HK MK23

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matttahoe53

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The H&K Mark 23 has been something I’ve wanted. Setup for a suppressor, holds 12 rounds, proven reliability, and 45acp.

Now that I can afford to purchase one I am wrestling with the idea is it really worth it? Is the gun I’ve lusted after worth the $2k price tag? After all it is just a polymer frame factory gun. Is it an outdated relic? This won’t be a safe queen I will shoot it and will probably put it in a HD role.

So for those of you that have or do own the pistol I’d love your opinions and alternatives if warranted.
 
matttahoe53 said:
So for those of you that have or do own the pistol I’d love your opinions and alternatives if warranted
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Haven't had one, hope you don't mind.

For an HD role, the MK23 won't do anything any other polymer 45 can't do at 1/4 the price.

It's rad though. You have to figure out if rad is worth $1500. If it is to you, then go for it.
 
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frakncylons said:
Haven't had one, hope you don't mind.

For an HD role, the MK23 won't do anything any other polymer 45 can't do at 1/4 the price.

It's rad though. You have to figure out if rad is worth $1500. If it is to you, then go for it.
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Legit point, is it 3x better than a Glock 41 as an example? This is the biggest thing I’m struggling with.
 
matttahoe53 said:
Legit point, is it 3x better than a Glock 41 as an example? This is the biggest thing I’m struggling with.
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As a tool? Absolutely not. It wont' be 2x better, or 1.5x better or 1.1x better.... unless you really define what 'better' is.

If it's something you've wanted though and can both be a tool and a collectible, and you're not doing anything crazy/illegal/harmful to your long term success in buying it... then it seems like that's a call you get to make and you really can't be wrong. It will do the job.
 
A fun gun.
It is one of the first contract guns designed to be suppressed.
You can get an HK USP Tactical for about half.
The only difference is the decocker is separate from the regular fire control group.
It is also a BIG pistol.
It was designed to be used with gloves on.
Also, making it so large helps reduce felt/perceived recoil.
Honestly, unless you are using a locking slide, or a can that lets you disable the Linear Inertial Decoupler/Nielsen Device, 45acp is not that quiet suppressed.

That being said the pistol is kind of rare.
it was one of the first SOCCOM contracts.
It is a high quality weapon.
 
I generally try to HK or Beretta all the things. In this case I think there's probably a different HK that'll do the same job for less.
That said, just how bad do you want it. Lots of people buy Jeeps and motorcycles they know are less than practical, but they want them anyway.
 
It is a big gun, but I have a desert eagle and am fine with the size of it. I’ve fondled a MK23 before and if I remember correctly was surprised that it seemed light relative to the size.
 
Jayne said:
If it's something you've wanted though and can both be a tool and a collectible, and you're not doing anything crazy/illegal/harmful to your long term success in buying it... then it seems like that's a call you get to make and you really can't be wrong
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Great advice.
 
Get what you want. If you want it, NOTHING will scratch the itch but what you want.

Its that simple. Doesn't matter if something is objectively "better" or more modern, you want what you want.
 
There's a long list of guns I've always wanted, but will likely never be able to justify (since I'd probably shoot them once a year, if that). MK23 is on that list. I figure if I *really* get a hankering then I can probably rent one.
 
john galt said:
We had one, a documented 25,000 plus rds and would still shoot a inch at 50 yds off a rest. Sold it well used for new price. This is a offensive weapon and as others have said you want it and the kids or dog won’t starve- buy it. We ran a Awc Nexus can on it.
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Thanks for the feedback.
 
1) It is big. 2) It is accurate. 3) I has 12 round standard mags. 4) Holsters can be hard to come by, but G Code makes a great one that fits it like a glove. 5) The accuracy is on par with most match .45 acp handguns (shooters skill dependent). 6) They come standard with suppressor height sights, but they are not tritium, however those can be had for additional cash. 7) The thread pitch for suppression is metric left hand thread, so not compatible with other .45acp handgun barrel threads (ie, HK says every one else is not worthy). 8) They run exceptionally clean even when suppressed. 9) The reliability of this handgun, from it's debut, was nothing short of exceptional. 10) Twenty round mags are available, but they look like walking sticks and are quite pricey. I have owned many HK handguns of the .45 ilk. I have never been disappointed with any of them. Buying an HK Product can make you poor or wealthy depending on the market. My advice is find one used if you are absolute in your desire to have one.
 
john galt said:
We had one, a documented 25,000 plus rds and would still shoot a inch at 50 yds off a rest. Sold it well used for new price. This is a offensive weapon and as others have said you want it and the kids or dog won’t starve- buy it. We ran a Awc Nexus can on it.
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I trust what this man says is true. I believe it to be true.
 
