Heckler&Koch USP TACTICAL - Manual (Page 5)

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SeCTiON 2 NO MeN CLA TUre SeCTiON 3 FUNCTiON AND OP er A TiON
WArNiNG: Always clear the pistol before han dling it.
CLeAriNG THe PiSTOL
The pistol is not considered “clear” or safe unless:
1. The control lever (if applicable) is on “safe” and;
2. The magazine is removed from the pistol and;
3. The slide is locked to the rear and;
4. The chamber is free of brass or ammunition
To Clear the pistol:
1. Make sure fingers are outside of the trigger guard and the pistol is pointed in a safe
direction at all times!
2. Engage control lever (if applicable) - press the control lever upwards until the “S” (safe)
aligns with the reference line located on the frame.
3. Remove magazine - depress the magazine release lever and remove the magazine from
the pistol.
4. Open and lock slide - while keeping the pistol pointed in a safe direction, lock the slide
open by pulling the slide rearward as you press the slide release upward. Watch for a
cartridge or empty case to be ejected from the pistol.
5. Inspect chamber - inspect chamber for the presence of a cartridge or empty case by:
• Visually viewing chamber through the open ejection port and;
• Physically inserting a finger into the chamber through the ejection port to check
for the presence of a cartridge or empty case.
• Remove any cartridges or empty cases from the chamber or from within the pistol.
The Pistol is now considered “Clear.”
General
The USP Series Pistols are short recoil operated. They use a modified Browning style
system, without a link, to lock and unlock the barrel.
Upon firing, the pressure de vel oped by the propellant gases forc es the slide and barrel
as sem bly to the rear. After moving approximately 3 mm, the locking block will stop the
rearward move ment of the barrel. The bar rel is pulled downward due to the engagement
of the angled lock ing surfaces of the locking block with those located on the end of
the recoil spring guide rod. The locking block disengages from the slide and the slide
continues rear ward in de pen dent ly from the barrel. The extractor, located on the right side
of the slide extracts the spent case. The ejector, positioned in the left side of the frame,
rearward of the magazine well then ejects the fired cartridge case. The rearward moving
slide then cocks the hammer, and com press es the recoil spring.
Once fully to the rear, the compressed recoil spring push es the slide forward, stripping
the next cartridge from the mag a zine into the chamber. If the magazine is empty, the
mag a zine follower lifts the slide release into position where it can stop the forward
progress of the slide and holds the slide open.
WArNiNG: Do not rely on the slide position to de ter mine if the magazine is empty.
Always check visually and phys i cal ly ensure the pistol is not loaded.
During the last few millimeter of forward movement, the slide forces the angled surfaces
of the barrel locking block against opposing angled surfaces on the recoil spring guide
rod. This action pivots the locking block on the barrel up into engagement with the
ejection port on the slide. The breech is now locked closed and the next shot can be fired.
Fig. 1
USP right side view
Fig. 2
USP Compact
left side view