With the recent introduction of the VP9-B, the first HK branded pistol with a push button style magazine release we tend to prefer here in the U.S., my anticipation has led me back to the original VP9 for this month’s review. The VP9 is not the first pistol in HK’s lineup to use the “VP” designation. Standing for Volkspistole, or “people’s pistol” (anyone else thinking of Volkswagen right now?) the first to use this name was the VP70 which was, oddly enough, produced in 1970. The VP70 was quite the interesting piece of tech back in the day but perhaps one of its biggest claims to fame is that it was the first mass produced pistol with a polymer frame, beating out Glock by more than a decade.
The VP9 (and VP40 for the .40 S&W version) is HK’s latest striker-fired pistol design since the P7 from the 1980’s. From the outside it looks like many of the other offerings on the market with ambidextrous controls, a frame mounted Picatinny rail, three dot night sights, a trigger safety latch, front and back slide serrations, and a beefed up extractor which doubles as a loaded chamber indicator.
The first major detail which set the VP9 aside from so many others is the European style paddle mag release. For those who aren’t familiar these are a U-shaped lever which wraps around the back-most part of the trigger guard. Simply press downward on either side with your thumb or index finger and the magazine will drop free. This style of magazine release can also be seen on some of the polymer Walther pistols which also happen to be German in origin.
The VP9 also has what HK refers to as “charging supports” at the very back of the slide. These are slightly raised polymer ridges which help you to get a better grip on the slide. I believe HK is the first to have offered this as a standard feature on a mass produced handgun and is a feature which I have only previously (and rarely) seen offered as a custom modification elsewhere.
Then there are the grips. Right out of the gate these grips feel fantastic in the hand, only paralleled by the Walther PPQ. I regard these two pistols as being at the top of the handgun ergonomics tree when it comes to the grips. As usual you can swap out the backstrap to better tune the grip to your hand, however with the VP9 you also have the option of changing out the panels on either side to further widen or trim down the overall width. It’s a very slick idea and something that I would like to see implemented across other brands. The stock configuration already felt extremely comfortable in my hand but it’s always nice to know that there are more options available.
The controls are ambidextrous but not fully symmetrical in nature. One of my pet peeves about the VP9 is the slide stop/slide release looks completely different from one side to the other. On the left side it’s a nice small tab which is pleasantly molded into the frame and for me is perfectly located and easy to manipulate. On the right side it’s a whole different story, despite physically being positioned in the same area, the lever is connected to a long bar which sits on the outside of the frame and has no additional molding around it. To me it looks kind of tacky, like it was slapped on at the last moment because someone had forgotten to incorporate it from the start. But, it works and that’s what is most important.
Magazines are of typical double stack/single feed construction and hold 15 rounds each. As with many mags out there they also have witness holes but they’re kind of unique. Where other brands tend to have two witness holes per ‘line’ the VP9’s are all single stacked in a neat vertical string on the left side of the back of the magazine body. It’s pretty nifty.
The barrel is polygonally rifled, a feature which seems to be one of the newer growing trends across the industry and one which I am happy to see gaining further traction. Polygonal rifling offers a tighter seal around the bullet in addition to extending the overall life of the barrel. I also find them easier to clean and plain neat to look at.
How’s she shoot? Not bad! The VP9 is one of those firearms where it was difficult to review the specifics about the trigger because it felt so natural to me that I simply shot the thing, and shot it quite well. My best five shot group at 30 feet measures in at 1.25″ and I am by no means a world-class shot.
What I did notice about the trigger is that it has a very firm reset. Unlike some pistols which have an audible click and you’re right back where it’s about to break the VP9’s trigger kind of jumped back under spring tension. Even when I was trying to ease it back just to the point of reset it would leap forward on me. Maybe this is intentional in the design, I’m not sure. While out at the range this didn’t bother me any and it didn’t affect my grouping. When shooting I naturally let my finger back off of the trigger a little further past the mechanical reset. With this gun the trigger simply followed after my finger so contact was never fully broken.
Recoil felt pretty average to me, right on par with a Glock 19 but not quite as smooth as a Walther PPQ. Quickly returning to target was easy and instinctive.
The VP9 is available with different frame colors from the ever popular black to flat dark earth, one which they call “Midnight Bronze,” and a lighter grey color. Models with red and green Crimson Trace Laserguards are also offered. In addition the “VP9 Tactical” features a threaded barrel and taller sights and the VP9SK is a shorter and stubbier version which is more carry-friendly.
Overall the HK VP9 is a strong contender and is worth looking into if you’re hunting for a new striker-fired 9mm sidearm. The charging supports are a great option for anyone wanting a little more traction on their slides and the configurable grip panels are unheard of on polymer framed pistols outside of the VP9 family. Now that HK is beginning to offer their pistols with a push button magazine release I am quite excited to see where else it will lead. I’ve always liked the look and feel of these handguns but the paddle magazine release had held it back. With the new VP9-B on the way it’s game on.
