I gave in to the HK VP9.

U

Uncle Malice

New member
Okay, I did my fair share of complaining about the VP9 at first. I wasn't a fan of several things when I first handled one after they came out.

I was very critical of the mismatched slide release levers. It seemed unpolished to me. It still does a little bit, I suppose. I also didn't like the 'chin' on the front of the rail.

Well, I finally got my VP9. I didn't even wait for the rebates from my Nov purchases to come in. I couldn't. Found a new one locally for $585 yesterday while most places here at $649 or $699... so I jumped on it.

I'm really liking it. My biggest complaints about it - the chin up front and the mismatched slide stop levers don't bother me in hand. If I have any criticisms left it would be the optical illusion from the rear that causes the slide to appear tilted to the left. This is due to the different size gap as the bottom of the rear striker plate. I've seen it discussed before. It's easy enough to ignore. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of.

The trigger is pretty good. I've dry fired it several hundred times and it seems to have improved a little. It could use just a little bit of work, but I don't think I feel any need to actually have a trigger job done to it. Just a little bit if crunchy creep right before the break. It's not as good as my M&P's with Apex kits, but for an out of the box trigger it's very good to be sure. All it needs are some night sights. Probably yellow HD's as usual.

I already ordered an Alien Gear holster for it(the original leather style as always).

Great gun, especially for the price.

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Great gun, especially for the price.
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You won't know that for sure until you shoot it.

Well, I finally got my VP9. I didn't even wait for the rebates from my Nov purchases to come in. I couldn't. Found a new one locally for $585 yesterday while most places here at $649 or $699... so I jumped on it.
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CDNN had a sale last weekend for $560 or $570 I believe? I think it's going to go the way of the PPQ a bit which came out in the $600-$650 price range and settles down to $550-$600. It's pretty surprising from HK.

It's not as good as my M&P's with Apex kits, but for an out of the box trigger it's very good to be sure.
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I agree if we're talking about M&Ps with the newer style slide release that interacts with the trigger bar. I have two compacts right now, one with and one without. The one with that slide release and APEX parts is pretty much my ideal trigger. The one without has a dramatically squisher break with the same APEX parts. It shows when I shoot them too.

I really want to shoot a VP9 before I buy. The degree to which it overhangs the web of my hand isn't as comfortable to me as an M&P. Idk if it's frankly a non-issue or a real annoyance.
 
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I suppose that's true, but I don't expect any issues in that department. I initial complaints about the gun were never that I thought it would be unreliable or not accurate. Unfortunately, I probably won't make it to the range until Monday. MAYBE on Friday or Saturday, but it'll be tight.
 
CDNN had a sale last weekend for $560 or $570 I believe? I think it's going to go the way of the PPQ a bit which came out in the $600-$650 price range and settles down to $550-$600. It's pretty surprising from HK.
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Yeah, I could have gotten one for 550 from Flagman, but I was impatient. The extra $30 to avoid shipping time didn't bother me.
 
suppose that's true, but I don't expect any issues in that department.
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I said the same with my HK P2000 last weekend too. Sat on my bedside for months, brought it to the range and click after click with no boom. Just light strikes. Wasn't the gun's fault though. Firing pin channel was gummed up. I like to put a dab of lubricant on the metal next to the firing pin block that rides over the hammer. After months in a cool basement the Froglube had become almost a sap after it leaked into the channel. Cleaned it last night and it passed the pencil test with flying colors.

And yea I bet it'll be fine. Just try not to become an OCD 9 owner. :cool:
 
I have been one of the biggest complainers of HK prices...can't say that anymore. I hope it turns out to be a real keeper. Waiting on some range reports! hint, hint. :D
 
I don't love the VP9's looks/ergos, but it's an HK proofed at Ulm, there's not much objectively bad to say about it. Doubtless it'll outlive both of us. Enjoy it and shoot the snot out of it.
 
I already ordered an Alien Gear holster for it(the original leather style as always).
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I picked up one of the Neoprene versions (the 2.0) this past week for my P320 carry. I was pretty skeptical at first because every holster I have had has the leather backing, but this is ridiculously comfortable. I like it a lot, though I do think it gives up a little bit in retention. Not enough to be a problem, but enough to notice.
 
Yeah, I tried the neoprene. It was comfortable and light, just felt... weird. Couldn't explain it really. I guess i just prefer the leather one.

