HK VP9 Review

[Pete123]

VP9 Review

 

I have always owned and shot guns made of steel, this was a new experience for me.  This one was chosen over competitors due to the trigger and consistent positive reviews, including being Guns & Ammo’s 2014 Handgun of the Year.

 

Being new to striker fired pistols, I didn’t like this gun in the beginning, though have worked through them and now love it.

 

I shoot a lot and 9mm ammo is inexpensive.

 

Here is what I really like about this gun:

 

·      It is really sharp and badass looking.  This is the pistol I would choose if I were going to be in an action movie.

·      I trust this gun for self-defense.

·      The grips were designed to let the shooter easily customize them to his hand.  It comes with three back straps and side panels – allowing dozens of ways to change the grip. 

·      Maintenance is easy.  Standard cleaning is the same as any filed stripped gun.  Major maintenance is to field strip the gun, rinse or immerse into solvent, scrub with a nylon brush and dry with compressed air or a rag and cotton swabs

·      I like the sights.  The gun is very accurate.  Re-acquiring the target for a fast double tap is easy.   I can accurately double tap with this gun much faster than my .40 or .45.

·      The gun is completely ambidextrous and I’m left handed.

·      The magazine release can be used from either side.

 

Here are areas I don’t like as much:

 

·      I like the 1911 style grip rather than the luger style.  I still don’t have it the way I really want it.

·      I have problems with all my guns from not wracking them or inserting the magazine with enough force.  It seems worse with this gun.  I view this as a training issue for me rather than a problem with the gun as I handle a lot of electronics where a soft touch is required.

·      The ambi slide release on the right side is several inches long.  Gripping the gun where your fingers are on top of the right side release will prevent the slide from locking back after the last round.  I consider this a design flaw, especially for a defensive handgun.

·      The VP9’s trigger pull is almost twenty percent heavier than a single action pistol. The gun is also very light, which allows it to move more if your trigger pull isn’t solid.  This was causing accuracy problems until I recognized this and adjusted my trigger pull.  (The accuracy was not a problem from a self-defense perspective.  Part of my enjoyment of pistols when not training for defense is to put many bullets through one hole on the target.)

 

Hopefully, this will generate useful and fun comments!

[hlb14]

Nice write up, congrats on your new pistol.

 

I've always been a hammer fired guy and more recently a HK nut. I was looking for a 9mm last year when this was announced and after many months of debate I finally picked up a VP9 from a TGO vendor. The VP9 has become one of my favorite guns to shoot at the range. Its accuracy is almost effortless. The large side and medium back panels make the gun point so nautral for my hand. The charging ears thingys are meh, I could do without them. My biggest "complaint" is the current lack of magazine availability, I hear they are coming soon though.  

 

I hope a VP45 is coming soon  :pleased:

[TGO David]

Watch search engines such as www.ironsights.com for people who have the P30/VP9 mags in stock.  I picked up four more 15rd mags this past week at normal retail (non-gouging) prices.

[Fourtyfive]

Watch search engines such as www.ironsights.com for people who have the P30/VP9 mags in stock.  I picked up four more 15rd mags this past week at normal retail (non-gouging) prices.

Nice site , thanks for the link.

[Pete123]

HLB14,   I'm with you on the HK guns.  There will be an HK with a hammer in my future.  I'll tell you, I've always been a John Browning fan.  Having said that, HK and Sig are changing my mind.