The HK 45 tactical is my home defense gun...and my favorite gun :) Has an absolutely perfect trigger, perfect ergonomics, perfect looks, perfect caliber :)
H&K pistols are awesome! I spent many years overly loyal to one brand and learned the whole "variety is the spice life" lesson by venturing into the realm of H&K. Great review GP, keep them coming man.
Great Review. I love mine. Mags easily take 11 rounds. Bought some 13 rounders as well. I really love this big boy. Threw on a light and he’s my bedside buddy. 👊🏾
I like the fact that for us guys that like to go to the woods we can flex in some 45 super or 450smc without having to modify the gun. makes for an adequate pig popper or bear stopper!!!
Left hand threads do not back off like right hand threads do. My revised statement would be that they still loosen but take longer. Bit of Teflon tape with left hand threads and the suppressors hold tight
I honestly found the da pull on my hk45 to be fantastic for out of the box compared to other da/sa guns I've handled over the years. Now to be fair I have relatively few rounds through my 45 so I'll defer to your assessment after that many rounds. Great humor and review.
great presentation and discussion! I also wish HK built the 45 with the P-30 rear decocker. the USP style safety lever has always interfered with my grip but I still dig my HK45. like you mine just runs. the 45c I converted to LEM just to get the damn lever off the pistol although I truly don't care for the LEM trigger (personal preference, nothing wrong with the LEM).
Well, I just bought the HK45 full size. I like it a lot. I have yet to range test it. Soon... Now that it's home, I've looked it over closer and the sights have to be changed out. I learned that I can switch the safety lever to the right side. I'm left handed, but I have considered leaving it and train to use it right handed. My trigger has a pretty hard pull, compared to my VP9. No problem, but it is squishy and the reset is long. I find this unusual, but I can adjust. I should not compare it so harshly to my VP9. Overall, I'm quite satisfied. Thanks for your video and I really dig the music. I thought it was TOOL.
I own both and I find the HK45 in my hand and on my hip more. Two reasons my HK45 is LEM and I love all of my LEM HKs. Secondly, the grip, I do have some knock-off talon grips on my HK45C making it better but still the HK45 grip is vastly better. Most clients who hold both choose 90% the HK45 over the HK45C, only when size is the number 1 issue they chose that model. I do own 3 USPs, I hardly shoot them, they seem antiquated to me in comparison to these other models. I do think the HK P30L is an excellent choice as well in LEM. The biggest issue with the newer "Tactical Height Sites is holsters, push one of these pistols into a standard leather holster and good chance you will catch the front sight on the bottom edge of the holster and then play hell drawing your pistol. I've witnessed that more than a few times, so I'm happy my HK45 is a 2013 version with the lower night sights. Lastly, shooting .45 Supers through the full size definitely does a better job with a longer recoil assembly, I've done it in the HK45C as well but you can tell it doesn't enjoy it.
The HK 45 and 45c...the most mysterious pistols HK ever tried to build...it’s like it takes design cues from the P30, and the 45c borrows from the p2000, but not quite...I like weird and different...notice my heavy use of ellipses in this comment...😝😝😜 lol. Good stuff man always appreciate your thoughts on these fine pistols. I’m just sad that ammo is so hard to come by these days so you can’t crank these multi-thousand round updates out more often than you used to 😢.
solid review, entertaining and appreciate the details. I had one for a bit a few years ago, got it on a trade. Sold it, not sure why, but always wanted one again. Covid drove the prices of these way up and finally, they've seem to come down to reasonable price points. I managed to grab a brand new HK45 V1, price matched it online and out the door before tax, $659.99. Super happy with the purchase, noticed that the newer models come with rear blacked out serrated sights, with a bright green front dot. Digging that sight picture much more over the older models. Also, screw Spiderman, that is Batman's gun ; )
@@hlfpsttomorrow93 Yeah, but let's face it, deep down, we all have at least one Nickleback song we jam-out too when no one else is around. Just like me and my other 1911 OGs' have at least one Glock. We may not take it to the range, but we'll take boating, camping, and hiking. "Not like you, to say sorry. I'm always waitin' on a different story. This time I'm, mistaken, for given you a heart worth breaken'."
I was looking for a review of the gun, and came across this gold. I laughed through the whole thing. Thank you. I will continue on with the purchase. Great review.
I just picked up a v1 version about a month ago no issues at all mine came with a blacked out rear and a large green dot up front not a precision sight but it is perfect for 50 yard shooting and in its my edc/truck gun and I think I'll appendix carry it for kicks my cz p09 works just fine appendix carry so hoping this works as well really love this gun great video man lots of good info to be had
I just picked up a hk45 for $749.99 at academy!!! Put about 300 rounds through it immediately, and I have to say it's a soft shooter even with hot 45acp ammo!!! Regular 45acp is like a popcorn fart and not any worse than 9mm.
