HK VP9SK - First Range Session Report

[ShooterM9]

Eine ausgezeichnete Kompact Pistole
An Excellent Subcompact Pistol

I took my VP9SK LE for its first shooting session yesterday and ... short story ... wow, I'm extremely impressed. Very. Impressed. I've had and shot subcompact 9mm firearms of all kinds and by far this little HK has taken the prize. I have also owned full sized VP9 handguns in the past as well.

I've added photos below the text.

I intentionally shot it right out of the box, not removing all the HK packing oil, etc. I hear guys talk about how the handgun will jam unless you carefully remove all traces of the factory lube on it. I wanted to see if this was true in this case. I did have problems with a SIG P226 in the past choking up until the factor gunk was removed. Not the case here, at all.

I put exactly 300 rounds through it and the first 50 were Federal HST 147gr +P rounds. The rest of the ammo was inexpensive commercially loaded brass case, 115 gr, and about 50 rounds of aluminum case Federal bulk ammo. The little guy ran like a champ through it all. Not a single FTF, etc.

I started off just getting used to the trigger, sights, etc. After I was warmed up, I was putting them in a single jagged hole from 20 feet out and further out, nice groups. Then I ran some timed drills, shooting and moving and rapid fire, squeezing off double taps as quickly as I could from 20 feet or so, then shooting and moving drills, backwards, forwards and sideways, shooting two reactive targets placed about eight feet apart. Absolutely no problem.

I then had a blast shooting steel plates, the gun transitions very nicely and quickly and shooting is instinctive and the sights are just there in place to facilitate rapid movement from plate to plate, I was banging them down easily from 10, 20, 30 feet out. I'm no competitive plate shooter, but I was pretty darn happy at how well I was setting them up and knocking them down.

The P30SK simply does not fit my hand, and I was consistently getting "bit" by the slide. The VP9SK has ergos just different enough that the 'web' of my hand fits nicely in a nice high grip. Very comfortable and even with my monster hand size, very shootable, even with the 10 round flush fitting magazine.

The two HK factory mags that have the "pinky" extension are extremely comfortable. I just wish HK had tucked an extra round or two in them. I can report that X-Grip mag extension allows, as you would expect, 15 round P30/VP9 to be used well in the VP9SK. Some may say, justifiably so, that basically this defeats the purpose of a sub-compact, in terms of printing, etc. I certainly can understand that point of view, on the other hand, it is nice to have the added capacity for range sessions and if you do want to carry the VP9SK with 15+1 on board. You basically then have a Glock 19 capacity's in a HK SK package. The mag extension works perfectly. There is just a slight "gap" between the extension and the VP9SK frame, which was not a problem at all for reloads or shooting (no pinching).

The trigger: I know this is going to sound a bit nuts, but ... I've owned three or four VP9S and there is no doubt in my mind that the VP9SK trigger is better than any other. I understand that HK uses the exact same trigger group in the SK line as the full size...but it just felt smoother, shorter take up, better reset. I love how the tab on the trigger fits completely flush into the trigger and the trigger is wide enough to make for a comfortable trigger finger position.

When I deliberately slowed myself down, really concentrating on front sight, press carefully to the rear, again, I was stacking the rounds in very tight groups. As for "combat accuracy" ... in spades, no doubt about it. Again, you will see the pics below.

I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the VP9SK and would have kept shooting until the ammo ran dry. Fortunately I only had 300 round with me, or I could easily have spent the next couple hours shooting through 1000 rounds.

I am a HK USP line fan and not much of a striker guy anymore, but ... this VP9SK is simply awesome. I may have to buy another one. Just because.

Flush Fitting 10 Round Magazine


Mag with "Pinky" Extension (no extra rounds)


With 15 Round VP9/P30 Magazine, using Extension


First Shots/First Group from 20 Feet/1 second between shots


Shots from 20 Feet After Warming Up/1 second between shots


Shots from 21 Feet, Rapid Fire 1/2 second between shots (after warm up)


Fist over group, for scale

[RJ]

Nice report.

I held one at a LGS in Reno NV the other day. I agree about the ergos vs. the P30SK. I think the SFA vs hammer results in slightly longer grip since the hammer takes up 'a bit' more (1/4"?) of the 4.57" overall height.


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[JBP55]

Like ShooterM9 I feel the VP9SK trigger is the best of the VP9 pistols.

[ShooterM9]

Like ShooterM9 I feel the VP9SK trigger is the best of the VP9 pistols.

HK guys are still trying to figure how this is possible, since HK reports they use the same, identical trigger in full size and the SK. But I feel it, and many others have as well.

[Mike C]

Like ShooterM9 I feel the VP9SK trigger is the best of the VP9 pistols.

I'd have to agree, there was a noticeable difference between the FS VP9 and the VP9SK I had. I do wonder if there is a geometry difference at play that makes the noticeable difference in the trigger.

[Ed L]

I can't say that the VP9SK's trigger is better than the full-sized. It is definitely as good as that of the full sized and the is very easy to shoot well.

[ShooterM9]

I could not be more pleased with it, in face, extremely pleased. I spent a long time with Glocks, but realized I was spending a lot of money making a Glock, not a Glock. I've continued to want to carry a subcompact, 9mm, striker action and have tried a myriad of different brands and models. This one, for me (I emphasize that), for me, really works well. The whole search for the right subcompact, again, for me, really has underscored in my mind how important it is to try a lot of models for yourself, shooting them if at all possible. It's a pain in the butt and slow arduous process if you are really serious about trying out and working with various models, but well worth it.

[ShooterM9]

I'd have to agree, there was a noticeable difference between the FS VP9 and the VP9SK I had. I do wonder if there is a geometry difference at play that makes the noticeable difference in the trigger.

I'm wondering that too...it sure is noticeable, and I've shot half a dozen VP9s, since they have come out and have owned four of them on/off myself...this trigger feels the best out of all of them.

[ShooterM9]

HEADS UP:
Picked up this IWB holster for the VP9SK. Well made, etc.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252923635734...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[holmes168]

How are the magazines to load? Seems like the VP9 mags have some sharp edges which lead to a painful experience. Really considering picking up the SK if I can find one in north Ft Worth.