Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
There are two listing for the VP9 on gunbroker. They're out. Overpriced though, as expected.
HK VP9...Interesting...
- Thread starter boricua9mm
- Start date
- Status
Coal Dragger
member
I'll cleverly wait until early next year to buy one, and get a better deal.
Well my VP9 just came in and I just took it home. It looks like a very well constructed gun. The trigger has a slight edge on Glock and I think is significantly better than an M&P. I didn't realize how big the gun was. Next to a P30 the slide is significantly longer. Overall though a really nice gun. Has anyone else had one come in yet?
I checked one out at my LGS in the last couple of days. It's nice, but I much prefer my V1 lite LEM P30. Both of them. It kinda reminds me of guys that really want Porsche 911, but settle for a Boxster and tell themselves it's just as good.
sigarms228
Member
Mine is sitting at the FFL that had it delivered to hime Wednesday, according to Fedex tracking, and I have not heard from him yet. Hope he gets out of bed soon LOL. I am anxious to see how it shoots compared to my Walther PPQ and HK P30LS.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Well, I still don't have mine yet from the group buy, nor have I been able to shoot one. But I did get to fondle on this week! A LGS that I haunt managed to get one in and had already sold it to some guy, but he hadn't picked it up yet. So they brought it out to the floor so I could ogle/fondle it. I was not disappointed! The overall feel was very much like the P30. The grip panels are just like the P30 although not identical (they won't interchange). You do have three L, three R and three back-straps. Nearly anyone should be able to get a great fit. Bore axis is a little bit lower than the P30; since there's no hammer spring running under the back strap they can undercut the beavertail area a bit higher. From what I have seen in video and tech explanation the barrel stays locked longer than most guns, diminishing felt recoil.
Now, the trigger...I was very very impressed! I have never got to check out an aftermarket Apex trigger, so they might be the bomb. But the VP9 I dry fired had the best OOtB trigger I have felt on a striker fired gun. Better than the PPQ? I dunno, too close to call. Only dry fired them both, and not side by side. My feeling is that striker pistol fans will find a lot to love in the VP9.
The VP9 is somewhat largish for CCW. Not huge but it won't vanish like a Nano or a Shield. Of course, if I ever needed to use a pistol to fight with I'd rather have the VP9 or P30S than a mini-nine! Obviously HK is going after law enforcement contracts with this one. Presumably a more compact version will follow at some point.
Again, I did get in on a group buy so eventually I will have a VP9. I already have a Garrett Industries IWB waiting for the gun. Once I shoot it I will determine if it will enter the CCW rotation. Probably it will get carried some maybe not a lot. It will have to win time away from my P30S, a difficult task. And more and more I find myself just carrying my Ruger LCR and a speed strip.
Now, the trigger...I was very very impressed! I have never got to check out an aftermarket Apex trigger, so they might be the bomb. But the VP9 I dry fired had the best OOtB trigger I have felt on a striker fired gun. Better than the PPQ? I dunno, too close to call. Only dry fired them both, and not side by side. My feeling is that striker pistol fans will find a lot to love in the VP9.
The VP9 is somewhat largish for CCW. Not huge but it won't vanish like a Nano or a Shield. Of course, if I ever needed to use a pistol to fight with I'd rather have the VP9 or P30S than a mini-nine! Obviously HK is going after law enforcement contracts with this one. Presumably a more compact version will follow at some point.
Again, I did get in on a group buy so eventually I will have a VP9. I already have a Garrett Industries IWB waiting for the gun. Once I shoot it I will determine if it will enter the CCW rotation. Probably it will get carried some maybe not a lot. It will have to win time away from my P30S, a difficult task. And more and more I find myself just carrying my Ruger LCR and a speed strip.
Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
Got mine a few weeks ago - see http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=755864 . Still haven't had a chance to shoot the dang thing though!
boricua9mm
Member
I finally saw one in the local gun store ($629), but none of the employees acknowledged my existence, so I walked on out. They were too busy telling each other stories to be bothered with helping a fella out. Interestingly enough, it was tucked underneath a bunch of P30s priced in the 900s. I guess they're trying to deplete as much of their P30 stock as possible before the masses catch wind of the cheaper HK.
george burns
Member
It comes down to how many similar guns does one require. I like the LEM, V1 9mm version if I were to purchase a new H&K. The money isn't "that" big a deal unless you really are stretching to purchase the gun. I just picked up a Glock 30 "S" after owning one for 20 years without the "S". It is a terrific gun, at 30 is 31 ozs with 11 rounds of 45, I am content with, this and the others I own. If I were to buy another plastic pistol right now, it would be the Walther "for the size, capacity, weight ,and trigger, let alone the value.
