and smooth roll on the rigger . this works for me and mr. Ayoob's technics aren't for all shooters, this is more for defensive shooting not for 2" moa at 30 yards . my point is after shooting my 9mm's and switching over to my USP compact or tac. recoil is the last thing on my mind . i agree with SPIKE785 , 45acp might not be your thing, not telling you how to shoot and you're probably a better shot than me . just trying to help, i perfer 45 over 9mm . to each his own .

 

[FenixMike]

Really? When I shoot my full size Colt against my various 45 cal HKs, i notice a reduction in recoil. Something about your post doesn't add up. Seems a bit troll like.

Edited. Not worth my time.

 

[FenixMike]

i use the crush grip method taught by my favorite shooting instructor Massad Ayoob . 5 things that he stresses are the power stance, high grip, crush grip, front sight and smooth roll on the rigger . this works for me and mr. Ayoob's technics aren't for all shooters, this is more for defensive shooting not for 2" moa at 30 yards . my point is after shooting my 9mm's and switching over to my USP compact or tac. recoil is the last thing on my mind . i agree with SPIKE785 , 45acp might not be your thing, not telling you how to shoot and you're probably a better shot than me . just trying to help, i perfer 45 over 9mm . to each his own .

I tend to agree with you, it may just not be for me. Other than a P7, I have all the 9mm HKs (the desirable ones anyhow) so I think the boredom in me is just looking for something else to buy or a new toy, and I should probably just stick to what I have.

Maybe I danced around the question too much, but the original post intention was basically a who has shot the tac 45 vs the expert 45, and do they shoot different.

 

[460Shooter]

A lot of this is perception, so please take no insult by my comments.

I find the recoil of every 45 acp I shoot to be very manageable. I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs, so I'm a little surprised given your dimensions that you find it so unpleasant. However, as you pointed out, perceived recoil is exactly that, your perception. So maybe a 45 just isn't a good idea for you. There's nothing wrong with sticking to a cartridge you like. The one exception is my SA XDs in 45. That gun kicks fairly hard, but I don't find it unpleasant.

I have had the same experience as the others in feeling that my HK45 is a very soft shooting gun. I've not shot the USP or any of its variants though. So that tells me you're playing with a cartridge you don't really need to.

If you want to desensitize yourself, I recommend buying a S&W X frame revolver chambered for 460 or 500 magnum and shooting it every so often. 45 acp feels like a pea shooter in comparison. 22lr has more or less been ruined for me as a result of shooting heavy recoiling guns.

 

[FenixMike]

A lot of this is perception, so please take no insult by my comments.

I find the recoil of every 45 acp I shoot to be very manageable. I'm 6'3" and 200 lbs, so I'm a little surprised given your dimensions that you find it so unpleasant. However, as you pointed out, perceived recoil is exactly that, your perception. So maybe a 45 just isn't a good idea for you. There's nothing wrong with sticking to a cartridge you like.

I have had the same experience as the others in feeling that my HK45 is a very soft shooting gun. I've not shot the USP or any of its variants though. So that tells me you're playing with a cartridge you don't really need to.

If you want to desensitize yourself, I recommend buying a S&W X frame revolver chambered for 460 or 500 magnum and shooting it every so often. 45 acp feels like a pea shooter in comparison. 22lr has more or less been ruined for me as a result of shooting heavy recoiling guns.

Ive had a couple S&W 500 4 inch revolvers Some of the 400 grain hand loads I made up were a blast to shoot!

Im pretty sure I didnt make my original intentions clear on this thread so I rewrote the first post.

 

[burtontester]

It has been awhile since I have shot my .45 expert or 45 tactical since I acquired my Mark 23, however, this thread reminds me I need to go to the range with them and see what differences there are. From what I do remember, the Mark 23 wins, then .45 expert, 45 tactical, then 45 CT.

 

[exitplan]

I thought id pick anyones brain that owns both a USP/USP Tactical AND a USP Expert 45 and noticed less recoil with the Expert. It seems like certain models have more "felt" recoil than others (my 45CT "felt" like it had less than the MK23, and for some reason the USP Tactical feels like it has even more).

