Sig P220 or HK USP .45 Compact [Archive]

gaboy

01-28-2005, 09:11

I carried a sig 220 for years. Loved it. Would still be carrying it except for a required agency change in firearms. No grandfather love for me.

Both are excellent firearms. Shoot both and pick the one that fits you best.

If you are looking for poll results I'm with the sig group.

Frank_Pembleton

01-28-2005, 11:48

Hi Watercop,

I have the USP .45 and I absolutly love that pistol. Its very acurate, not as heavy as it looks, and you can't beat the mag capacity.

kennethm3

01-28-2005, 12:03

I have an HK USP compact in .40 and love it, I also have a P229 in .40; both are great guns but if i had to chose between the two you are looking at I'd buy the HK. You'll have a much easier time concealing it off duty than the full size SIG.

Good luck.

Geronimo509

01-28-2005, 15:06

I have both a HK USP Compact .40 and a HK .45 Tactical. I love both. The HKs can come in a lot of different configurations: SA, DA, hammerless, no decocker, etc...

I have also fired a couple of Sigs and like those weapons as well, but for me the HKs tend to fit my hands better with the wider feeling grip.

In my opinion, although both brands have different features, they both have excellent reputations. In this case it should come down to what you feel the most comfortable with. Like GABOY said, shoot both and see which one works for you the best.

Reservoir Dog

01-28-2005, 15:28

I own a SIG P220, and have fired the .45 H&K USP Compact. Both are excellent pistols. I would have to ask, what you are going to use the pistol for? If it is for uniformed duty carry, I would give a slight edge to the SIG, however the H&K would be fine in this category as well. If you will mainly be using it as a personal/off-duty/plainclothes carry weapon, then I would definitely go with the H&K. It is smaller and lighter than the SIG, and will be much easier to carry in that respect. I will second (or third) what the others have said, try them both out and get the one that best fits your needs. Happy shooting.

Dylan889

01-28-2005, 18:20

If I was buying my own gun, I would not go with the plastic. (Just me.)
I don't think you will notice enough of a size or wieght diffrance. See witch one fits your had better and witch controls you like better. They are both quite a bit diffrant in that respect.

gbcop

01-29-2005, 01:57

My duty weapon is the Sig Sauer P226 /357sig. Granted it's not the P220, but it's "Virtually" the same gun. It's not as difficult to conceal as most people think... I can put my Sig in a cheapo fobus holster and throw a T-shirt over the top and have yet anyone to catch on that I'm carrying when I carried off-duty..

Geronimo509

01-30-2005, 10:22

If I was buying my own gun, I would not go with the plastic. (Just me.)

Hmmm... :o I think thousands upon thousands of Glock and HK owners would say differently.

wilsoni91

01-30-2005, 10:38

I would go with a Glock :D , but if I had to pick from the Sig or the H&K I would go with the Sig.

TheGreatGonzo

01-30-2005, 11:42

Hmmm... :o I think thousands upon thousands of Glock and HK owners would say differently.

Perhaps that is why Dylan included the quote "Just me" with his opinion? :rolleyes:
Gonzo

CanineCop

01-30-2005, 12:41

Does anyone have any input on the long range (20 yards+) of the USPc? It looks as if my job will be switching from a mix of Glocks (17), Berettas (96D brigadier) and USPc in .40 to the HK P2000 in .40. I haven't ever shot the USP. I have been hearing vague complaints about the USPc's accuracy beyond 20 yards. Shots this long would only rarely be an issue on my job but could happen. Any comments? Sorry if I'm hijacking but I thought it might be relevant, my Sig P220 from my last job would hit 6" plates at 60 yards.

Geronimo509

01-30-2005, 22:48

Perhaps that is why Dylan included the quote "Just me" with his opinion? :rolleyes:
Gonzo

Yep... and again I think all those "plastic" weapons have proven themselves over and over again. You've got a person looking for good advice here - that values the input from members of this forum. Let's give him something concrete so he can make an informed decision.

