HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (2024)

I used the HK P2000 for several years. Here is my take on the firearm based on experience: “In a world of compromise, some men don’t.”This was the proud slogan of Heckler & Koch (HK) in the early to mid-1990s. Nowadays, there’s a long-running cynical joke among citizen gun owners that HK’s Customer Service slogan is actually “HK. Because You Suck. And We Hate You.” Be that as it may, HK definitely won an enviable reputation over the past few decades for scoring government contracts in U.S. military and federal civilian law enforcement alike. Arguably HK’s biggest coup of the first decade of the 21st century was when their .40 S&W caliber P2000 LEM double-action-only (DAO) autopistol was selected by U.S. Customs & Border Protection to replace the ubiquitous 9mm Glock 17 as the agency’s standard-issue duty pistol.

(Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here. Check out More 19FortyFive Videos Here)

HK P2000: A Brief History of the Gun and Adoptive Agencies

The HK P2000 was designed in 2001 and was based largely on their USP Compact model. The new gun was offered in both 9mm and .40 S&W caliber, with a 13+1 magazine capacity for the former caliber and a 12+1 for the latter. A key difference was that while the USP employed a traditional double action AKA DA/SA trigger, i.e. double-action for the first shot and single-action the rest of the way, the P2000 offered a new type of DAO trigger known as the LEM, which stands for Law Enforcement Modification. As Jim Schatz of Small Arms Review explained back in 2001:

“The LEM is Double Action Only mode of operation wherein the hammer is fully cocked and released with each full depression of the trigger. However, that is where the similarities end. Unlike conventional DA Only trigger systems, the HK Law Enforcement Modification uses the rearward movement of the slide to fully cock an internal and separate ‘cocking piece’ positioned within a slot within the hammer itself. The hammer returns forward with the slide after loading or firing. The internal cocking piece, however, located within the hammer, is retained in the cocked position by the sear. When the trigger is pulled the hammer is moved fully rearward through slack to a point where it contacts the sear. It is at this point that the shooter first feels appreciable resistance to the trigger.”

In 2003, as a part of the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs Service, which had fallen under the Department of the Treasury, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which had belonged to the Department of Justice, were merged into the new agency known as CBP. Former Customs inspectors and Immigration inspectors were now known as CBP officers. Meanwhile, Border Patrol agents retained the title of Border Patrol agent, but the Office of the Border Patrol was now a part of CBP.

Along with the merger of old agencies came a hodgepodge of carryover duty pistols. The aforementioned Glock 17s were in the holsters of the legacy customs inspectors, while the Border Patrol agents and legacy Immigration inspectors carried their .40 S&W Beretta Model 96, which was basically a larger-bore version of the Beretta 92FS/M9 that was still standard-issue to the U.S. Armed Forces at the time.

It was decided that some degree of standardization was needed for the sidearms of all these officers and agents. In 2006, the HK P2000 won the contract. Evidently the LEM trigger of the P2000 was considered “safer” and less accidental discharge-prone than either traditional DA/SA or the striker-fired “safe action” trigger of the Glock, and the .40 caliber version was chosen over the 9mm due to the perceived lack of stopping power of the smaller cartridge.

Personal Shooting Impressions: Pros and Cons From My Perspective on HK P2000

I myself joined the agency as a CBP officer in November 2006, my first civilian job after seven years as an active-duty U.S. Air Force Security Forces troop. As I’ve noted in previous articles, I’m a huge fan of Glock and Beretta, so admittedly I was initially very jealous of my new colleagues from the “legacy” days who still had these older pistols. Big bureaucracies being what they are. it took awhile to get these more “seasoned” CBP officers transitioned to the HK, so in the meantime we new hires got the first dibs on the new pistols.

I soon found that I could live with the HK P2000, and I actually grew to like it. The LEM trigger pull had a distinct two-stage feel to it that allowed for the development of a decent shot rhythm that aided practical accuracy. In addition, the compact size – 3.66-inch barrel and 24.96-ounce weight – made for reasonably comfortable off-duty concealed carry. During my Federal Law Enforcement Training Center initial qualifications, I shot 296/300 with it, more than good enough for Expert, and during my local follow-on quals at my homeport, I obtained a perfect score with it on more than one occasion. It also helped me win a bronze medal at the Nevada Police & Fire Games in 2007.

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (1)

Heckler & Koch P2000. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

The pistol served me faithfully for three years, with nary a single malfunction, before I went over to sister agency Immigration & Customs Enforcement as a Special Agent. This meant another pistol transition, this time to the SIG P229 DAK .40 S&W, which we shall cover in a separate article. Interestingly, in 2019, CBP announced that they were actually going back to both the Glock brand and the 9mm cartridge, this time via the new model Glock 47. However, that shouldn’t be seen as a knock on the quality of the HK P2000. If you like HK handguns, I definitely recommend it.

