Heckler & Koch VP9-B

FOG HORN

May 2019 Twobirds Flying Publications

Heckler & Koch “Volkspistole” VP9-B

2019

Heckler & Koch “Volkspistole” VP9-B By: Sal Palma

Figure 1VP9-B

Figure 2 VP

I want to describe the VP9 and VP9-B as a Walther and Heckler & Koch hybrid. The telltale sign is the VP9’s grip angle and geometry. The HK VP9 and VP9-B grip is identical, in size shape and angle, to Walther’s PPQ M2, at least to my eyes. However, it would be wrong to assume that its ergonomics is similar. I’ve wanted to review Heckler & Koch’s “Volkspistole” VP9 for quite some time. It’s the iconic company’s second striker fired pistol offering introduce in 2014. The HK VP7 was Heckler & Koch’s first striker fired pistol introduced in 1980. So, when I had the opportunity to review the “B” variant of the VP9 pistol, I seized the moment. If you’re familiar with the German language, you know that Germans combine discreat words to create new ones; hence, volks pistole or volks wagen becomes Volkspistole or Volkswagen respectively. Ergo., the VP in VP9 stands for Volkspistole. HK introduced the VP9-B in response to the U.S. market’s lukewarm reception of the original VP9. The only difference between the VP9 and VP9-B is very simply the magazine release mechanism. The VP9 uses the European paddle style magazine release; whereas, the VP9-B uses the American style pushbutton.

HK went a step further and designed a grip with interchangeable side panels and backstraps. The company ships the pistol with the medium size side panels and backstrap installed, but HK provides an additional two sizes, small and large. Even more interesting is that fact that you can arrange the panels and backstraps in any combination desired. So let’s do the math. n! / r! * (n - r)!, where n represents the total number of items, and r represents the number of items being chosen at a time.

Heckler & Koch “Volkspistole” VP9-B The HK V9-B ships with 2 side panels and 1 backstrap already installed. They include 4 additional side panels and 2 backstraps; therefore, n=9. To configure the grip we need to use 3 items at a time. So, the question we are trying to answer is how many different grip combinations are possible given 9 items taken 3 at a time. The answer is 84. In other words, you can configure the grip in 84 different ways to find something that fits your hand. How can you beat that?

2019

length of 7.34 inches contributing to accuracy and rapid target acquisition.

HK has also done a superb job machining the VP9 slide serrations; so many pistols have attractive but nonfunctional slide serrations, not on the VP9. Its slide serrations dig into the hand making any weapon manipulation secure and relatively effortless.

Unique to HK’s VP9 is their patented charging support. This is a port and starboard “wing-like” protrusion at the rear of the slide to facilitate racking the slide to charge the weapon. If you don’t like them, they’re detachable by removing the rear sight so they can be slid off. Although this is a nice idea, and particularly useful for shooters with reduced hand strength and women, the real reason maybe HK’s decision to use a hefty 20 lb. recoil spring assembly. I’ll have more to say on this further into my review. The VP9-B ships with a three dot sight zeroed for 25 meters or 27.3 yards. Its 6.38 inch sight radius is spot on for a pistol with an overall

The sights are phospholuminescent and yes they’re easy to see in daylight but worthless under lowlight conditions, unless you first illuminate them. I honestly don’t know why manufacturers use these sights; they are as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Guys, use tritium and price your pistol accordingly! I wish more reviewers would get on manufacturers about this issue. The VP9-B is configured with an ambidextrous slide lock and a magazine release button that is relocatable to accommodate our left-handed shooters. The VP9-B trigger is excellent. Take-up is smoother than the Walther PPQ with a very clean break and a short reset of .12 inches. I measured the trigger pull at 5.5 lbs. consistently over ten measurements.

Heckler & Koch “Volkspistole” VP9-B Taking down the VP9-B for maintenance is extremely simple, and the pistol breaks down to only a few subassemblies.

2019

slide forward to ensure no failures to feed. All my theories. The trigger was extremely smooth breaking crisply with an equally satisfying very short trigger reset. I tested the pistol using a variety of 9mm ammunition all of which performed extremely well. On a new and uncleaned firearm, I experience only two failures to eject with ZQI 9mm NATO. All other manufacturer and types performed without incident.

One thing that you’ll immediately notice when you break down the VP9-B is its massive locking block.

The target picture below requires some explanation.

The locking block’s function is to lock the barrel to the slide producing a very stable chamber increasing accuracy. At the range, the VP9-B performed flawlessly. The pistol was very easy to control even under rapid fire. I think this is a function of the rather heavy recoil spring. The approach serves two masters: recoil mitigation and slamming the

Heckler & Koch “Volkspistole” VP9-B

2019

The VP9-B is sighted at 25 meters or 27.3 yards. If you are shooting at a target in the 7 to 15 yard range you will need to cover the target with your sights; something I did not do throughout my shooting session. I held to desired point of impact hence the low grouping. The four single shoots above the primary group was my experimentation to confirm the proper sight picture. Not a big deal, but if you find it annoying you can always install a shorter front sight post; however, I don’t recommend it because at 25 yards this pistol is right on the mark. The picture above is the product of two 15 round magazines, and here my takeaway is that the VP9-B is possibly the most accurate striker fired pistol I’ve ever shot. HK has done an amazing job producing the VP9B. This is an exceptional striker fired pistol that is as reliable as any Glock, as ergonomic as any Walther with possibly one of the best triggers available on any polymer striker fired platform. My only complaint – get rid of the phosphorescent sights please! -SP

HK-USA: https://hk-usa.com/hk-models/vp9/

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