Heckler & Koch VP9: A New Striker Fired Pistol

Heckler & Koch today announced their new VP9 striker fired pistol for the law enforcement and civilian markets. Chambered in 9mm, the highly-anticipated Heckler & Koch VP9 boasts a cold hammer forged 4.09 inch barrel with a 1:9.8 inch twist.

Four years in the making, the Heckler & Koch VP9 has a number of appealing features, including ambidextrous controls, a trigger with a short, light take-up with a solid, single action type break followed by a short positive reset, a 5.4 pound trigger pull, a 15 round or 10 round magazine capacity, charging supports for easy slide manipulation, and an extended Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail. The VP9 grip is also highly customizable with the inclusion of three interchangeable backstraps and six grip panels, which, according to the press release, translates to 27 different grip configurations.

“Heckler & Koch’s reputation for producing superior quality, innovative, and reliable products is well established in the U.S. and international markets. The new VP9 is just such a product. It’s been through just about every test possible – NATO and U.S. NIJ drop tests, extreme environment testing, durability shooting, and the most comprehensive ammunition testing with the widest variety of 9 mm imaginable. It came through those trials with flying colors,” said Wayne Weber, President of HK-USA.

With the release of the VP9, Heckler & Koch is returning to striker fired pistols, which they pioneered with the release of the HK VP70 and P7 pistols over 70 years ago. Designed and manufactured in Oberndorf, Germany, the Heckler & Koch VP9 comes with a limited lifetime warranty and a suggested retail price of $719. It will be widely available beginning in July of 2014. See below for more information.

Features: Heckler & Koch VP9

Ultra reliable operation
Excellent trigger mated to a new HK striker fired ignition system
Highly accurate
Superior safety with multiple safeties
Extensively tested through four years of design & development
Engineered for a long service life
Ambidextrous controls
Optimum ergonomics with changeable backstraps & side panels
Value-based price & low life cycle cost
Limited lifetime warranty for civilian customers

Specifications: Heckler & Koch VP9

Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch Oberndorf, Germany
Caliber: 9mm x 19
Operating Principle: Recoil-operated
Action Type: Browning type, modified linkless locking system
Trigger System: Striker fired
Magazine: 15 round or 10 round capacity
Length: 7.34 inches / 186.5 mm
Width: 1.32 inches / 33.5 mm
Height: 5.41 inches / 137.5 mm
Barrel Length: 4.09 inches / 104 mm
Sight Radius: 6.38 inches / 162 mm (three dot, non-radioactive luminous)
Weight (with empty magazine): 26.56 ounces / 753 grams
Weight (empty magazine): 3.28 ounces / 93 grams
Trigger Pull: 5.4 pounds / 24 Newtons
Trigger Travel: .24 inches / 6 mm
Return Travel: .12 inches / 3 mm
Barrel Profile/Twist: Polygonal, 6 grooves, right-hand twist, 1 in 9.8 inches / 1 in 250 mm