I'll be the wet blanket.

I wouldn't buy one as a regular shooter or HD gun. Limited sight options, no easy options for optics, no non-clunky way to mount a decent light, certain springs and small parts can be a real bear to locate if HKParts.net or MGW don't have them, $80 magazines when they're in stock... and all three MK23s that I have shot have had absolutely trash-to-mediocre triggers at best. The match-grade accuracy, which I'll verify as an absolute truth, is completely useless. If you have a distance in your house at which you could exploit match-grade pistol accuracy, you should be using a long gun.

You get more capacity with a Glock 21 or 41, and even more still with an FNX-45. Both are set up out of the gate to run optics and WMLs. The Glock has aftermarket support out the wazoo, cheap mags, and an easy, well-established PMCS schedule. You can get pretty much any set of sights, any type of WML, and any type of trigger onto or into a Glock.

I would never say "don't" buy a MK23. They're a statement piece and they hold their value well. They're iconic. The quality is insanely high. But, as an HD gun, I would not recommend it to anyone.

Feel free to ignore my input, but I don't think a HD gun should have any "romanticism" to it. If it's a working tool, I want it to be predictable, boring, and most importantly, immediately replaceable. I get why some guys daily-driver El Caminos, but I know that if something needs to be replaced on my current-production hatchback, (a) someone local is definitely going to have that part in stock, and (b) someone local is going to have the equipment and knowledge to replace/install it. If it gets totaled in a wreck, I can replace it with basically the same thing, for the same price, pretty much same-day. That is far more important to me than having an emotional connection. Now, as a project car, a weekend driver, a show car? That's where a nice old car shines. But, it is a completely irrational daily grocery-getter.
 
I scratched my itch for one with a HK45C. To which it became my HD pistol with light attached. It's no MK23 but still a HK that socom used as well. But if you can afford it and it's your dream pistol go for it if your still well off ya know? Nothing beats the feeling getting the firearm you wanted!
 
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Fired one back in 05-06' in Iraq. One of the SEALs at CJSOTF carried one and later had some from 19th or 20th SFGA come thru with them. While reliable and accurate, I preferred either my M9 or M1911A1 issued instead. Too big for a everyday carry which I was doing.

CD
 
Elenaidan said:
1) It is big. 2) It is accurate. 3) I has 12 round standard mags. 4) Holsters can be hard to come by, but G Code makes a great one that fits it like a glove. 5) The accuracy is on par with most match .45 acp handguns (shooters skill dependent). 6) They come standard with suppressor height sights, but they are not tritium, however those can be had for additional cash. 7) The thread pitch for suppression is metric left hand thread, so not compatible with other .45acp handgun barrel threads (ie, HK says every one else is not worthy). 8) They run exceptionally clean even when suppressed. 9) The reliability of this handgun, from it's debut, was nothing short of exceptional. 10) Twenty round mags are available, but they look like walking sticks and are quite pricey. I have owned many HK handguns of the .45 ilk. I have never been disappointed with any of them. Buying an HK Product can make you poor or wealthy depending on the market. My advice is find one used if you are absolute in your desire to have one.
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@Elenaidan has the only Mk23 I have ever shot, and shot it suppressed. Loved every round, one of the best .45s I have ever shot. I am hopeful he left it to me in his will (along with his whiskey/bourbon collection).

JRV said:
I'll be the wet blanket.

I wouldn't buy one as a regular shooter or HD gun. Limited sight options, no easy options for optics, no non-clunky way to mount a decent light, certain springs and small parts can be a real bear to locate if HKParts.net or MGW don't have them, $80 magazines when they're in stock... and all three MK23s that I have shot have had absolutely trash-to-mediocre triggers at best. The match-grade accuracy, which I'll verify as an absolute truth, is completely useless. If you have a distance in your house at which you could exploit match-grade pistol accuracy, you should be using a long gun.

You get more capacity with a Glock 21 or 41, and even more still with an FNX-45. Both are set up out of the gate to run optics and WMLs. The Glock has aftermarket support out the wazoo, cheap mags, and an easy, well-established PMCS schedule. You can get pretty much any set of sights, any type of WML, and any type of trigger onto or into a Glock.

I would never say "don't" buy a MK23. They're a statement piece and they hold their value well. They're iconic. The quality is insanely high. But, as an HD gun, I would not recommend it to anyone.

