Fixed open iron sights; front blade and square notch rear sight with white contrast dots 141.5mm (5.6in) sight radius (P2000) 131.5mm (5.2in) sight radius (P2000 SK)
The Heckler & KochP2000 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. The P2000 was designed specifically with improved ergonomic characteristics; it has features that reduce handling related stresses, while at the same time increasing user handling and comfort.
From the success of the USP series, came the P2000. Originally designed for the German Customs organization, it was basically a requirement for an updated, more ergonomic version of the USP Compact, contoured for carry, adding a customizable grip and replacing the proprietary mounting rail with the one specific to a light they requested. Beyond securing this contract, it was the P2000, along with a number of the later introduced P2000SK as well as USP Compact LEM, that won the DHS/ICE contract discussed previously; a massive contract for the company. For that contract and for US civilian importation, the mounting rail was modified again to what was termed the “industry standard”, allowing access to a much wider range of products.
Though rarely seen and extremely unusual is the original design request from German Customs. They wanted the LEM variant, which in Germany is referred to as CDA or Combat Defense Action, but oddly enough they also wanted a spurred hammer, side-mounted safety lever and a rear-mounted decocking lever, all three normally associated with DA/SA operation. Below is a cutaway drawing of that specific variant.[where?] Though the side-mounted safety lever is omitted to not block the internal components, clearly seen is the spurred hammer, LEM components and decocking lever. Also seen is the unique rail point, designed for the German issue light.
Once specifically unique item added to the P2000 and P2000SK pistols that were delivered to the DHS/ICE contract was the inclusion of a small transponder chip into the left side of the steel insert of the grip frame. This can be seen in the photo of the cutaway training guns below. This chip served as an electronic gun data book, assessable from a PDA. It is unclear how extensively this option was exercised, but it was in the statement of work, so HK provided it.
Other updates that were incorporated with the P2000 series included adding rubber base plates for the magazines. This helped dissipate energy during a magazine drop during reloads, thus extending the life of the magazines, as well as aiding in passing the Drop Test requirements described earlier.
Within the slide, a minor upgrade came in the form of a polymer buffer that works in concert with the extractor spring. It reinforces that spring, reducing its wear and providing more force against the extractor, while also preventing the extractor from over extension.
All P2000 pistols have the ability to accept an optional retro-fit magazine disconnect kit. This design feature, popular with US Department of Corrections where there is concern that an inmate may gain control of an officer's pistol, locks the action of the pistol when the magazine is removed, giving officers a way to easily temporarily disable the weapon. Of note, HK created a somewhat less refined version of this for a previous contract for USP pistols for the Department of Corrections, but instead of preventing the trigger bar from moving like in the P2000, in the USP retrofit, it had a bar that went over the sear, blocking the hammer's forward movement. HK designers moved away from this design when creating it for the P2000, as they found that over time the USP design caused more pressure on the leading edge of the sear against the flat main spring, and as such, a higher failure rate of the flat main spring.
As part of the contouring of the P2000 series came the removal of a side-mounted safety and decocker for DA/SA and in its place was a rear-mounted decocker, which when activated, forces the sear out of its contact point with the hammer. Also, different on the P2000 series was a lack of modularity, in the fact that no longer was the base pistol capable of being converted between DA/SA and LEM (it can be done, but not approved by HK). With different frames, you are either left with the choice of one or the other.
Along the contouring line also came and update to the grips, with a new side grip design that carried over to the MP7 production and a removable and exchangeable rear grip panel, allowing the shooter to customize the grip size to one of four sizes. With this customization also came the recognition of a requirement for ambidextrous use, and the incorporation of a slide release now mounted on the right side of the weapon. Of note, HK recommends that you do not remove the right side slide release for normal maintenance. It is not fitted into a steel insert, only polymer, and repeated removal will loosen the tolerances, resulting in a “rattle” of that part against the weapon.
