The HK VP9 9mm pistol has served as Heckler & Koch’s flagship striker pistol since 2014. When it made its debut over a decade ago, the original VP9 was arguably one of the most sophisticated polymer-frame, striker-fired pistols on the market. The VP9 not only upheld HK’s forward-thinking, fully ambidextrous design philosophy in an era when most name-brand pistols weren’t quite there yet, but it was also backed by HK’s rigorous durability and testing standards, all with a factory trigger that was superlative in the mid-2010s.
However, a decade is a long time, especially in the competitive striker-fired, polymer-pistol market. While the VP9 series saw some minor upgrades, like standardizing from 15 to 17 rounds and the addition of optics-ready and threaded-barrel models, the HK VP9 family was probably due for a generational upgrade and some product streamlining.
Enter the new HK VP9A1 series, which consists of the VP9A1 F and VP9A1 K models: a full-size 17-round model with a 4.53-inch barrel and a true compact model of the VP9 with 15-round capacity and a 4.09-inch barrel. While I shot the VP9A1 F for this review, the new A1 upgrades are on both models.
Segueing Into Today
The gist of the VP9 hasn’t changed with the A1 series; the new models remain high-quality, reliable and extensively tested German-built, striker-fired handguns that employ the Browning delayed-blowback, tilting-barrel design. A1s still include all of the elements that made the original VP9 successful: a good trigger, strong ergonomics, high-strength polymer, cannon-grade barrel steel, a stepped chamber and polygonal rifling.
VP9A1 upgrades are focused on three main areas of the pistol: the grip area, trigger and slide and sighting system. Fortunately, all upgrades are subtle and nuanced and do not affect holster fit with existing VP9 holsters, barring overall length.
Grip And Frame Updates
There aren’t too many changes to the VP9A1 frame itself; the right-side slide-stop lever meant for left-handed manipulation appears beefier, and there are now two textured indexing points on either side of the frame just forward and above the trigger area. VP9A1 grips retain their highly configurable system of backstraps and side panels. In fact, the new series actually offer two additional backstrap inserts increasing the total possible number of grip-panel permutations.
Grip-wise, the most notable change for the VP9A1 series is the omission of the gently undulating finger grooves found in the original VP9 series in addition to the full-size HK P30 and HK45 product families. While I never had an issue with these finger grooves, the new “neutral” front strap does provide the new A1 series with a more universal hand fit. This grooveless front strap doesn’t feel overly large in my firing hand and there’s not a lot of extra space. This means that the VP9A1 F is still suitable for those with medium or smaller-sized hands, especially when combined with the thinnest backstrap insert. A1-based improvements or not, I have no problem proclaiming that the VP9 grip still remains one of the most ergonomic amongst striker-fired handguns currently on the market.
The fully ambidextrous paddle magazine release, a signature Heckler & Koch detail that dates back to the HK USP, received additional texturing where the shooter’s finger makes contact.
VP9A1 pistol grips also have an improved, enlarged and flared magazine well which is a definite upgrade over the original’s narrower magazine well. To my chagrin, the grip texture remains the same with the same fairly mild texture; I wish this texture could be more aggressive, as it can be challenging to shoot with when it’s hot and humid.
When the VP9 launched in 2014, it arguably had one of the best factory striker-triggers. Since then, many of HK’s competitors have met or exceeded the original VP9’s trigger. The original trigger isn’t bad at all, but a decade is a long time and selling polymer striker guns is a highly competitive endeavor.
After dry-firing the VP9A1 F for the first time, its new trigger’s improved enhanced feel was extremely noticeable. A1 triggers count on a nickel-Teflon coated trigger bar which smoothens the trigger’s linkages and travel path from front to back, including the trigger shoe at front and the sear in the rear. Even with only 200 rounds through it, the trigger on this VP9A1 F is on par with the factory-enhanced trigger found in my VP9 Match. Ten trigger pulls on an electronic scale averaged to a total of 4 pounds, 12.6 ounces. While shooting Bill Drills “cold” and with a “new-to-me pistol”, it wasn’t hard to break .17- to .18-second split times between shots.