Bonus Photo Essay: Meet the Glock 19X

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (2)

Glock 19X. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (3)

Glock 19X. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (4)

Glock 19X. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (5)

Glock 19X. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Expert Biography: Christian D. Orr has 33 years of shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14. His marksmanship accomplishments include: the Air Force Small Arms Ribbon w/one device (for M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol); Pistol Expert Ratings from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP); multiple medals and trophies via the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) and the Nevada Police & Fires Games (NPAF). Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. In his spare time, he enjoys (besides shooting, obviously) dining out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, travel, USC Trojans college football, and Washington DC professional sports.

HK P2000: The Gun That Served Me Well for 3 Years (2024)

FAQs

Is the P2000 as reliable as the USP? ›

The P2000 stands as a reliable choice, lauded for its larger magazine and rapid fire rate, appealing to those favoring aggression. On the other hand, the USP-S emphasizes precision and control, often preferred by players valuing accuracy over volume of fire.

What is the P2000 in real life? ›

The Heckler & Koch P2000 is a German semi-automatic pistol introduced late in 2001 and intended primarily for law enforcement, paramilitary, and commercial markets. It is based on the USP Compact pistol.

What is the trigger pull weight of the HK P2000? ›

Trigger pull affects delivered accuracy, and nominal amounts of trigger pull for the H&K P2000 are 4.5 pounds for single action and 11.5 for double action. My trigger pull scale indicated that the pistol I received from H&K had a 5-pound single-action pull and 10.25-pound double-action pull.

Is HK P2000 California legal? ›

The HK P2000 and P2000 SK pistols are California Compliant.

Why do people use P2000? ›

The answer is simple the P 2000. It has a more consistent spray than the USP, it has more ammo, and it feels more accurate while moving. Also, headshots feel so much more satisfying on this weapon.

Is the USP-S better than the P2000? ›

Therefore the P2000 is better in high-action mid and close range fights than the USP-S. Both options are definitely viable, but the USP-S is preferred by the larger part of the CS community due to its attributes fitting the spirit of the CT side a bit better.

How much damage does the P2000 do? ›

The P2000 is a highly effective pistol round weapon for two reasons: it costs $0, and it deals 100 damage with a headshot to a helmet-less opponent up to a generous range. However, like other default pistols, the P2000 suffers against armor. This means that Ts will often purchase armor to negate most body damage.

What is the difference between the P2000 and the Glock 18? ›

Compared to the Glock-18, the Terrorists' spawn pistol, the P2000 deals higher damage and is more accurate, but has a lower ammo capacity, higher recoil, and slower rate of fire, giving it a more long-range tapshooting playstyle instead of the Glock's rushing playstyle.

What is a P2000 V3? ›

HK P2000 V3 Semi-Auto Pistol ships with two 13-round magazines. Simple-to-install modular grip panels. Industry-standard mounting rails. Ambidextrous controls. Recurved, hook trigger guard.

What is a good trigger pull weight for a handgun? ›

Typical Trigger Pulls
FirearmTrigger Pull Range
Single-action revolvers4 lb to 6 lb
Double-action revolvers10 lb to 15 lb
Semiautomatic pistols4 lb to 5 lb
2 more rows
Jul 11, 2023

What weight is the NYPD Glock trigger pull? ›

NYPD doesn't 'modify' their Glocks, they buy them already set with a 12# trigger weight(standard is 5.5#) from the factory. This is often cited as due to negligent discharges when they first switched from double action revolvers to Glock pistols.

What is Glock trigger pull weight? ›

The trigger pull on a Glock is about 5.5 lbs with the standard connector, 4.5 lbs with the “-” connector, and 8 lbs with the “+” connector. There is also the New York 1 and New York 2 trigger springs that when combined with a standard connector increases the trigger pull to 8 lbs and 12 lbs respectively.

Why is SIG P365 not legal in California? ›

This firearm is equipped with a manual safety.

It is possible for the trigger to be unintentionally pressed even under normal handling circumstances.

Why is the Glock 43x illegal in California? ›

Why is the Glock 43 illegal in California? - Quora. Because CA legislators say it's “unsafe”. Their only rationalization is that Glock refused to “apply a microstamp” to the firing pin so that any rounds found at a crime scene will be traceable to the gun that fired it and, to the owner.

What was the most reliable pistol in ww2? ›

Walther P38

The P38 was a reliable weapon that fired 9mm rounds and was known for its accuracy and ease of use. It was used extensively by German troops during the war, and was even used by some Allied forces who captured them from the enemy.

What is the frame material of the HK P2000? ›

The polymer frame of the P2000 Series pistol was designed using tech ni cal ex pe ri ence gained฀by฀HK฀en฀gi฀neers฀in฀the฀de฀vel฀op฀ment฀of฀the฀world's฀first฀com฀pos฀ite฀material฀pistols,฀ the฀HK฀VP70Z฀and฀P9S฀(polymer฀outer฀frame/steel฀internal฀frame),฀and฀more฀recently,฀in฀ the฀USP/USP฀Compact,฀HK45/HK45฀Compact,฀P30 ...

What does H&K USP stand for? ›

The USP (Universelle Selbstladepistole or "universal self-loading pistol") is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns. Heckler & Koch USP9. Heckler & Koch USP9. Type. Semi-automatic pistol.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 5723

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.