View Full Version : Reliable?
From a reliability standpoint, how does the HK fair in general? I need a CCW pistol I can count on and while I know Glocks are notoriously reliable and I have them, and I think the 1911 is the safest of all in Condition 1, I think HK45C is probably my best bet and that's where I'm leaning.
The reliability of HK firearms is nothing short of fantastic! I have yet to have one single failure or malfunction on any of my HK firearms. You won't go wrong with one.
Check out the HK 45c. It's one fantastic gun with really great ergonomics compared to similar sized Glocks. Not to mention it's built better and has the ability to be carried cocked and locked. It's also very accurate too!
HK's aren't perfect as is noting that is man made. However, HK is as close to perfect as your going to get for a out of the box, mass produced combat pistol! There are many other manufactures that could stand to learn a thing or two from the way HK does things.
I hope this helps and good luck on your new purchase! :wavey:
sns3guppy
01-15-2012, 04:30
There are reasons to complain about HK, just like most any brand, but reliability isn't one of them.
I have 815 rounds through my HK45, and it's a flawless performer!! :wavey:
Coming originally from the 1911 platform, it's always amazed me why manufacturers can't get the magazines right. If you buy brand X you have to put an extra power spring in it for it to function right. Why didn't they just do that to begin with and prevent consumers from having to buy a better, stronger spring to aid in feeding? Moreover, the 8 round magazine has been cussed and discussed as to why the 7 round is better since it has a longer leg on the follower than the 8 round which cuts the rear leg shorter and the spring with less coils in order to get that extra round in. In short, the 1911 is more sensitive to the right magazine and follower than other autos I've had.
This, among other reasons is why I was looking at the HK. You just get tired of spending extra money for parts that should have been worked out decades ago. MIM parts? They have their share but to put one in that looks like this, right where the link is going to ride, is not very smart. How long will it be before it breaks? I replaced it with a bar stock steel slide stop. This is from a major manufacturer, too-no fly by night outfit. Two of the most important parts, the disconnector and sear, are MIM parts on some of them. I trust HK has better sense.
This is a shot of the slide stop from a SW 1911 auto. You can see the injection point. Would you trust this
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3826a-1.jpg
deeHKman
01-15-2012, 13:14
I have had HK's since the mid 90's. There man made and can fail as any but HK is and continues to be a Top Tier Manufacturer of all their model's. No Beta testing for buyer's and so many HK's go to the Military they have no choice but to keep on Top.
Quality as a Number one component! Out of all gun's i've had HK will alway's be very close by. Reliability Being Stellar is my First and main reason i will alway's carry one.
If you like a .45 as much as i do a HK45c will be a Great carry gun that's where it excel's at.
sourdough44
01-18-2012, 10:12
I have a little bit of most everything. If I need to get serious nothing beats an H&K.
I went to the range today and saw a USP Compact in 45 in the rentals and decided to give it a try. What a fine pistol! Well, to make a long story short after shooting it awhile, I came home and ordered one from Bud's. Next weekend I'll have something else to shoot.:supergrin:
mrsurfboard
01-21-2012, 02:09
The reliability of HK firearms is nothing short of fantastic! I have yet to have one single failure or malfunction on any of my HK firearms. You won't go wrong with one.
Check out the HK 45c. It's one fantastic gun with really great ergonomics compared to similar sized Glocks. Not to mention it's built better and has the ability to be carried cocked and locked. It's also very accurate too!
HK's aren't perfect as is noting that is man made. However, HK is as close to perfect as your going to get for a out of the box, mass produced combat pistol! There are many other manufactures that could stand to learn a thing or two from the way HK does things.
I hope this helps and good luck on your new purchase! :wavey:
+1 on the 45c. Great gun.
The reliability of HK pistols, both past and present, is among the best on the market.