I don't see any of the others able to do anything better than the Walther.
There comes a point where you have to ask yourself, "why am I buying this again"?
Another contender for me is the CZ P01, same amount of rounds great looking, accurate, and the trigger is OK, "the tactical version" is better with the Omega trigger. But it's a metal gun, so I like that. They also have a custom job with the wood grips tritium sights and target trigger for about the price of the P30.
I am noticing that many gun manufacturers are not pushing the 40 caliber any more, I stopped a few years ago, and went 45 and 9mm only.
Cz doesn't make a 45, and has problems with the small guns in 40, the PCR and P01, Walther pushes the 9mm as does Sig and HK.
Soon 9mm ammo is going to tighten up at this rate.
I don't see any of the others able to do anything better than the Walther.
There comes a point where you have to ask yourself, "why am I buying this again"?
Another contender for me is the CZ P01, same amount of rounds great looking, accurate, and the trigger is OK, "the tactical version" is better with the Omega trigger. But it's a metal gun, so I like that. They also have a custom job with the wood grips tritium sights and target trigger for about the price of the P30.
I am noticing that many gun manufacturers are not pushing the 40 caliber any more, I stopped a few years ago, and went 45 and 9mm only.
Cz doesn't make a 45, and has problems with the small guns in 40, the PCR and P01, Walther pushes the 9mm as does Sig and HK.
Soon 9mm ammo is going to tighten up at this rate.
I got to handle and dry fire one today. It seemed well built. Not a fan of the cocking indicator, but I could live with it. Compared to a stock M&P, I would say the feel in hand is similar. Certainly a lot of adjustability but I'm a rather big fan of the feel of the M&P. I'd call it a draw. It felt nicer than a Glock 17 and slightly nicer than a 19 in hand. I wasn't thrilled with the sights. They weren't bad, certainly a step up from Glock. I like M&P sights better if only due to the extremely slight possibility that I needed to rack the gun one handed I probably could, either way, not a deal breaker but just a little thing I would hope for out of a top priced striker fired gun.
I think I was expecting too much out of the trigger if only because of the rave reviews it has received. Compared to the P30, it's far more enjoyable. Compared to a Glock, it felt a lot like a Glock with a minus connector, if maybe a hair lighter. It was far better than a stock M&P, but not as nice as an M&P with an APEX sear and duty springs.
Overall, if I were buying a first pistol, it would be a serious contender. The grip is great. The trigger is more than usable out of the box. The sights are fine. Factory P30 mags are now reasonably priced online. It is a lot of positive with minimal drawback.
That said, already owning a Glock and M&P, I don't think I'd dump either to jump lines. It isn't any leaps and bounds better than the competition to make a swap. I also wouldn't trade the VP9 in for the competition. Final price for how I would outfit the group comes about the same. The Glock would get a connector and sights and the M&P would get APEX parts. The P30 was a gun I tried to like, intended to buy, but couldn't find justification for its price. The VP9 seems to vastly improve the P30 trigger, uses similar grips and the same mags...it keeps what I liked on the P30 and ditches what I didn't. For me, even at an equal price point I'd go with the VP9 before I grabbed a P30, and at $300 less there is no debate.
In the end I'm going to stick with the M&P but short of functionality problems presenting down the road, I would say the VP9 is the striker fired gun to buy if you simply want to buy one and go shoot.
I think I was expecting too much out of the trigger if only because of the rave reviews it has received. Compared to the P30, it's far more enjoyable. Compared to a Glock, it felt a lot like a Glock with a minus connector, if maybe a hair lighter. It was far better than a stock M&P, but not as nice as an M&P with an APEX sear and duty springs.
Overall, if I were buying a first pistol, it would be a serious contender. The grip is great. The trigger is more than usable out of the box. The sights are fine. Factory P30 mags are now reasonably priced online. It is a lot of positive with minimal drawback.
