Hola amigos.

I am in the market for a new full-size 9mm DA/SA handgun. I love my G19 and 1911 but I'm developing arthritis in my hands, and even the G19 is getting uncomfortable to shoot for long sessions. I haven't bought a new pistol in a long time but I really like the Beretta 92, sold a 92FS stupidly many years ago. I still love the Glocks for carry, don't plan on toting this guy around except at BBQs.

I need a soft shooter, and like conventional DA/SA. The gun will see night stand duty if I get to trust it.

Been eyeballing the shit out of the LTT Elite full-size, but like the idea of an all-steel 92 with a frame safety(used to lust after the steel guns). The LTT looks way better to me than the 92X. MEh.

There also happens to be H&K USP 9 Experts floating around. I have always been enamored by the platform but never owned one.

Help me out guys. My head says go 92X since it should be the softy of the group, but the LTT and USP9 Expert are really compelling.

None are available for rental. How are those USP Experts?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DoctorSolo,

The USP Expert is a very fine gun. Even as a poly frame pistol, its big size (5.2-inch barrel) and the recoil buffer make it a very soft shooter. It's my favorite in the USP line-up. Don't know anything about the 92X Performance.

HK all day long. I like the 92s but the HK is one of my favorites and the experts are very nice.

I have an Expert in 45 and a couple LTT’s. If you have arthritis I can tell you right now the trigger on the LTT is lighter and smoother. (I love my HK’s but I do trigger work on them and prefer LEM).

Expert 9 is a cool gun. It’s not as cool a shooter though. It has blacked out adjustable sights that are nowhere near as easy to shoot as the modern variants. Fiber optic, yellow/orange Trijicon style fronts, etc. My Expert has harder to use sights, harder to use trigger, and it’s a great gun. The LTT is a better performer though out of the box.

I have a USP 9 Expert and a Wilson Tactical 92 for reference.

The Expert is an amazing gun and one of the most accurate pistols I own. I ended up putting a fiber front sight on it and it shoots really well. To me, the USP Expert is significantly better than the regular USP.

I love 92’s and have a few variations, but the upgrades do not make them that much better/different than a “regular” one.

I have a LLT fullsize 92 and a 9mm Expert. Shoot them both for USPSA and fun. The Expert trigger is not as smooth as the LLT’s but, it is not nearly as “gritty” as a standard USP. It is a match trigger and has adjustments for overtravel.

If you want to run a red dot get the LTT. They both shoot lights out. Recoil in either is really non-existent. If I had to choose between the two I would go w/ the Expert but, it’s by a hair!!!! Both are so good.

I know this is a cop out but, if you can get both. You won’t regret it.

I have both a full-size 92 Elite LTT from Langdon Tactical (a slide with RDO and a slide without RDO) and a 92X Performance also purchased through Langdon Tactical (it also has their trigger job). There is no doubt that the 92X Performance will be the softest shooting of the 3 pistols you're looking at. Just be aware that the frame safety only engages when it's in single action and there is no decock. If you want your first shot to be double action, you will have to manually decock. If you choose the 92X Performance just run it cocked and locked like a 1911.

While it's not the USP Expert you mentioned, I also have a P30L LEM customized by LTT. RDO cut, refinish, and their trigger job. If you want a single trigger pull this is the route to go. The LEM is already a good trigger and the ones modified by LTT are some of the best hammer fired triggers I've shot outside of 1911s.

All that said, the 92 Elite LTT is my carry gun. Bottom line, you can't go wrong with any of the 3 guns you're looking at. You just need to decide what features you value the most.

I appreciate the feedback!

The USP is a proven platform but I do worry about the trigger characteristics not being quite what I want.

Also I appreciate the feedback on the sights Pedro. I didn't realize they were all black, good to know.

Buy both, NOT helpful 357fuzz ha! I wish.

As for features, I really need a LTT Elite with a vertec frame(which they don't offer), or a heavy-ass 92X P. I don't mind safe or decock only, not overly hung up on the manual of arms honestly, just need something comfy and accurate. like a lazyboy with a V10. BMW M5...