Not knowing any better he might actually take this as real advice. Dylan may have a real point here, who knows - maybe he has had an experience with a "plastic" weapon that was negative. If he provided some background info with his opinion it would come across as being a little more informed.

Sorry if I offended - just my 2 cents. :D

Dylan889

01-31-2005, 01:43

Yep... and again I think all those "plastic" weapons have proven themselves over and over again. You've got a person looking for good advice here - that values the input from members of this forum. Let's give him something concrete so he can make an informed decision.

Not knowing any better he might actually take this as real advice. Dylan may have a real point here, who knows - maybe he has had an experience with a "plastic" weapon that was negative. If he provided some background info with his opinion it would come across as being a little more informed.

Sorry if I offended - just my 2 cents. :D

Man, you people are real sensitive about your plastic guns :argue:
My OPINION is that if I am plopping down $500-$700 for a gun, I want a solid, good looking metal gun.
Would I carry a Glock or an H&K? ... Absolutly
But I would BUY a SIG or a S&W metal gun.

To get away from Plastic vs. "real" guns debate.
Spacifics to the H&K vs. SIG 45. You can change out the grips on the SIG, you would have to use one of those ruberband things on the H&K if you wanted. H&Ks have that wierd mag release that is diffrant than the standard button like on the SIG. That would take getting use to. Finally the SIGs don't have a safty lever. I personally like not having to mess with a safty.
The H&K comes with a rail, if that is important to you.

kennethm3

01-31-2005, 02:48

My HK doesn't have an external safety lever, or a de-cock lever for that matter either. If Watercop's handle is an indication on the environment he'll be working in having a "plastic" HK pistol would be a real advantage, the slides are Stainless, even if they are blackened and plastic components do not rust or corrode. My SIGs, I have three of them now, are prone to rust on the de-cock lever, the mag release button, and the take-down lever because the finish wears off of them quickly. Speaking of mag releases; the drop down motion used by HK is an easier, more natural thumb motion and is not hard to master. It is also easier for those with small hands to do one handed. The HK compact IS narrower than the SIG. As for CanineCop's question about the accuracy of the HK; I have owned both the full size and compact USP .40s and as with any handgun, the shorter you make the barrel you will lose some accuracy over distance, I did find though that when I transitioned from the mentioned 96D to a SIG P229 DAO my 25 yard groups improved dramatically, even with a 1/2 inch shorter barrel. Improved ergonomics and fit and finish can make up for a loss in barrel length up to a point.

Ken

Another point; I re-read that Watercop is from Minnesota and the HKs are by far the easiest pistols I have ever shot wearing heavy gloves, an important point in those frigid Minnesota winters.

Dylan889

01-31-2005, 03:02

......If Watercop's handle is an indication on the environment he'll be working in having a "plastic" HK pistol would be a real advantage, the slides are Stainless, even if they are blackened and plastic components do not rust or corrode.........

That is a good point,
I would still go with the SIG personally.
But both are great guns from wonderful manufactures. Either way you can't go wrong. It is kind of like compairing BMW to Mercedies. :D

D.Ulvestad

01-31-2005, 03:03

Dylan889

01-31-2005, 03:14

I still see some of our older LEO's who been on the force a while still carry the good old .357 and won't switch at all. I don't blame them I wouldn't either if I had the piece since the beginning of their careers. :cool:

Does that mean they don't bother with the new fangeled computers vs. the good old fasion typewriters or pencils????
Revolvers make a great BUG, self defense, or hunting gun. If you are still carring a wheal gun there is something wrong.

TheGreatGonzo

01-31-2005, 08:40

It all comes down to agency policy and personal preference. Sigs, H&K, Glocks, S&W, Walther, Beretta...all are fine, well made handguns. Some factors can make a difference, inlcuding the environment you work in (water, humidity, sand, etc). You really won't go wrong with any of the major manufacturers. But, you have to try different models and makes and determine which best suits you by fit and function. For instance, I don't personally care for Glocks. They are well made pistols with acceptable combat accuracy, but they don't fit my hand well at all. Under normal circumstance, they will never be my first (or second) choice of duty weapons. However, if I was going to the desert for an extended period, I would not hesitate to carry a Glock. They function well in that environment without as much upkeep and attention as other models.

