Tell me about the HK VP9

I have a VP9 and I like mine. It does a lot of things well but it's not for everyone because of the mag release (if you're not already used to a paddle) and the price of magazines. If those 2 things don't bother you...go for it. Good pistol. I'm shopping for some sights for mine now actually. The grip and the overall feel of that pistol are nice for what it is. I would buy one again.

I agree with those who really like their VP9. I have shot mine extensively and shoot it as good or better than any pistol I own. The mag. release is instinctive for me. The grip combinations make it possible to fit any hand. My wife shoots this pistol very well when I have the small back strap and small side panels. The trigger is very nice in my opinion. I have the LE and really like the Meprolight sights. They are easy to see in daylight and do the job at night. The extra mag that comes with the LE version helps too.

those conditions likely won't ever apply to any of us,

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As someone who rides a dual sport motorcycle, I do find mud on trails often and I carry when I ride. It doesn't take much to find one of my sidearms in muddy water so I carry something that should take that without skipping a beat.

FIVETWOSEVEN said:

As someone who rides a dual sport motorcycle, I do find mud on trails often and I carry when I ride. It doesn't take much to find one of my sidearms in muddy water so I carry something that should take that without skipping a beat.

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What is that?

HK, Glock, and every other one I've seen videos for this type of "testing" have failed...

Never heard of a dual sport motorcycle before?

...I asked what "that" was and mentioned firearms manufacturers because I wondered what firearm you carry that doesn't jam in mud.

I usually carry two handguns and the one I'm referring to is a Makarov. I'm genuinely curious what you could do to a Makarov to make it fail that any other semi auto would be able to function. I've filled mine with sand and it never misses a beat.

FIVETWOSEVEN said:

I usually carry two handguns and the one I'm referring to is a Makarov. I'm genuinely curious what you could do to a Makarov to make it fail that any other semi auto would be able to function. I've filled mine with sand and it never misses a beat.

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lol a Mak was the only reasonable response I could think of to that question that might have made sense

It is an HK, not much more to say than that.....Mine is the only HK pistol I own that bites my trigger finger. No big deal, it is too big for concealed carry for me anyway, so I just wear gloves.

I have the glow in dark not tritium sights on the vp 9. I have the tritium sights on another HK. I knew that my personal preference would be to swap either way so I wen with the cheaper sights. The glow in the dark really are a poor design though. The rears stay more charged than the front being that the front gets less exposure in a holster. This can lead to the rears being brighter than the front. The exact inverse of what I'd like. I'm not a big 3 dot sight fan and would want to swap out the tritium had I got those sights. They are the better of the two factory options though. With most guns I want to swap the factory sights as they rarely match what I've come to prefer.

Maks a super reliable but I own at least ten guns I'd choose to carry over my Mak.

I love the HK's in any flavor, but IMHO this is really HK's first entry into the "civilian" market. I don't think it was meant for any Military contract segment.

The "civilian" slant seems to be reflected in their name choice. The VP in the HK VP9 stands for "Volkspistole" or "Peoples Pistol" and in my personal comparisons, it seems to have a little less attention to detail, finish, polymer choice, etc.

This "pistol for the people", is definitely NOT just a "striker fired" version of the P30 series like I'd hoped for. I had to look through 6 packages before finding the two LEO VP9's I recently purchased. Several boxes had unacceptable or odd machining marks, etc., on the slide or an unidentified bulge in the polymer somewhere. Random cosmetic stuff that I have not seen on other HK offerings.

Keep in mind HK does test fire ALL VP9's for function, accuracy and industrial certification proofing, before they leave the factory. Some manufacturers do not.

I purchased two VP9 pistols in the LE configuration. Both have been excellent shooters, but not as much backbone in the architecture, compared to my other hammer fired HK's.

Honestly, Military Arms Channel's VP9 "torture test" video did really turn me off to this pistol. Yes - some of this was intentional abuse that no pistol should be expected to endure unscathed, but real issues were encountered as well.

Let's be clear - I don't usually put any faith in these sort of reviews or "torture tests" (since most aspects of them are just ridiculous), but I do tend to respect most of Tim's observations (though I don't always agree with his preferences).

Some of his complaints, such as failure of the paddle release after after intentional abuse, hold no water for me. However, watching the VP9 choke on a very minuscule amount of debris (that a Glock, M&P, or P99/PPQ would easily shrug off) was quite eye-opening, and point to a real design flaw.

