Hecker & Koch VP9 Review

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plouffedaddy

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Got to spend some trigger time with the new VP9 and here's what I've found:

Pros:
-100% reliable with anything from Russian stuff to quality JHPs
-Excellent trigger. Broke right at 5 but the crispness made it feel like less. Very smooth pull all the way through
-"Hostile Environment" nitrided finish is very durable and looks great
-Ergonomics are excellent. The replaceable backstraps and grip panels make the gun great for almost all hand sizes out there
-Quality luminescent 3 dot steel sights. N/S will be available from the factory at a later date
-Price. The MSRP on the gun is $719 so after the initial rush it'll likely be available in the mid $600s some places. For an H&K, can't complain about that.
-Full length, 1913 rail for mounting accessories
-Ambi mag release and slide release levers
-Uses 15 or 10 round P30 mags
-I like the "charging supports" but I know some out there will take them off

Cons:
-The bore axis is high, no getting around it
-15 round capacity factory mags. Many of my viewers expressed that they'd like to see a higher capacity factory offering
-This particular gun seems to shoot high (3 experienced shooters all had the same result)

All in all, I think this will be an extremely popular gun for H&K. Great build quality, reliability, ergos, and finish combined with H&K's reputation will be hard to resist for a lot of prospective gun buyers out there.

Here's my full review video that covers a lot of the issues above as well as some more details about the pistol:



 
Thanks! Great review.

If I did not already own a Walther PPQ that just LOVE I would really consider the new VP9 though I don't like the slide "ears" or the way HK did the slide release, especially on the right side as it looks like an afterthought. I much prefer the matching slide releases on my P30LS which are shorter than what is on the P30, or the matching slide releases on my PPQ.

It will be interesting to see how my LGS prices the VP9.
 
That's going to hurt p30 sales, in the sense that those who were "pushing" ,their budget to afford a p30, will settle for the new striker version.
I's not much of a compromise to save a couple to a few hundred bucks. They basically will react the same way unless you are really into guns enough to feel the "LEM" light trigger, which to me is a must have on the P30. Otherwise aside from the initial DA/SA, first round, not a great difference, 5lbs and same grip, same mag and number of rounds, pretty much a compromise to sell a less expensive gun in this economy.
 
With the introduction of the HK VP9 I finally will be buying an HK but VP40
 
george burns said:
That's going to hurt p30 sales, in the sense that those who were "pushing" ,their budget to afford a p30, will settle for the new striker version.
I's not much of a compromise to save a couple to a few hundred bucks. They basically will react the same way unless you are really into guns enough to feel the "LEM" light trigger, which to me is a must have on the P30. Otherwise aside from the initial DA/SA, first round, not a great difference, 5lbs and same grip, same mag and number of rounds, pretty much a compromise to sell a less expensive gun in this economy.
Click to expand...

Maybe or maybe not IMO. A lot of people like myself prefer hammer fired pistols.
Myself I am not such a fan of LEM and really like my DA/SA P30LS but I am used to my SIGs.

I am thinking it will bring a lot of new people to purchase an HK.

Great to have choices!!
 
Don't forget that the reason that many people are unfamiliar with Sig and H&K, are their price points. The average Joe wants a gun that is under $500 dollars. Most of them don't even look at guns priced above $600. It's not so much that they couldn't afford it, as their brain is not positioned to spend more than that for a gun.
Sad as that may be, for some reason people always seem to want to save money on one of the most important purchases that they will ever make.
Also if they are going to spend more money, they are lured towards the Flashy guns like Kimber, or the other one that escapes me now, that Trump and Stern carry. The Tactical stuff remains for the tactical guys and gals, who either served, or are avid gun folks who actually shoot.
What do we hear from most new gun people, Glock, M&P, Ruger, all in the $500 range, then the Keltec, and Bersa price points of $300. Seldom does a new shooter go and drop 800-1000 on their carry gun, and seldom do they even think about a second or third gun, until they possibly get more involved in the sport.
Unfortunately many people just stop when they get their permit and gun.
This may as mentioned, get H&K into the mainstream civilian market.
 
