The Dreaded HK Trigger Groove

I have seen many comments over the last few years about the groove that resides in the bottom of the trigger guard on most, if not all HK pistols. As a person squeezes the trigger, the bottom of their first knuckle can get rubbed raw by that groove. I will take a photo with better detail on this tonight.

I currently own three HK's, an HK45 with a traditional SA/Da trigger, a VP9, and a P30SK with the light LEM trigger.

The VP9 has a light pull and breaks very cleanly. I am able to shoot the gun fast and never have a problem with the groove eating my finger up.

The P30SK's LEM trigger also agrees with me. For those with no experience, there is a long, but very light and smooth take up until you hit the point of trigger break. Then it breaks very crisply. It's almost like staging a trigger on DA revolver, but with a striker like break.

Then there is the HK45 that has a traditional DA/SA trigger and safety/decocker. The single action trigger on that gun is very acceptable. It's a defensive gun so I wouldn't enter any competition with it, but for saving your life, it's just fine. The DA on the other hand is very smooth, but obnoxiously heavy. It's very safe, but leaves something to be desired. This gun DOES eat up the knuckle on my trigger finger. I believe the heavy pull causes my finger to slide down toward the bottom of the trigger guard, and then my knuckle drags through the groove. Better trigger discipline would probably help, but honestly my fingers are skinny, and keeping my trigger finger in place is a real challenge on some guns.

I know that the same model gun with two different triggers would be a preferable test, but I don't have that at my disposal, and none of my friends own HKs. I'm not trying to plug the brand or play fanboy, I just wanted to briefly bring this up. HKs have come down in price fairly drastically. My HK45 was a $1000 pistol when I bought it, and now they can be had for closer to $800. As this sort of makes them more available to folks who may not have considered them in the past, I thought a little info sharing would be good.

If you've only handled a DA/SA triggered HK, and didn't care for it, or it chewed up your knuckle when you got to shoot one, you may want to check out the VP series, but more importantly a Light LEM trigger equipped HK. You may not have the issue with the trough any longer. I've not had a singe malfunction with any of these guns, and I think a number of people pass them by simply because of this issue, and the internet talk that surrounds it.

The way I see it, I have two options on my HK45. I can either send it to Grayguns to get lightened and smoothed up, or I can order a LEM trigger for it. I want to put night sights on it also. After watching a few videos, I think I can make the change myself. I'll likely add night sights as well.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone is wondering about the differences. This is just how it seems to work for me, and you may have a different experience.

View media item 312View media item 311

1KPerDay said:

I had the exact same experience.

Click to expand...

Do you happen to remember what size backstrap and side panels were in the VP9 you shot by any chance? Also, what size gloves do you wear and how meaty are your hands?

Doublehelix said:

I'm with 460Shooter in that I do love that VP9 for a striker-fired pistol that is.

Click to expand...

If they came out with a single stack 9mm the size of the XDs, I'd sell my XDs before you can say "sell my XDs" in favor of the HK. It could be the VP9SKS. Second S for slim. My XDs 45 is fine, but nothing special. It's greatest benefit is that it carries and conceals easily. I used to enjoy that little 45, but I'm leaning more towards capacity as a bigger draw in a gun that size.

Chuck R. said:

I have a VP9, P30L HK45 (also a P2000, no groove) and don't have an issue with any of them. I guess it is how much finger you have on the trigger.

Click to expand...

Maybe that's the big issue. May I ask how large are your hands, and are they meaty or thin?

For a few years I've been listening to these stories and I've been fiddling with my own HKs to try and figure out the difference that causes my finger to get torn up on my HK45 and not the other two. The P30SK and the VP9 have interchangeable side panels along with the interchangeable backstrap. The HK45 only has an interchangeable backstrap.

On the 45, I keep the largest backstrap in it.

