H&K VP9 vs P30 ?

[wild cat mccane]

I will add to this offroad, the PPQ has a superiour trigger to the VP9.
https://lanzerbot.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/case-study-ppq-vs-vp9-trigger/

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I will add to this offroad, the PPQ has a superiour trigger to the VP9.
https://lanzerbot.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/case-study-ppq-vs-vp9-trigger/

Based on your opinion. I've pulled the trigger on both and prefer the feel of the VP9. Trigger preference is up to the end user to decide on.

 

[wild cat mccane]

Mechanically speaking, no, it's not my opinion. If you read it, Walther has a patent on their striker system that allows a lower weight and can be tweeked later (APEX coming out with the PPQ trigger replacement late summer/fall).

The VP9 trigger cannot be twittled with.

My opinion is I don't like the "hump" that you ride in the VP9's trigger system.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Mechanically speaking, no, it's not my opinion. If you read it, Walther has a patent on their striker system that allows a lower weight and can be tweeked later (APEX coming out with the PPQ trigger replacement late summer/fall).

The VP9 trigger cannot be twittled with.

My opinion is I don't like the "hump" that you ride in the VP9's trigger system.

I see your point, and you got me. I didn't read it. My mistake.

 

[sigarms228]

I will add to this offroad, the PPQ has a superiour trigger to the VP9.
https://lanzerbot.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/case-study-ppq-vs-vp9-trigger/

I have both the PPQ and VP9. While I agree, at least with my samples. that the PPQ has the better trigger IMO my VP9 trigger is very nice and during actual shooting of each, myself I don't find that the VP9 trigger is holding me back compared to my PPQ.

 

[HexHead]

Mechanically speaking, no, it's not my opinion. If you read it, Walther has a patent on their striker system that allows a lower weight and can be tweeked later (APEX coming out with the PPQ trigger replacement late summer/fall).

If the PPQ trigger is so great, what do you need an AREX kit?

I know M&Ps need them, but nobody has ever raved about an M&P trigger.

 

[mgmorden]

If the PPQ trigger is so great, what do you need an AREX kit?

I know M&Ps need them, but nobody has ever raved about an M&P trigger.

Anything great can still be made better. There are a lot of people who try to wring everything they can out of a gun.

Think about it this way: a car that tops out at 200 MPH is pretty darned fast, but to a racer, it might be worth spending money to up that max to 205 MPH. It's not a huge jump, and it was good to start with, but sometimes you just want to push things further.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Supposedly the Gray Guns trigger job for the VP9 is pretty awe inspiring. I haven't tried it (and probably won't- the VP9 trigger is plenty good for me as-is) but the work they did on my P30S is amazing. It really transformed the gun.

VP9 vs PPQ is a bit closer. Last week I was at the range and the guy in the lane next to me asked about my VP9, so I asked if he wanted to shoot it. He readily agreed and he was shooting his PPQ M2 so we swapped for a few mags. Overall I liked it quite a bit. In stock form the PPQ has a lighter trigger and a slightly shorter reset. It didn't translate to my being able to shoot it was well, though. My first shot out of the box with the VP9 landed right on the X in the X-ring, and for whatever reason the bullets just seem thought guided. Maybe it's the fit in my hand or whatever but I didn't get that with the PPQ. Still it was a good shooter. If I couldn't have my VP9 for some reason I could live with the PPQ but it would have to be the M1...I can't deal with the button type mag release.

Between the VP9 and the P30 it comes down to what you want to do with the gun. I love the VP9 but I can't imagine parting with my P30S.

 

[boatdoc173]

I have both-- I lean to the VP 9 as I LOVE striker fired ease of us e and accuracy

the p30 is a great gun --it will force you to learn trigger control that is for sure

I love my H+Ks and my wife hates them-- same reason- the trigger pull( the p 30 with an leo v1 trigger is a long pull).. her loss I guess

the MOST accurate gun out of the box for both of us is the walther ppq in 4" or 5" 9mm

the walther ppq and h+k are so similar you would think they are made by the same company-- hard to decide which is a better gun

for carry the VP9 is better for me-- a heavier trigger

on the range is is WALTHER by a nose

again JMHO

 

[boatdoc173]

I have the P30 and it is the best fitting and shooting 9mm that I have. I have not shot the new Striker pistol from H&K but like all the H&K guns I am sure it is a quality pistol. I like the P30 much better than the SK2000 and the USP that I have.

I love all of my H+K--the VP( was exactly what I thought it would be--a great shooter--feel great in the hand too--just like the p30 but less work to shoot accurately--the leo v1 triggers I have on my p 30s took time to get used to-- but are amazingly accurate and great for teaching trigger control and patience

 

[boatdoc173]

It's cheaper because it's cheaper to make a striker fired gun than a hammer fired gun. The VP9 has fewer parts. I don't recall the actual count but I saw the parts list for both guns and it's a pretty significant difference.

