Despite having a flawless performing VP40 to date, I will admit that the MAC test hiccups with 3 separate VP9s have raised some concurrent questions at least in the background of my mind regarding potential issue carry-over to the VP40. While I've been reassured by an exceptionally experienced and well-regarded member of the forum here as to the inherent empirically experienced and observed overall stellar qualities of the VPs (both 9mm and .40 versions), I still have some residual nagging concerns that refuse to be totally put to rest to date.
While my VP40 is going nowhere (in fact, I'm carrying it now), I have seen some of the exceptional bargain-pricing going on by HK with some of their .40 P30s. Specifically, I handled a P30L in V1/light LEM in the law enforcement package, with Meprolight tritium sights and presumably 3 magazines, for well under $700. That's pretty tempting. The V1 triggerpull was quite nice (with an advertised pull weight of 4.5 lbs) and seemed exceptionally comparable to the VP40's pull weight of around 5.4 lbs. Reset was nice on the P30L V1, but a bit longer than the VP reset distance.
I do have one question, though, regarding the P30's durability in .40 chambering. With the VP40, HK significantly beefed up the slide, both materially (adding some 2.37 oz) and dimensionally both width- and height-wise). as well as providing a heaver-weighted flatwire recoil spring (although HK is now using the VP40 RSA as the across-the-board one for all VPs, upgrading the previously lighter-sprung VP9 RSAs). However, the P30 slide weights and dimensions for the .40 variants are exactly the same as their 9mm variants....which leads me to think that the only engineering differences between 9mm and .40 variants are in the RSA weights, extractors, and slide muzzle hole size, and barrel dimensioning.
Over the years, we've certainty seen how this minimalist differentiation approach has worked with other platforms-that is, not necessarily well, particularly over the long haul, concerning both accelerated RSA wear and frame battering. While the P30 line has certainly achieved a stellar reputation, I suspect that most users are using the 9mm variants. How are the .40 P30 variants holding up, particularly over time, and/or under sustained/heavy use? And, is there an increased RSA replacement interval for the .40 variants?
At the end of the day, I fully realize what I should probably do is just shut up and continue on with the VP40 alone....but I really enjoy the opportunity to benefit from the forum's collective experience and recommendations.
Best, Jon