Heckler & Koch VP9

A disassembled HK-SFP9 LSH

According to the manufacturer, Heckler & Koch (HK), the pistol was under development for more than four years before its release in June 2014.[6] Originally, it was designed on request of the Bavarian State Police, to replace the HK P7. As HK has a long history with striker-fired pistols, they decided to update their lineup with a newly designed striker system that gives their pistols a single stage-like trigger feel with a clean break.[7]

The VP9 is a striker-fired pistol that features a Picatinny rail, ambidextrous controls, a hammer forged polygonal barrel, and changeable back and side straps to make the pistol grip customizable for any shooter's hand with 27 options of grip configuration. It was in development for more than four years and is Heckler & Koch's first striker-fired handgun since the P7 series pistols were introduced in the 1980s. The pistols are made in Heckler & Koch's Oberndorf factory in southwest Germany.[8]

Most striker-fired handguns have a pre-travel pull that increases in weight as the shooter squeezes it rearward. The VP9 trigger has a short, light take-up with a solid, single action type break followed by a short positive reset. The average weight of the stock trigger pull is 5.2 lb_f (23 N). The VP9 trigger has a consistent pre-travel pull followed by a positive set with clean break. Disassembly does not involve releasing the striker by squeezing the trigger.[9]

Both the VP9 and VP40 use Heckler & Koch's ergonomic handgun grip design that includes three changeable backstraps and six side panels that allow the pistol's to fit any and all hand sizes.[8] Molded finger grooves in the front of the pistol's grip also instinctively position the shooters hand for optimal shooting.[7][4]

Although influenced by other HK models, the VP9 has a few innovations of its own. The controls are completely ambidextrous. A slide release is present on both sides of the frame and the magazine release can be easily activated by left- or right-handed shooters.[7]

A new feature is HK's patented charging supports. They are simple components that are mounted on each side of the rear of the slide and provide better gripping leverage for racking the slide rearward. The charging supports speed reloading and make operating the VP9 easier for shooters with reduced hand strength. The VP pistols use the same steel magazines as the Heckler & Koch P30 in both the 15 and 10-round capacity configurations.[7][4]

The VP9 has an extended full size Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail molded into its polymer frame for mounting lights and accessories. The rail has been tested and certified to handle the heavier mounted accessories because of its full size which adds rigidity. This rigidity gives the VP9 superior capabilities compared to some of its polymer competitors whose frames flex under use and cannot handle the weight of some of the medium to larger mounted lights.[10]

In the United States, the VP9 is available from retailers as a standard package (standard three-dot sights and two magazines included) or as a "LE" (Law Enforcement) package (factory-equipped tritium night sights and three magazines included). The night sights are Meprolight Tru-Dot. In late 2018, HK introduced the VP9-B (B for "button"), equipped with a push-button magazine release, in response to the preferences of the American market. In January 2020, HK updated the VP9 design with a slide cutout for mounting pistol red-dot optics, new higher-capacity 17-round magazines to replace the 15-round magazines, and iron sights with a blacked-out rear bladed sight, replacing the previous three-dot setup, all as new standard features for the pistol.

VP9 variants available in Europe include:

SFP9-SF

SFP9-SF with RAL 8000 green brown gripframe and sighting in target

Due to its trigger characteristics, the SFP9-SF variant is marketed by Heckler & Koch as a Special Forces pistol and not as a police duty pistol. The SFP9-SF has a trigger travel of approximately 6 mm (0.2 in) with a relatively short trigger reset of 3 mm (0.1 in) and a trigger pull of approximately 24 N (5.4 lb_f) with a maritime marine coating.[11]

The American-market VP9 is available in a variety of colors including black, flat dark earth (FDE), grey, olive drab (OD) green, and midnight bronze.

VP9LE/VP9SKLE

Law enforcement variant that includes an additional magazine and tritium night sights.

VP9 with long slide conversion kit

SFP9 of the Cantonal police of Basel-Stadt

•  Germany
  • Bavarian State Police – Around 40,000 units ordered. Police officers will be equipped with the SFP9 by 2019.[17][18][19]
  • Berlin Police – 24,000 SFP9 TR pistols and 450 SFP9 SK (subcompact) pistols were ordered in December 2017 with deliveries in 2018.[20]
  • GSG 9 – As of 2018, the VP9 Tactical will replace the older Heckler & Koch USP Tactical.
  • State Police of Lower Saxony – Approx. 22,000 pistols will consecutively replace the former P2000 pistols.[21]
  • State Police of Saxony – More than 11,000 SFP9 pistols ordered in 2015. (Deliveries will take place from 2016 to 2018).[22]
  • State Police of Brandenburg – Approx. 8,000 SFP9 pistols replacing the P228.[23]
  • State Police of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania – 5,700 pistols ordered.[24]
•  Japan
  • Japan Ground Self-Defense Force - Replacement for the SIG P220, beginning in 2020. 323 pistols were purchased in 2020 for $279,000.[25][26][27]
•  Luxembourg
  • Grand Ducal Police – Approx. 1,700 SFP9 pistols replacing the Smith & Wesson 686 as of 2017.[28]
•  Lithuania
  • Lithuanian Armed Forces - The SFP9 SF variant was selected by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence as the future service pistol for the Lithuanian Armed Forces as of 2020. [29][30]
•  United States
  • Phenix City Police Department, Alabama – 107 VP40 pistols will replace the department's Glock pistols.[31]
  • City of Madison Police Department, Wisconsin – Officers can choose to carry an HK VP9 over other Glock offerings.[32]
  • Whitehall Township Police Department, Pennsylvania
  • City of Tukwila Police Department, Washington
  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada – Approved as duty weapon
  • City of Hyattsville, MD Hyattsville City Police Department, MD – VP9 Approved as duty weapon to replace .40 S&W existing firearms to improve capability and reduce costs for training and duty ammunition.
•   Switzerland
  • Cantonal police of Basel-Stadt – 900 pistols.[33][34]
•  Turkey produced by Sarsılmaz Arms as SAR9.[35][36]
  • General Directorate of Security[37]
  • Turkish Land Forces new standard issue firearm.[38][39]

37. City of Hyattsville, MD purchases VP9 Pistols for replacement of existing sidearms for its officers. https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/107893/Weapons_transition_final_memo.pdf

• Clapp, Wiley (29 December 2014). "HK's VP9: Total Reset". American Rifleman.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heckler & Koch VP9.

• Official website
• VP9 Operator's Manual (3rd edition, August 2014) via Wayback Machine
• HK VP9 at Modern Firearms
• Test firings by Hickok45: VP9, VP9SK, VP40