[Austin1776]

Published/posted yesterday, an article on the HK45, featuring a pick of HK45 #32, from Germany. Not sure why they are just now "reviewing" the HK45 now, thirteen years later, but better late than never, I guess.

LINK TO ARTICLE.

 

[WolfieRules]

I was tracking with the author until the part in the "Bottom Line" part where says, "The HK45 is an above-average pistol...." Maybe just being cautious? I find both of mine are far above average.

 

[JohnnyDollar]

I also thought the review was lukewarm at best.

 

[Austin1776]

Yes, an odd review in a number of respects.

 

[omega21]

This is a piss poor review from someone who doesn't seem very knowledgeable. He says "above average" but rates it an "A-"? He states "Mechanically complex clockworks makes routine maintenance and servicing more difficult and less field-friendly, with air-soluble springs and small parts." So what is an air-soluble spring? What does internal complexity have to do with being field friendly? I'm not tearing it down to the springs in a field setting. His photo shows a line up of HK pistols and is captioned "HK 45s On Display" but clearly shows a P7M8 and a P30. While HK hurts everyone's wallet, to say "And, at $70 per magazine, it hurts the wallet" is way way off the mark these days.

He also says "Also, while accurate, the USP was not generally what many would call match grade." but then he says "ut when this HK45 proceeded to land a 1″ group at 15 yards off hand, soundly beating everything but my high-end custom 1911, I knew I had a plastic pistol I could really get into." I can get the same performance out of my USP.

Lastly, just a general non-HK question. In this review the author says "...Larry Vickers, a former Delta operator and one of the foremost 1911 pistolsmiths in the world..." With due respect to MSG Vickers contribution to the shooting community, do people really classify him in the same realm as John Nowlin, Virgil Tripp, Vic Tibbets and the pistolsmiths at Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Cylinder & Slide (Bill Laughridge), Nighthawk Custom, Pistol Dynamics, and Cabot Guns?

 

[JooJooBurger]

I found that interesting. I find the endurance test and all of the notes summarizing at Pistol Training regarding their HK45 and its 50,000 round test much, much more fulfilling to read. It's more thorough and provides a lot more information over the course of 25x the amount of firing these guys did.

Absolutely, the HK45 is well above the average pistol. The average pistol is like the S&W Sigma. LOL.

omega21, I would say those custom manufacturers have their niche of providing really neat custom guns. My understanding is that Larry Vickers knows the 1911 inside and out, and focuses more on building a reliable combat 1911 moreso than high end custom pistols like those custom shops. Considering his background and why he maintained 1911s when he was active duty, it makes sense.

 

[bastardsonofelvis]

This is a piss poor review from someone who doesn't seem very knowledgeable. He says "above average" but rates it an "A-"? He states "Mechanically complex clockworks makes routine maintenance and servicing more difficult and less field-friendly, with air-soluble springs and small parts." So what is an air-soluble spring? What does internal complexity have to do with being field friendly? I'm not tearing it down to the springs in a field setting. His photo shows a line up of HK pistols and is captioned "HK 45s On Display" but clearly shows a P7M8 and a P30. While HK hurts everyone's wallet, to say "And, at $70 per magazine, it hurts the wallet" is way way off the mark these days.

He also says "Also, while accurate, the USP was not generally what many would call match grade." but then he says "ut when this HK45 proceeded to land a 1″ group at 15 yards off hand, soundly beating everything but my high-end custom 1911, I knew I had a plastic pistol I could really get into." I can get the same performance out of my USP.

Lastly, just a general non-HK question. In this review the author says "...Larry Vickers, a former Delta operator and one of the foremost 1911 pistolsmiths in the world..." With due respect to MSG Vickers contribution to the shooting community, do people really classify him in the same realm as John Nowlin, Virgil Tripp, Vic Tibbets and the pistolsmiths at Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Cylinder & Slide (Bill Laughridge), Nighthawk Custom, Pistol Dynamics, and Cabot Guns?

Yeah, the majority of the pistols in the photo captioned "HK 45s on display" are chambered in 9mm. An all around pretty sloppy review.

