Langdon Tactical Goes HK

[spj]

What’s the difference between starting the trigger pull early and staging the trigger on a draw or hard shot?

Honestly staging the trigger is staging the trigger but I never experienced it from the holster only during mag training changes, don’t have a good answer for you.

[cornstalker]

One thing that would concern me about the larger levers on the P30/HK45 could lead to accidental mag drops. Either when moving around or during recoil.

Where the P2000 and USP magazine releases are smaller and less prone to accidental activation.


This may not be a valid concern.

I personally never had a problem. I put the HK45 paddles on my P2000/P2000sk. Also with VP9, P30L and P30sk. None have been an issue. Now that I said that, the next time I touch one it will happen…

[spj]

I am of the belief that your trigger finger just has one job.

https://www.rt.com/usa/164840-gun-mo...lice-shooting/

https://www.courier-journal.com/stor...hts/916963002/

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...lly-firing-gun


We issued HK’s for 16 years at my old place. Don’t recall ever seeing anyone work the paddle with their trigger finger. I would have said something if I did.

Probably a holdover from our USP 45 days. While it is not Glock 21 chunky, I found it extremely difficult to drop the mag with my thumb.

[Sero Sed Serio]

Curiosity kicking in here - are most (or even a significant number) using trigger finger to manipulate the paddle, or some other method?

I use the ring finger on my right (strong) hand to activate the right-side paddle.

One thing that would concern me about the larger levers on the P30/HK45 could lead to accidental mag drops. Either when moving around or during recoil.

Where the P2000 and USP magazine releases are smaller and less prone to accidental activation.


This may not be a valid concern.

This disqualifies the P30 for me. I’m lucky to make it through a magazine without dumping the mag during recoil. Same thing when trying an extended HK45c release on a P2000, while the standard P2000 release is no problem.

I have bumped the mag release on a P229 a couple times while carrying behind the hip; I believe that the HK paddle is a lot more secure, and for me about the same speed-wise.

[Shoresy]

I use the ring finger on my right (strong) hand to activate the right-side paddle.

Cool. I've found the middle finger to be a VERY natural way to release the mag on HKs and never considered the index finger.

[Evil_Ed]

It is important to test your holster if you install larger paddle releases, as some holsters cut for the smaller paddles release the magazine with larger paddles installed. I learned this through personal experience, unfortunately.

Same; installed an HK45C mag release I think it was, into a USP45 - worked fantastic, but the Comp-Tac holster I had for it was molded for the smaller factory release. Found out the hard way when I went to sit down and the mag plopped out that the holster could press down on the release lever..

[TC215]

Probably a holdover from our USP 45 days. While it is not Glock 21 chunky, I found it extremely difficult to drop the mag with my thumb.

We had USP 45s as well. We ended up giving a few folks with smaller hands USP 45 Compacts, which were normally just for detectives.

[Greg Bell]

The real reasoning behind the paddle release is there was no other place to easily place it on the HK P7 when they converted it away from the heel release. Then, they realized it was a pretty neat solution and used it from there.

[GJM]

Since this started as a LTT HK thread, I will ask Clusterfrack if he wants to spin the paddle posts off into its own thread.

[Casey]

I am of the belief that your trigger finger just has one job.

https://www.rt.com/usa/164840-gun-mo...lice-shooting/

https://www.courier-journal.com/stor...hts/916963002/

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...lly-firing-gun


We issued HK’s for 16 years at my old place. Don’t recall ever seeing anyone work the paddle with their trigger finger. I would have said something if I did.

I'm open to opposing viewpoints and I'm not an absolutist on this. But, none of those articles provide sufficient analysis of the NDs to change my mind. If you can provide some references with a greater level of detail, I'd be interested to read them.

To be clear, I'm not saying use of the trigger finger to activate a WML is the preferred technique—only that it is a technique, and one that can be used safely. Additionally, it's a faster way of activating a WML when shooting SHO as compared to manipulating the switch off the edge of a table, in the crook of an elbow, etc. Admittedly, a niche use, but one that exists.

Counterpoint: https://youtu.be/nafSEdXXh2Q.

All that being said, this should probably be moved to a new thread if there's an interest in further discussion so as not to detract from the original thread topic.