Just to be clear, Im not looking for opinions on 45, how much you love 45, or what your favorite color is, strictly a comparison between the USP 45 Expert, and other USP models.

Hi Fen
I had 2 sig 220's that I sold because the felt recoil was causing me a case of the flinches. Now I shoot my duty sig 227 and the recoil feels very mild. Felt recoil is subjective. I do add a springco recoil reducer to all my pistols and they really tame the recoil by extending to recoil impulse by a fraction of a second. With that said you may be interested in trying out 9mm or .380 since advancements in bullet technology has narrowed the gap in performance. The .45 is not for everybody so please don't take offense!

 

[OlDirtyBastard]

i have the 45 tac . i love this weapon . the accuracy, grip, 12 rds , the match trigger and soft recoil (at ieast to me ) . we are opposite, i collect HK45;s and the expert is on my short list along with the 23 . well if i need advice on HK 9mm's i know who to ask . most of my 9mm' s are glocks ,walters and my favorite is a W. German made p226, take about accuracy . eventually i would like to add the USP 9mm tac. to my collection . sorry i was no help with the tac. vs expert . stay safe .

 

[FenixMike]

Well solved the question myself... Picked up a USP Expert 45 to add to the bunch. It is significantly softer "feeling", and groups much tighter for me. Got to shoot the 45 Tac suppressed today and its much more fun that way than unsuppressed, but overall the Expert is a pure pleasure to shoot in 45, and groups very close to my 9mm Experts. I havent decided if I'm going to sell the 45 Tactical and pick up another Expert 45 with the Jarvis barrel, or just keep it for a suppressed fun gun, but doing the Expert with the Jarvis worked out extremely well with my 9mm guns and I enjoy it much more than I did my 9 Tactical when I had it.

 

[FenixMike]

Hi Fen
I had 2 sig 220's that I sold because the felt recoil was causing me a case of the flinches. Now I shoot my duty sig 227 and the recoil feels very mild. Felt recoil is subjective. I do add a springco recoil reducer to all my pistols and they really tame the recoil by extending to recoil impulse by a fraction of a second. With that said you may be interested in trying out 9mm or .380 since advancements in bullet technology has narrowed the gap in performance. The .45 is not for everybody so please don't take offense!

I have 8 HK 9mm pistols already, I was just playing with the 45s because I hadn't tried them all. I really like the 45 Expert, for some reason just dont like the Tactical.

 

[OlDirtyBastard]

you have good taste fenixmike ! you did your homework and look where it got you . congrats on a fine weapon .

 

[Tidewater]

Hk and Fnh are some of the most agreeable 45's to shoot.

 

[victor14]

At the risk of being obvious, if you try a P9S in .45, you may never want to shoot the newer HKs. In my opinion, the recoil is comperable to other 9mm.

 

[Barth]

There's an old saying "you can't cheat physics".
Generally, for me, heavier guns with longer barrels will have less felt recoil.
There are various recoil reduction systems.
And ergomomics plus a low bore axis can make a big difference as well.

All that said, and I've never shot one myself, my number one choice would be a Mark 23.
Following that - one of the various models of FS USP.
Of my personal guns?
In order -
1) USP Match Clone
2) USP Elite
3) USP Tactical

 

[Klaustrophobia]

I have shot Mark 23 and HK45 of the HK family and a small smattering of other rentals. Mark 23 is definitely the softest recoil, as long as you wear gloves to prevent the waffle iron backstrap from tearing up your thumb webbing. I believe the Mark 23 and USP have the same/similar recoil reducing system, so it's hard to imagine the USP 45 shooting any softer.

 

[WolfieRules]

I'm not very big, nor very strong, I'm too old @ 54. I'm built like a tennis player I've been told.

I prefer my 9mm as well, but as a new HK hoarder, I felt un-American not having at least one 45acp. So I bought an HK45C, which shot fine.

Now in addition I have 2 HK45 full size, one US made LEM and a German made V1.....these are almost as soft shooting as my VP9....obviously not equal, but pretty close in perceived recoil. Jumping back and forth between HK45 and VP9, makes VP9 feel like a 22.

Each to his own, but I had never shot a 45 before, and expected far more recoil. The 45C is a bit stronger than the full size, but that's just physics.