H&K VP9 or P30LS?

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Hookeye

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Striker fired doesn't bother me.
Cocked and locked doesn't either.
Who has run both and what did you like about each?
Might even tell me which gun you preferred ;)
 
I don’t care for the HK da/sa triggers much and the VP9 has one of the better striker fired triggers. I also like both platforms, but like many other da/sa brands over HK so I would lean VP9. Cost savings for it also an added bonus.
 
Striker fired doesn't bother me.
Cocked and locked doesn't either.
Who has run both and what did you like about each?
Might even tell me which gun you preferred ;)
Of course the correct answer is buy both, but lets move on from that.

I have a full size VP9 and like it very much. It's my bedside gun. It's easy to shoot accurately, and can be carried without too much trouble. There are also long slides available with cuts in the slide and fiber optic sights meant for competition that you can now buy and throw on. I'll probably pick one up for kicks, though I'd never compete with this gun. The frame is far too light IMO.

I carry a P30SK in winter. It's not a full sized LS, but it's close enough to give me an impression of P30s in general. The P30 in any form is an excellent gun that is soft shooting and mine has been nothing but reliable. Cocked and locked is an option, but the decocker is a button on the back. This is undoubtedly meant to alleviate any concerns about decocking if you ride the safety like on a 1911.

There is also multiple trigger setups for the P30. My HK45 has a standard DA/SA trigger. It is smooth, but rather heavy in DA. SA is fine. My P30SK has a Light LEM trigger. Which is a precocked DA trigger. It has a long, but very light take up, and then a very clean break. It's easy to shoot fast, and I like it very much.

Note, HKs have a trigger travel trough in the bottom of the trigger guard. This rubs some people's finger the wrong way. Handle before buying.

Whichever gun you get, I recommend the LE model, as they come with far superior night sights, and a third magazine.

It's a toss up on quality. If it were me and I was buying again, I'd maybe still get the VP9 and then pick up a LS conversion. But the P30LS really calls my name more with night sights and the LEM trigger. It feels a little more solid. I also greatly prefer the stippled grip of the P30 and HK45 as compared to the grip texturing on the VP9 and P30SK. If HK offered stippled grip panels as aftermarket items for the VP9 and P30SK, I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

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460, been meaning to ask, what holster do you use for your SK?

To the OP, I don't have an LS, but I have a bunch of other HKs, including a VP9 and a few P30 variants. While the VP is fine, I prefer hammer-fired guns on principle; the nice thing about HK is that you can operate their hammer-fired guns about any way you want - DAO, DA/SA with or without safety, treat it as SAO with safety, a couple of LEM variants - anything at all.

Yeah, the triggers (especially in DA mode) feel a little heavy. That's not the worst thing for a defensive handgun anyway. But get on the range and that all goes away, because they just plain shoot.
 
460, been meaning to ask, what holster do you use for your SK?
Stealthgear Flex. Love it.

https://stealthgearusa.com/holsters/ventcore-holsters/owb-flex-holsters/

Yeah, the triggers (especially in DA mode) feel a little heavy. That's not the worst thing for a defensive handgun anyway. But get on the range and that all goes away, because they just plain shoot.
Agree totally. You'll notice the trigger when dry fire practicing. Not so much when actually shooting.
 
I have a P30SK with the V3 trigger (SA/DA) and like it very much. After hearing 460Shooter's comments from other threads on the P30SK, I would like to try the LEM trigger P30SK.

I put Talon grips on my P30SK and it helps maintaining a better grip with the hand gun.

I do not have any experience with the VP9 but in general, I do not care for a pistol with potential energy stored in the fire control mechanism while carrying. A personnel concern and I respect others differing opinions on striker fired pistols.
 
Owned both. trigger was atrocious in my V1 P30L... VP9's trigger was far superior. However, I had a knack of hitting the slide stop/release on it causing it to lock open.

Both shot good, were accurate, and were 100% reliable. Both are long gone though.
 
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I do not have any experience with the VP9 but in general, I do not care for a pistol with potential energy stored in the fire control mechanism while carrying.
Definitely don’t plan on carrying a light LEM gun then. The light LEM trigger is precocked
 
I have a P30 v3 and it is one of my favorite service pistols. And I like the longer sight radius of the “L” version so that would be my choice.
 
Have shot both, and strongly prefer the VP9 out of the box. Currently own both an HK45 and a VP9, and the HK45 never sees any use.

I’m sure that some trigger work on a P30 would solve a lot of my complaints with the P30 though.
 
I am not sure about the P30SK but my P2000SK has a little bit of take-up after the reset. That is the biggest thing to get used to IMO.
My P30SK does have a little take up after the LEM trigger reset. I hadn’t really thought about it until you mentioned it.
 
I have P30LS, P30SK LEM, and VP9. I love them all and they are all terrific shooters for me. Between the P30LS and VP9 I have a slight preference for the P30LS but that is mostly my love for hammer fired pistols and aesthetically I find the P30LS more pleasing. The trigger on my P30LS was pretty good out of the box with sweet SA and OK DA. I put in HK newer and lighter firing pin block spring HK part # 209296 and Wolff 10 LB hammer spring Wolff part # 49510 and the DA is now really sweet for about $10 investment. If one wants a really short reset then they will be disappointed with the P30 series though for me it is not a problem. The Grayguns short reset kit is supposed to reduce reset distance by about a third but that will sill leave it pretty long compared to something like my PPQ or SIG P226 with the SRT kit installed. As always it is best to try out whatever one is considering before making a decision.

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Honestly, they are so similar that it really is a question of what trigger and firing mechanism you want. The only noticeable difference to me is the stippling on the P30 is better, but that's really minor.

I've been shooting both for about eighteen months now, and after much internal debate, I've settled on the P30 over the VP9 because I prefer a hammer-fired handgun. Otherwise, it's six of one and a half dozen of the other, for all practical purposes.

Whichever gun you get, I recommend the LE model, as they come with far superior night sights, and a third magazine.

Excellent advice there.

Owned both. trigger was atrocious in my V1 P30L... VP9's trigger was far superior. However, I had a knack of hitting the slide stop/release on it causing it to lock open.

Eh, I don't know that the VP9 trigger is superior to the P30 LEM. It's just different from the P30.
 
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