Nice review/update! New subscriber. Have n HK45 V1 coming...hope to feature it on some videos on my channel. Couldn't find the tactical version, but will upgrade the sights and snag a threaded barrel at some point. Yea the full sized looks more comfortable than the compact version. Not sure on why they kept the blocky grip on the compact.
I was just doing some investigating and I noticed the decock lever is plastic. I wonder if a guy with two brain cells and a Dremel could modify it and make it comfortable? After sitting loaded for a year my magazines hold 11. That's how much spring hk puts in their magazines. That and the thinness of the magazine and corresponding grip equal maximum comfort and maximum reliability. If you're willing to trade those two things for an extra bullet... And the Slick texture of the 45 c can be easily remedied with griptape, grip sleeves, or aftermarket stippling/ texturing. So if anyone was dissuaded from purchasing either of the Magnificent Firearms featured in this video by the complaints of the reviewer, just know, they're easily remedied.
A friend let me shoot his when I first got my G19 and it was so easy to handle. My accuracy as a noob was 75% better. I was very impressed but confused at some of the features/controls like the mag release. Great gun.
Looking forward to you picking up more handguns and making these longer review videos. I find them very relaxing and good to fall asleep to. The wife isn’t such a fan.
I'm with you on the trigger paddle mag release . It just seems more intuitive to me . I have to change my hand position to get to the thumb release buttons on my CZ75 sp01 tactical , and my FN fns 9c . I wish they had the trigger paddle .
It's interesting comparing the HK45 to the Sig P227. I've shot the HK years back and own the 227, but the 227 is certainly a big clunky thing with only 10 rounds. The trigger is better than some OEM 226s, but I think there was a reason Sig discontinued the 227, no customer demand. Nice video man!
@@reker.a5790 what indication of superior durability have we seen? I have heard people express preference for the USP's spring instead of the plastic buffer, but only in theory. I'd like to see HK45 examples like the near-300k round USP-45 that Federal reported, but it seems that well have to wait for one to surface. Otherwise, the gun tests well and users like it.
@@45calibermedic you won’t find one like the federal ammo test. Closest you will get is Todd Green from pistol training. Don’t get me wrong, the gun is a beast but the USP design is far more proven and from an engineering perspective, superior with regards to point source energy transfer on the frame. However more complex recoil system. Choose what you like.
@@reker.a5790 I think that's my point, in theory people say the USP system better, but we need to see real-world examples of the HK45. The federal pistol was a test bed for ammo, hence the wild round count. It's a great gun, I'd just like to know how the HK45 compares at similar round counts, but we'll have to wait and see.
This is the third vid I've caught from you. Given the track record so far I'll be looking forward to seeing your takedown of Kel-Tec owners. Sincerely, a fellow who's only platforms are a P365 and an RDB-S
@ 20:45. those jagged wear marks…I have a similar round count on my tac. (haven’t changed my o-ring yet either, heh.). but I DO NOT have that issue. that’s really bad…. there is more wear there like yours, but it’s smooth not burred like that. I have run this one from day 1 with slip 2000 and swear by it. now I’m even more convinced. give it a try.
It seems like the HK45 Tactical exists when for some reason you don't want the USP45 Tactical or the almighty Mk23 SOCOM. FNX-45T is an excellent alternative when HK is out of the question. Sometimes I wonder if HK could've simply added the picattiny rail section, front slide serrations, and enlarged magazine release to the USP45T and call it a day. Only HK could pull off such bizarre decisions in having 3 guns that chamber 45 ACP and not have compatible magazines that work among all 3.
Don’t forget, the HK45 uses the same magazine body as the HK45C which is the same as the USP45c, as well as T variants of these. Also, the USP45 and MK23 can use same magazines depending on the feet used .
I’ll take 2 more rounds over a “comfy” grip. If the grip doesn’t negatively impact my shooting performance, then it doesn’t matter. Work around it if you want that level or reliability
@@trashcanpossum230 And you can't mount any good lights on the 45C. All of this said, the full-size model, sans the awful lever and trigger trough, is an excellent gun.
It was the capacity that really turned me off. I can have 50% more in the FNX45 with almost all the same features. And I love the FNX45 other than they don't offer a decocker only model.
The O-ring will last 10s of thousands of rounds according to tests of and user experience with the USP45 Tactical, Mk. 23, and the HK45 that you can find online. It's not required for the pistol to function and shoot well, but if you ever notice that the ring is broken, you can replace it with another from your box problem. A nice extra detail, in my opinion.
I miss the days of affordable HKs! Remember when P30s were like $550? Also, RU-vid ate your comment on my other video -- when I went to reply it was gone. Sorry!