No need for an RDS, but the option is nice I guess.

Also considering a 92X RDO and doing the TJIAB myself, then I get the vertec frame, which you don't get with a LTT Elite. The 92X performance is gaudy looking to me, but that doesn't matter when you are shooting it.

Hrrrrmmmpff still dunno. Luckily I can't do anything for a couple weeks. Gonna stew on this one real good...

I do appreciate the feedback guys, keep it coming, along with any off-the-wall suggestions and comments.

Tough call. All three are fine in their own right. I'd give the edge to the LTT though. It seems to have everything in a DA/SA that a person needs.

I just sold my Beretta 92X Performance because of arthritis in my left hand. Incredible pistol, but really, really heavy. (Which does make it soft shooting, however.)

I can't speak to the LTT, but the HK Expert is an incredible weapon. It's got the same match trigger as the Tactical and the Elite. WAY better than the triggers in the HK45, P30, or VP9 pistols, IMHO. Very accurate and fun to shoot, although it is a large gun.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a vote for my favorite pistol of all time - the Sig P226 Legion. You can get this SAO or SA/DA. You can get it with or without an optic cut. You can get a smaller version in the P229. Without spending $4K and more on a custom 2011, you won't find a better shooting 9mm than the Legion. Most comfortable, accurate, soft-shooting, reliable, and best trigger of any out-of-the-box pistol I've ever owned.

Last thought - If none of these are your cup of tea, you owe it to yourself to check out the CZ Shadow 2.

That SAO 226 does keep popping up and staring at me from afar. The CZ guns are interesting too, so are 2011s.

FWIW A heavy gun doesn't bother me as much as a snappy recoil impulse, but it does matter.

The 92X (with rail) is 13 oz heavier than the LTT, which is about 5oz lighter than a steel single stack 1911 I know and love. So why not a single stack 9mm 1911? I can't find a good one that doesn't cost 3000$.

Goldilocks is hiding around here, gotta flush her out...

Sort of an apples vs oranges comparison of full size guns isn't it?

I only have the 92FS, my first handgun ever btw and love it but the Expert is a better shooter and much lighter.

I own both the Expert in 9 and 45.

I just shot my HK Expert 45 a few days ago along with my HK FS 45 LEM.
No comparison to the shooting - the Expert was much better.
Further comparison of the HK Elite to the HK Expert - the Elite is more accurate than my Expert (only have the Elite in 9mm).

However, I am sure I would like a 92X or LTT 92 but never had the pleasure of firing them.
I just consider them different from poly frame gun.
Good Luck.

PS maybe look at a CZ Shadow 2 - now that is something special.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Sort of an apples vs oranges comparison of full size guns isn't it?

...

PS maybe look at a CZ Shadow 2 - now that is something special.

I don't think so. My target is a conventional DA, large for caliber pistol tweaked for accuracy. They all cost about the same. There is an availability factor I suppose. You can't usually find the HKs, or I can't, when I have the money.

I have shot some version of all guns discussed so far at one point.

The 92 always stood out as a soft shooting gun that fit my hands well. The USP platform was developed for the 40 S&W cartridge so it's overbuilt for 9mm, which should make it nice to shoot in Expert garb. I liked the H&Ks Ive handled and shot in the past, aside from the long trigger reset(never shot an LEM and I like striker guns enough).

A CZ is not out of the question. Need to go fondle some weapons at the fun store.

I always hear this but it hasn’t been my experience. My Expert is accurate but no more accurate than my USP or even my USPc’s.

It has adjustable sights and an extra bit of barrel. Nothing screams out more accuracy to me. I have never Ransom rested them to see that actual difference but I would bet it is negligible. Other than that little O ring what actually could account for the impression that it is more accurate?

I am going to commit HK blasphemy here. The stock out of box Expert is overrated for price. I say that and I am an HK fan. My carry guns other than my 365 are HK’s mostly. Love HK. I think it is a better build quality and robustness over most other guns. I love them.

