VP9 and P30 - Price difference

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Micahweeks

New member
I saw an HK VP9 today priced at $659. I was impressed by the gun. It reminds me a lot of the P30 in that it seems nearly identical except for being striker fired and having little cocking tabs. But, I'm curious as to why this gun that is almost identical to the P30 aside from a little extra plastic and no hammer costs so much less. Does anyone know what causes the major difference in price between these two guns?
 
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Striker guns are cheaper to make. The VP9 is a good gun, but it is not the same as the P30 in my opinion.

The VP9 was made to meet a price point - something HK has not be concerned with in the past(to their detriment, perhaps). The VP9 was build specifically to compete with the Glock/M&P arena. The P30 is not. I believe the VP9 has more MIM parts than the P30 as well.

With all that said, get the gun that you want. The HK is, by all accounts, a great firearm. You get the added benefit of it using P30 mags and sights, which are already well-established.

I do own the P30 and I love it. For a striker gun, the M&P with a complete Apex kit is pretty hard to beat in my opinion. The trigger on my M&P 45 midsize is better than the VP9 or PPQ - or any other poly striker gun I've felt. better than my XDM with full Springer Precision kit. Better than any of the various Glock triggers. It's not a hair trigger, but that's not what I wanted. It's a carry trigger. It has a slight amount of smooth take up and very crisp wall. I allow it just a little bit of over travel for safety but that could be easily adjusted out with the steel loop on the trigger bar.
 
Uncle Malice makes good points and I agree the VP9 isn't a P30----I think the VP9 is better. Total guess here but I'd bet over 90% of shooters will shoot the VP9 better (I'm one of them).
 
Striker guns are cheaper to make. The VP9 is a good gun, but it is not the same as the P30 in my opinion.

The VP9 was made to meet a price point - something HK has not be concerned with in the past(to their detriment, perhaps).
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All mass-produced products that are successful on the market are made to a price point. Even HKs. If they aren't, they don't get made anymore because they don't sell.

Frankly, I've yet to see any hard evidence that striker-fired guns are any cheaper to manufacturer than hammer-fired ones. Polymer frames are cheaper to manufacturer, and I think folks have made this association because so many polymer-framed pistols are striker-fired (and because of the oft-repeated fact that polymer-framed Glocks cost so little to manufacture).

My guess is that HK wants to expand their US market share (especially in light of their financial difficulties), and decided to price the VP9 in order to do this. Development costs were likely less for the VP9 than the P30 (since it uses magazines and many design elements from that pistol). Frankly, (and I know this will ruffle feathers) but the P30 has long been a bit over-priced, and I would not be surprised to see its price begin to drop in the next few years.

From what I've seen, there appears to be no difference in build quality between the P30 and VP9.

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My biggest problem with the VP9 is that it seems to shoot well, but it lacks the typical refined polish that HKs are known for.

The left and right side slide release levers do not match at all. That's silly. They could have designed around it. The M&P did a much better job at that.

The stupid 'chin' on the front where the rail extends out instead of being tapered back like the P30/HK45. That looks goofy. It has been said that it was to add another rail notch, but that makes zero sense because the standard taper would have left you with the same amount of rail notches.

The appearance from the rear of the slide is strange. It gives the impression that the slide is sitting crooked on the frame. I just don't find it as aesthetically pleasing as I do pretty much every other modern HK.

I no qualms with it's accuracy or reliability.
 
My biggest problem with the VP9 is that it seems to shoot well, but it lacks the typical refined polish that HKs are known for.

The left and right side slide release levers do not match at all. That's silly. They could have designed around it.
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I agree and HK definitely saved some money there. Also the VP9 has a conventional recoil spring assembly compared to the $100 recoil reduction system with the buffer in the P30 and other hammer fired HKs.

Beyond that I am betting HK has reduced margins on the VP9, compared to other HK pistols, but expecting higher volume to make up for it to get to a somewhat competitive price.

If one is patient there great deals on P30 from time to time. I have seen the 9MM P30S for as low as $679 online NIB. It is NOT a $1000 pistol as so many seem to believe.

Owning both the HK P30LS and VP9, if one had to go it would be the VP9 though I plan on keeping both.
 
I have fired my VP9 for the first time today and am very impressed with it. I have also fired a P30 with a LEM and was impressed as well. To me the VP9 was easier to shoot due to the striker trigger than the P30. This is an excellent product from H&K as usual and priced to give the comparable pistols a run for the money.
 
VP9 and the P30 have differences in construction. Instead of polymer molded completely around the metal skeleton underneath it uses metal inserts that fit in the polymer frame. To me there is more machining in the P30 than the VP9, but to be fair I would like to see the P30 in the market for $750 not $850. HK is having serious cash flow problems, downgraded again by Moody's, and needs to move product.

I don't share Uncle's gripes with appearances. To me it's cosmetic and I am not bothered by the choices. No polymer pistol is pretty to me.
 
