H&K VP9 initial shots review

I have never has a problem with the m&p stipple under the trigger guard. I do here more than a couple people that don't.

But all three are fine pistols... And I too am glad I can debate their merits.
 
just back from a day shooting my VP9 and my P320 (40 cal).....dang this is a tough choice.

both excellent triggers, both accurate enough for practical purposes.

i like the 40 for it's extra energy, i like the 9mm for the extra rounds.....

this will require further study. sigh.

it's ok, i have a little ammo left.
 
It's a shame that Walther chose to regress to the inferior design with their PPQ M2.
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I have a thread on here somewhere in which I detail that the shelf that Walther added to the bottom of the triggerguard to accommodate that button actually annoys the hell out of my fingers. I really need to pick up another M1.
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I went out of my way to get a PPQ M1 (a.k.a. The Classic) because I really like the paddle release. Being an HK 45C shooter, I really REALLY wanted to get a VP9 as my first 9mm pistol. But, the trigger pinched my finger when I shot it, and as much as I tried I could not get around it. :(

So I went to what I believe is the next best thing, the PPQ. I figure if I couldn't have the VP9, I could at least get the paddle release. I am happy with the PPQ. But I have to say I think the VP9 is a little better design and quality. But with no finger pinch, I am sure I am shooting the PPQ better.

Lou
 
I see more threads where owners of all three rate the triggers as PPQ, VP9, and a close third P320.

There is simply less stage and weight in the PPQ trigger.

Agreed on the PPQ/VP9/Glock hump though. I hate it too.
 
I prefer take up to overtravel...

The PPQ has the best trigger I think. It didn't have much overtravel if memory serves. (it's been a few months since I held one)

The 320 has more overtravel than the others, but less take up. It has a smooth clean break, I have polished mine up and it's even smoother and cleaner.

The VP9 has less take up of them and little overtravel. The break on mine has a little creep.

I would rate them from best to less best... PPQ, 320, VP9.

They all have very good triggers, even compared to hammer fired pistols. The PPQ trigger is outstanding for a striker pistol.

But the way I have the Apex FSS tuned in my M&P FS... It's just excellent, and for a striker fired, it's sublime.
 
My issue with the VP9 is neither the takeup nor the break, but the reset. There seems to be some sort of mechanical hump that the trigger goes over during the reset. The negative I've noticed is that the reset puts the trigger somewhat far out from the break point and then you must go through a large portion of that takeup again. The P320 doesn't suffer this as much and of course an APEX kit M&P barely at all. On those two once the trigger resets there is little takeup to break the trigger again. My other gripe with the VP9 is that it suffers the same issue I found with any of the P-series pistols I owned in that when you put in a lighter trigger return spring (of the weight already in the VP9_ the reset is, to me, somewhat sluggish. Don't get me wrong the trigger always resets, but not with the speed or the force on the the P320 or M&P. I like a somewhat strong return spring.

The more I shoot the VP9 honestly the more I prefer my APEX'ed Pro model. To me the trigger is superior and I would expect it to be. Combined with my preference for the M&P ergos over the VP9 and I honestly still have the VP9 just for comparison sake. What the VP9 and the P320 do offer are very good factory triggers. I just slightly prefer the P320 in that area. I may well sell the VP9, but I do think it's still a very good pistol.
 
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The 320 has more overtravel than the others
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No. If yours does, you're missing the trigger stop pin from your chassis.

Sdd2Ug8.jpg
 
TR, I do agree that the M&P with full Apex kit has the better trigger. I was also leaning towards the M&P to have superior ergonomics because I didn't like the hump in the VP9(same as the PPQ).

Try the small back strap and large side panels on the VP9. I recently switched mine over to that set up and it seems to be working very well for me. I'm also up to about 1,200 rounds through the VP9 now and the trigger is getting better and better. I've also probably dry fired it like 5,000+ times.

I definitely still love the M&P, but the grip change seems to have really changed my perspective on the VP9. Either way, all 3 are excellent guns.
 
Uncle Malice said:
TR, I do agree that the M&P with full Apex kit has the better trigger. I was also leaning towards the M&P to have superior ergonomics because I didn't like the hump in the VP9(same as the PPQ).

Try the small back strap and large side panels on the VP9. I recently switched mine over to that set up and it seems to be working very well for me. I'm also up to about 1,200 rounds through the VP9 now and the trigger is getting better and better. I've also probably dry fired it like 5,000+ times.

I definitely still love the M&P, but the grip change seems to have really changed my perspective on the VP9. Either way, all 3 are excellent guns.
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I actually did try that at the range. I found I shot better with the hump as it forced my hand higher up and seemed to give me more control. I had the same issue with the P30. 27 combinations of grip and none felt great to me. Idk.
 
No. If yours does, you're missing the trigger stop pin from your chassis.
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The trigger stop is definitely installed.

I've always felt the 320 has a lot of over travel. Its a byproduct of the design, specifically the trigger disconnect.

If I am remembering my numbers correctly, there is about 1/8 inch of overtravel past the break. I can measure again later.

I shot mine better with the small backstrap. I need to let the fiance try again with it, see if she does well with the small. She absolutely are up the middle of the target when usingbthe medium.


I still like the M&P ergos, just because of the lack of finger grooves. Though the VP9 isn't bad in that regard... Not like a Glock 19.
 
marine6680 said:
The trigger stop is definitely installed.

I've always felt the 320 has a lot of over travel. Its a byproduct of the design, specifically the trigger disconnect.

If I am remembering my numbers correctly, there is about 1/8 inch of overtravel past the break. I can measure again later.

I shot mine better with the small backstrap. I need to let the fiance try again with it, see if she does well with the small. She absolutely are up the middle of the target when usingbthe medium.


I still like the M&P ergos, just because of the lack of finger grooves. Though the VP9 isn't bad in that regard... Not like a Glock 19.
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I feel like my P320 has no more over travel than the VP9 but I haven't measured it. By contracting the loop on the trigger bar my M&P has maybe 1/16. It's silly.
 
Measured the trigger pulls again... Measuered from the end of the trigger, for a consistent method and reference point.

Here are the numbers.

Listed in this order: total travel, take up, over travel, reset.


VP9: .37", .25", .12", .18"

P320: .34", .17", .17", .17"

M&P with FSS tweaked for my preference: .19", .11", .08", .09"

The Sig was so symmetrical in its pull I measured several times. The VP9 was a bit hard to measure due to the trigger and trigger guard design.

The FSS had a very different pull when it was set up as Apex recommended. The takeup was probably about .05" and the over travel was the remainder at .14"... Similar to a 1911 but with more over travel... I didn't care for it like that.
 
See on my stock 320 there is the take up slack and the wall, but there is a little bit of creep before the actual break. After the break, there is next to zero over travel.

This is probably just a difference in tolerances as when it actually engages the sear. Sounds like your engages faster and mine later.

My 320 that Robert Burke worked over is about 30% of the original take-up and 50% of the trigger break/travel/over travel, and about 50% of the original reset. Also buttery smooth. I really like it.
 
My VP9 is like that... I debated whether or not to include the creep or not for over travel. Seeing that I only get the creep if a pull really slowly, I just included that in the over travel. I felt it more accurate to real use.


My 320 has a very clean break with no creep. I polished up the parts and made it smoother and lighter... But I didn't affect the takeup or over travel.

The way the trigger works, I felt it best to not try altering parts.
 
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