HK USP40 Compact .40 S&W
Model: 81000336
HK USP40 Compact .40 S&W
Model: 81000336
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The HK USP40 Compact takes the original USP40 frame and shortens both the barrel and the grip — barrel drops to 3.58", capacity stays at 12+1, and weight comes down only slightly to 27.52 oz. The shorter slide cycles the same captive recoil-buffer system as the full-size USP, which is the design choice that makes the Compact shoot flatter than most of its size-class competition.
This is the V1 variant: left-side combined manual safety and decocker, the same control found on the full-size USP40 and the Mark 23. The grip shortens enough that the standard USP magazine extends below the magwell with a flush-fit base or sits flush with a +2 floorplate kit. Compared to a striker-fired compact like the Glock G23 Gen5, the USP40 Compact offers a hammer-fired DA/SA system with a true manual safety — operational choices most striker guns can't replicate without changing platforms entirely.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Captive recoil buffer carries over from the full-size USP40, giving the Compact softer recoil than most polymer-frame compact .40s
- V1 combined safety/decocker supports cocked-and-locked or DA-first carry on the same gun
- HK proprietary mounting groove requires an adapter for standard Picatinny lights or lasers
- Aftermarket holster, sight, and accessory ecosystem is narrower than Glock or M&P platforms — especially for compact-specific gear
- Sits at the premium end of the compact .40 market; buyers should expect HK pricing, not Glock pricing
Category Rankings
How the HK USP40 Compact .40 S&W ranks among compact .40 S&W handguns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the USP40 Compact and the full-size USP40?
The Compact shortens the barrel from 4.25" to 3.58" and shortens the grip enough to require a different magazine geometry — full-size USP40 mags will fit but protrude below the magwell. Both guns share the same recoil buffer system, V1 control set, and overall HK fit-and-finish. The Compact is the carry-oriented variant; the full-size is the duty-oriented variant. Action geometry, sights, and frame ergonomics are otherwise the same.
Can the USP40 Compact use full-size USP40 magazines?
Yes, with a caveat: full-size 13-round USP40 magazines will function reliably in the Compact, but they extend below the magazine well by about half an inch. Many owners use the full-size mag as a spare and run the 12-round Compact mag in the gun for concealment. HK also sold +2 floorplate kits that bring the Compact mag to 14 rounds for range use.
