VP9, M&P9 or?

P

P-990

New member
I'm currently researching options for a new pistol to supplement my trusty old Glock 17. These two are currently at the top of my short list. My budget is $650 or so, unless a compelling argument is made for a different pistol.

Right now the advantages I see are wider availability of parts and accessories for the Smith & Wesson, with reports of more consistent accuracy for the H&Ks. Either pistol is likely suitable for my uses (plinking, action matches, night stand and occasional carry). My hands are on the small side of average, which is why I'm looking at models with changeable grips. I'm not the biggest fan of finger groove grips but my Glock has them and I had a Walther with them once. (My favorite revolver stocks are Ahrends smooth combats.) I'd like to stay with 9mm based on my current inventory of ammo and reloading supplies.

What say the board? If it were your money, which company gets it?
 
The M&P with Apex trigger kit has long been one of my favorite pistols... however.... I've owned the VP9 for a little while now and it has very quickly jumped up to one of my favorite pistols.

It's very, very good and it needs nothing out of the box, other than maybe some night sights (I'm partial to Trijicon HD or Heinie SlantPro).

The VP9 is a very good choice. I would also say to take a hard look at the Sig P320. I don't own one - yet - but it is my next pistol purchase.
 
VP9 hands down. Superb trigger out of the box. Buy from one of the hkpro.com supporting vendors and you'll get a great deal. I bought an LE edition (night sights & 3 mags) with the Christmas special for $630 shipped.
 
Have you held both of them? The HK has been praised for its ergonomics and it's something that needs to be felt firsthand. An interesting thing to consider is that HK is usually considered premium and this striker-fired version of the P30 is much more affordable.
 
Cosmodragoon said:
Have you held both of them? The HK has been praised for its ergonomics and it's something that needs to be felt firsthand. An interesting thing to consider is that HK is usually considered premium and this striker-fired version of the P30 is much more affordable.
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I've held the M&P and the HK P-30 side-by-side in a shop. The HK was very intriguing, the particular variant I had in my hand was a DA/SA with thumb safety and the rear slide mounted decocker. My experience with two different USPs was that HK DA/SA pulls were definitely nothing to brag about. And I shoot revolvers DA 99% of the time.

As for the Walther, they don't turn up very often around here. I also got rid of the Walther I had previously because it was the DAO version of the old P-99 (the 990, see my user name ;) ) and harder to shoot at speed than the G-17.

Looks like I'm off to stop by the LGS in the next couple of days. I'm reasonably sure the shop with the P-30 also had a VP-9. I don't remember wrapping my mitts around the VP, but I can't remember why I declined now. There might have been something that felt "off" about the P-30.
 
While similar, there is a distinct difference in ergonomic feel between the P30 and VP9. The VP9 has a little more hump in the back strap and sits a little lower in hand. The trigger feel is also vastly different, obviously.

I sold my P30 shortly after buying the VP9.
 
So when you say "to complement", you mean an (essentially) identical gun to the G17? If so, then I don't think you could go wrong with the M&P,the VP, the P320, or the PPQ. I would go with whichever appeals to you the most.

Or "complement" Could mean same cartridge, different sized gun...Like the aforementioned PPS, Shield, G19/26, or XDs. Or even go up a size to the G34.
 
An m&p with an Apex FSS kit is very nice. It deffinitly beats the triggers in the VP9, P320, and PPQ...

That being said, the triggers in the aforementioned pistols are very good out of the box.

I would say the PPQ has the best out of the box trigger. The VP9 and P320 have good triggers, but the P320 has more overtravel if memory serves.

I own an M&P with a FSS kit, and I own a P320... I have shot the PPQ, but only held a VP9.

I like them all and will own the last two soon.
 
It's starting to sound like "get one of each." I can get along with that.

Should have mentioned I have a G26. I shoot it much more consistently than the 17 at speed out to about 10 yards. I had a KelTec PF9 for awhile but sold it. It was unreliable and the recoil was quite pronounced.