That being said, my first choice of the two listed in the original is the P220. It happens to be one of my favorite pistols and one that I often carry. I find it to be very shootable, very concealable, and silly accurate. However, I would not feel slighted in any way if I was given a free H&K to carry. It is also a fine weapon. It all comes down to personal preference. Try both on for size and then decide.
Gonzo

Geronimo509

01-31-2005, 12:01

Man, you people are real sensitive about your plastic guns :argue:

No not sensitive about the guns, plastic or otherwise, but I am when it comes to providing Watercop (or any other poster) with some better data to make an informed decision. That's what this board is for, right? I think the discussion after this point was more educational for all readers.

Kennethm3 is right - the HK can come with numerous features either added or taken off, for right or left handed shooters - something like 10 variations per each weapon series. Though most stores or retailers won't carry a wide assortment, he might have to special order with an additional charge.

Dylan to your point on the grips - you are dead on. No ability to unscrew and put on something that might make the HK fit better for him - just the slip-on grips. This is a limitation if it does feel uncomfortable.

Again to echo everyone else - bot are great, try them both out.

gaboy

01-31-2005, 13:52

Dylan,
If you were to put a S&W through the torture test that glocks were put through I doubt it would even fire. You can't even hardly tote them around in a holster and expect them to fire. Make fun of plastic all you want but when you carry something that may save your life, you may want to go with the plastic. Glock didn't win over the majority of LE contracts because they are so pretty. They just work better. Dont get hung up on the plastic, its acually better than the steel. I'd carry a paper gun if it were the better product. Till then get used to seeing lots of plastic guns.

Dylan889

02-02-2005, 16:03

I have a diffrant point of view on this discution. It is about what Firearm someone is going to spend thier hard earned money on (H&K vs. SIG).
The fack of the matter is any of the top brands (and many lesser known brands) of Firearms will do the job as long as you take care of them and trane with them.
I would carry any of these brands as well as others.
Sig
H&K
S&W
Glock
Springfield XD
etc.....

The real reason Glocks are Popular is they are CHEAP and, yes, VERY reliable as well as simple to use (DAO type triger). They are also less accuate, do to having floating barrel (by how much is debatable). They also have a higher rate of Accidental discharge due to poor training.
When I buy a firearm I want something above combat accuracy, very reliable and a nice gun.
Bottom line, this is a "Ford vs. Chevy" debate. (Dodges don't stack up to either Ford or Chevy just like Glocks don't stack up to SIG or H&K, :D LOL)

gaboy

02-02-2005, 19:46

watercop

02-02-2005, 20:11

I would like to thank everyone for their imput. It is much appreciated. I have looked at both guns. I'm still torn. I have a day set aside in the next two weeks to go to the range and fire both of them. I hope this may make the decision easier. From all the responses, I can not go wrong with eiter weapon.

Dylan889

02-03-2005, 10:25

I've got a glock in 45 and a sig in 45 both are great. Both are very accurate. To say a glock is less accurate is false. If the shooter does his part the glock will do its.

As far as accidental discharges. Again thats on the shooter. People have carried revolvers for ever and they don't have manuel safetys either. By the way sigs don't have manuel safetys either.

Buy a sig if thats what you want. Buy a H&K, but please don't buy a S&W unless its a revolver. Biggest piece of garbage out there.

I have to admit, you are genrally right about the accuacy. It is mostly accademic and depends on the shooter.

Glocks have a half cocked system, not a true DAO system like revolvers and other DAO autos. So Glocks will have a around 5.5-lbs triger pull vs. 7-10-lbs with other DA. This cuppled with poor shooter training is why you may have accidental distarge.

I like S&W, but that is just me. But I would take a SIG first.

I hope my BLOGGING here help you WaterCop, sorry if I stole your Thread. :rolleyes: