H&K VP9 vs Glock 17

It's a P30L with a compensator.


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Photo from IMFDB
 
If I had a nickel for every time I heard that...
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You'd still only have quarters? ;)

I actually think I will try for a P30L for this HK days. It's pretty much the only thing I haven't owned, and having got my M&P Pro I realized how much I miss longslide pistols.
 
Quarters? You're being way too generous! :eek:

Yeah, I would really like to get another P30L. I sold mine to get my P30... which I do really like... but I also miss the P30L. I'm waiting for Bud's to ship my HK 45 CT, but if I can manage to swing another one before the end of the year, I'm thinking another P30L v3 would suit me nicely.
 
Which one would you prefer as a defensive pistol and why? thanks

If I have to carry a full-size service pistol, I want the flattest one I can find so I'd choose the Glock 17.
 
The Answer

I'm not some high speed, low drag operator. Just a 72 year old that has been "around the block" and carrying as LEO/legal civilian for over 50 years and with a "serious social discussion" or three that occurred in the early 1970's (all LEO/duty related). Were there times when carrying concealed (off duty/CHL) in which I was glad to be armed or had to draw, yes. Fortunately, bad guys/dummies made the right decisions.

I've carried a BUNCH of different pistols and revolvers (remember them?) of various makes, models and calibers over those 50+ years. Which one was the best, you may ask? THE ONE I HAD WITH ME AT THE TIME!!! I do have some "pocket" handguns, in every thing from a .22RF (long only, talk about wimpy), .22RFM, .25ACP, .32ACP, .380ACP and even a 9m/m SIG 938. But, ANYTHING is better than NOTHING! Personally, that little SIG 938 is about the smallest thing I leave home with.

Just pick damn pistol and adapt!!! All this discussion about size is just a waste of time. A fraction of an inch in ANY direction, i.e. SIG P320 vs HK VP9 vs Glock 19 vs Walther PPQ doesn't mean squat no matter HOW one is carrying (open, duty, concealed) since open/duty is already determined by the gear one has already selected (or that was chosen for them by the agency)! As for concealed, once the decision of WHAT to carry is made it becomes a matter of WHERE to carry. And now that fraction of an inch in handgun size doesn't mean squat either! Whether IWB or OWB, I seriously doubt that the carrier has a "special" set of concealment garments, one for IWB, another for OWB, or one for that SIG P320 and another for the HK VP9 and yet another for that Glock 19, since one STILL has to conceal that pesky grip sticking up!!! It has to be what is COMFORTABLE for each individual. BUT, most importantly, IT HAS TO BE ACCESSIBLE with minimal fumbling, contorting and grabbing shirttails or other garment parts. And BE CONSISTENT about carrying. Same place, same type holster, same type action, etc. Same for spare mags and other gear. Trying to remember where your knife or spare mag is at the least convenient time is muy malo!!!

Just an old fphart rambling on, but an EXPERIENCED old fphart. Experience - learning from non-fatal mistakes!
 
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I bought a P30L V3 a few days and just sold it to someone else.

After owning a P99 AS, the HK P30 V3 trigger just feels horrible. Hard DA and huge reset that is almost the length of the DA reset. The SA is smooth however. Mag release is too short. Grip is way to sharp. Take down lever is extremely weird. And the red spray paint on the parts is just weird.

Walther P99 wins by landslide.


Back to this discussion, I think the PPQ wins both the G19 and VP9 too.
 
I bought a P30L V3 a few days and just sold it to someone else.

After owning a P99 AS, the HK P30 V3 trigger just feels horrible. Hard DA and huge reset that is almost the length of the DA reset. The SA is smooth however. Mag release is too short. Grip is way to sharp. Take down lever is extremely weird. And the red spray paint on the parts is just weird.

Walther P99 wins by landslide.
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How does that relate to the VP9 and the Glock 17? Neither of the pistols being compared are DA/SA. P99 versus P30L I definitely agree the P99 has a better trigger. But that's like a friend asking if they should get a F-150 or Silverado and you saying you really hated your Malibu.
 
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But I DID mention the PPQ beating both the G17 and VP9.


Over hyped? Sir, what are you saying is better? The P30 about rounded out my experience with ALMOST all the major polymers. The PPQ defiantly has the best trigger to date.
 
man... I hate to break it to you but HK cultists are one of the most fanatical fanboy groups out there, just behind glock but just ahead of colt.
 
man... I hate to break it to you but HK cultists are one of the most fanatical fanboy groups out there, just behind glock but just ahead of colt.
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I'd have to put Colt ahead of HK.

All you ever get as a reason for buying a Colt is - "It's the original everything else is a copy."

That's about as superficial and less than one-dimensional as you can get for buying anything.
 
I have both HK's and Glocks in various calibers. I've had Glocks for 23 years and HK's for about 16 years. My work gun was a Glock 17 for a long time and It worked well for me. I love both for different reasons. My CCW everyday carry is split between my Gen 3 27, and my Gen 4 23. I recently traded my old Gen 3 Glock 22 towards a new VP9 and I'm loving the VP9. I do have a Gen 3 Glock 17 I've had for about 5 years and love that too. SO. To get back to the original posted question from Chris from Texas. Which one is a better DEFENSE gun? Even though I have 5 HK's and many Glocks right now I would have to go with the Glock 17. This is just for me for my opinion if it was for myself. The reasons are because I wouldn't have as much of a fit if the Glock got dinged, scratched, dropped, beaten up, etc.. Also. My Glock 17 mags fit into my Glock 19 and 26 so, just as my Glock 22 mags fit into my 23 and 27. The magazines are about $13 cheaper each for the Glock and you can find holsters and accessories for the Glocks much easier. I do love this new VP9, and it shoots amazing though. Just a heads up for the VP9 for holsters. It fits perfectly in 3 of my holsters. 1) Mtac Minataur IWB for HK USP 45 compact, 2)HK USP full sized 40/9 holster from BlackHawk kydex level II retention paddle holster, and 3) my Safariland duty level III holster for my Glock 21 with Streamlight TLR 1 light. So no need to search around for a holster just for that VP9. Any of those 3 will work just fine.
 
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I've had 5 Glocks in the past and I'll likely own another at some point. The last 3 I had were gen4 models, the most recent maybe a year ago, and they all had some pretty shoddy quality. Erratic ejections even with all the new parts in them and not as reliable as my first 2 pre-gen4 models. I'm giving Glock some time to get their act together. It sounds like they already have, but I'm still not comfortable trusting one again quite yet. I'm sure I'll get back there at some point, though.

I have a VP9 right now and it's excellent in all ways. Better ejection, better trigger, better grip, nice features, and if you take it down and look at the inside of it and compare it to the quality of internal parts of a Glock the HK seems to be of much higher quality. It feels like HK cared about the product they were manufacturing more than Glock does by the way all of the internals are built and finished as well as the rest of the overall package.

For me, HK.
 
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