As to which one is better...man, that's a tough one! I have a P30S with a trigger done by Gray Guns and a new VP9. I also have a USPc 9mm, USPc .40 and a USPf9 (as well as a USC carbine, and used to have a USP45 Tactical in .45). So I've shot a lot of HK guns.

Right out of the box, very first shot with the VP9 I hit dead smack on the X of the X-ring. I've never done that with any other gun! Subjectively it's as good a shooter as my tricked out P30S.

The bore axis of the VP9 is a bit lower; the hammer spring of the P30 runs down the backstrap. The VP9 has no hammer spring so there's room to undercut the grip more/higher up into the gun. In practical terms they're very close but he VP9 might run even flatter than the P30! The bullets seem to be self guided, and I was able to get good hits running the gun as fast I can pull the trigger.

It's very hard to pick a favorite. I too prefer hammer fired guns and I'm comfortable carrying my P30S cocked-and-locked. But I shoot the VP9 at least as well. It's about a wash.

The VP9 is a very good deal! I got mine for $599 with factory installed Meprolight tritium night sights and two mags. Big bonus- the VP9 and P30 use the same mag (which will also fit the USPc and P2000). I already had at last eight mags on hand so now I have ten.

I think the VP9 will be an epic product for HK. No one in their right mind should buy a striker fired service-type pistol without checking out the VP9.

Hopefully HK wil have a VP9c or VP9sk on the way before too long!

I have both-- I lean to the VP 9 as I LOVE striker fired ease of us e and accuracy

the p30 is a great gun --it will force you to learn trigger control that is for sure

I love my H+Ks and my wife hates them-- same reason- the trigger pull( the p 30 with an leo v1 trigger is a long pull).. her loss I guess

the MOST accurate gun out of the box for both of us is the walther ppq in 4" or 5" 9mm

the walther ppq and h+k are so similar you would think they are made by the same company-- hard to decide which is a better gun

 

[boatdoc173]

I've handled the VP9 quite a bit, though haven't shot one. It brings nothing to the table for me my light LEM P30 doesn't already offer. AFAIC, the V1 P30 is the best 9mm pistol you can buy, I have two of them.

they both feel great in the hand-- I am so glad they made the VP 9 as I do love striker fired guns-- and my p 30s( Ihave a couple too) shoot amazingly well and I am very accurate (most days) with it-- I do no t regret buying either

 

[boatdoc173]

I think there are three possible factors, first I wouldn't be surprised if HK is intentionally pricing these cheap so they can break into the striker fired market.

I also think that it has a lot to do with the fact that the VP9 takes a lot from the P30. So the development and production costs are probably a lot less than you'd expect from a brand new handgun. They didn't have to reinvent the wheel on this one.

Last, it could simply be that striker fired guns are simpler/cheaper to make.

well stated and probably very true

 

[boatdoc173]

I expect the VP9 to make serious inroads into the sales of the P30 family. Lots of people like striker fired guns and it's roughly $150-$200 cheaper than a P30 (although pricing is all over the place depending on where you buy, the day of the week, the phase of the moon, etc). The P30 offers a ton of options; DA/SA with a decocker, DA/SA with a manual safety and LEM V1 or V2 (all Light LEM from the factory now unless specially ordered). However the LEM is more popular than the other ones with the P30S being the least popular/common of all.

I would think anyone that was thinking about the LEM P30 might strongly consider the VP9 instead. The trigger is much easier to shoot well vs the LEM, at least out of the box. Plus there's the fact that it's cheaper.

Right now I guess I'm more in the P30 camp but I do love the VP9. If/when HK releases a VP9c/VP9sk I will snap one up immediately.

saw a p30 subcompact yesterday-- too small for my hands-- but it should sell out fast--the price is right and it has that p 30 feel.

 

[boatdoc173]

Supposedly the Gray Guns trigger job for the VP9 is pretty awe inspiring. I haven't tried it (and probably won't- the VP9 trigger is plenty good for me as-is) but the work they did on my P30S is amazing. It really transformed the gun.

VP9 vs PPQ is a bit closer. Last week I was at the range and the guy in the lane next to me asked about my VP9, so I asked if he wanted to shoot it. He readily agreed and he was shooting his PPQ M2 so we swapped for a few mags. Overall I liked it quite a bit. In stock form the PPQ has a lighter trigger and a slightly shorter reset. It didn't translate to my being able to shoot it was well, though. My first shot out of the box with the VP9 landed right on the X in the X-ring, and for whatever reason the bullets just seem thought guided. Maybe it's the fit in my hand or whatever but I didn't get that with the PPQ. Still it was a good shooter. If I couldn't have my VP9 for some reason I could live with the PPQ but it would have to be the M1...I can't deal with the button type mag release.

