HK VP-9B Abomination

[JONWILL]

I don't know why but when I hear HK VP this is what always comes to mind. Look it has a push button release.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have and carry an HK P30SK. I'm not fully comfortable with the paddle magazine release but it is manageable.

I would not buy a VP9-b or a VP-9 for that matter because it is a striker fired gun. The magazine release is irrelevant to me.

 

[Winkman822]

I don't know why but when I hear HK VP this is what always comes to mind. Look it has a push button release.

View attachment 809419

I was under the impression that the VP70 had the magazine release on the heel of the grip like early specimens of the Sig P220.

 

[JONWILL]

I was under the impression that the VP70 had the magazine release on the heel of the grip like early specimens of the Sig P220.

You are right. I am mistaken. The button is the safety. The magazine release is on the heel

The VP70 was me of those guns that I believe was primarily s full auto with the attached stock

Secondary is was a pistol. Anyone who handled one knew it was a terrible pistol design. Blowback made the slide crazy heavy

 

[Winkman822]

You are right. I am mistaken. The button is the safety. The magazine release is on the heel

The VP70 was me of those guns that I believe was primarily s full auto with the attached stock

Secondary is was a pistol. Anyone who handled one knew it was a terrible pistol design. Blowback made the slide crazy heavy

Pretty garbage trigger too. In any event, the VP9B represents a marked departure by HK from its European design. Every pistol made up to this has had the magazine release on the heel of the butt or a paddle. German firms need to stop Americanizing their designs. First Sig, then Walther, and now HK. The end is nigh, REPENT!

 

[Walt Sherrill]

German firms need to stop Americanizing their designs. First Sig, then Walther, and now HK. The end is nigh, REPENT!

That's like saying British car makers shouldn't make left-hand drive models -- the implication being that right-side drive is somehow innately better -- and firm that makes cars differently else is wrong. The paddle release MAY be better, but that remains a topic of debate and dispute.

On the other hand, the U.S. remains one of the largest handgun markets in the world, so it's no surprise that some gun makers will make modifications that make their weapons more attractive to the American buying public. As many did when they moved away from a mag release on the bottom of the grip. (The SIG P-210-6 I owned some years ago, while a superb weapon, was a aggravation when I had to switch mags quickly.)

I have an H&K VP9SK, and it's a fine gun -- I'm still adjusting to the paddle mag release -- but I'd switch to a (properly placed) button release if I could., I only use this semi-auto at the range, and it will probably never be a carry weapon for me, because I doubt I'll every be able to switch mags as quickly with it as with several of my other guns.

Could I become more proficient with the paddle release? Perhaps, but I don't see any good reason to change my long-established habits or gun-handling practices just to accommodate a single gun. I'd probably shoot the H&K VP9SK more if I didn't have a number of other guns that seem less awkward in my hands. If it were my only home/self-defense gun... maybe.

 

[BigEd63]

You are right. I am mistaken. The button is the safety. The magazine release is on the heel

The VP70 was me of those guns that I believe was primarily s full auto with the attached stock

Secondary is was a pistol. Anyone who handled one knew it was a terrible pistol design. Blowback made the slide crazy heavy

I had one for a little while that I picked up really cheap. And the trigger pull was crazy heavy to match the weight of the slide.

And while I'm primarily a Glock shooter the HK USP Compact Tactical I had for awhile gave me no problems with any of the controls.

Problem is some people are too lazy to train a different manual of arms into their muscle memory.

I can understand some pistols just not fitting. I mean just buy something else and stop whining about it

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Problem is some people are too lazy to train a different manual of arms into their muscle memory.

The problem with that simple statement is that it's hard (perhaps impossible) to develop what are basically TWO different muscle memories for what is the same function or process.

If you're converting to an H&K and will use nothing BUT H&Ks, then developing that new routine isn't a problem. But if you will also use (and maybe carry) other guns for home- (or self-) defense those other guns can become a problem for the shooter, if only because many more guns use something other than a "paddle" mag release and most of the others have a mag release in relatively the same place.

It may not be so much a problem of LAZY, as finding it difficult to decide whether developing a different method/practice (i.e., a new muscle memory) is worth the time and effort effort required. You've apparently made that decision, but not all potential and actual H&K owners have done so. And until you do, developing that new "muscle memory" is a big problem.

 

[94045]

Two ways to do everything.
My way and the wrong way.

 

[ATLDave]

I know this is basically the same kind of thing I post on a lot of threads, but:

If the paddle were materially better than a button-release, one would expect it to show up frequently in high-level USPSA or IPSC or IDPA competition. Reloads on the clock are a significant part of performance in those sports... if a particular piece of technology/engineering will speed up reloads, lots of people will use it. (For instance, almost everyone who shoots in a USPSA or IPSC division where they are allowed will use a big magwell... because it makes reloading faster).

Very, very few people are using paddle-release guns in competition. That doesn't mean that they are bad or will not work... but it probably is pretty good evidence that they do not confer some actual advantage for speedy or reliable reloads.

 

[ATLDave]

Two ways to do everything.
My way and the wrong way.

Nope. There are three ways:

 

[CaptHank]

Does it still have the razor sharp trough in the trigger guard?

I finally had to use some emery cloth to remove it. No problems now of a stinging trigger finger.

 

[1KPerDay]

I finally had to use some emery cloth to remove it. No problems now of a stinging trigger finger.
View attachment 809657

I was referring to the VP-9B

 

[5-SHOTS]

Has anyone else caught the HK abomination that is the VP-9B? Why should HK (and Walther for that matter) change, everyone who complains about the trigger guard mag release are the ones who suck (bonus points if you get the movie reference there). In all seriousness, Why fix what ain't broke? I had a VP-9 a while back and it was an outstanding gun that jus flat out ran. Unfortunately, I didn't have a practical use for it other than a range gun since I carry a Walther P99, P30 SK or Walther PPS M1. The VP was a nice gun that just took up space in the safe at the end of the day.

I have a Walther P99 AS too and my father has a HK P30 V3. I think the ambi paddle magazine release is just great. Unfortunately many people disagree and that's the reason why Walther went with the PPQ M2 and HK is offering the VP-9B. At least HK is still offering both versions, paddle and button.