 

[omega21]

omega21, I would say those custom manufacturers have their niche of providing really neat custom guns. My understanding is that Larry Vickers knows the 1911 inside and out, and focuses more on building a reliable combat 1911 moreso than high end custom pistols like those custom shops. Considering his background and why he maintained 1911s when he was active duty, it makes sense.

Makes sense. Thanks @JooJooBurger

 

[bauerdb]

Bizarre. If HK doesn't release a new 45 at Shot Show I am going to pick up a German HK45. I wasn't impressed with my American one.

 

[JooJooBurger]

Bizarre. If HK doesn't release a new 45 at Shot Show I am going to pick up a German HK45. I wasn't impressed with my American one.

How can you tell which HK45s are German and which ones are made in the US before you buy one? I know there is the DE on the slide, but most online shops wouldn't differentiate the two.

Cheers

 

[WolfieRules]

Bizarre. If HK doesn't release a new 45 at Shot Show I am going to pick up a German HK45. I wasn't impressed with my American one.

I have one of each, can't tell the difference in feel, shooting or cleaning them.

 

[bastardsonofelvis]

Bizarre. If HK doesn't release a new 45 at Shot Show I am going to pick up a German HK45. I wasn't impressed with my American one.

Well, unless it was the proof marks you weren't impressed with you're going to be disappointed: they are exactly the same.

 

[TooSixy-closed]

There is absolutely no difference between a US and a German HK45, except the rollmarks. I own and have shot both side-by-side for thousands of rounds. It is just someone's mindset.

US vs German made is pretty simple to tell. Serial number alone, US-made HK45s has HKU-XXXX serial prefix; German HK45s has 126-XXXX serial prefix. You could call the store and ask for the serial #. Going by the DE rollmark alone won't help because pre-AI, there were no DE rollmarks on any of the HKs. The oldest dated HK45s are AH (2007), not counting the prototypes, so I am still baffled as how someone came up with the "thirteen years later" remark.

 

[bauerdb]

I believe the new batch of HK45 are German correct? Mine was one of the first American ones. Trigger reset issue and various cosmetic issues. My point was the new German ones should be flawless.

 

[TooSixy-closed]

I believe the new batch of HK45 are German correct?

That is correct. BG date code.

 

[torjt]

That is correct. BG date code.

I agree. I just purchased an HK45 from brand new stock at Cabela's 3 weeks ago. It has a BG code, German Proof Marks, and "Made in Germany" on frame.

 

[Austin1776]

A supporting vendor, Cross Creek, still has the regular models available for order, German made.

Link here.

 

[macsak]

This is a piss poor review from someone who doesn't seem very knowledgeable. He says "above average" but rates it an "A-"? He states "Mechanically complex clockworks makes routine maintenance and servicing more difficult and less field-friendly, with air-soluble springs and small parts." So what is an air-soluble spring? What does internal complexity have to do with being field friendly? I'm not tearing it down to the springs in a field setting. His photo shows a line up of HK pistols and is captioned "HK 45s On Display" but clearly shows a P7M8 and a P30. While HK hurts everyone's wallet, to say "And, at $70 per magazine, it hurts the wallet" is way way off the mark these days.

He also says "Also, while accurate, the USP was not generally what many would call match grade." but then he says "ut when this HK45 proceeded to land a 1″ group at 15 yards off hand, soundly beating everything but my high-end custom 1911, I knew I had a plastic pistol I could really get into." I can get the same performance out of my USP.

Lastly, just a general non-HK question. In this review the author says "...Larry Vickers, a former Delta operator and one of the foremost 1911 pistolsmiths in the world..." With due respect to MSG Vickers contribution to the shooting community, do people really classify him in the same realm as John Nowlin, Virgil Tripp, Vic Tibbets and the pistolsmiths at Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Cylinder & Slide (Bill Laughridge), Nighthawk Custom, Pistol Dynamics, and Cabot Guns?

what he meant by "air-soluble" is that they disappear easily, just like they dissolved
so he is saying they are easy to lose

 

[bauerdb]

I agree. I just purchased an HK45 from brand new stock at Cabela's 3 weeks ago. It has a BG code, German Proof Marks, and "Made in Germany" on frame.

Did they change the stippling to the VP9 style like reported on the HK45c?

 

[torjt]

No, it has the same stippling. It was not changed.