Feel free to ignore my input, but I don't think a HD gun should have any "romanticism" to it. If it's a working tool, I want it to be predictable, boring, and most importantly, immediately replaceable. I get why some guys daily-driver El Caminos, but I know that if something needs to be replaced on my current-production hatchback, (a) someone local is definitely going to have that part in stock, and (b) someone local is going to have the equipment and knowledge to replace/install it. If it gets totaled in a wreck, I can replace it with basically the same thing, for the same price, pretty much same-day. That is far more important to me than having an emotional connection. Now, as a project car, a weekend driver, a show car? That's where a nice old car shines. But, it is a completely irrational daily grocery-getter.
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Not a HD gun, for certain. It was meant as a specific platform for specific missions. Without the suppressor it is huge. With it, it is huger.

Combat Diver said:
Fired one back in 05-06' in Iraq. One of the SEALs at CJSOTF carried one and later had some from 19th or 20th SFGA come thru with them. While reliable and accurate, I preferred either my M9 or M1911A1 issued instead. Too big for a everyday carry which I was doing.

CD
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Why on earth anyone would carry it as a 'regular' sidearm is beyond my mental calibrations, especially with the other pistols SOCOM has access to on the regular.
 
Chuckman said:
@Elenaidan has the only Mk23 I have ever shot, and shot it suppressed. Loved every round, one of the best .45s I have ever shot. I am hopeful he left it to me in his will (along with his whiskey/bourbon collection).



Not a HD gun, for certain. It was meant as a specific platform for specific missions. Without the suppressor it is huge. With it, it is huger.



Why on earth anyone would carry it as a 'regular' sidearm is beyond my mental calibrations, especially with the other pistols SOCOM has access to on the regular.
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Not everyone has a pistol. Many augmentees at the time at the headquarters.

CD
 
Walkabout Dan said:
1911 and Socom 23 , the two finest combat pistols ever.
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I'd prefer the SIG P226 or Glock 19 over the Mk23 as a 'combat pistol.' Actually I prefer the M9, too. Not that anyone outside of DEVGRU (and I suppose CAG if they wanted) can have access to the HK45c, but I would loved to carry that.

Part of the issue with the Mk23 is it's such a niche gun that is/was so infrequently carried, it's hard to get a good 'operational history' of how it's worked out.
 
Chuckman said:
I'd prefer the SIG P226 or Glock 19 over the Mk23 as a 'combat pistol.' Actually I prefer the M9, too. Not that anyone outside of DEVGRU (and I suppose CAG if they wanted) can have access to the HK45c, but I would loved to carry that.

Part of the issue with the Mk23 is it's such a niche gun that is/was so infrequently carried, it's hard to get a good 'operational history' of how it's worked out.
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It has an exceptional operational history with the groups that carry it. Military going to the M9 was the best excuse we had to purchase it.
 
Chuckman said:
I'd prefer the SIG P226 or Glock 19 over the Mk23 as a 'combat pistol.' Actually I prefer the M9, too. Not that anyone outside of DEVGRU (and I suppose CAG if they wanted) can have access to the HK45c, but I would loved to carry that.

Part of the issue with the Mk23 is it's such a niche gun that is/was so infrequently carried, it's hard to get a good 'operational history' of how it's worked out.
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We have similar tastes. I’ve shot about 5,000 rounds through my 92a1,really shoot the gun well and don’t treat it very well and it has never let me down. Plus it makes a great companion to my CX4. I have been eyeing the Langdon version and can’t decide if I want the optics slide or not. I had a HK 45c and I did love it for the ease to shoot accurately but ultimately sold it because of the width for a “compact” pistol. I preferred my P220 for capacity/size/weight as a carry pistol. The other reason I sold it was because my thought was if I’m going to have a fat 45 might as well get the full size one I’ve always wanted.
 
Walkabout Dan said:
It has an exceptional operational history with the groups that carry it. Military going to the M9 was the best excuse we had to purchase it.
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I don't know the army side of the house--who carried it, used it, etc. I know that a lot of NSW teams had it, but many didn't like to use it/carry it for its' weight and size (my friend called it "a boat anchor"). Me, I didn't have it (I had the MEU(SOC) 1911 or M9), so aside from range time as a civvy I have no context to judge.
 
