Heckler & Koch VP70

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I had a VP70Z in the 80s and 90s. I was the original owner so it was stock. I loved the 18+1 capacity, but I could not empty a mag without stopping to rest my finger after about 6 rounds.

Even though it’s striker fired, the trigger pull is the heaviest I have experienced in my life! And I’ve been shooting over 50 years and own a lot of pistols. It’s 2-3 times worse than the heaviest D/A gun I have ever fired. And anyone that tried mine would hand it back to me after 2 or 3 shots.

Now back in the 80/90s there were no known smiths that would work on that trigger. Since I despised shooting that abortion I traded it off towards a Benelli shotgun.

My understanding now is that there are gunsmiths that can improve that atrocity.

I would not buy a used one unless I could test fire it to be sure the trigger work functions like it should. I have heard of many of the guns being butchered by kitchen table gunsmiths.

CAVEAT EMPTOR!
 
I understand the trigger pull is a real finger breaker! I'm more interested in the pistol's history. If I should find one in good condition at a reasonable price I would buy it.
 
I had one in early 80s , besides the earlier S&W model 39 it was first 9 mm I bought, as I remember. I did successfully lower the 15 pound trigger down to about 10# by replacing one coil spring with a strip as I remember
It was reliable, being blow back, but ruined the casings for reloading by engraving flutes in them . The magazine release sucked. The accuracy was decent but long heavy pull ruined it. This was basically a nuetered machine pistol. I regretted buying it for being the first polymer pistol.They are big too.The "shadow" sights are a laugh too !
 
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The trigger pulls straight back and yes, it is on the heavy side. I scored one in a local auction with some spare magazines. I hate to say it, but it has the profile of a Hit Point but I am a fan of H&K pistols, my favorite is the P9s.
 
My shooting interests are moving away from new firearms. I'm more than interested in the H&K VP70 from a historical perspective. Wikipedia photo. Any of you own one?View attachment 865633
A friend who owns a pawn show got one in years ago and we went and shot it in his indoor range. It was interesting. The slide was stiff due to it not seeing much use, and the HEAVY recoil spring that i suspect was aftermarket and way out of spec. They were set up for be used with a shoulder stock and had 3rnd burst capability, but Id be shocked if the ones imported here retained anything close to that capability.

A little light reading to scratch the itch...:)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70
www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/04/01/odd-guns-hk-vp70z/
https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/retro-review-hk-vp70z/
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/other-handguns/hk-vp-70z/
And for the fun of it...
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70
 
All VP70s you will see are VP70Z. Z is zivil, or "civil" or, "no, not full auto capable of course."

This is German style civilian, so all the stock mounting, fire selection bits and capability for them is gone. For the non-Z the fire selector is on the stock as well so you don't burst fire as a pistol.
 
A friend who owns a pawn show got one in years ago and we went and shot it in his indoor range. It was interesting. The slide was stiff due to it not seeing much use, and the HEAVY recoil spring that i suspect was aftermarket and way out of spec. They were set up for be used with a shoulder stock and had 3rnd burst capability, but Id be shocked if the ones imported here retained anything close to that capability.

A little light reading to scratch the itch...:)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70
www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/04/01/odd-guns-hk-vp70z/
https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/retro-review-hk-vp70z/
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/other-handguns/hk-vp-70z/
And for the fun of it...
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70
Thank you, much appreciated!
 
Some years ago, at the shooting range that I attend, I met a security guard who was there to try a blued .357 S&W revolver he received in an even trade he made for his 9x21IMI VP70z (civilian version of the VP70 made for the italian market only) with the original shoulder extention-holster (without the selector for automatic shooting).
I was about to put my hands on his neck. It still leaves me a bad taste.
 
I believe all the FA parts were in the Shoulder stock holster and only the grip frame was different in the FA version which had a third window between the upper an lower stock connection cuts (They still wiggled a little !( which recieved a disconnector lever extension of some sort. I actually fired on in a Sparks Nevada rent a gun place in early 80s that had a FA sample. It had fixed 3 round per pull burst fire at 2000 RPM ! Sounded like one shot and recoil rise was not there ! I fired three mags full= 50 rounds for $40 back then if I remember.
 
HK has a room called "the grey room" at their HQ. In it is one of every product that HK has ever made. I was up there for some training years ago, and I got the opportunity to tour the room, where they allowed us to handle the items. I got to hold an actual VP70 with the auto shoulder stock attached. Unfortunately, I didn't get to fire it.
 
the VP70z was my childhood dream. as an adult I had somebody offer one to me at a high price because he knew I wanted it. I dry fired it and changed my mind.
 
A local guy at our private club offered one on the actual cork bulletin board a few years ago.
One glance at descriptions of the trigger immed. stopped my interest.

If only the HK P7s had been imported in far higher numbers, and were easier to justify buying....reportedly the best 9mm handguns (two P7 versions?) ever produced by HK.
 
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A friend who owns a pawn show got one in years ago and we went and shot it in his indoor range. It was interesting. The slide was stiff due to it not seeing much use, and the HEAVY recoil spring that i suspect was aftermarket and way out of spec. They were set up for be used with a shoulder stock and had 3rnd burst capability, but Id be shocked if the ones imported here retained anything close to that capability.

A little light reading to scratch the itch...:)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70
www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/04/01/odd-guns-hk-vp70z/
https://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/retro-review-hk-vp70z/
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/other-handguns/hk-vp-70z/
And for the fun of it...
http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Heckler_&_Koch_VP70

The stiff side is normal, the VP70 is a straight blowback action that requires a heave spring and slide.
 
Ignition Overdrive,

"If only the HK P7s had been imported in far higher numbers, and were easier to justify buying....reportedly the best 9mm handgun ever produced by HK. "

YES, very much yes.

I had a PSP P7 with the push forward (pinch) bottom mag release. It was stolen. Folks complained about it over heating and burning your trigger finger....but not in real life scenerios involving only three mags. They complained about the gas cyclinder getting dirty and stopping the slide from going far enough back, really only an issue with lead bullets and later models came with a scraper tool to be used in PM to prevent this ( I used a small flat head screw driver in my very early one. (and before folks have a hissy about using lead in a polygonal barrel....lead out cloth followed by brass bore brush, followed by lead out cloth) Wife used it for most of Ayoob's LFI 1 (locked it in car one day and Mas loaned her his Python Snubbie, every since she has wanted another P7 and a Python like Ayoob's)

I got to shoot a VP70z ( I thought the HK4 was earlier) and was not that impressed. I handled a stocked one and a Stocked Beretta 93R and liked the Beretta more, but shot neither.

oh and while I never have liked Glocks that much Given the choice of a VP70 and a full sized Glock for actual life depends on it carry I would pick the Glock with out hesitation

-kBob
 
The V70 was designed as a machine pistol with a stock. In that configuration it is an acceptable performer. As a non- stocked SA only pistol, it is sub Par,a best. I can think of very few pistols I like less. I can think of no pistols that regularly sell for more than $200 that I like less
 
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