Also, if a new pistol works out, the G 17 may end up relegated to the back of the safe. It's been reliable and accurate but I have some quibbles with it. It gives me brass to forehead, doesn't live eject and the trigger reach is just long enough I sometimes have trouble activating the safety blade on the trigger. This last only turns up when I draw from a holster, and maybe once a range session. However, I have none of these issues with the G 26.

FWIW, both Glocks are Gen 3s.
 
When you eject a live round from the chamber it usually dribbles out the mag well instead of being thrown clear out the ejection port.
 
When you eject a live round from the chamber it usually dribbles out the mag well instead of being thrown clear out the ejection port.
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Ah, you mean with the magazine out of the pistol as well.
 
P990 wrote:
I've held the M&P and the HK P-30 side-by-side in a shop. The HK was very intriguing, the particular variant I had in my hand was a DA/SA with thumb safety and the rear slide mounted decocker. My experience with two different USPs was that HK DA/SA pulls were definitely nothing to brag about. And I shoot revolvers DA 99% of the time... I'm reasonably sure the shop with the P-30 also had a VP-9. I don't remember wrapping my mitts around the VP, but I can't remember why I declined now. There might have been something that felt "off" about the P-30.
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The SA/DA trigger on the P30 could be considered a thousand-dollar let-down. It really clashes with what is otherwise a champion breakthrough in ergonomics. The VP9 takes the ergonomic win of the P30. Then it adds a very nice single-action trigger and a competitive price tag.

As a fan of HK and SA/DA for carry, I'm both baffled and disappointed that they still have such a disappointing trigger on the P30. I mean, it certainly isn't the worst I've felt. The problem is that with the rest of the gun being so nice and the price tag being so high, it should be the best, or at least good...

If I was in the market for a striker-fired 9mm, a VP9 would be my first choice.
 
As a fan of HK and SA/DA for carry, I'm both baffled and disappointed that they still have such a disappointing trigger on the P30. I mean, it certainly isn't the worst I've felt. The problem is that with the rest of the gun being so nice and the price tag being so high, it should be the best, or at least good...
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Rumor was we might see match parts for P series HKs this year, but HK fans have died on rumors before. I don't expect to see it with the huge push now behind the VP9. I do agree with you though that a P30 with a better trigger would be pretty amazing.
 
Well, I just bought the P320 on my lunch break. I still need to get used to it, but I have a couple of observations when compared to my VP9 which I am carrying today.

1. The P320 is very comfortable in hand. It doesn't have the same curves, finger grooves, etc that the VP9 has but it doesn't really need them. It just feels GOOD. The stippling is perfect. Plenty of texture for good grippy-ness, but not too abrasive.

2. Yes, the bore axis is a little higher than the VP9, but I don't think it will be an issue. It's not ridiculously high. I would say it feels similar to how an XD sits in the hand.

3. The trigger is very good. Lots of people compare it with the VP9 and people flip flop on which is better. I can understand why. The P320 has less overall travel than the VP9. There is VERY little take up in the P320 (and I thought there wasn't much to the VP9). There is a small bit of creep to the break in both triggers, but it's certainly not bad. The P320 trigger is a little bit heavier than the VP9 is.

I think that's all I can reasonably compare at this time without having any rounds through the P320. Hopefully I can take care of that soon. I think both guns would be a good choice though.
 
I need to put hands on a new production P320... Mine was bought when it was first released.

I've already seen a slight change in the internal assembly as far as actual assembly of a couple parts to the frame... I wonder if a change was made to the trigger that limits over travel.
 
I've already seen a slight change in the internal assembly as far as actual assembly of a couple parts to the frame... I wonder if a change was made to the trigger that limits over travel.
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The one Bruce Gray originally got was noted for having pretty poor barrel to slide fit in that it would visibly wiggle when seating the barrel. Despite this he got some pretty good groups. Mine, dated July, has a barrel to slide fit that frankly only my West German P228 can rival, and no peening in 750+ rds.
 
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