UrbanCowboy
02-04-2012, 19:04
I have owned 5 H&K's. The only one that ever had any issues was my USPc 9mm stainless. It had the safetey/deckocker and after about 1200 rounds the deckocker got stuck. The pistol still fired though. But since I don't like safties/deckockers anyway, I bought an LEM kit and installed it myself. After that no more problems. All my other H&k's have functioned flawlessly after several thousands of rounds.
JoeCitizen
02-06-2012, 08:16
I've owned lots of different pistols over the years. My first, and still only, HK is a .40S&W P30S I bought about a year and a half ago. I've got somewhere around 1,000 to 1,200 rds through it. I've fired mostly store bought FMJ target stuff but also 2 different brand self defense HP's and my own wimpy lead soft ball reloads. I have 8 magazines total for it and rotate them for carry and at the range. I've had an honest zero malfunctions of any kind. Yes, I know you shouldn't fire lead through it. I always reserve those for the last 1 or 2 magazines of the day then scrub out the lead at home with a chor boy pad. But this is the thing that gets me, everything from the hot SD loads to my lower velocity lead reloads have feed, fired, ejected with 100% reliability.
Oh yes, Glocks are supremely reliable. I have uncountable thousands of round collectively through them over the years. The ONLY thing I've had them hesitate on are my wimpy lead reloads in .40S&W. And that's only 1 every 2 or 3 mags. In my book this is absolutely no criticism for "Big G". With factory loads of any kind and even jacketed reloads at proper pressure levels they are literally flawless. Add to that you can sit down with a 3/32" punch and disassemble one down to the last component in about 7 minutes is unprecedented for a semi-auto. And you can replace most any part for less than $10. And parts are abundant and easy to get. Hence, I'll ALWAYS have a few glocks around. But, the P30 has replaced my G23 as my EDC.
When I first started carrying I went the 1911 route. I went through 3 guns, half dozen magazines and several different brands of hollow point ammo. I gave up. I'm of the opinion you need to spend in the $1800 to $2500 range to get a 1911 that reliably feeds hollow points. Then what you have is a small boat anchor on your hip that holds a measly 8 rounds. Makes no sense to me. Something like a G30 or HK45c makes way more sense to me if you're ok with the capacity (no criticism there at all). Just my opinion, so flame on. I now have only one 1911 for the range to play with.
So, at least with my P30, HK seems to have the unique quality of firing reliably with various bullet constructions AND loads of various pressure levels.
gtmtnbiker98
02-06-2012, 10:17
HK45c's adoption by NSW is a testament as to the durability of the design. The internals of the HK45c are derived from the USP line which have been around since ~1994. A well proven design and yes, they are reliable. HK doesn't release anything before it is ready, that is why it takes forever and a day to see new items from HK. They do the testing so we, as consumers, don't. This is why HK sidearms demand a premium. You get what you pay for.
pitt1011
02-06-2012, 10:44
They are reliable pistols. Check out the below links to see some impressive endurance testing of 2 of HK's recent designs.
http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/hk45
http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/p30-thursday
HK's QC is good and they take their time to get designs right.
I think the German people have a different mind set than we do. They're into quality and it must be ingrained in them from an early age. You can't beat German engineering...sort of like the way we use to be decades ago. They make thle finest cameras extant(Leica), some of the best cookware(Berndes) and needless to say some of the best cars on the road(Mercedes and Porsche).
Time was, Made in USA meant quality, caring and excellent customer service. That's only a memory today. Greed has sold out those qualities. If you don't believe that, go to Wal-Mart and find something made here. Go to the grocery store and find fish and produce from here. Fish comes from 3rd world countries and the produce can come from anywhere from Peru to Viet Nam. Moreover, you have to be careful what you feed your dog these days. Some of the ingredients in kibble and certain treats are coming from China and it's killing or making them sick. It's sad but America will never be what she once was...but, that's another topic.
I know Glocks are notoriously reliable
I did not think "notorious" a word with such a negative connotation would be used to describe the Glocks biggest selling point...
Anyway, I love my new HK45c. It is my EDC and I do not doubt its reliablility.
