A Battle of HK .45s: HK USP Compact vs HK 45C

These are two great handguns manufactured by the premier company Heckler & Koch. As you may know, HK was a German company started in 1948. In 2002, after much success, HK was purchased by a group of private investors. In 2003, it was restructured as Heckler & Koch Jagg und Sportwaffen GmbH (HKJS). At this point, the company was divided into two specific operating groups: one manufacturing firearms for defense and law enforcement and the other producing sporting firearms.

The company has an amazing history of manufacturing iconic firearms, such as the MP5 to name just one. In 1995, they developed the HK USP Compact – “Universale Selbstlade Pistole,” or “Universal Self-Loading Pistol.” It was a great polymer pistol, especially chambered in my favorite caliber, .45 ACP. This was the predecessor to the HK 45C, also chambered in .45 ACP. The 45C came to market in 2007.