Heckler and Koch firearms have been used by such notables as John Wick and Hans Gruber. They are also used by Tier One special operations units, and SWAT teams for good reason. They’re cool, they work, and they are some of the best engineered firearms on the planet. In this article we will review one of their most popular offerings, the HK VP9 striker fired pistol. We’ll cover all the best variants as well as some cool modifications you might want to do.
As with all of my master reviews, I will be aggregating information from other reviewers across the internet, to present a coherent picture of the Heckler and Koch VP9’s strength and weakness. Let’s get right into the review!
HK VP9 Overview and Purpose
This pistol was HK’s second foray into the striker fired world. They saw all that sweet money that people were throwing at Glock and wanted some of that action. In true HK style, they designed a very high quality firearm that had some distinct advantages over the competition.
The VP9 is a full sized pistol that has roughly the same dimensions as the Glock 17. It comes in several colors and variants, which we will discuss further on. Check out these stats to get an idea about the basics for this pistol.
These are the stats for the most popular model that most folks will purchase. Originally they came with a 15 round 9mm magazine, and you can still purchase a California compliant model if you absolutely must.
Most reviewers note that the pistol has exceptional ergonomics. I can confirm this, as the first time you handle the pistol you’ll probably find it fits better in your hand than any other factory pistol. Obviously, that’s my opinion, but others have also remarked on it’s exceptional ergonomics as well.
Not only does this pistol have interchangeable back straps, it has different sized modules on the side of the pistol grip to really create a nice palm swell that fits your hand well.
Many other reviewers have also commended the pistol for it’s exceptional out of the box trigger. Honest Outlaw states in his review below, that it comes in at around 5.5 pounds, with a short reset. I can also confirm, from personal experience, that the trigger is quite exceptional. It’s not as good as a custom 2011, but it also doesn’t cost $5000 either!
Lastly, most reviewers have noted that, like many HK firearms, it is exceptionally reliable. Any reader of this website will know that I won’t even consider reviewing a firearm if it isn’t reliable. Any firearm worth owning should be able to chew through 500 rounds with no cleaning at a bare minimum. Personally, I won’t trust a duty/self defense firearm unless it can clear 1000 rounds with no malfunctions. Now that we’ve got the basics of the VP9, let’s go over the variants and newest editions.
HK VP9 Variants
The original version is still sold today. However, HK has produced several different versions that are rapidly becoming more popular than the original. These are the three newest variants that you need to know about.
The HK VP9 Long slide version originally sold as a slide kit that you could add to your current pistol. Now HK makes it as a stand alone model. They have included an optics plate allowing you to mount a miniature red dot sight like a Delta Point Pro, or Leupold RMR. If you want to learn more about the research on red dots on pistols, check this article out!
You’ll note a few cosmetic changes in addition to the extra barrel and slide length. There are lightening cuts in the slide which reduces reciprocating mass and can help tame felt recoil. You’ll also note that the gun is sold with extended magazines right out of the box.
The next key variant is the HK VP9-B, which does away with the traditional paddle style mag release and replaces it with a push button like every other pistol in the known universe. Many reviewers found it hard to get used to the paddle style release. It works perfectly fine, but if you have thousands of reps with a button, change can be hard to get used to. Personally I think the push button makes the most sense for the majority of shooters.
The last key version is the HK VP9 Optics ready variant. This pistol comes with a plate that can be removed allowing you to mount your choice of optics directly to the slide. This will save you money on milling your own slide.
If you already own a VP9 and want to put an optic on it, then send your slide to Chris at Fabricated Arms. He does excellent work at reasonable rates. Check out his work below.
These three variants cover the vast majority of shooters. If you have a lot of trigger time on other non HK guns then get the push button model. If you plan on competition shooting, or want a longer sight radius, get the long slide variant. Otherwise you should really consider the optics ready version. You can still shoot it with the installed iron sights or use a red dot. To my mind there is no reason to get the original non optics cut version.
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HK VP9 Accessories and Mods
There are a surprising amount of accessories and modifications you can add to your HK VP9. In order to do this smartly you first need ponder, with great consideration, what you intend to use the pistol for. Most folks will find that they fall into these three categories.
Tactical/Self Defense
This is going to be the vast majority of folks interested in this gun. To be perfectly honest, you don’t need to do anything to use this gun for this purpose, but there are some items and accessories that I would recommend.
First off, you need a weapon light. My preferred light is the Surefire X300U with the DG pressure switch. This allows you to use the light with one hand, activating it with natural grip pressure.
You may or may not need a holster for this use case. Obviously, if you intend to carry it you will need a holster, but if it’s a home defense gun, you may not want one.
You don’t need anything fancy. A rugged, durable, kydex holster like this one from Bravo concealment will work well for most folks. I have also tested the Black Hawk Omnivore and found it to be surprisingly good. It will accept any handgun as long as it has the correct flashlight mounted on it. It also has a level one thumb drive retention system.
Competition
This is going to be a smaller population of shooters, but rest assured you are definitely superior to folks that don’t shoot practical pistol competitions. In your case you are going to want the long slide version, cut for an optic. Sure you may not need the optic cut but you never know, and it’s always nice to have options.
You will most likely want some extended capacity basepads. These dudes will give you 22 rounds of capacity. I’m not sure if they fit a 140mm USPSA gauge. Depending on what you shoot that may not matter.
Lastly, you’ll probably want a magwell. There are several options, and I would recommend something like this one which is a little larger than carry sized magwells.
You’ll also want an open top kydex holster, like this one from Red Hills Tactical. They make great gear, and they allow you to choose any number of custom colors and patterns.
Weird Little Tamale
If you didn’t fall into the above listed categories then you are most likely a weird little tamale. You’ll be interested in crazy cerakote options, threaded barrels for suppressors, and more.
There’s nothing wrong with being you, heck I’m a weird little tamale too. You will find that there are a little less off the wall accessories for the VP9, as compared to the Glock and other more popular models, but they are out there.
You will probably carry your Deadpool themed VP9, cross body in a bag like this one from Vertex. They make pretty good gear that lets you live out all your weird little fantasies.
Final Thoughts
This gun is a definite buy. HK has a well earned reputation for high quality, thoughtful engineering, and rugged reliability. This pistol is also reasonably priced. Depending on the time of year you can get the basic model for around $650 and the optics ready variants for slightly more.
Remember that no matter how good your pistol is, nothing beats quality instruction, and dedicated practice. Now get out there and start training!
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Has the word “BUY” become profane?
Not following you there Charles