Heckler & Koch VP9
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Germany
Production history
Designer	Frank Henninger
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	2014–present
Variants	VP40
Specifications
Mass	710 g (25 oz) (EU version with empty magazine)[1]: 87  753 g (26.6 oz) (US version with empty magazine)[2]: 9
Length	186.5 mm (7.34 in)
Barrel length	104 mm (4.1 in) (standard) 127 mm (5.0 in) (long slide)
Width	33.5 mm (1.32 in)
Height	137.5 mm (5.41 in)[3]
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W
Action	Short recoil operated, Browning-type tilting barrel, locked breech
Feed system	15, 17, or 20-round detachable box magazine (VP9) 13-round detachable box magazine (VP40)
Sights	Iron sights, tritium sights

The Heckler & Koch VP9 (known as SFP9 in Europe and Canada) is a polymer-framed semi-automatic striker-fired handgun. The VP designation in the name refers to Volkspistole, which translates to "people's pistol",^[4] while SFP stands for "striker-fired pistol".^[5] The 9 stands for the caliber designation of 9 mm. The VP9 is the third striker-fired pistol that HK has produced. A variant of the VP9, the VP40, is chambered for .40 S&W; the VP40 is known as SFP40 in Europe and Canada.^[5]

History

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 original name for the pistol was, "P30X," as it is essentially a striker-fired derivative of the Heckler & Koch P30.^[8] However, it was changed to "VP9" for the U.S. commercial market.

Design details

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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[9] 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.^[11]

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.

Reception

The Heckler & Koch VP9 won Guns & Ammo’s Handgun of the Year award in 2014.

American Rifleman, one of the National Rifle Association’s flagship magazines, named the Heckler & Koch VP9 the winner of the Golden Bullseye Award for 2015 Handgun Product of the Year.

Variants

European variants

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 23 N (5.2 lb_f).^[12]

SFP9 TR

The Technical Specifications (TR) of the German Police (Technische Richtlinie Pistolen im Kaliber 9mm x 19, Revision January 2008) for obtaining a German Police duty pistol certification require a first shot trigger pull of ≥30 N (6.7 lb_f), a trigger travel of ≥10 mm (0.4 in) and a trigger reset of ≥4 mm (0.2 in).^[13]

The SFP9 TR has a trigger travel of approximately 11 mm (0.4 in) with a trigger reset of 5 mm (0.2 in) and a trigger pull of approximately 30–35 N (6.7–7.9 lb_f) to accommodate German legislation on police duty handguns.^[14]

SFP9 M

Maritime variant with saltwater resistant coating (meeting NATO AC225 salt spray test and long-term saltwater test requirements)^[1]: 25 and OTB (Over The Beach) capability.^[15]

SFP9 OR

Optics ready variant with 23 N (5.2 lb_f) trigger.

SFP9 SD

Variant with 119-millimetre (4.7 in) threaded barrel (SD = Schalldämpfer), adjustable Super-Luminova night sights by LPA and short-reset, reduced trigger pull SF trigger. Note: This variant is often referred to as "SFP9 Tactical", but the correct designation is "SFP9 SD". Accordingly, the word "Tactical" is not found on the slide.

SFP9 SK

Sub compact variant with shortened grip and 86-millimetre (3.4 in) barrel. (SK = Subkompakt)

SFP9 SK SF

Sub compact variant of the SFP9 SF

SFP9 L

Variant with 127-millimetre (5.0 in) barrel. (L = Long)

SFP9 Match OR

Optics ready variant with 140-millimetre (5.5 in) barrel and exclusive to this variant 19 N (4.3 lb_f) match trigger and magwell, comes with 20-round magazines.

American variants

VP9

Standard version for the American market. Ships with two magazines and standard three-dot sights.

VP9SK

Subcompact variant, ships with two 10-round magazines.

VP9LE/VP9SKLE

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

VP9 with long slide conversion kit

VP Tactical

Variant with 119-millimetre (4.7 in) threaded barrel and fixed night sights; ships with three magazines.

VP Tactical OR

Optics ready variant with 119-millimetre (4.7 in) threaded barrel and fixed suppressor-height night sights; ships with three magazines.

VP9 B

American-style button magazine release version of the original VP9.^[16]

VP9 L

As of 2019, a "slide conversion kit" is available from the manufacturer that converts a VP9 or VP9 B to a long slide model,^[17] equivalent to the European SFP9 L.

VP9 Match

Optics ready variant with 140-millimetre (5.5 in) barrel and 23 N (5.2 lb_f) trigger, comes with 20-round magazines.

Users

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.^[18][19][20]
  • Berlin Police – 24,000 SFP9 TR pistols and 450 SFP9 SK (subcompact) pistols were ordered in December 2017 with deliveries in 2018.^[21]
  • State Police of Lower Saxony – Approx. 22,000 pistols will consecutively replace the former P2000 pistols.^[22]
  • State Police of Saxony – More than 11,000 SFP9 pistols ordered in 2015. (Deliveries will take place from 2016 to 2018).^[23]
  • State Police of Brandenburg – Approx. 8,000 SFP9 pistols replacing the P228.^[24]
  • State Police of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania – 5,700 pistols ordered.^[25]
  • German Navy - Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine (Kampfschwimmer)- SFP9-SF M variant
•  Japan
  • Japan Ground Self-Defense Force - Replacement for the SIG P220. Beginning in 2020, 323 pistols were purchased in 2020 for $279,000.^[26][27][28]
  • Reportedly used by some police units stationed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.^[29]
•  Luxembourg
  • Grand Ducal Police – Approx. 1,700 SFP9 pistols replacing the Smith & Wesson 686 as of 2017.^[30]
•  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.^[31][32]
•  United States
  • Phenix City, Alabama Police Department – 107 VP40 pistols will replace the department's Glock pistols.^[33]
  • Hyattsville, Maryland Police Department – purchased VP9 pistols for replacement of existing sidearms for its officers.^[34]
  • Madison, Wisconsin Police Department – officers can choose to carry an HK VP9 over other Glock offerings.^[35]
•   Switzerland
  • Cantonal police of Basel-Stadt – 900 pistols.^[36]
•  Ukraine
  • 500 SFP9 were announced to be delivered in March 2023.^[37]

References

Further reading

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

External links

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