The left and right side slide release levers do not match at all. That's silly. They could have designed around it. The M&P did a much better job at that.
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Agreed that the VP9 slide release levers look stupid.

But the design is a definite functional improvement. Many folks had problems where a thumbs forward grip on the P30 could interfere with the slide release lever, causing it to not lock back on the last round, or press up on it and cause premature slide lock. The VP9 design alleviates this potential issue for some shooters (at least right-handed ones).
 
I am currently looking for a deal on a P30L.

If I seem the L in the $750 range, I am taking it. Just to hard to justify the cost now since it is 2 of: P99, PPQ, Sig 2022, PX4. Those are all solid guns.
 
Agreed that the VP9 slide release levers look stupid.

But the design is a definite functional improvement. Many folks had problems where a thumbs forward grip on the P30 could interfere with the slide release lever, causing it to not lock back on the last round, or press up on it and cause premature slide lock. The VP9 design alleviates this potential issue for some shooters (at least right-handed ones).
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I disagree. It's a definite downgrade from the matching shorter slide release levers like on my P30LS. I have NEVER had a problem with slide not locking back on the last round on my HK45, P30LS, or Walther PPQ but have had a couple times with my VP9.
 
sigarms228 said:
I disagree. It's a definite downgrade from the matching shorter slide release levers like on my P30LS. I have NEVER had a problem with slide not locking back on the last round on my HK45, P30LS, or Walther PPQ but have had a couple times with my VP9.
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Weirdly enough I don't think you're every shooter. Some like the change, some don't. I also never had a problem but others said they did. Hard to please everyone.
 
I disagree. It's a definite downgrade from the matching shorter slide release levers like on my P30LS. I have NEVER had a problem with slide not locking back on the last round on my HK45, P30LS, or Walther PPQ but have had a couple times with my VP9.
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You didn't have a problem. Good. Many people did. Hence the re-design by HK.

It's good that HK is listening to their customers.


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You didn't have a problem. Good. Many people did. Hence the re-design by HK.

It's good that HK is listening to their customers.
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Most P30 users aren't using the short slide release lever like the P30S and HK45 have. The short lever works much better than the standard lever.

If HK is listening to their customers then they did a pretty poor job IMO on the slide release levers for the VP9. The VP9 has been out only a couple months and there have been numerous complaints from owners having the slide not stay open after last shot.
 
If HK is listening to their customers then they did a pretty poor job IMO on the slide release levers for the VP9. The VP9 has been out only a couple months and there have been numerous complaints from owners having the slide not stay open after last shot
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If the internet was proof of a problem then no Glock can fire without hitting you in the face with brass, every M&P is inaccurate, new SIGs fall apart while old SIGs will survive the apocalypse, and the 1911 was the most unreliable pistol ever made.

Typically people need to make adjustments to a new placement of levers. It's a learning curve. For every 1 person on the internet complaining there are 100 who aren't.
 
I disagree with there being a lack of polish on the VP9. I just sold my P30 after having the VP9 for a month. I like it better in every way, and I even feel that it's built BETTER. I like the grip texture more because it doesn't rub my hip raw when I carry it, it has a better trigger, the slide is fit to the frame better (give both a little shake and the P30 rattles like mad, much more loose tolerance than was needed. The VP9 has some rattle but far less.), and the finish appears to be exactly the same as was on my P30. I don't feel that the VP9 is in any way an inferior or "cheaper" product. I would be inclined to say that they cut NO corners and that the pistol was simply priced more competitively in the market because the striker mechanism was simpler to manufacture and POSSIBLY because they may have never had to charge as much for the P30 as they did in the first place.

As for the slide stop levers comment, I disagree also. I've had zero issues with the slide stop. I use the same grip that I used with my P30. The issue with the VP9 slide stop is a training issue and the VP9 is not the only gun that has ever been fired that had "Slide-Stop Issues" due to users riding it - In fact the SIG classic series has this A LOT, SigArms228, due to the different location of the slide stop and the fact that many shooters want to get as high up on the gun as possible. There is a period of adjusting to the layout of any handgun if you're coming to it from another platform.
 
I own both, and I prefer the P30 all day long. The VP9 is a great handgun, but to me it doesn't feel "tank like", like the P30.

Also, everyone is different, but I much prefer the slide release of my p2000 and p30 over the vp9. If any of you silly people want to trade your p30L for my LE VP9 I would be happy to take that inferior handgun off your hands.

Again, and I know I am against the masses on this one, but I like the p30 bore axis better. It is more natural to point. The grip texture is better on the p30 as well.

And seriously, if your want rid of the p30l, pm me and I'll trade!
 
My VP9 is every bit as good as the P30 and USP9 that I own. I wouldn't hesitate to get another VP9 for my wife. It's a really well made pistol at a great price point IMO.
 
I would agree that the P30 grip texture is superior IN THE HAND, but it is like sandpaper against my hip when I carry it. The VP9 carries FAR more comfortably against my side when I carry it.
 
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