That said, already owning a Glock and M&P, I don't think I'd dump either to jump lines. It isn't any leaps and bounds better than the competition to make a swap. I also wouldn't trade the VP9 in for the competition. Final price for how I would outfit the group comes about the same. The Glock would get a connector and sights and the M&P would get APEX parts. The P30 was a gun I tried to like, intended to buy, but couldn't find justification for its price. The VP9 seems to vastly improve the P30 trigger, uses similar grips and the same mags...it keeps what I liked on the P30 and ditches what I didn't. For me, even at an equal price point I'd go with the VP9 before I grabbed a P30, and at $300 less there is no debate.
In the end I'm going to stick with the M&P but short of functionality problems presenting down the road, I would say the VP9 is the striker fired gun to buy if you simply want to buy one and go shoot.
Phaedrus/69
Member
That will be the interesting comparison for me; the new VP9 vs my P30S with a Gray Guns trigger job. The improvement over stock is stunning! Both guns are very similar in size. I really wish I could rustle up a P30 with a Light LEM and compare all three together. Philosophically I prefer having a hammer. Part of that is just habit but I like the practical ability to hold my thumb on the hammer as I cock it. With the LEM or DA P30 if something was in the trigger guard (say a windbreaker cord) you would feel the hammer rising against your thumb well before the gun could be made to fire in the holster. No such luck with a striker fired gun. Most people probably don't care about such things but I do think about it.
http://youtu.be/eOXb9m34CTc
Here you go. He favors the hk but I've watched both reviews he made separately and he doesn't rave about the hk as much as the ppq. No doubt the vp9 is an excellent gun but he might be a little bias since hk sent him one directly
Here you go. He favors the hk but I've watched both reviews he made separately and he doesn't rave about the hk as much as the ppq. No doubt the vp9 is an excellent gun but he might be a little bias since hk sent him one directly
Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
I've compared the PPQ with the VP9 (in-store only, as I don't own a PPQ) and while I prefer the VP9, the triggers are very, very similar. I can understand why someone might like the Walther trigger better. Both are miles ahead of the other striker-fired triggers out there.
I can't speak to your modified P30 trigger, but my trigger preferences with H&K go something like this:
1. USP DA/SA
2. VP9
3. LEM
4. P30 DA/SA
I didn't like the USP trigger when I first fired one, but over time I've come to appreciate it (to the point where I now have three of the things, one each 9mm, .40, and .45.) The short reset is really nice.
The VP9 trigger is pretty crisp, for a striker-fired gun. I still have reservations about striker-fired guns as a class, but I think it's the best in class.
I don't care for the LEM triggers. They don't feel like a proper DAO trigger should, to me. Long mushy takeup, stiff break. The light LEM is the same as the regular LEM, just lighter. Reset is comparable to the P30 DA/SA setup.
The standard P30 DA/SA (which I think is the same on the HK45 and maybe the P2000? not sure about that one, the only P2000 I've handled was a LEM) is my least favorite of the bunch. Heavy and long with a long reset, even in SA mode. I like everything about the gun except the trigger, which is why I've never bought one.
I can't speak to your modified P30 trigger, but my trigger preferences with H&K go something like this:
1. USP DA/SA
2. VP9
3. LEM
4. P30 DA/SA
I didn't like the USP trigger when I first fired one, but over time I've come to appreciate it (to the point where I now have three of the things, one each 9mm, .40, and .45.) The short reset is really nice.
The VP9 trigger is pretty crisp, for a striker-fired gun. I still have reservations about striker-fired guns as a class, but I think it's the best in class.
I don't care for the LEM triggers. They don't feel like a proper DAO trigger should, to me. Long mushy takeup, stiff break. The light LEM is the same as the regular LEM, just lighter. Reset is comparable to the P30 DA/SA setup.
The standard P30 DA/SA (which I think is the same on the HK45 and maybe the P2000? not sure about that one, the only P2000 I've handled was a LEM) is my least favorite of the bunch. Heavy and long with a long reset, even in SA mode. I like everything about the gun except the trigger, which is why I've never bought one.
sigarms228
Member
I went to my FFL to do the paperwork on my new VP9 and I got to handle it and dry fire it.
My PPQ has a noticeably better trigger than my new VP9 as far as being better in crispness and less grit/creep for the trigger release. I am hoping the trigger on my VP9 feels better once I am able to clean and lube it, including firing pin plunger block, and fire a few hundred rounds through it. However the truth will be told once I actually fire my PPQ and VP9 side by side which I hope to be able to do this weekend.
