I found this old thread: https://www.hkpro.com/threads/opinion-on-hk-p8a1.560141/

 

That's great thx.. good amount of information here

 

I have one. I don’t have have a regular USP, but i already had a USP9T and a USP9C. I think the P8A1 shoots very well, it’s soft recoil wise and very accurate. I shoot it very well, i am not sure if it is because of the traditional rifling or something in my head.

I think if you have a full size USP, you don’t really need a P8A1 unless you want to collect it for the markings. I don’t think it’s vastly different. It’s cool and shoots well, however, and if you were already on the fence about getting the full size USP, you would be making a good choice with the P8A1.

 

Yes this would be my first USP. Although there are differences with the commercial model of the USP, I believe it's a plus that this is their military version and numbers are fewer than the commercial units. Manual of arms isn't much of a variable on my take since I'm not planning on using it as an EDC.

THX..🤙🏼

 

Any USP any Variant is a good USP ! 😎👍

 

Doesn't have any advantages over a standard USP imo,

 

Similar situation between the Beretta M9 vs 92FS--the commercial version is free to go through slight revisions and improvements over time, while the military copy needs to adhere to contract specs exactly (even if it means keeping older designs or parts).

This video summarizes the differences well.

"Advantages" - area next to breach face on the slide is strengthened with a little more material and the finish is slightly different (supposedly more durable).
"Disadvantages" - some would consider the backwards arrangement of the safety confusing and troublesome.
"Downgrades" - no polygonal rifled barrels and older revision parts (hammer and catch).
Neutral (but cool, I guess) - unique markings, luminescent "glow-in-the dark" painted sights, and semi-transparent mags which are super rare (and expensive) in the US market.

I use the above terms in quotes because the differences are so miniscule or insignificant to your average person buying a gun, that they wouldn't know these exist unless they knew to specifically look for them. Things like cracked slides or cheap finish aren't problems the commercial USP is known for having to begin with (at least among 99.999999% owners).

 

I think it’s excellent, but it really only makes sense if you don’t already have a USP9 or you want to collect USPs.

My main surprise with it is that the reversed safety actually isn’t as counterintuitive as I thought it would be. I actually shoot the USP (and most other pistols with a high bore axis) better when I’m not trying to force my hands into an artificially high grip. Because of that, I don’t actually use the control lever as a thumb-rest. Since my thumb ends up under the lever anyway, pushing up for fire on the P8A1 is actually pretty ergonomically friendly.

 

I picked up my P8A1 on Friday and noticed quite a few more differences between the A1 and USP than have been talked about.

On top of having the original design hammer and catch, it also uses the original pre 2005 firing pin and firing pin block.
it uses the Heavy LEM Hammer spring which results in a heavier SA and DA pull (about 6-8 oz heavier SA in my testing over a stock USP)
I believe the slide reinforcement part of the P8A1 is meant to compare more so to an original USP9 circa the P8s adoption in the 90s, because on my USP9s all made 2020+ I cant find a difference with the slide being built any different.
I do like that the P8A1 is coming with the non-lockout lanyard insert since I always replace them with the non lockout part anyways. Very happy that I was able to find one Locally.

 

I picked up my P8A1 on Friday and noticed quite a few more differences between the A1 and USP than have been talked about.

On top of having the original design hammer and catch, it also uses the original pre 2005 firing pin and firing pin block.
it uses the Heavy LEM Hammer spring which results in a heavier SA and DA pull (about 6-8 oz heavier SA in my testing over a stock USP)
I believe the slide reinforcement part of the P8A1 is meant to compare more so to an original USP9 circa the P8s adoption in the 90s, because on my USP9s all made 2020+ I cant find a difference with the slide being built any different.
I do like that the P8A1 is coming with the non-lockout lanyard insert since I always replace them with the non lockout part anyways. Very happy that I was able to find one Locally.

Whoa, that's quite a bit of new info from what everyone has been saying for years on the differences. I guess the comparisons first started years back when the commercial models were still going through some of the revisions. I always wondered in the back of my mind why the commercial models didn't get the strengthened slides... but it turns out they already did!

