The HK P2000 is HK's law-enforcement-focused compact .40, originally developed for German federal police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In .40 S&W it carries 12+1 rounds through a 3.66" barrel and weighs 27 oz empty. The defining feature is the LEM trigger system — Law Enforcement Modification — which converts the DA/SA hammer geometry into a consistent 4.5 lb pre-cocked double-action pull with no manual safety to manage.

LEM is HK's answer to the "DA/SA is too complicated for line officers" critique. The hammer rides in a partially-pre-cocked state after the slide cycles, which means every trigger pull breaks at the same weight (no light SA / heavy DA transition) and there's no decocker to forget to use. Owners coming from striker pistols often describe the LEM as "what a Glock trigger should feel like" — same consistent pull every shot, but with a noticeably cleaner break. The 3.66" barrel and compact frame place this directly between the USP40 Compact and the Glock G23 Gen5 for size, with interchangeable backstraps for grip fit.

The P2000 ships in multiple V variants: V0 is the original LEM (pre-cocked double-action) with a ~4.5 lb pull and no manual safety; V2 is LEM with a lighter first-stage and shorter pre-stroke (~4.5-5 lb); V3 is traditional SA/DA with a decocking lever at the rear of the slide; V5 is true DAO (Double-Action Only). The U.S. commercial market saw mostly V2 production. Confirm the variant before buying used, since LEM components are not user-swappable without HK armorer training. For a turnkey carry gun, factory tritium night sights are recommended; the standard 3-dot sights are functional but not ideal for low-light defensive use.