On the VP9 and P30SK, I have the largest backstraps, but also the largest side panels on the right side of the gun, so it fills my palm, and the smallest panels on the left, so my fingers wrap as far around the gun as possible. It works great for me as I get a bit better trigger reach, a better hand filling grip, and I'm guessing that's why I shoot those two guns well. I hadn't shot either in months due to life circumstances, and the other day I puled them out and shot them as quickly as I could at 14 yards, and both targets had raged holes through the middle when I was done.

I wear XL gloves, and they fit me perfectly, but my fingers are thin, and my grip strength is pretty poor. I have piano playing hands. As a reference I can eject the magazine on my Beretta 92 with the tip of my middle finger while the mag ejector is on the left side of the gun for a right handed shooter, without moving my grip. I don't know if that's common on the 92 or not though.

So perhaps it's a combo of a heavy DA trigger on the HK45, along with a grip that is a hair too small for me, allowing my trigger finger to slide around more than is desirable. It makes me wish more and more for a VP45 with interchangeable side panels. Honestly, even though I shoot the HK45 well, I've contemplated ditching it in favor of a Sig P227 for this very reason. Maybe the simpler solution is to file down the groove a bit.

Well I don't know if any correlation that makes sense will come out of this. Individual I guess.

Doublehelix said:

I just did a search, and you are right (of course).

I know for 100% fact that the LGS told me when I bought the gun 4 years ago that it was the LE mod version that included a special trigger and a 3rd magazine. I paid more for it than the other "regular" VP9 they had sitting in the case right next to mine. Now I am sort of ticked off as there is nothing I can find online that describes an "LE" trigger for the VP9. Somebody was passing the corn, and I just ate it up without verifying apparently. I feel sort of stupid now...

They did say "LE" not "LEM", I know that for sure as well. I just said "LEM" in this thread since that is what others were calling it and I assumed it was the same thing. Apparently, there is no such thing.

Dang. You burst my bubble! Here all along I thought I had something special!!!

EDIT: OK, I take that back, there *is* an LE version of the VP9 (not LEM trigger, so thanks for correcting that.)

https://www.preppergunshop.com/hk-vp9-9mm-4-09-15rd-bl-3-mags-ns



Lot's of other references, I just grabbed the first two.

Sorry for confusing things...

Click to expand...

The LE versions of all of the P30, HK45, and VP series pistols come with a third magazine and night sights from my understanding. So for roughly an extra $100, you get another mag and way better sights. It's totally worth it in my book. However, if your LGS dealer told you the trigger was any different, he was mistaken. The VP still has a kick ass trigger though regardless of the version, and as long as you didn't pay more than an extra $100, you still got a good package.

My HK45 is a standard gun that came with luminescent sights and two magazines. My VP and P30SK are both the LE versions. I won't buy another HK unless I get the LE package, with a USP Elite, Expert, or Mark 23 being the exceptions. It's a much better value IMO.

Honestly I don't see myself buying any of the higher priced models I just mentioned.

If you haven't played with a LEM trigger, you definitely should. Being the SA guy that you are, I think you could grow to like it with it's easy staging and more or less SA break.

Doublehelix said:

I don't think you can get the LEM trigger in the VP9, can you? I do not have any hammer-fired HK pistols. Lots of other brands though!!!

Click to expand...

No, the LEM trigger is a hammer fired trigger type only. I'm just saying that given your like for SA guns, if any DA/SA hammer fired HKs catch your eye and you are interested in them, check the LEM trigger out for those models. If hammer fired HK's don't interest you, just disregard.

Doublehelix said:

Gotcha! Makes sense now...

You are right in that I am an SA guy through and through. For a while I was looking to maybe pickup a DA/SA gun like a CZ or something, but that desire has waned, and I got a revolver instead! I do love HK guns, so if I do decide to go DA/SA again, I will take a closer look at the HK offerings with the LEM trigger. Next time I am at one of the larger LGS that carry HK, I will see if they have one in stock to check out.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Sure thing. The long take up will really through you off at first, but the break is nice, and running the LEM trigger to reset is pretty easy, so when actually shooting the long takeup is only relevant on the first shot. Hence my assertion that it's almost SA in it's operation.