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matttahoe53 said:
We have similar tastes. I’ve shot about 5,000 rounds through my 92a1,really shoot the gun well and don’t treat it very well and it has never let me down. Plus it makes a great companion to my CX4. I have been eyeing the Langdon version and can’t decide if I want the optics slide or not. I had a HK 45c and I did love it for the ease to shoot accurately but ultimately sold it because of the width for a “compact” pistol. I preferred my P220 for capacity/size/weight as a carry pistol. The other reason I sold it was because my thought was if I’m going to have a fat 45 might as well get the full size one I’ve always wanted.
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I have all Glocks simply for standardization, but I may break that rule and get a HK45c.

But the M9 was a much maligned gun. Good mags and standard PM, it'll not fail.
 
Chuckman said:
I don't know the army side of the house--who carried it, used it, etc. I know that a lot of NSW teams had it, but many didn't like to use it/carry it for its' weight and size (my friend called it "a boat anchor"). Me, I didn't have it (I had the MEU(SOC) 1911 or M9), so aside from range time as a civvy I have no context to judge.
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The MEU(SOC) is a great combat pistol in itself. I remember its development as the military turned to the M9.
 
Walkabout Dan said:
The MEU(SOC) is a great combat pistol in itself. I remember its development as the military turned to the M9.
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Indeed it is/was. Part of its problem was no consistency in frames and parts; no two were exactly the same. But the armorers made them sing. I understood why they got rid of them, but sad when it happened. I got out before the move to Det 1 and the subsequent Kimber and Colt.
 
Chuckman said:
Indeed it is/was. Part of its problem was no consistency in frames and parts; no two were exactly the same. But the armorers made them sing. I understood why they got rid of them, but sad when it happened. I got out before the move to Det 1 and the subsequent Kimber and Colt.
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Marine armorers are the best of the military. I think I just made the old CSM roll over in the grave , sorry dad.
 
MP5
Mk23
G3
Just these profiles alone give me nostalgia. They were iconic guns from youth.
Wouldn't mind having one of each. But having tried all of them they are relegated to lottery win novelties for me.
I already have stuff that does the job better. I feel that way about most HK stuff.
Still think the P7 is the coolest pistol ever made. Doesn't do anything my Glock doesn't do, but I still wouldn't mind having one. Super neat design.
The VP9 is only one I'd consider for SD.
 
Walkabout Dan said:
Marine armorers are the best of the military. I think I just made the old CSM roll over in the grave , sorry dad.
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They do work voo doo and magic. They have resurrected dead guns for sure. Historically the Marines get a lot of hand-me-downs from the army and they gotta do what they gotta do to get stuff to work. I think the new HK rifles are the first weapon system they have ever received as a Marine-centric, primary ownership weapon.
 
Chuckman said:
They do work voo doo and magic. They have resurrected dead guns for sure. Historically the Marines get a lot of hand-me-downs from the army and they gotta do what they gotta do to get stuff to work. I think the new HK rifles are the first weapon system they have ever received as a Marine-centric, primary ownership weapon.
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That is one I have no experience with , the new HK rifles. It stops at the G3.
 
I've owned a lot of HK firearms and still have a large collection of them. I owned a MK23 for a while, and found that I preferred practicality of the USP45 over the MK23. Certainly would have kept it had I not wanted to replace it with another HK, but I do sometimes appropriate funds from firearms I no longer want to buy a more desirable firearm.

I currently own a HK USP45 full-size and P2000SK 9mm for handguns. I also have a SP5K PDW, but that's since been converted to a SBR.
 
Not sure about the MK 23
But they do make match grade trigger kits for USP and VP series.
Usually they are sold out on HKParts, but you can still order the individual parts.
Makes a world of difference.
Lobos makes a match grade trigger for the VP series, not sure about the MK23
 
Walkabout Dan said:
That is one I have no experience with , the new HK rifles. It stops at the G3.
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While I don't have the HK 416/417, I do own the civilian equivalent and they're great firearms. They're a tad heavy, but they eat everything you feed them. I'd like to eventually SBR my MR556, but it currently has a lot of the hard to find 416 parts. The MR762 has been converted to a G28, but it is a pig. However, for it's intended application, it is incredibly accurate with the Super 417 Geissele trigger.
 
Grim said:
While I don't have the HK 416/417, I do own the civilian equivalent and they're great firearms. They're a tad heavy, but they eat everything you feed them. I'd like to eventually SBR my MR556, but it currently has a lot of the hard to find 416 parts. The MR762 has been converted to a G28, but it is a pig. However, for it's intended application, it is incredibly accurate with the Super 417 Geissele trigger.
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My favorite 762 rifle is the M14 in the E2 stock.
 
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