I'm really wanting to try a P320 too. How are you liking yours? I assume well enough?
 
I'm really wanting to try a P320 too. How are you liking yours? I assume well enough?
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The accuracy is definitely there; the barrel to slide fit is as tight as my West German P228 and the slide and barrel stay together on their rearward travel noticeably longer than say an M&P. I've been getting better groups than with any other striker I own, better than my M&P Pro 5" with APEX DCAEK and AEK trigger. The P320 trigger is different. There is barely any takeup, then a heavy but distinct wall (7 lb. 1 oz.), little overtravel, and a good reset (tactile and audible). It's almost like a heavy SA pull on a P series (which from what I read was their goal). Besides a slightly lighter break there's nothing I'd change about the trigger, and even the trigger weight hasn't stopped me from getting good groups. The all metal trigger is interesting and I always liked the wide-faced SIG triggers. It's been flawless so far through 600 rds (eats everything and the ejection pattern is a Swiss watch). It took me no time at all to get used to it and seemed natural from day 1. It's very comfortable in the hand (texture is great) and it's just a bid taller overall than a Glock 19 (the Carry version). The grip is noticeably more vertical than a Glock too, very SIG.

If I did have one complaint it would have to be the bore axis. Now I shot HKs and SIGs for the longest time, so bore axis isn't something I fixate on. But there's no denying that this has a higher one; it's actually a tiny bit higher than on my P2000 and the difference next to an M&P is very noticeable (I'll try to post a pic tomorrow). The gun is still very controllable, but I can't shoot it as rapidly as my M&P because it takes longer to settle back on target. While the P250 frame is comfortable, the bore axis is the tradeoff. I wish they'd designed a new grip for it as the slide is the same height as an M&P. The space for the non-existent hammer is the culprit. Again normally I don't care, but that is typically an advantage of striker guns.
 
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Good to hear. I've noticed that the bore axis does seem a bit high. My all time favorite is the P226 so the higher bore axis - especially in 9mm - doesn't really bother me. Of course, I DO like and appreciate the lower bore axis, but it's not a deal breaker.

I'm pretty sure the P320 will be the next gun that I pick up... They put it head to head with the VP9 and depending on who reviews it, it seems that either could come out on top. That's saying a lot to me.
 
So tell me how this trigger and action works...?

I am familiar with HK LEM triggers... A light DA first shot, and as long as you ride the reset, every shot thereafter is SA... release the trigger fully and it drops the hammer and becomes DA again (but the hammer main spring stays cocked).

So does the VP9 partially uncock if you fully release the trigger? Is every trigger pull the same, or is the first shot a longer pull?

Jim
 
I am familiar with HK LEM triggers... A light DA first shot, and as long as you ride the reset, every shot thereafter is SA... release the trigger fully and it drops the hammer and becomes DA again (but the hammer main spring stays cocked).
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That's not LEM. Every shot is the same pull weight. There is no DA or SA shot in LEM. Every shot is the same pull length and weight, it's just a matter of if you release passed the reset or not. The main hammer spring is always partially cocked. The only heavier pull you feel is if the mainspring hasn't been pre-cocked by the motion of the slide, and that will happen after the first round is chambered.
 
As TunnelRat already pointed out, your assessment of LEM is a little misinformed.

With that said, the VP9 is a striker fired gun. It does not decock when you release the trigger. It functions the same as an M&P, XD, or other similarly configured striker-fired guns. I intentionally left out Glock because Glock's trigger pull DOES partially cock the striker.
 
I got a chance to handle one last night. The trigger is wonderful but the hump in the grip does not work well with my hands. I'd love to see a P30 with the same trigger.
 
I got a chance to handle one last night. The trigger is wonderful but the hump in the grip does not work well with my hands. I'd love to see a P30 with the same trigger.
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Did you try the other backstraps? I thought it felt a little bit off as well, but now when I go back to the P30, it feels weird.

I know what you mean about the hump though. I felt that way about the PPQ when I had it.
 
Thanks for the clarification on the VP9 trigger

Off-topic: back to the LEM trigger. I have never shot one, but I have handled several... My recollection is that if I fully release the trigger, the hammer is lowered, and then that next trigger pull is a longer pull to bring the hammer back... BUT if I release the trigger just back to the reset, the hammer is lowered just slightly, and the trigger pull is much shorter. Or is my recollection FUBAR?
 
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