Heckler & Koch P2000
Encyclopedia
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 around the technology involved in the USP Compact
pistol. The P2000 was designed specifically with improved ergonomic characteristics; it has features that reduce the handling related stresses, while at the same time increasing user handling and shooter comfort.
-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 designs, the P2000 makes extensive use of impact-resistant polymer
s 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 to adjust to individual grips, allowing the user to customize the pistol's grip size. There is an interface for accessories built into the frame in front of the trigger guard; the universal accessory rail on the dust cover that allows for the use of tactical lights, laser
pointers and other accessories. Attachment is positive and does not require any tools. 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 ambidextrous slide locks and a fully ambidextrous magazine release installed in the trigger guard, on both sides. 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 LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger (H&K's double-action only) mechanism is used versus a SA/DA trigger. The following options are available:
The P2000 is available chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, .357 SIG
or .40 S&W
and rated for shooting high-pressure +P ammunition in either 9mm or .40 S&W . However, the official HK P-series manual clearly states that HK does not recommend the use of +P and +P+ ammunition in P-series pistols.
The P2000 SK model is a small "sub-compact" version of the P2000. American
versions of the P2000 SK will accept the longer USP Compact magazines which provide higher capacities; up to 13 9 mm rounds and 12 .40 S&W/.357 SIG cartridges. Some of the gun's compact size will be compromised as these longer magazines will stick out 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.
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
P2000 is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
semi-automatic pistol introduced late in 2001 and intended primarily for law enforcement, paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
, and commercial markets. It is based around the technology involved in the USP Compact
Heckler & Koch USP
The USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...
pistol. The P2000 was designed specifically with improved ergonomic characteristics; it has features that reduce the handling related stresses, while at the same time increasing user handling and shooter comfort.
Design details
The P2000 is a short recoilRecoil operation
Recoil operation is an operating mechanism used in locked-breech, autoloading firearms. As the name implies, these actions use the force of recoil to provide energy to cycle the action...
-operated locked breech pistol with a modified Browning
John Browning
John Moses Browning , born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world...
-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
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
. Following recent trends in modern pistol designs, the P2000 makes extensive use of impact-resistant polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s 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 to adjust to individual grips, allowing the user to customize the pistol's grip size. There is an interface for accessories built into the frame in front of the trigger guard; the universal accessory rail on the dust cover that allows for the use of tactical lights, laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
pointers and other accessories. Attachment is positive and does not require any tools. 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 ambidextrous slide locks and a fully ambidextrous magazine release installed in the trigger guard, on both sides. 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 LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger (H&K's double-action only) mechanism is used versus a SA/DA trigger. The following options are available:
- V0: CDA (Combat Defense Action) trigger system (SA/DA). Single-action trigger pull of 20 N (4.5 lbf) (+4/-2 N), double-action trigger pull – 51 N (11.5 lbf) (±5 N).
- V1: CDA trigger system (LEM). The LEM trigger is a dual-stage trigger that fires from a hammer down position in both SA and DA modes, but has an internal mechanism that is cocked with each cycle of the action. It provides a constant trigger pull of 20 N (4.5 lbf) (+4/-2 N).
- V2: CDA trigger system (LEM). Like P2000 V1 but with an increased trigger weight. The trigger pull is 32.5 N (7.3 lbf) (±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 20 N (4.5 lbf) (+4/-2 N), double-action trigger pull – 51 N (11.5 lbf) (±5 N).
- V4: CDA trigger system (LEM). Like P2000 V1 and V2 but with a mid-range trigger pull of 27.5 N (6.2 lbf) (±2.5 N).
- V5: Double-action only (DAO) trigger system. Trigger pull of 36 N (8.1 lbf) (±3 N).
The P2000 is available chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, .357 SIG
.357 SIG
The .357 SIG pistol cartridge is the product of Swiss-German firearms manufacturer SIG-Sauer, in cooperation with the American ammunition manufacturer Federal Cartridge. While it is based on a .40 S&W case necked down to accept bullets, the .357 SIG brass is slightly longer...
or .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
and rated for shooting high-pressure +P ammunition in either 9mm or .40 S&W . However, the official HK P-series manual clearly states that HK does not recommend the use of +P and +P+ ammunition in P-series pistols.
The P2000 SK model is a small "sub-compact" version of the P2000. American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
versions of the P2000 SK will accept the longer USP Compact magazines which provide higher capacities; up to 13 9 mm rounds and 12 .40 S&W/.357 SIG cartridges. Some of the gun's compact size will be compromised as these longer magazines will stick out 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.
Users
- State police forces of Lower SaxonyLower SaxonyLower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Baden-WurttembergBaden-WürttembergBaden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
and the WasserschutzpolizeiWasserschutzpolizeiThe Wasserschutzpolizei is the water police that patrols the waterways, lakes and harbours of Germany around the clock. The WSP are part of the Landespolizei ....
of HamburgHamburg-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).