Anyway, thanks for sharing all these new findings! This might be something that's harder to tell, but do you notice the "Hostile Environment" finish looking/feeling any different between the two also? I'm wondering if that's another improvement that carried over into the commercial models.

 

I haven't seen this minor difference mentioned in this thread. The P8A1, having the date code and stag horns on the slide and not under the trigger guard will appeal to shooters/collectors that lamented that change on the USP.

Edit:
I see with the more recent posts by owners that HK put a warning on the trigger guard ostensibly for US users more accustomed to the USP platform. Can anyone confirm that this is unique to the US imported or do all variants carry the warning.

 

It is a solid pistol with a military background. It’s reliable, tough, and has some unique touches. If you're into HK or collecting rare guns, it's definitely worth checking out.

 

I have so many other DASA HKs that the safety arrangement would throw me off. Mister Guns Range in Plano has two on display for anyone who wanted to handle the gun in person. $1199 I think

 

I saw those as well and was slightly tempted. However, I came to the same conclusion.

 

Well!!.... Made the jump. I'm definitely excited for my first HK handgun to my collection and the price point isn't bad either.

Thank you all for your input 🤙🏼

EDIT!.. Ended getting it through my FFL since he matched my lowest price found.

 

You’re going to enjoy it a lot. Very dependable and enjoyable guns

 

UPDATE!

 

Nice Enjoy!

 

If you’re interested more in a good range gun and a beautiful collection piece, go P8A1. If you’re looking to genuinely carry it and shoot it often, the expert.

 

Hmmm….I would not get a P8A1 to carry. It’s too large for me and (according to the market) most by a margin. That said I do not think the Expert is going in the right size direction for carry either lol…. The P8A1 also seems a little too collectible to carry with the numerous more common other USP options available (with more agreeable features to most of the US market) that have been stacking up on the US market since the 1990s. The few HK imported P8A1s I have seen in stores (2, now not available lol) also cost more than the common standard full size USPs.
Either way, I don’t know of anyone with a P8A1 that doesn’t already have at least one or more samples of the much more common (at least in the US) Expert already.
I don’t know of any Experts (that are actually being shot) that serve as anything but range toys and/or HD or vehicle guns. Not for carry.

Unrelated aside- due to no fault of HKI, I know of one P8A1 that was purchased last week that was missing some of its “stuff” that it is supposed to have with it in its box.
One quick call to HKI resolved the issue. This call was followed up by another this time unsolicited return call from someone from HKI within 15 minutes advising that the “stuff” requested was being shipped FedEx. They also gave the tracking number and a 3-5 day estimate for expected delivery….
Folks that is bang up customer service. People on this forum tend to know HK CS is top notch and has been for a couple of decades now but truly anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong and/or they expect HK to pay for things they should not (i.e. “I damaged my gun clearly doing something Hk advises against and now I want HK to pay to fix it” type stuff). Clearly HK should tell them to go pound sand but even with those people (per posts on this forum) HK gives them very good/ill deserved pricing on the repairs.
Oh well, way to go Hk CS. And good on HKI for throwing 1000 collectors a bone and importing this very unusual in the US market variant. 👍

 

I think, once I converted mine to LEM/Match Hybrid, its a unique joy to shoot.

 

Great gun! I bought one in June 2023 simply for my collection, they are not easy to find and in 10-15+ years will sell well “easily getting back $400+ what you paid) I found mine at a shop and the owner sold it to me for 650 with an HK M223A-1 rifle that just came in (2950) I was really lucky and wasn’t looking to buy anything. Just simply at the range my wife and I shoot at every Sunday.

 

Local shop here in TX has 2, the manager is an HK fan and is a preferred dealer. I took one of them home yesterday. It was a great price too compared to msrp. The safety being reversed seems to be a big negative point, and I agree it's odd (though I understand their reasoning). I am used to riding my thumb on the safety with my other hks and 1911/2011s, but I did find a good grip on the P8A1. Scoop my thumb under the safety and I know it won't actuate upwards, so it's actually not a bad grip. It will take some getting used to, but glad I picked it up. Very cool option if you are into the platform.

 

Nice pistol to have as a collector piece. I would buy one no hesitation. If I could find one for a good price .