HK USP Does not like Hornady

[Goat Roper]

I just traded a guy for a very lightly used HK USP .45 Stainless Model. I like (love) the feel of this pistol and it shoots every form of ball ammo I throw at it with no problem. The problem starts when I start throwing in some of the new-school defense ammo. So far I have tried about every form of Hornady Hollow-Point (they are my favorite off the shelf ammo company) to no avail. It seems that the round is too long and engages the rifling. It feeds into the chamber fine (usually) but it will not extract before firing, and definately not after firing, has anyone else had a problem like this? It's just a bummer to have such a sweet pistol but to be limited on what ammo I can feed it. I like my XD45T a lot better so far, it eats anything and asks for more.

[vecte]

Originally Posted by Goat Roper

I just traded a guy for a very lightly used HK USP .45 Stainless Model. I like (love) the feel of this pistol and it shoots every form of ball ammo I throw at it with no problem. The problem starts when I start throwing in some of the new-school defense ammo. So far I have tried about every form of Hornady Hollow-Point (they are my favorite off the shelf ammo company) to no avail. It seems that the round is too long and engages the rifling. It feeds into the chamber fine (usually) but it will not extract before firing, and definately not after firing, has anyone else had a problem like this? It's just a bummer to have such a sweet pistol but to be limited on what ammo I can feed it. I like my XD45T a lot better so far, it eats anything and asks for more.

Went shooting a little over a week ago, and my friend had just bought a brand new H&K USP .45 Tactical. I had yet to shoot it, so when we got to the range he handed it to me. First shot the gun jammed up on me. I know I didn't limp wrist it, but I cleared it, and he had some Hornady defense rounds loaded in it. We took those out and put some of my Federal FMJs in it, then the gun ran fine. That was the only round of Hornady we put through it though, but I do know that was the only time the gun has jammed.

In my own personal experience, I shot some Hornady defense rounds out of my .38 Special Revolver, and they were horribly inconsistent. I used some plain Winchester white box hollow points, and they performed wonderfully. Needless to say, my two experiences with Hornady defense rounds have been less than stellar.

I'd recommend Federal Hydra Shok rounds, or Remington Gold Saber.

[Goat Roper]

I'd recommend Federal Hydra Shok rounds, or Remington Gold Saber.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I'm running the Hydra-Shoks now. I haven't had any problems with the Hornady in any of my other guns except the leverloution in my 336, I just couldn't get it dialed in. Bought a box of federals and everything went fine.. maybe some quality control issues with hornady.. but if SHTF I won't be grabbing the HK because my luck would be the ammo I scavenged would all be Hornady. lol

[vecte]

Originally Posted by Goat Roper

I'd recommend Federal Hydra Shok rounds, or Remington Gold Saber.

Yeah, I'm running the Hydra-Shoks now. I haven't had any problems with the Hornady in any of my other guns except the leverloution in my 336, I just couldn't get it dialed in. Bought a box of federals and everything went fine.. maybe some quality control issues with hornady.. but if SHTF I won't be grabbing the HK because my luck would be the ammo I scavenged would all be Hornady. lol

Hydra-Shoks are great, and pretty easy to get. I think the Federal HSTs are supposed to be better than Hydra-Shoks, not sure though. I'm really liking the Remington Gold Saber at the moment. Shoots great, and I can get it for $13.95 per 25 rounds of 230 gr .45 ACP.

[TheDreamingTree]

Heckler & Koch is notorious for having issues with Hornady. The bullet ogive is rounder and sits farther back. I've chamber checked EVERY Hornady round I bought, and they're all that way (not just an individual problem). Check out HKPro for other examples.

I had a severe jam with my HK45c the day I bought it. I've since switched and it's fine. Here's what's known effective:

- Remington
- Winchester
- CorBon
- Speer

This is from MY experience, so there are others.

It sucks that it seems like it's picky, but I far prefer my Winchester Ranger-T's and Speer Gold Dots to ANYTHING Hornady puts out.

[Goat Roper]

Originally Posted by TheDreamingTree

Heckler & Koch is notorious for having issues with Hornady. The bullet ogive is rounder and sits farther back. I've chamber checked EVERY Hornady round I bought, and they're all that way (not just an individual problem). Check out HKPro for other examples.

I had a severe jam with my HK45c the day I bought it. I've since switched and it's fine. Here's what's known effective:

- Remington
- Winchester
- CorBon
- Speer

This is from MY experience, so there are others.

It sucks that it seems like it's picky, but I far prefer my Winchester Ranger-T's and Speer Gold Dots to ANYTHING Hornady puts out.

I agree that it sucks for such an awesome gun to be ammo-picky, but like the original M1911, it was designed to feed ball ammo. I've always used Gold Dots in my other .45's, but I wanted to try something different.

I've also read that the USP can handle .45 super, any info on that? I've been using my Glock 20 as my back-up for hog hunting, but if the supers will work, I'm going to try it out. Thanks for the info.

[Goat Roper]

Originally Posted by vecte

Hydra-Shoks are great, and pretty easy to get. I think the Federal HSTs are supposed to be better than Hydra-Shoks, not sure though. I'm really liking the Remington Gold Saber at the moment. Shoots great, and I can get it for $13.95 per 25 rounds of 230 gr .45 ACP.

I'll have to check out the HST's.. Thanks.

[dhardy57]

Originally Posted by Goat Roper

.... I like my XD45T a lot better so far, it eats anything and asks for more.

I love my XD45T also - you are right, eats everything and asks for more. It is also my everyday carry - which brings me to Hornady, which I also use for my SD ammo - 230gr +P TAP FPD.

[Goat Roper]

Originally Posted by dhardy57

I love my XD45T also - you are right, eats everything and asks for more. It is also my everyday carry

I wish I could carry that monster around every day. I'm 6'1 and about 190lbs., I haven't found a comfortable way to effectively conceal that large of a handgun, especially in our south-eastern heat. If I could, I would be seriously torn between the XD45T, my Glock 20, or now this new beast the USP 45.. SO for now, I keep the XD9SC in the small of the back in a UGB Canute (best thing since sliced bread), and sometimes the LCP either in the pocket or on the ankle. Not that I've ever needed any of them, but they are nice to have.

[Spooled]

The usp 45 is the best handgun i have ever owned or shot. I never tryed any hornady but it ate all the ball and 230 gr gold dots i tryed to use.