The Expert comes with the tiny mag paddle. Hate that. It needs the bigger one. It has nice adjustable sights that aren’t very visible. Blacked out sights work for one thing only, straight up lollipop Bullseye shooting. Any other style of shooting you could have a better combo. The trigger is not great even though it is the full bore HK Match trigger with overtravel screw. The SA is nice and crisp. The DA is not very good. At all. The box stock 92X’s I own had better triggers stock. The USP is also a square brick of a gun. Every gun since then HK has improved in that manner. P2000, P30, VP9, all feel better in the hand to me.

If you have arthritis you won’t like the DA pull. If you go cocked and locked that won’t be an issue.

All that said I’m not selling my Expert. I just think it’s overkill build strength and reliability and accuracy sometimes give it an aura that actual in your hand handling doesn’t match up with.

I am about to be destroyed for that commentary. Lol

I appreciate the candor.

I should have mentioned trigger work, clear sights, maybe a tighter barrel fit... that's what I really meant by tweaked for accuracy, your typical shootability mods. I realize most regular service pistols are more accurate than I'll ever be.

quote:

Originally posted by Benderx4:
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a vote for my favorite pistol of all time - the Sig P226 Legion. You can get this SAO or SA/DA. You can get it with or without an optic cut. You can get a smaller version in the P229. Without spending $4K and more on a custom 2011, you won't find a better shooting 9mm than the Legion. Most comfortable, accurate, soft-shooting, reliable, and best trigger of any out-of-the-box pistol I've ever owned.

This brings a lot to the conversation of what you're looking for. I've not shot the Expert in 9mm but I had one in .45 for years. Really enjoyed it but, it's gone. Still have the Wilson Brigadier 92 with the original slide and a Langdon RDO built slide. It's a really nice package that's fun to shoot, feels heavy and most 9mm feels pretty light cycling through it. Great gun.

My uniform duty gun however is the P226 Legion SAO. As mentioned by Benderx4, it's on par with custom built 3-4k 1911's as far as accuracy, reliability, trigger, etc, yet it cost me a third of those guns and it's simply a Sig built for work. I put a Sig cut slide with a Trijicon RMR on it and left the original slide with just iron's if I ever want it to be "as built" again. It's big and it wouldn't be my preferred CCW gun.

If you're looking to stick with da/sa, then I can speak to my P229 Legion in that flavor. If I had to keep just one pistol that would do it all, be ok with tossing it in a duffel bag, CCW, no safety's to worry about being bumped off, has run 100% since new with anything I feed it, not really maintain under optimum conditions (not how I roll but, just in case), fits just about every needed role to include a nightstand gun with a light on it, carries plenty of rounds on board and accepts the bigger mags if you find yourself wanting that.... this gun would likely be it.


Just for consideration.

Of those, I've only owned the HK 9mm Expert. I agree with what 12131 said about this pistol. Mine was as accurate in my hands as anything I'd ever owned. The SA was by far the best of any DA/SA pistol I'd ever shot. About 4#, very crisp, with tiny amount of over travel..

It seems that in some of your replies you keep mentioning the Beretta. That's ok. Obviously your leaning that way. Were it me (& at one time, it was) I chose Berettas. I just really like them. I have some of each size. Full, Centurion & compact. They're my runner up to my 1911's as favorite handguns.
That being said, I think the HK's are overpriced for what they are. Fine guns, but overpriced.
I'm not fond of the new X series Berettas but that's just me.
All that being said, It seems your leaning to the LTT & are in need of confirmation. Nothing wrong with that at all. You can do a lot with a Beretta. They have good aftermarket support (especially with LTT).Get the LTT. You'll be glad you did.
For reference & maybe to nudge you a little, here's my Inox compact with the LTT RDO slide.

I think almost anything will suffice for nightstand duty. I'm not usually a 'trigger snob' but for me H&K has always meant horrible trigger and I couldn't see myself personally using an all steel gun for the nightstand, I don't see the point. The 92FS are a dime a dozen but the LTT models are typically in a category of their own.

LTT 92 with some 147gr subsonic ammo will be a soft shooter.