Ruger SR40 vs. H&K VP40. Why not?

[stchman]

A friend of mine were discussing guns and got on the subject of 40s. I own both the SR40 and VP9. Everything I've read is that the VP40 is the same great gun the VP9 is just in 40.

I'm probably going to get flamed a bit by the H&K fanboys with "how dare you compare an H&K to a Ruger".

I began to think that the SR40 could be a competitor to the VP40 for someone looking to purchase a duty sized 40 gun.

The dimensions are very close with the Ruger being 0.16" longer, 0.05" taller and 0.05" thinner. TO boot the SR40 holds two more rounds and weighs 1.73oz less.

The Ruger has a dumb magazine disconnect, but that can be removed in ~5 minutes. The SR40 also has a manual safety which could be a plus or minus depending on who you talk to. I personally ignore manual safeties on pistols.

The SR40 is also $130 cheaper than the VP40($330 vs. $500 on CDNN), but right now H&K is giving away 4 free mags when you buy a VP or P30 gun so that just about evens things up. SR40 mags are about $30 each. IMO, the SR40 at $330 is an exceptional value.

In my personal experience the VP has a little bit better trigger, but the SR40 has a pretty nice trigger once you remove the magazine disconnect.

The H&K has those luminescent sights, but I personally think those are not very useful when compared to night sights.

I don't know much about H&K's customer service, but IMO Ruger's CS is almost 2nd to none.

I like both guns don't get me wrong, I just think the Ruger is the better value any other time H&K is not having a better promotion.

Just wanted people's thoughts.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The H&K has those luminescent sights, but I personally think those are not very useful when compared to night sights.

The VP40 can be had with a set of excellent night sights from the factory. Yes it costs more. However if you are comparing apples to apples, standard three dot sites on the SR40 and the luminescent HK sites would be the fair comparison, not to night sites. In that case I still feel the HK wins out, because having the ABILITY to glow still beats out a lack of that ability.

I don't know much about H&K's customer service, but IMO Ruger's CS is almost 2nd to none.

I had a problem and emailed them. They emailed me back in under a minute (not exaggerating that at all). That's one example, but IME, their service is fantastic. That was not always the case, and many folks harbor an HK grudge because of it. However, the current trend if you do a little Googling is that folks are very happy with the service they are getting.

I like both guns don't get me wrong, I just think the Ruger is the better value any other time H&K is not having a better promotion.

That's certainly a valid opinion, however you are leaving out one vital part. If the SR 40 doesn't fit your hand, then it is not a better value at all. I own none of the SR series because the grip is too narrow for me. The VP series guns allow you to modify the grip to suite the end user, including the side panels. That may not be terribly important to some folks, but for me, it's crucial. I have the largest backstrap and right side panel in my VP, and it fits me far better than any SR series gun.

I think the SR40 is a good design and if it fits you, a person would probably be happy with it. However the VP offers a different set of ergos, more modularity in the grip, and may not exhibit the same recoil characteristics as an SR40. The Ruger may be superior or inferior. I've not shot one so I couldn't say.

A comparison of any two guns that are striker fired and shoot the same cartridge is certainly good info to read if you are in the market, but I don't think it's fair to label either on as "better" or a "better value". That can only be determined by the end user. I prefer HK semiouto guns to the SR series pistols. The RAP line is a little better fit for me. But I wouldn't fault anyone for going the other way.

The gun has to fit the shooter. All other "value" assessments are irrelevant until that factor is figured out by the end user.

 

[stchman]

I actually really like the grip on the Ruger SR series of guns, very comfortable. I own the SR9, SR40, and SR45 and they are all very comfortable to hold. The SR45 is still hard for me to believe that it is a double stack mag it is so slim.

As I said, don't get me wrong, I own a VP9 LE and it is a great shooting gun, I just think the SR40 is a great shooting gun as well.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The SR45 is still hard for me to believe that it is a double stack mag it is so slim.

Yep, the slimness is what I hate. I'm a larger gent with largish hands. None the less, if the SR series fits a buyer, I think its a good choice.

 

[sorebutton]

I wear XL gloves and love the grip on my sr9c. Then again, I often carry a Pico in my pocket, so I don't mind small grips.

 

[JR24]

I'm one of those heathens who would happily take the Ruger trigger over the VP9. Assuming it is like the SR9c I had, which I found to be my favorite striker trigger.

I ended up dumping it for Glocks because the grips are too thin for my tastes.

VP9 was nice but the ones Ive tried weren't great in my hand and the trigger was just OK to me. Yes, there are a million options for grips but mt LGS wasn't about to let me mix and match and since zero other HKs fit my hand, I couldn't assume this one would be the exception.

Then again, for a plastic duty size striker the Gen 4 Glock 17 feels like it was molded exactly for my hands (not so much the 19).

 

[stchman]

I'm one of those heathens who would happily take the Ruger trigger over the VP9. Assuming it is like the SR9c I had, which I found to be my favorite striker trigger.

I ended up dumping it for Glocks because the grips are too thin for my tastes.

VP9 was nice but the ones Ive tried weren't great in my hand and the trigger was just OK to me. Yes, there are a million options for grips but mt LGS wasn't about to let me mix and match and since zero other HKs fit my hand, I couldn't assume this one would be the exception.

Then again, for a plastic duty size striker the Gen 4 Glock 17 feels like it was molded exactly for my hands (not so much the 19).

I own a Gen3 G34(G17 with a long slide) and my SR9 and SR40 have a slimmer grips IMO.

I like my VP9 a lot as well.

 

[ColoradoShooter77]

I have a Ruger SR40 that I bought from Bud's gun shop for $325 out the door, even better than CDNN. Its a great shooting pistol with an above average trigger. I like the fact that Ruger added slide mass and put in a heavier recoil spring, it shoots great for a 40. I have small hands, so the narrow grip really suits me.

I have the Hk P-30 in 40 cal, that I paid $525 out the door for. I would say it has the ultimate ergonomics for me, just molds to my hand. The recoil reduction system in the Hk really works, very soft shooting 40 cal pistol. The Hk is awesome, but for the $200 price difference, I couldn't justify it over the Ruger.