tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19929098.post-81171794970225720512008-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:002008-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:00I own the FFDO/Law Enforcement version of the HK USP .40 Compact and it does have an exposed hammer that needs to be back in order to fire, but it operates in an unusual way. It is sort of a hyrid of double action only and a traditional double/single action auto pistol. <BR/><BR/>In chambered single-action mode, the hammer is always down when your finger is off the trigger. Only the Law Enforcement version operates this way because there is no external safety or traditional de-cock, not unlike the Glocks. <BR/><BR/>The operation is as follows: <BR/><BR/>The trigger needs to be pulled back 1/2" or so with very light force (one lb or so) to stage the hammer back to its normal civilian model single action cocked position. At that point, it operates like any other single action pistol with the Law Enforcement 7.5lb trigger pull. Once the trigger/hammer is staged, the entire magazine can be emptied with just the fraction of an inch of the 7.5lb trigger-pull, just like the civilian version with the hammer cocked and locked back. <BR/><BR/>Not until you fire your rounds and remove your finger from the trigger, does the trigger return to its forward position and the hammer returns to the down position.<BR/><BR/>It is designed this way to be a step-up safety wise from Glock's trigger-safety, since they didn't want an external safety on their tactical model. It sounds unusual but once you fire the first couple of rounds at the range, it becomes second nature and you would never know the difference. <BR/><BR/>It also makes it very difficult to accidentally discharge it, in a conventional sense.....unless of course the TSA requires you to blindly jam a padlock through the trigger guard of your chambered weapon (a trigger guard that you cannot even see through the tiny hole in the holster).<BR/><BR/>JBPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com