Between the VP9 and the P30 it comes down to what you want to do with the gun. I love the VP9 but I can't imagine parting with my P30S.

lucky shot I think( for the Vp 9--just kidding

I actually shot the ppq better out of the box-- the H+K line seem to need clos e to a 12 o clock hold-- walther poa =poi for me anyway

I love both models-- like your kids--it is hard to pick a favorite-- so I just love them both!!ha ha ha

 

[boatdoc173]

I also like the H&K VP9. I shot my brother's VP9 yesterday and to me it is the best striker that I have ever shot. The way it fit my hand and the over all finish and quality is the best that I have seen. Much better than the SIG P320 in every way.

agreed

 

[HexHead]

they both feel great in the hand-- I am so glad they made the VP 9 as I do love striker fired guns-- and my p 30s( Ihave a couple too) shoot amazingly well and I am very accurate (most days) with it-- I do no t regret buying either

Since originally posting that, I have fired the VP9 back to back with my P30. I still prefer the V1 LEM trigger over the striker and how much softer the P30 shoots, taking the mag from one and putting it in the other.

 

[bobby68]

I think the guy just wanted to see if her get a fire.. Which he did on the 4 or 5th hit

 

[JDR]

....AFAIC, the V1 P30 is the best 9mm pistol you can buy, I have two of them.

Back in Dec. of last year I thought I was ordering a V1 P30 from an old friend of mine who runs a gun shop in upstate PA. I wanted to get in on the $200 Rebate that HK was offering. The gun that actually came in was a V3 and I was told the V1's were backordered until after the rebate expired. So I took the V3 and I love everything about the gun except the DA trigger pull. The LEM conversion kits are nowhere to be found and GrayGuns wants big bucks to improve the DA/SA with a shorter reset. Otherwise, I like the P30 a lot so I think it'll stay the way it is!

 

[Guilty]

I have had the same experience as many others with the VP9. I prefer a hammer fired pistol, but the VP9 is an excellent striker fired pistol. First shot out of the box with the VP9, I hit center X, the trigger is very smooth and it is the most accurate handgun I own. I also own the P30 and P30L DA/SA and I shoot both nearly as well as the VP9, however, I prefer the P30L over the P30 for the longer sight radius and it has a slightly softer recoil for me, both of these features help me to be slightly more accurate with the P30L compared to the P30. The P30L with the longest barrel length is just as easy for me to conceal carry as the P30 or VP9.

 

[eviltravis]

I was browsing GB last night and checking prices on the new H&K VP9 and came to realize that they were several dollars cheaper than the P30's. I was wondering if this is because they are new and H&K is wanting to get them into the market place. As far as I am concerned the P30 is the superior pistol if only because it is hammer and not striker fired. Do not like and do not own and will probably never own a striker fired pistol which is one of the reasons I have never owned a Glock besides which I think they are an ugly pistol. I would like to hear thoughts from the rest of the gang on this .

I bought both the vp9 and the p30. Both of them are quality pistols. The interchangeability of the magazines between the two is a bonus feature for me. I shoot the vp9 a bit faster and a bit more accurately, but it's the p30 that rides with me every day. It's probably silly, but I like having that decocker and that long double action trigger pull for the first shot on my carry pistol. I also like to put my thumb on the hammer when reholstering. I can only do that with the p30. Which ever one you choose, you will be getting a quality piece. If you can't make up your mind... Do what I did and buy them both.

ET

 

[sota]

I bought both the vp9 and the p30. Both of them are quality pistols. The interchangeability of the magazines between the two is a bonus feature for me. I shoot the vp9 a bit faster and a bit more accurately, but it's the p30 that rides with me every day. It's probably silly, but I like having that decocker and that long double action trigger pull for the first shot on my carry pistol. I also like to put my thumb on the hammer when reholstering. I can only do that with the p30. Which ever one you choose, you will be getting a quality piece. If you can't make up your mind... Do what I did and buy them both.

ET

you're not silly. those are the exact reasons why I prefer the P30 over the VP9, or any striker fired gun for that matter. I don't like safeties on defensive/carry firearms, and I really like the long heavy DA first pull as the mental/physical reminder of "you're about to make a Really Loud Noise and potentially cause your chosen target to expire. do you REALLY want to do this?" 15 minutes a day for a couple weeks and I was confident with my DA pull, and a couple range sessions practicing DA to SA transitions got me the rest of the way to loving TDA.

The VP9 is a fantastic gun otherwise. it's just not my flavor of ice pop, and I have enough "range only toys."

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have enough "range only toys."

I followed everything you said up until this point.

 

[sota]

Yea well... the budget isn't bottomless, so I have to delegate funds to things I can at least justify being more than glorified giggle switches.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

glorified giggle switches.

Ha! That's the best description I've ever heard of for an unnecessary firearm.