Heckler&Koch USP TACTICAL User Manual
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CAUTiON: A pair of Universal Mounting Grooves located on the front of the USP’s
frame allows for a variety of ac ces so ries to be used with the pistol. improperly
de signed or in stalled ac ces so ries may re sult in dam age to the mounting grooves and/
or the pistol. Such dam age is not cov ered under warranty. Be certain to use only HK
authorized accessories and follow in stal la tion and pre cau tions care ful ly.
OPerATiNG CONTrOLS & COMPONeNTS
WArNiNG: USP series pistols incorporates single-action and/or double-action
modes of operation. Anytime the trigger is pulled with the control lever in the fire
(horizontal) position and a cartridge in the chamber, the pistol will fire from either the
hammer down or cocked positions.
Trigger (in Double/Single-Action modes)
In the double-action mode, pulling the trigger will cock the hammer and immediately
release it firing the first chambered cartridge. All subsequent cartridges will be fired in the
single-action mode because the slide automatically recocks the hammer after each shot is
fired. To fire the first chambered cartridge in the single-action mode, the hammer must be
manually cocked before pulling the trigger. All shots after the first shot will be fired single-
action because the slide automatically recocks the hammer after each shot is fired.
In the double-action only mode, the hammer always returns to the uncocked (forward)
position after each shot. All shots are fired in the double-action mode. The HK LEM (Law
Enforcement Modification) mode functions similar to double-action only mode.
Control Lever
This manually operated lever is located on the side of the frame below the rear sight.
This lever is operated with the firing thumb and can perform both functions of a safety
lever and a decocking lever, depending on the parts installed.
NOTe: Some variants do not have a control lever. On some USPs, including some of
the specialized USP models (USP elite USP expert), a control lever is present on both
sides of the frame.
Control lever as a safety lever
On HK USPs with the “SAFE” position (Variants 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, & 10), the front of this lever
is fully raised above horizontal so that the “S” on the lever itself aligns with the reference
line on the frame (see Figure 3 ). With this control lever engaged, the release of the
hammer is blocked in the single-action mode of fire. In the double-action mode, the
hammer will partially cock but will not release to fire the pistol.
WArNiNG: The USP Series Pistol fitted with LeM parts incorporates dou ble-ac tion
only mode of operation. Any time the trig ger is pulled with a car tridge in the cham ber,
the pistol will fire from the ham mer down position.
In the double-action only mode, the hammer always re turns to the uncocked (forward)
position after each shot. All shots are fired in the double-action mode.
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Control Lever “SAFE”
Control Lever “FIRE”
Control Lever “DECOCK”
Magazine
Depending on the model, USP series magazines are constructed of high-strength, light-
weight polymer or metal. Polymer magazines have a metal insert located in the upper
third of the housing for increased strength and durability. Cartridges are positioned
within the magazine in a staggered arrangement but are fed into the pistol from a
single row under the feed lips. The cartridges are visible through the numbered viewing
holes located in the back of the magazine. For main te nance and clean ing, USP Series
mag a zines can be easily dis as sem bled. Interchangeable floorplates are avail able for the
magazines of the many USP Series Pistols. A stan dard flat floorplate and an ex tend ed mag-
a zine floorplate with a fin ger ex ten sion provide a choice of grip options with each pistol.
Mag a zine floorplates can be eas i ly removed and changed without tools dur ing dis assembly.
extractor
The extractor on the some USP models acts as a loaded chamber in di ca tor. When a
cartridge is in the chamber, the red colored forward edge of the extractor protrudes ap-
prox i mate ly 1 mm from the slide and is visible to the operator.
CAUTiON: Do not depend on the presence of a loaded chamber indicator to determine
if a pistol is loaded. Treat all weapons as if they are always loaded!
Slide release
This lever is located on the left side of the frame directly above the trigger. This lever is
used to lock the slide open, to release the slide, and to disassemble the pistol.
As a slide stop, it is lifted upward by the magazine follower or the operators finger as the
slide travels rear ward during recoil or manual manipulation. The slide re lease engages
in the recess located on the left side of the slide at its midpoint. The slide release is
spring ac tu at ed and is held down out of engagement with the slide until required. The
slide release will au to mat i cal ly hold the slide open when the last shot is fired. As a
disassembly lever, the slide release is removed from the left side of the frame when the
slide is held partially rearward.
Magazine release Lever
This ambidextrous, spring actuated le ver holds the magazine in place within the grip by
engaging in the notch found on the front of the mag a zine housing. Depressing this lever
downward with the firing index finger or thumb will allow the magazine, re gard less of
the number of car tridg es inside, to drop free of the frame. The mag a zine release lever is
shielded from accidental ac tu a tion by the design of the polymer frame and flared trigger
guard sur round ing it.