My DA/SA P30LS, after about 500 rounds fired now, was a wonderful SA trigger pull - crisp, about 4.5 pounds pull I am guessing, and very little creep. The SA pull feel better than my new VP9. Of course the reset is shorter on the VP9 but I am fine with the reset on my P30LS as it is very similar to my classic P series SIGs. After about 500 rounds fired on my P30LS the DA trigger pull is decent but I just changed to the Wold 10LB hammer spring so DA pull is pretty sweet too now. I will be bringing my P30LS to the range also this weekend. My P30LS is a wonderfully soft shooter also. Hoping my VP9 compares well to it in that regard.
The trigger on my DA/SA HK45 is sweet too and reset is significantly shorter than my P30LS, probably in line with the HK USP.
My PPQ has a noticeably better trigger than my new VP9 as far as being better in crispness and less grit/creep for the trigger release. I am hoping the trigger on my VP9 feels better once I am able to clean and lube it, including firing pin plunger block, and fire a few hundred rounds through it. However the truth will be told once I actually fire my PPQ and VP9 side by side which I hope to be able to do this weekend.
My DA/SA P30LS, after about 500 rounds fired now, was a wonderful SA trigger pull - crisp, about 4.5 pounds pull I am guessing, and very little creep. The SA pull feel better than my new VP9. Of course the reset is shorter on the VP9 but I am fine with the reset on my P30LS as it is very similar to my classic P series SIGs. After about 500 rounds fired on my P30LS the DA trigger pull is decent but I just changed to the Wold 10LB hammer spring so DA pull is pretty sweet too now. I will be bringing my P30LS to the range also this weekend. My P30LS is a wonderfully soft shooter also. Hoping my VP9 compares well to it in that regard.
The trigger on my DA/SA HK45 is sweet too and reset is significantly shorter than my P30LS, probably in line with the HK USP.
I finally had an opportunity to shoot the VP9 today. Overall I found the gun to be extremely accurate and quick follow up shots were very easy to shoot. It fits the hand nicely and has very little recoil. The sights were very easy to acquire in daylight.
The only issue that I found with the gun is that the slide would not lock back on an empty magazine. This happened with multiple magazines and multiple shooters. I don't think it's an issue with the gun but rather a problem with how it's held. A quick search did reveal that other shooters are also experiencing this.
I still love the gun and can easily see it becoming a favorite for many shooters who enjoy Glock or M&P style guns.
The only issue that I found with the gun is that the slide would not lock back on an empty magazine. This happened with multiple magazines and multiple shooters. I don't think it's an issue with the gun but rather a problem with how it's held. A quick search did reveal that other shooters are also experiencing this.
I still love the gun and can easily see it becoming a favorite for many shooters who enjoy Glock or M&P style guns.
^ interesting.. The range gun I shot locked back. The VP9 I bought, because of said range session, is unshot yet. I normally hate to be a beta tester, but this one sucked me in.
I'll have to report back after I run a few through it..
I'll have to report back after I run a few through it..
Yep. Honestly I need to go back with it and shoot it with different holds and at least 1 handed to see if I'm not catching the slide release. For $600 this thing really is hard to beat - I can't say it's better than a Glock but for some shooters I think it will be.
^ Nice Picture. I like that comparison. Because I ordered my VP9 without first handling one, or doing the research I should have I assumed its dimensions would be similar to those of a Glock 19. Come to find out it's more like a 17 and quite a bit larger than my P30. The sights have the Glock beat for sure and while triggers are a bit subjective I do think the VP9 has done an excellent job. To me it will surpass the Glock when reliability is truly proven over a period of time and accessories for the gun, like holsters, become a bit more available. No question though it's an awesome gun with very few if any down sides.
I just shot my for the first time today. Wow! I didn't think I'd really like it that much more than my glocks. However, I think this will become my new go to. HK has hit a home run IMHO. Obviously durability remains to be seen but I anticipate it will be like a P30 which is a good thing (see todd green's P30 test). I thought it would be a good gun but really wondered if it was worth buying since I have 9mms from glock, smith, steyr, beretta, kahr, etc. however, I'm glad I bought it. Great gun and the $599 is easy to swallow.
Yes, dry fired the VP9 back to back with the PPQ. Despite feeling a little grit on take up, the PPQ has a better trigger. But we're splitting hairs here, it's better but not by much. The overall feel of the VP9 is better. The PPQ looks like a cheaper gun in comparison.
- Status