But, If i was choosing a gun based soley on reliability, I'd probably go with a wheel gun and then a Glock...just saying
I've put more than 4k rounds through my hk45 (full size). Nearly 3k of that was during a 3-day Magpul class in the rain & mud in Portland OR. Pistol performed fantastic, but after getting fairly well crudded up with mud on the second day, I did have a couple failures to go back into battery. This happened 2-3 times. Since the class included malfunction drills, it was great practice for me. And when I had a chance, I just smeared out the crud with a rag and shot some lube into it and I was good to go back onto the range.
I very much enjoy the reliability of my hk45. Been thinking of sending it into GrayGuns for some work. Particularly, I'm thinking of getting LEM because the Glock has spoiled me by not having to deal with external safeties.
I did not think "notorious" a word with such a negative connotation would be used to describe the Glocks biggest selling point...
Anyway, I love my new HK45c. It is my EDC and I do not doubt its reliablility.
But, If i was choosing a gun based soley on reliability, I'd probably go with a wheel gun and then a Glock...just saying
How is notorious a negative connotation? That don't make sense. But, neither does the fact you carry a HK45C due to it's reliability but then say you'd go with a Glock "soley on reliabilty" doesn't make sense either. Maybe I missed something in the translation. You've got one of the top most reliable pistols on the planet if you're carrying an HK.
How is notorious a negative connotation? That don't make sense. But, neither does the fact you carry a HK45C due to it's reliability but then say you'd go with a Glock "soley on reliabilty" doesn't make sense either. Maybe I missed something in the translation. You've got one of the top most reliable pistols on the planet if you're carrying an HK.
Notorious
"Adjective:
Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed"
Although the Glock may be more reliable, I am not putting my EDC weapon through NATO qualification testing on a daily basis. The HK is reliable and I'm sure it could get by with the CZs Glocks and Sigs. But I'm a better shot with the HK, I like its ergos, weight, and trigger over all of them.
If I wanted something soley for reliability I'd get a revolver (like i said), but I factor in a lot more aspects when choosing my EDC
Glockdude1
02-07-2012, 16:05
I own HK and Glock. Trust my life to both of them.
:cool:
I've only had one pistol that has been 100% for a bit over 20 years-the S&W 4506. Others have come close but not matched the reliability of the big 45 they made. I'd love to see a come back for the 3rd Gen pistols but that will never be.
mrsurfboard
02-09-2012, 23:06
Notorious
"Adjective:
Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed"
Although the Glock may be more reliable, I am not putting my EDC weapon through NATO qualification testing on a daily basis. The HK is reliable and I'm sure it could get by with the CZs Glocks and Sigs. But I'm a better shot with the HK, I like its ergos, weight, and trigger over all of them.
If I wanted something soley for reliability I'd get a revolver (like i said), but I factor in a lot more aspects when choosing my EDC
Think the Glock is more reliable? Go over to general Glocking and read all the problem with late Gen 3s and Gen 4 Glocks. Glock perfection is a marketing term, not an absolute fact.
Think the Glock is more reliable? Go over to general Glocking and read all the problem with late Gen 3s and Gen 4 Glocks. Glock perfection is a marketing term, not an absolute fact.
Because there's an instance when I took their tag line literally? Glocks are very reliable but I don't put them on a pedestal like you seem to imply. There's a reason I carry an HK over a glock. I said I'm sure my HK could hold up just as well. But the glock has passed all the tests and has proved itself countless times. Not respecting that is ignorant.
Being new to guns and having a blast at the range and learning about them, I'm looking for a better range gun than my little Glock G27 sub compact.
So beside a shot gun for the house I'm thinking of getting a .45 pistol too. Also this could double for a range practice gun as well.
I'm thinking of getting a HK in .45 I also might want to get a 9mm full size gun for the range as well. I rented a Beretta PX4 Storm and a Beretta 92 and liked those as well.
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