I was very seriously considering picking one of these up to scratch an itch I've had for another full-size service pistol, but ended up getting another Glock (grey Gen4 17) instead.


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Fishbed77 said:

Honestly, Military Arms Channel's VP9 "torture test" video did really turn me off to this pistol. Yes - some of this was intentional abuse that no pistol should be expected to endure unscathed, but real issues were encountered as well.

Let's be clear - I don't usually put any faith in these sort of reviews or "torture tests" (since most aspects of them are just ridiculous), but I do tend to respect most of Tim's observations (though I don't always agree with his preferences).

Some of his complaints, such as failure of the paddle release after after intentional abuse, hold no water for me. However, watching the VP9 choke on a very minuscule amount of debris (that a Glock, M&P, or P99/PPQ would easily shrug off) was quite eye-opening, and point to a real design flaw.

I was very seriously considering picking one of these up to scratch an itch I've had for another full-size service pistol, but ended up getting another Glock (grey Gen4 17) instead.


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You know there are videos of Glock, M&P, etc, choking under the same basic conditions, right? And that there are videos of the VP9 succeeding under the same basic (if not worse) conditions...and that there are videos of equal conditions with Glock failing but VP9 succeeding...right?

Why put so much faith in one video with one gun being made to choke?

If I show a video where side by side Glock fails and VP9 doesn't will you sell/trade that Glock for a VP9? Why or why not?

Perhaps you would enjoy reading some other testimonials. Check out this web address if you like. http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-handgun-talk/234994-vp9-i-m-believer.html

Maks a super reliable but I own at least ten guns I'd choose to carry over my Mak.

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I usually pocket carry it as a backup gun. I like that I can pocket carry something that has a full grip.

Warp said:

You know there are videos of Glock, M&P, etc, choking under the same basic conditions, right? And that there are videos of the VP9 succeeding under the same basic (if not worse) conditions...and that there are videos of equal conditions with Glock failing but VP9 succeeding...right?

Why put so much faith in one video with one gun being made to choke?

If I show a video where side by side Glock fails and VP9 doesn't will you sell/trade that Glock for a VP9? Why or why not?

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Yep. Walther PPQ chokes a bunch of times on a little water in this video as an example. There are several videos of VP9 working without issue after being dunked repeatedly in water. But those don't matter I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po-k84m2kM8

To me any of these these backyard, extreme low budget, amateur, sample of one unscientific abuse tests are for entertainment value at best though some seem to take them as gospel because it was on the internet or because it either shows a pistol they don't like failing or their favorite doing well.

To me it is also stupid that if you drop your auto loading pistol in water, that you don't at minimum remove to slide to examine and shake it out/dry out best you can in the field. I know I would as I value my hands and having a functional firearm. Of course it is possible many would not know how to do that without a Youtube tactical instructional video to guide them.

I love gun nuts (said with love). A room full of guys arguing over a fairly recent hot topic issue, folks giving evidence for and against etc. one poster calls out that he has a gun perfectly reliable in these kinds of harsh conditions and everybody in the room gets ready to pounce......

Makarov he says.

I then picture a room full of guys arguing back forth all going quiet and nodding their heads with a unanimous grunt of appreciation and a "well yeah, that of course."

For the record as soon as they made that comment I sat here and thought to myself, gotta be a Mak.

rizbunk77 said:

Well I went ahead and ordered the VP9. Local shop wanted 599 plus 49.50 ea for 2 15 rd mags ( the gun came with 2 10 round). I offered $650 plus tax for all but was refused so I bought one online for 595 all in with 2 15 RD.mags.
I have enjoyed watching and reading reviews. I bought some Speer gold dot 124 gr. GDHP +p, and some Hornady 124 gr. XTP Also some 115 gr. Slovakian.

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Good deal.

Where did you get the 124+P Gold Dot?

I've only seen it in stock at one place I know of lately, and that was an anomaly.

rizbunk77 said:

Well I went ahead and ordered the VP9. Local shop wanted 599 plus 49.50 ea for 2 15 rd mags ( the gun came with 2 10 round). I offered $650 plus tax for all but was refused so I bought one online for 595 all in with 2 15 RD.mags.
I have enjoyed watching and reading reviews. I bought some Speer gold dot 124 gr. GDHP +p, and some Hornady 124 gr. XTP Also some 115 gr. Slovakian.

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Cool man. Congrats. I think you'll enjoy it. Let us know what you think when you bring her home.