The P2000 is a short recoil-operated locked breech pistol with a modified Browning-type linkless cam action with a vertically tilting barrel also employed in the USP series of self-loading pistols, as well as most modern linkless semi autos.
The cold hammer-forged barrel has a polygonal profile while the slide is made from a solid bar of nitro-carburized steel. Following recent trends in modern pistol design, the P2000 makes extensive use of impact-resistant polymers to reduce weight and production costs.
As with other recent Heckler & Koch pistol designs, the P2000 is modular to suit individual needs. For instance, the grip is modular with exchangeable backstraps, allowing the user to customize the pistol's grip size and feel. There is a universal accessory rail built into the dust cover in front of the trigger guard that allows for the use of tactical lights, laser pointers and other accessories. This is in contrast with the USP series which uses a proprietary H&K mounting rail that limits the types of accessories that could be used with the pistol.
The P2000 is a hammer-fired pistol with an exposed spurred hammer; a bobbed hammer is optional. It has an ambidextrous slide lock and a fully ambidextrous magazine release installed in the trigger guard.
Trigger variants
Various trigger and cocking systems offer the possibility of converting the trigger firing mode from one type to another. Several variants are available based whether the Combat Defensive Action (CDA) aka Law Enforcement Modification (LEM) mechanism is used versus a SA/DA trigger. The following options are available:
V0: CDA/DA trigger system. The CDA aka LEM trigger is a dual-stage trigger that always fires from a hammer down DA mode, but has an internal mechanism that is cocked with each cycle of the action. It provides a cocked double-action trigger pull of 20N (4.5lbf) (+4/-2 N) and an uncocked double-action trigger pull of 51N (11.5lbf) (±5 N).
V1: Same as V0, but hammer has no spur, and there is no decocker button; therefore, the only way to release the cocked mainspring is to pull the trigger over the empty chamber.
V2: Same as V1 but with an increased trigger weight. The trigger pull is 32.5N (7.3lbf) (±2.5 N).
V3: SA/DA trigger with a decocking lever mounted at the posterior of the slide to the left of the spurred hammer. Single-action trigger pull of 20N (4.5lbf) (+4/-2 N), double-action trigger pull – 51N (11.5lbf) (±5 N).
V4: Same as V1 and V2 but with a mid-range trigger pull of 27.5N (6.2lbf) (±2.5 N).
V5: Double-action only (DAO) trigger system. Trigger pull of 36N (8.1lbf) (±3 N).
Ammunition
The original P2000 manual stated that HK does not recommend the use of +P and +P+ ammunition in P-series pistols:[1] The revised manual (2014) removes this recommendation, stating that P series handguns are designed for brass-cased ammunition, factory-loaded to NATO or SAAMI specifications. The revised manual continues to warn against the use of steel- or aluminum-cased ammunition.[2]
The P2000 SK model is a smaller "sub-compact" version of the P2000. American versions of the P2000SK will accept the longer USP Compact magazines which provide higher capacities; up to 13 9mm rounds and 12 .40 S&W/.357 SIG cartridges. Some of the advantages of its compact size will be compromised as these longer magazines will protrude approximately 1/2" below the bottom of the P2000SK's grip. Lower capacity 10-round magazines are the same size as the higher capacity USP Compact magazines.
The Heckler & Koch MP7 is a personal defense weapon chambered for the HK 4.6×30mm armor-piercing cartridge designed by German defence manufacturer Heckler & Koch.
The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The Beretta 92 was designed in 1975, and production began in 1976. Many variants in several calibers continue to be used to the present.
The Beretta 92G-SD and 96G-SD Special Duty handguns are semi-automatic, locked-breech delayed recoil-operated, double/single-action pistols, fitted with the heavy, wide Brigadier slide, chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge (92G-SD) and the .40 S&W cartridge (96G-SD), framed with the addition of the tactical equipment rail, designed and manufactured by Beretta.
The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by the German company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a replacement for the Walther P5 and the P88. The P99 and its variants are also made under licence by Fabryka Broni Radom.
