I picked up my new HK VP9.

[DamnYankee]

I picked up my VP9 last night and spent the evening cleaning it and trying out different grip combo's. I settled on the small backstrap and medium side panels. It's really cool that HK has this grip setup on the VP9. It allows the user to customize the grip to your individual needs. I hope to shoot it this week but I have been pretty busy. If it shoots as well as it feels, I will be very pleased.

 

[Girodin]

I love mine. It's my favorite 9x19 service sized pistol and I have used a bunch (sig, beretta, glock, CZ, steyr, etc). HK hit it out the park with the VP9. I also prefer the VP 9 over my other HKs (USP and HK45).

My only knock is mag prices a bit high. Happily not as high as the HK 45 though. Now they just need to make a glock 26 sized one.

 

[Pilot]

These are really nice guns.

 

[palmetto99]

I got to handle one the other day. I really liked it. Got to figure out how to get one.

 

[TarDevil]

Sweet!

 

[DFM914]

Sweet gun!

 

[HKGuns]

Good choice, shoot it well and shoot it often.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

You're in luck- it will shoot even better than it feels. It's almost like cheating.

 

[bannockburn]

I like that it appears to be very ergonomic and adaptable to the individual's preference with the grip design.

 

[DamnYankee]

It is a great option. But someone like me can be driven completely nuts. I am one of those people who have to try every combo to make sure I'm not missing anything.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Cool man! Very cool. I love HKs.

 

[ritepath]

I want one of these so bad...just to upset the glocker egos. Problem is I'll probably just end up with another CZ.

 

[Zerodefect]

Not going to upset a Glocker's ego.

This Glocker approves of this pistol. But it won't replace any of my Glocks. and the slide racking wings are a bit superfluous. The most noticeable difference is the the HK sits deeper into your hand than most pistols. If your hand fills the void, then it may be a good choice. And it's sights are as useless as a stock Glocks. So leave $80 in your budget for proper sights.

 

[45_auto]

I use too many other pistols. Not worth fighting muscle memory to overcome the mag release.

If the only thing that I had to depend upon was a Walther or an HK, it's probably equivalent to a Glock, S&W, or Springfield.

 

[tarosean]

But it won't replace any of my Glocks.

When I first brought my VP9 home I thought it would be the Glock killer and replace the ones in my home. During practice sessions I really liked it. It was more accurate at any distance, superior trigger and perceived to be slightly softer shooter.

Thennnnnn

I used it in a USPSA match last Sunday and sold the VP9 the next day on Monday. I realized the trigger guard wasnt letting me get my proper grip resulting in erratic results under pressure. mag changes were instinctual so that wasnt the issue.. I was just not hitting my anchor points. Since I own dozens of handguns I was not going to change my grip just for the one gun. oh and I bought another Glock with the proceeds...

 

[russianbear]

tarosean:

What you found the HK VP9 is not a game playing handgun,so you did the right thing selling it. Good Luck with what ever you get now.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I'm surprised that anyone would criticize the stock sights unless you just don't like 3-dot. I think they're as good as anything else out there from the factory (aside from factory NSs of course). The charging supports under the rear sight are removable just as an FYI.

 

[JDR]

The VP9 has the same modular grip as my H&K P30, this modified grip fits my hand better than any other pistol I have. The VP9 and P30 also share magazines, the cheapest price I've seen is $35.00 for a new 15 round factory mag.

 

[Girodin]

I don't like three dot sights. However even if one does the glow in dark chargeable sights are a ba design. The rears tend to get more light than the front if the gun is carried in a holster. Thus, the front sight is dim and the rear dots are bright. The stock tritium sights aren't particularly bad but they are not my preference.

Sight preference is a personally thing to some extent and some sights are better for certain tasks. Some peoples preference is not really based on objective measures of performance. Something like a trijicon HDs are good for closer range defensive shooting. They draw the eye. However they give up some percision and you really tend to notice it beyond 15 yards.