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It will be interesting to see how competitively priced the VP9 is actually going to be. IMO if it ends up $50 or more than the Glock/M&P that may cause them to not attract that Average Joe buyer you mention or at least not many of them. If the LGS is selling Glocks for $549 and the VP9 is $619 that is going to turn off a lot of those buyers.

However IMO those who have always wanted an HK but did not want to spend $900 will snap the VP9 up.

Time will tell. Sounds like you own or work at a gun store so I will be looking forward to your feedback later in the year as the VP9 is in stock and hopefully good supply.
 
Good review man.

However IMO those who have always wanted an HK but did not want to spend $900 will snap the VP9 up.
Click to expand...

I think this is where the market will be strongest to start out. They need to market this well though if they want a slice of the civilian market. They have a lot of excellent competition.
 
I really like this gun but I like m&p9 and I haven't even got around to put an apex trigger kit in yet so I think I will save up and wait for the vp45. That's the plan anyways. Once I handle one I'll probably buy it lol. No doubt about it, hk makes some really good guns so I'm not really worried this gun will be anything short of that. I would like to see some higher capacity mags as well. Good review as always man, keep it up
 
It's going to be a tough sell to the masses if its priced much above current striker fired guns. Time will tell but outside of the name and side grip panels, I'm not really sure what you gain over the current options. I don't think a non-gun owner will pay the premium when on paper it looks like an inferior gun (costs more, holds less, and isn't from one of the high volume brands in the US) and all their buddies own something else. The die hard HK fans may jump on it. I didn't think the Glock 42 was a great idea either when announced, yet I ended up with one of them too. I suppose time is really the only way to tell. It seems early impressions are good, which they better be if the pistol is going to lead the price range.
 
Does it have a second strike capability?
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No it doesn't. When a reviewer has to cycle the slide to reset the trigger, that means it is not a DA, and double strike is not an option. The slide movement is what resets the trigger and cocks the sttriker mechanism. Not the trigger pull.

At least that is my understanding of striker fired guns. If I have that wrong, someone please correct.
 
The Walther P99 AS is the only striker fired pistol I know of that has second strike capability. The Walther P99 AS has a decocker so it can be used in SA and DA modes. Very unique among striker fired pistols. Also a terrific all around pistol that the Walther PPQ is based on. My Son has one and it so impressed me the first time I ever shot it that it motivated my to get the PPQ.
 
The Walther P99 AS is the only striker fired pistol I know of that has second strike capability
Click to expand...

Pretty sure the Taurus 24/7 series does too. The S&W SW99 as well though that's basically just a rebadged P99.

Overall its not a feature I put a lot of stock in (nor does most of the industry apparently).
 
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The Walther P99 AS is the only striker fired pistol I know of that has second strike capability. The Walther P99 AS has a decocker so it can be used in SA and DA modes. Very unique among striker fired pistols. Also a terrific all around pistol that the Walther PPQ is based on. My Son has one and it so impressed me the first time I ever shot it that it motivated my to get the PPQ.
Click to expand...

TP9 does as well FWIW.
 
H&K makes very good pistols, but for much less money there are other well made guns that would do what that ones does.
 
The Walther P99 AS is the only striker fired pistol I know of that has second strike capability
Click to expand...

I think Kahr DAO pistols are double strike capacle as well aren't they?
 
Some striker fired pistols have a second strike capability, like the Walther P99 AS and some Taurus for example. I'd like to know if this new HK works like the Taurus PT709 for example (pre-cocked striker but second stike option if needed).
 
Only thing I see wrong with it is, it is striker fired not hammer and that's just not my cup of tea. I do have a P30 and love it. The one nice thing is it uses the same mag as P30's .
 
Only thing I see wrong with it is, it is striker fired not hammer and that's just not my cup of tea. I do have a P30 and love it.
Click to expand...

So really, you're saying "Only thing I see wrong with it is that it isn't a P30." which you already own. :confused::confused::confused:

So your post simply could have said "No thank you."
 
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