HK VP9A1 slides retain the original width and general VP9, but their serrations differ from the original’s “coarser” pattern. The newer A1-pattern has finer front and rear serrations that are visually distinctive from the previous style. All VP9A1 slides are optics-ready by default and use HK’s existing factory cut and plates. Gone are the photoluminescent front sights. Instead, these new handguns ship with a set of carry sights manufactured by XS Sights; the front sight includes a tritium vial and the rear sight consists of a plain black rear serrated square-notch unit. While changing from photoluminescent to tritium is a welcome change, these new sights are standard height. They might co-witness with a dot sight like the VP9-specific version of Holosun’s SCS sight, but mounting a taller-deck reflex sight like a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro or Trijicon SRO will require extended-height sights for a proper co-witness.
Shooting The HK VP9A1 F
Heckler & Koch handguns have always had a reputation for above-average accuracy, all things considered. Even my old USP-45 which has one of the most unremarkable single-action trigger pulls of any gun in my safe will print .45-caliber holes as well as any decently made .45-caliber 1911 pistol. The HK VP9 Match pistol that I reviewed was the most accurate polymer-frame striker-fired pistol I benched that year.
Besides being overengineered, the quality of HK’s cold hammer forged barrels with their stepped-chamber design and polygonal rifling is a tremendous asset to these German-made handguns. The new VP9A1 F is no different in this regard. Combined with its new slicked-out nickel-teflon trigger and its ergonomic contours, it’s very easy to print accurate shots with this pistol.
I shot four different loads through my VP9A1 F: my 115-grain FMJ handload charged with 4.4-grains of TiteGroup, Hornady’s 115-grain Critical Defense JHP, Eley’s new 124-grain FMJ “Minor” competition rounds, and HOP Muniton’s 147-grain FP action pistol match rounds. Although far from clinical or comprehensive, the VP9A1 seemed to print groups from all three bullet weights reasonably well. Good thing that in the age of dots, one can zero them for their chosen load.
Both Eley and HOP Munition’s cartridges are marketed as match rounds to action-pistol shooters, but they also work splendidly as training rounds, especially for extended sessions since they shoot softly. I point this out because the full-size HK VP9A1-F had no issue cycling either of these “gentler” rounds with its stock recoil-spring assembly.
Although it’s completely subjective on my end because none of the literature suggested that Heckler & Koch made any changes to the factory RSA (recoil-spring assembly) I noticed that the new VP9A1 F’s slide seems to track a little more smoothly compared to the original. It could simply be the result of having a slightly ½-inch longer slide and barrel, with that tiny amount of additional mass. Nonetheless I really enjoyed the way the HK VP9A1’s slide tracked during rapid fire. And in slow-fire? As they’d say in New York City, “forget about it!”
The Takeaway
I always appreciated the HK VP9 from afar, given its accuracy and reliability, but it wasn’t until I got involved in writing about shooting and the subsequent hands-on experience with the VP9 family that shifted my perspective. After shooting and reviewing the original VP9 (with a red-dot) and taking the VP9 Match to a few USPSA matches, I came to the conclusion that aside from the Heckler & Koch aficionados, they were actually underrated given their propensity for accuracy and reliability. Depending on who you ask, the new generational upgrades found in VP9A1s may be too subtle (especially if they already have a brace of original VP9-ORs or VP9 Tacticals outfitted with dots), or the upgrades are the necessary product of HK’s progress moving forward. I for one welcome these changes and look forward to shooting this VP9A1 F some more.
HK VP9A1 F Specifications
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Country Of Origin: Germany
- Action Type: Striker-Fired Semi-Automatic
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17 or 20 rounds
- Frame: Polymer
- Slide: Steel
- Barrel Length: 4.53 inches
- Sights: Drift-adjustable serrated XS Sights square notch rear sight, XS Sights tritium front-sight
- Trigger Pull Weight: 4 pounds, 12.6 ounces
- Length: 7.76 inches
- Width: 1.30 inches
- Height: 5.46 inches
- Weight: 23.28 ounces
- Accessories: One 17 round magazine, one 20 round magazine, cable lock, extra backstraps, documentation/manual
- MSRP: $979
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