HK USP40 .40 S&W
Model: 81000314
HK USP40 .40 S&W
Model: 81000314
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The HK USP40 is a full-size hammer-fired .40 S&W built for duty and home defense, and it has an MSRP of $1,259. Every USP carries a patented recoil reduction system that HK says lets the pistol take +P loads and lessens the recoil the shooter feels, works the same with any ammunition, and needs no adjustment or maintenance.
It ships with two 13-round magazines and three-dot sights that HK installs and aligns at the factory. The V1 control lever on the left side combines the safety and the decocker. It sits on the frame where a 1911 thumb safety would, so the pistol can be carried cocked and locked, and a left-handed owner can move the lever to the right side. Accessories go on grooves molded into the polymer frame, which HK says take a light or a laser with no modification to the pistol. The slide has no optic cut, so a red dot means machine work.
If you're cross-shopping, the HK VP40 is the striker-fired HK in this caliber at an MSRP of $949, with the same 13 rounds, 28.93 oz, and no decocker or first-shot transition to learn. The Glock G22 Gen5 holds 15 rounds at 28.43 oz behind a 4.49-inch barrel and comes with three magazines. The USP is the one of the three with a frame-mounted lever and a cocked-and-locked carry option.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- HK counts no fewer than four safety features on the USP, among them a firing pin safety and a drop safety, and none of them have to be switched off to fire.
- Magazines come in 10- and 13-round lengths, and HK builds the same frame in .45 ACP and 9mm, so the controls carry across all three.
- The control lever has a positive stop and springs back to the fire position by itself after decocking.
- The sights adjust for windage by drifting, so a change in elevation means fitting a different front sight.
- HK excludes groove damage caused by accessories it has not authorized from the warranty, which narrows the light and laser choices.
- A hammer gun with a long first pull and a short second one needs practice on that transition before it goes on a belt.
Category Rankings
How the HK USP40 .40 S&W ranks among full-size .40 S&W handguns.
Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .40 S&W ammunition.
.40 S&W Ballistics →Where to Buy
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size .40 S&W handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
HK VP40 .40 S&W
Heckler & Koch
|
— |
|
Sig Sauer P320 .40 S&W
Sig Sauer
|
— |
|
Beretta PX4 Storm .40 S&W
Beretta
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— |
|
Smith & Wesson M&P 40 M2.0 .40 S&W
Smith & Wesson
|
— |
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Glock G22 Gen5 .40 S&W
Glock
|
$1,599.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the USP40 have an internal lock?
Yes. HK has fitted its patented internal Lock-Out Device to USP pistols since 1999, apart from some special-order runs.
Will it fire with the magazine removed?
Yes. USP models have no magazine disconnect, so a chambered round fires with the magazine out.
How many trigger configurations does HK offer?
Ten across the USP line, counting DA/SA, SAO, DAO and HK's LEM trigger. The parts to change between them are sold separately.
Is the .45 version the same size?
No. The USP45 is taller and has a longer barrel. The .40 and the 9mm share the 1.26-inch width and the same frame.