The Beretta Cheetah, also known by its original model name of "Series 81", or "80 Series", is a line of compact blowback operated semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. They were introduced in 1976 and include models in .32 ACP, .380 ACP and .22 LR. Production paused in 2017, but Beretta revived the marque in 2023 with the release of the 80X.
The SIG Sauer P220 is a semi-automatic pistol designed in 1975 by the SIG Arms AG division of Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft, and produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn, in Eckernförde. It is currently manufactured by both SIG Sauer companies: SIG Sauer GMBH, of Eckernförde, Germany; and SIG Sauer, Inc., of New Hampshire, United States.
The USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.
The Heckler & KochP7 is a German 9×19mm semi-automatic pistol designed by Helmut Weldle and produced from 1979 to 2008 by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K). The P7M13, a variant of the P7 with a double-stack magazine, was produced until 2000.
The Ruger P series is a line of centerfire semi-automatic pistols made by Sturm, Ruger & Company produced from 1985 to 2013. The P-series pistols were designed for military, police, civilian and recreational use. The designs are largely based on the Browning action found in the M1911 pistol, but with minor variations, generally related to the safety mechanism and the barrel-camblock interface. Reviews have considered them rugged, reliable, and strong, though this strength comes at the price of bulk and a blocky appearance.
The Beretta Px4 Storm is a semi-automatic pistol intended for personal defense and law enforcement use. It is available in full size, Compact, and Subcompact versions. The Px4 uses a trigger and safety system similar to the Beretta 92 and the Beretta 8000 series, though it is distinguished from its predecessors by its light-weight polymer construction with steel inserts, standard Picatinny rail, and swappable grip backstraps. The full size and Compact versions use the same short-recoil, rotating barrel action as the Beretta 8000 series, whereas the Subcompact uses the tilt barrel system.
The Walther P88 is a semiautomatic pistol developed by German company Walther. Its main feature is a double-stacked magazine designed for military and law enforcement use. The P88 was succeeded by the Walther P99 in 1997.
The Beretta 8000 (Cougar) is a family of rotating barrel semi-automatic pistols that were designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy.
The Beretta 90-Two is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. It was released in 2006 as an enhanced version of the Beretta 92, and is produced in 9×19mm, 9×21mm IMI and .40 S&W versions.
The P30 is a polymer framed semi-automatic handgun by Heckler & Koch, available in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W.
The Browning BDM is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by the Browning Arms Company from 1991 until production ceased in 1998. Similar in appearance to Browning's "Hi-Power" pistol, the BDM was actually a new design created to compete in service trials for a proposal as a standard issue pistol for the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). However, the BDM failed to win any large scale law enforcement contracts, so was instead sold only in the retail market. Having a similar profile to the Browning P-35 Hi-Power, the BDM and its variants are often conflated as mere variants of the much older P-35 model, or other newer Browning or FN Herstal pistols that were updated variants of the P-35, such as the Hi-Power DAO model. However, the Browning BDM pistol is distinct from all forms of the Browning Hi-Power pistol.
The Heckler & Koch HK45 is a semi-automatic pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch.
The Tanfoglio Combat or Standard, also known as T(A)95 or EAA Witness Steel, is a modified clone of the Czech CZ-75/CZ-85 pistol. It is made in Gardone Val Trompia near Brescia, Italy by Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C.
The HK P9 is a semi-automatic pistol from Heckler & Koch in 9×19mm Parabellum, .45 ACP, and 7.65×21mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling now common in H&K designs.
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling.
The Heckler & Koch VP9 is a polymer-framed semi-automatic striker-fired handgun. The VP designation in the name refers to Volkspistole, which translates to "people's pistol", while SFP stands for "striker-fired pistol". The 9 stands for the caliber designation of 9 mm. The VP9 is the third striker-fired pistol that HK has produced. A variant of the VP9, the VP40, is chambered for .40 S&W; the VP40 is known as SFP40 in Europe and Canada.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