@@thegunpenguin If you can get past the "must have BNIB" phase. There's plenty of affordable HK's. My 45c for instance I got used from my LGS for $600 (last year). Which came with the original case, 3 finger rest mags,, and 2 elephants. I've seen a few P30's range around 500-600 used too (literally last month). New, yeah. They're still a bit spendy. But with how reliable HK's are. Buying used shouldn't matter.
From an engineering point of view. The USP45 is more durable. But it wayy more than is needed. Hence the new recoil system keeps them above average in durability still but not multi hundred thousands of rounds of durability like the USP
Based on the demo you did of the P30 trigger, looks more like it'd be closer to sharing parts with the VP70. The intro and outro music REALLY tickled my pickle in this vid!
@@thegunpenguin Everything else about it seems great, but I think whoever designed the trigger also does H&K's customer support because they clearly hate us.
Ken Hatathorn and Larry Vickers work with HK on new SOCOM sidearm - it all went well until HK decided to put "Batman" grips instead of P2000-ish pattern grips... They could not agree so HK designed HK45CT which later became MK24... 45CT become famous after it be used in Bin Laden raid... That is true story based on hard facts... P.S. Ken and Larry were going for HK "Polimer 1911"!!??
Have you ever had trouble with the right side slide release? I’ve seen people say theirs is loose or falls out entirely and won’t stay seated in the frame. Was wondering what your long term experience was.
This is a fantastic video . Once you shit all over Stained .. I knew I could trust your opinion . Let me say something now , the lead singer of that group encourages his fans to a chant Fuck Joe Biden which I must confess makes me like him . Anywho , this is a great platform and I enjoyed your detailed video and I Live this Pistol .
The grips on the HK45 look nice but the finger grooves are way too small. When I grip the pistol the highs of the grooves line up with the middle of my finger. Very uncomfortable. So much so that I had to sell mine. The HK45C has a grip I can get my middle and ring finger a comfortable purchase on. I imagine Larry Vickers has meaty hands and finds the HK45 grips as uncomfortable as I do. People on average have very small hands. So HK designed the grips to fit most not all.
Your stupid silent 5 seconds intro made me guess my sound system, check my setup and only then noticing there was no sound! >_< Besides that great review, thanks!
Well my brother I have tested the mechanical accuracy. WHY DO YOU ASK.my gun brother because I have spent thousands of dollars on on colt gold cups series 80 nickel 1911colts Kimberly stainless Usp45 no o ring Use tactical brick grip with o ring Ya no what o ring will let you shoot an apple off of Jed clampits head at fifty yards.if your old enough to know who I'm speaking of.That my friend is a necessary option to have at our disposal. God bless
Am I the only one with Hackathorn sights ? I have the “Big Boy” with “developmental “ Hackathorn sights. Hugs and fuggin kisses except for one thing ( yeah, I know you can change it) no ambi safety/decocker? She does the job. MK24? Where’s my KA suppressor?
Serious? Do you speak for God? Plenty of people in this world speak without using “ foul language” but they have foul hearts. What do you think God is really concerned with?
I have the hk45 in lem great gun but I have a love hate relationship with the lem trigger system I might trade it in for the DA/SA trigger instead 🤷🏻♂️
What LEM variant? (Light or Heavy). It's not for everyone. I'm more of a light LEM fan. But I've seen plenty "hate" LEM just to love it by switching up the variant. While others still hate it regardless. Worth a shot.
H\K. I think they're like the Apple Comptuers of hte production gun worlld. A little overpriced ...but with quality production/testing done. Odd how companies price their guns....the USP line is their more pricy line of pisotls..yet what they are are more attractive Glocks. :) Same blocky grips. ..nicer slide countrouring. :) YAet guns like their P30 ..an evolution of the NP9...gets less "talk"...offers better ergo's than the VP9...and at least up in Canada the P30 is actually "affordable" (costing the same as a GLOCK 17 MOS)....i mean isn't hte point of buying a poolymer gun...for the "affordablity/low cost"??? ?? Why are some guys REALLY buying H"K USP Experts? MK23's at double the cost....?? (almost....$3300 CAD) for a "SOCOM gun"??? Put some MIL assoiation with a gun and suddenly companies can charge us extra :) e.g. the SIG P226 MK25 in the last few years just JUPED in cost (amybe in the past year?) from $1300 CAD i think 2 years ago to now $2300.00 CAD!! :P $ $1000 JUMP :)) (add phosphorous coating on A"essential parts and put a NAavy angchor graphic on the slide chaCHING$$$)...heh...
I had no intention of buying a Mark 23. Most people buy for their military testing records or because of being metal gear solid fans. I came across one in a gunshop used for $1800 U.S., the damn thing just felt right in my hands. It truly is the German Desert Eagle as so many people have dubbed it. Once I shot it at the range, it was unlike any handgun recoil impulse I have ever felt.....regardless of caliber. I would gladly pay full price for it if I had to make that call again.
