Heckler & Koch HK 45

History of the Heckler & Koch HK 45

The long-established German arms company Heckler & Koch's HK 45 is a state-of-the-art semi-automatic pistol for law enforcement, military service, and as a Personal defense weapon. It was an improvement on the earlier HK USP ("Universal Self-Loading Pistol") which eventually came in various forms (including compact) and chambered. The HK 45 prefers the .45 ACP, the tried and true manual in the pistol line, with its own full length and compact.

Its development is tied to the US military's Joint Combat Service (JCS) and Combat Pistol programs to replace the aging Beretta M9 (eventually replaced by the SIG-Sauer P320, described in detail elsewhere on this site).

The HK 45 adopts the traditional Browning M1911 design layout: the slide runs along the length of the weapon and exposes ribbed sides for gripping. The hammer is exposed at the rear of the weapon, and the front and rear iron sights (adjustable, 3 o'clock) are located above the receiver. The bolt release arm and magazine release control (integrated into the trigger ring) are ambidextrous, while the safety mechanism is located on the left side of the fuselage. The pop-up port prefers the right side.

The ergonomic handle (interchangeable) doubles as a magazine well, and the magazine base plate is usually exposed at the bottom. The trigger ring protects the slim trigger assembly and accommodates gloved hands.

Tactical accessories can be mounted under the barrel in front of the trigger group on the one-piece MIL STD 1910 Picatinny rail section. Specialized threaded barrel accommodates the covert-working suppressor favored by special forces

The full length base is 8.03 inches long and the barrel is 4.46 inches long. With the magazine installed, the entire system weighs 31.2 ounces.

Loaded in his .45 ACP, spring loaded metal magazine holds ten ready rounds. Internally, the pistol fires using Browning's proven linkless recoil system. The barrel is based on polygonal rifling for improved accuracy and long-term resistance to general wear and tear.

There are several versions of the HK 45 currently available on the market, the main difference is the trigger function: Double Action (DA) / Single Action (SA) (V1 with two or three magazines) and Law Enforcement Modification (LEM) Double Action Only (DAO) (V7 with optional night vision goggles).

Compacts include the HK 45 Compacy (HK45C), which feeds from an 8- or 10-round magazine, with an improved grip design, and the HK 45 Tactical (HK45T) / HK 45 Compact Tactical (HK45CT) with tritium- Based on sights and optional threaded barrel assembly.

To date (2020), HK 45 is listed on the Australian Tactical Response Team (Western Australian Police Service), Singapore Special Forces, Malaysian PASKAL Special Forces, US Maine Police Department and Fort Lee Police Department, and the United States Chinese Naval Special Operations Command (as "Mk 24 Mod 0").

Specification

Fundamentals

Year of Service

2013

Origins

Germany

Categories

semi-automatic pistol

Manufacturer

Heckler & Koch GmbH - Germany

Carrier

Australia; Germany; Malaysia; Singapore; USA

Roll

Pistol/Pistol

Compact design for close work or general self-defense.

Special Forces

The qualities of this weapon have proven its worth to special forces who need a versatile, reliable solution for the rigors of special operations.

Mute

This weapon is either inherently silent/suppressed, or can be made with special muzzle mounts, special subsonic ammo, or a combination of the two.

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length

204mm

8.03 at

Barrel length

113mm

4.45 inches

Cured weight

1. 94 lbs

0.88 kg

Attractions

Before and after ironing.

Action

Semi-Auto;Single/Double/Double-Only

Semi-automatic

One shot per trigger; self-loading or self-loading action supported by internal mechanisms; stroke management (and initial cocking) typically required by operators; subsequent shots assisted by unlocking/moving bolts.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

CARTRIDGE & FEED

Caliber(s)*

. 45 ACP

Rounds / Feed

8- or 10-Round Detachable Box Magazine (model dependent).

VARIANTS

HK 45 - Base Series Designation. HK 45 Compact (HK45C) - Compact, short-form model with revised grip handle design; 8- or 10-round magazine support. HK 45 Tactical (HK45T) - Tactical model with tritium sights and optional threaded barrel for suppressor support. HK 45 Compact Tactical (HK45CT) - Compact version of the HK45T.

Mk 24 Mod 0 - Naval Special Warfare Command designation of the HK 45CT V3.