I recently picked up a new HK45 thanks to Mike at Cross Creek Guns, it was a variant 1 DA/SA. I also bought the HK45 LEM conversion kit from TopGunSupply and using the videos/instructions from other forum members managed to convert from DA/SA to LEM without too much trouble. It took me maybe a couple of hours to do the conversion, taking my time, as I am not an expert. The only real issue I had was the video at one stage mentions 'at this point don't pull back the hammer as you'll need to start over again', naturally the video mentions this after I had pulled back the hammer! For anyone looking to convert to LEM I would say it is fairly straight forward even for someone with limited experienced at doing more than just a field strip.
Variant 1 DA/SA HK45
And after the LEM conversion (notice external safety removed and different hammer). The Viridian X5L Gen 2 light/laser does not come as part of the LEM conversion :wink:
First Range Visit (and failure)
I usually field strip, clean and relube all new firearms I receive, however with the HK45 I just took it to the range straight out of the box (other than the LEM conversion). I had dry fired it a few times as both DA/SA and LEM to check that the basic function seemed to work. At the range I shot 20 Speer Gold Dot 185g HPs and 155 Federal Champion 230gr FMJ. I did notice that my forearms were covered in black particles, which I've not had with any of my other firearms which means either the Federal Champion I was using is very dirty or the factory lube was causing the particles.
When I went to pull the trigger on the 156th round of Federal Champion there was a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. I tried again, with the same result. I tapped, racked. Same thing.... I took out the magazine, tried the other magazine... same thing. I checked the manually ejected rounds and it didn't look like the primer was being struck. I tried a couple more rounds, click, click.
I assumed that something had gone wrong with my LEM conversion, and that the recoil had caused something to move inside. I packed up and headed home to investigate, disappointed and irritated that I had 'broken' my HK45.
When I got home, I looked at the HK45 before field stripping it. I think I saw the firing pin sticking out, however as it was my first ever real firearm failure I didn't recognize the significance at the time, and by the time I had field stripped and cleaned the HK45 the firing pin was no longer sticking out. It was only later that I had a faint recollection of the firing pin being visible when it shouldn't be.
Googling and searching the forum didn't seem to suggest that there were any known problems similar to what I had experienced, and after the field strip and clean the firing pin seemed to be working properly. I colored the back of a snap-cap with a silver Sharpie pen and checked that the firing pin was striking the snap cap. All seemed to be working fine although I'd have to wait until the next range visit to be sure.
Second Range Visit
Today I went to the range for the next visit, not entirely certain the HK45 would 'behave'. I only had a chance to put 64 rounds down range as I was predominantly needing to train with my Walther PPQ, however all seemed to work well with the HK45, and while I only shot a few rounds I had no black particles on my forearms.
I'll do a much longer session with the HK45 at the range next time as I want to ensure there are no failures with a single range session shooting 500 rounds without cleaning. However I am a little happier now.
I'm still not entirely sure as to what caused the initial problem, it doesn't seem to be caused by my LEM conversion which is a relief. While I believe I saw the firing pin exposed when it shouldn't be I can't be 110% certain this was the case. If it happened though I can only assume that the black particles caused it to happen somehow. I will however ensure that I clean any new firearms before going to the range in the future.
Walther PPQ & HK45
While they are obviously different firearms, I bought the HK45 as it has a similar magazine release to the Walther PPQ which is my standard firearm. So a few photos of the 'cousins'.
You can read my review of the Walther PPQ here if you are interested

TheWombat
Variant 1 DA/SA HK45





And after the LEM conversion (notice external safety removed and different hammer). The Viridian X5L Gen 2 light/laser does not come as part of the LEM conversion :wink:



First Range Visit (and failure)
I usually field strip, clean and relube all new firearms I receive, however with the HK45 I just took it to the range straight out of the box (other than the LEM conversion). I had dry fired it a few times as both DA/SA and LEM to check that the basic function seemed to work. At the range I shot 20 Speer Gold Dot 185g HPs and 155 Federal Champion 230gr FMJ. I did notice that my forearms were covered in black particles, which I've not had with any of my other firearms which means either the Federal Champion I was using is very dirty or the factory lube was causing the particles.
When I went to pull the trigger on the 156th round of Federal Champion there was a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. I tried again, with the same result. I tapped, racked. Same thing.... I took out the magazine, tried the other magazine... same thing. I checked the manually ejected rounds and it didn't look like the primer was being struck. I tried a couple more rounds, click, click.
I assumed that something had gone wrong with my LEM conversion, and that the recoil had caused something to move inside. I packed up and headed home to investigate, disappointed and irritated that I had 'broken' my HK45.
When I got home, I looked at the HK45 before field stripping it. I think I saw the firing pin sticking out, however as it was my first ever real firearm failure I didn't recognize the significance at the time, and by the time I had field stripped and cleaned the HK45 the firing pin was no longer sticking out. It was only later that I had a faint recollection of the firing pin being visible when it shouldn't be.
Googling and searching the forum didn't seem to suggest that there were any known problems similar to what I had experienced, and after the field strip and clean the firing pin seemed to be working properly. I colored the back of a snap-cap with a silver Sharpie pen and checked that the firing pin was striking the snap cap. All seemed to be working fine although I'd have to wait until the next range visit to be sure.
Second Range Visit
Today I went to the range for the next visit, not entirely certain the HK45 would 'behave'. I only had a chance to put 64 rounds down range as I was predominantly needing to train with my Walther PPQ, however all seemed to work well with the HK45, and while I only shot a few rounds I had no black particles on my forearms.
I'll do a much longer session with the HK45 at the range next time as I want to ensure there are no failures with a single range session shooting 500 rounds without cleaning. However I am a little happier now.
I'm still not entirely sure as to what caused the initial problem, it doesn't seem to be caused by my LEM conversion which is a relief. While I believe I saw the firing pin exposed when it shouldn't be I can't be 110% certain this was the case. If it happened though I can only assume that the black particles caused it to happen somehow. I will however ensure that I clean any new firearms before going to the range in the future.
Walther PPQ & HK45
While they are obviously different firearms, I bought the HK45 as it has a similar magazine release to the Walther PPQ which is my standard firearm. So a few photos of the 'cousins'.



You can read my review of the Walther PPQ here if you are interested
TheWombat