Match triggers are often found in competition and high-end guns. I think everyone likes the idea of having a "match trigger" in their gun. However, most shooters don't know exactly what makes a match trigger.

Match triggers consist of 4 major components:

• Lighter springs
• Smoother action
• Faster firing pin strikes
• Less over travel/short reset

Lighter springs simply reduce the amount of weight needed for the trigger to break. They are usually set several pounds lower than the stock pull weight. Match triggers for AR-15 rifles often come with several different springs to achieve a shooters desired pull weight.

The components used in match triggers are usually polished or coated with something like Nickel Boron to create a smoother trigger action. Stock triggers will often feel rough or gritty compared to match triggers.

The springs and hammers used in match triggers are also faster than their stock equivalents. The time it takes from when the trigger is pulled to when the hammer hits the firing pin is faster by a very small margin. 10ths to 100ths of a second. This is often the requirement that separates true match triggers from other after market triggers.

Last, the over travel in the trigger is reduced. This is usually done with a set screw that can be adjusted to the shooters desire. This prevents the trigger from traveling further than it needs to. I addition, the trigger reset is also shortened for faster and more accurate follow ups.

Match triggers are not cheap. Most of them sell for around $200 and while some of them can be dropped in (depending on the weapon), others require a skilled gunsmith or the original manufacturer to install them correctly.

If you ever wonder over to the H&K section of your local gun shop, you will first notice they are about 30% or more than the alternatives. Why? Well, there are many factors that determine the price of HK gear. The biggest one being their name. Can you buy a Chevy Corvette that is comparable in speed to the latest Ferrari? Of course, but you won't gain the status of saying you drive a Ferrari. Now, H&K produces some of the world's best, and in some cases, most famous guns. They are extremely popular among cinema reels and special forces.

Back to prices, H&K is a German company. Like many other foreign products, they must be imported which automatically adds to the total cost. They do have service centers in the US and also produce a small amount of H&K guns in the US. All German made H&Ks will be marked with a DE usually near the serial number. I have not seen many non-DE marked H&Ks, but the quality has been deemed the same no matter what its country of origin. However, US-made versions are no cheaper...

So you suck it up and pay $900 for the H&K USP9. Congratulations, your pistol comes in a $10 plastic case (which looks cheaper than a Glock case), and two magazines. You want more magazines? Be prepared to pay anywhere from $45-$70 dollars each. Do you want that 31 round 9mm magazine like Glock sells? $140 each!

As you can see, the H&K magazines are expensive and so is everything else... H&K does offer a lifetime warranty to all original owners of their weapons. There are some exclusions to parts like rubber O-rings, magazines, and other parts that are considered disposable. If your gun isn't under warranty, be prepared to cough up some money replacement parts. Things like hammers ($50-$80), slide levers ($40), and new barrels ($200-400) are going to cost top dollar. The are hard to find and usually only available via a few distributors. Holsters can also be hard to find for odd-size models like the Mark 23, Tactical, or Elite/Expert models.

Many H&K guns and parts are imported from Germany. This often causes problems with supply and demand as certain parts or guns become very hard to find. A quick example is a 25-round magazine for UMP. Originally around $40, importation of them slowed and caused prices to increase to $90+ when available. Many dealers only received a small shipment of them and sold out in hours due to high demand.

After reading all this, why go H&K? I'll give you 5 reasons:

• Reliability
• Performance
• Style/Design
• Collection
• Resale

H&K makes some of the most reliable guns on the market. The Mark 23 is still arguably the best combat handgun ever built.

While most shooters are not good enough to see this first hand, H&K makes some of the most accurate, durable, and longest lasting guns on the market. However, ff you do happen to break one, H&K customer service is there for you.

Some shooters prefer the look of the H&K guns over others. I personally think they are striking (no pun intended). Beyond that, H&K put a lot of thought and consideration into their guns. They are designed to operate as advertised. This can be running suppressed, being submerged in salt water for extended periods of time, or just being fired 50,000+ times.

H&K guns are highly sought after by collectors. Rare models can bring in thousands over their initial cost. Discontinued models and their accessories also rise quickly in price. There is no shortage of H&K fans wanting to buy your new or used H&K gear.

So you aren't a collector, but want to sell a standard USP45. Your gun will sell for more money than your Springfield or Beretta. Like the Ferrari, H&K guns will hold their value very well no matter how old it is. In fact, the older models are often more sought after as H&K makes revisions or stops selling older models completely.

There are many type of people in the world. Some are gun people, some are not. Have you ever wondered why people are afraid of guns? In reality, it's usually based on the following two reason. First, they have no experience with or around guns. Having no experience, the only association they have based on the new/media which usually portrays guns as tools for death and destruction.

The other reason, is usually a tragic accident or loss of a loved one by guns. It could be freak accident, crime, or suicide. Whatever the case may be, they associate guns with bad feelings or past trauma. In such a case to sight or conversion of guns may upset them.

At the end of the day, guns aren't for everyone. Some people can be introduced or re-introduced to guns in a way that makes them feel okay or maybe even enjoyable. As a pro-gun American it's important to remember that some people don't like guns for a reason. While we may feel it's our right to proliferate our right to bear arms, it's simply not smart to force your pro-gun stance on everyone without known their stance or reasons they may not be pro-gun.