In sum I do not like the luminescent sights due to flaws for what they are and I also do not like them as much as other options. I'm leaning to a 10-8 rear and Dawson front (but considering a 10-8 tritium front. I thought about orange front HDs which are very similar to the hackathorn sights on a glock I use. However, I think I want a narrow front post for added percision on the VP9.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

I won't carry a gun with anything but dot sights if I can help it. The exception has been my LCR, no dot sights out there that I can find save the XS front sight. But I can appreciate that not everyone likes them. I suppose to save a few bucks a person could take a sharpie to the dots. Luckily there are lots of available sight options for the VP9/P30/HK45. Personally my favorites are factory-installed Meprolights.

Meprolight has some adjustable night sights coming, too. When they hit the market I'll have to try them on one of my guns to see how I like them (probably my P30S since right now it has Trijicon HDs which I'm not all that fond of).

 

[45_auto]

I used it in a USPSA match last Sunday and sold the VP9 the next day on Monday. I realized the trigger guard wasnt letting me get my proper grip resulting in erratic results under pressure.

What you found the HK VP9 is not a game playing handgun,so you did the right thing selling it.

Does the VP9 somehow know to perform differently if he had to use it for real instead of in a game or practice?

 

[tarosean]

What you found the HK VP9 is not a game playing handgun,so you did the right thing selling it.

Does the VP9 somehow know to perform differently if he had to use it for real instead of in a game or practice?

I found the gun did not work for ME. My specific hand type and grip. There is not one gun out there that is perfection for every user.

I grip all my guns high somewhat like Robert Vogel and use my index finger of my free hand to anchor between the webbing of my trigger finger and middle on my strong side. I found that the wide Convex nature of the trigger guard was not allowing my index finger to hit that spot.

As 45 Auto alluded to, the gun doesnt know if thats paper or flesh in front of me.. Yet the premiss remains the same. Draw as fast as possible, get on target and double tap. Taking the time to reset my grip is unacceptable to me.

I did not purchase the gun specifically as a gaming gun. It was eventually meant to replace my MK25 as a bedside gun since it was operationally similar to my wifes bedside gun (glock).

FWIW the gun worked flawlessly during the 6 stage match.

Over its lifetime with me, I had 1 failure from a magazine follower sticking and a couple where the slide didnt lock back on last round. The slide lock could have been my thumb resting on the release thou.

I promised I whispered that it "was me and not her" when I placed her in the box for the last time..

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Most of my guns have manual safeties so I found when first shooting the VP9 that I was riding the slide release like I would the safety, keeping the slide from locking back on empty. Just had to adjust my grip a bit.

 

[Snowblind]

Heres my $0.02:

Have had this for a few months now, shoot it VERY frequently (about 400 rounds a week).

Well over 2k rounds now. Zero malfunctions.

I like it a lot. Grip/trigger are the best parts, the gun sits and points so naturally. The charging supports are kinda cool, overhand rack is my preferred method and they make this nice. Shoots like a dream. Light recoil, excellent accuracy (certainly outshoots me), and the trigger is way better than anything comparable (Glock, M&P). It has a clean and consistent break and a short, clear reset. I've never noticed the blade in the trigger or the trigger groove, but a buddy of mine was not a fan of the blade.

I'm not without my gripes.

Mag release is one- get used to it seems to be the only answer. It will be confusing at first (anyone I've let handle it commented on this first, nobody was sure what to do- index finger? Thumb?). I got used to canting my grip to use my thumb. Works for me.

Mags are another. Not that they aren't good, just that they don't exist. They are rare and expensive. Even more so in ban states. You can forget factory 10-rounders. I managed to beg my dealer for a third converted factory 15 (modified follower to limit to 10), and it came with two set up the same way. I'd prefer factory 10's but cannot find them.

Sights are the last woe. They are OK. Serviceable. Nothing wrong with them, they just could be a lot better.


All in all though, wonderful gun. All of the praises, glory unto HK, and all that jazz.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

The mag release is one of the best parts! Of course, my VP9 was maybe my 20th HK pistol. I suppose it does take getting used to but I love it.

The mag situation is strange, and a testament to how popular the VP9 has been I guess. Six months ago you could buy all the mags you could carry for $30 each or so. The VP9 uses the P30 mag which [used to be] relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Since I already had a dozen mags (for a pair of P30s) I was good to go on day one.

As a small bonus the same mags will also work in the P2000, USPc and even the P2000sk. If you can find any that is.