M&P9 vs. HK VP9

[Univibe]

Yesterday my bud and I traded EDC guns at the range, just to compare. I shot his Hk VP9 and he shot my M&P9.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Smith hangs right in there with the HK.

I expected that Smith would be embarrassed, like a Ford SUV against a Porsche. Not so. Both guns handled and shot very similarly. The VP9 oozes quality of design and construction and inspires great confidence, and no question about it. But both of us thought the Smith was right up there with it. We both would grab either in a fight.

My Smith is the 1.0, with allegedly the dreadful trigger. We found that the only difference in firing was that the take up on the HK was shorter than the Smith's, but that's easily gotten used to. Both broke about the same. Much more is made of striker fired triggers than should be, perhaps.

Both are remarkably similar in size and weight, and subjectively "feel" the same size.

The deal breaker is the paddle release for the magazine. Nothing wrong with it, and it's an easy adjustment on the range. But American shooters will fall back on reflexes when the Jackboyz show up, causing a "404 not found" error and maybe freeze up and get killed. HK has fixed this with the VP9-B.

Smith also has a thumb safety which prevents Glock Leg. VP9 does not. All striker fired guns should have this.

Smith carries 2 more rounds. VP9 sells for about $150 more than the Smith, and magazines are more expensive as well.

These factors make the selection just a matter of individual preference. If I found myself in the L.A. Riot, both would be at the top of the list.

 

[Arndog123]

I have both and I still prefer my M&P’s. They just feel better in my hands. HK has recently upgraded the VP9 mags to hold 17 rounds.

 

[Univibe]

HK makes a factory 17?

Only ones I know about are Xtech Tactical (feed lips won't hold rounds), Pro Mag (known poor quality) and ETS clear plastic ones.


ETA : they sure do! $49 each on HK website.

 

[Arndog123]

Heckler & Koch VP9 Models Feature Improvements for 2020

 

[Rastoff]

I had an H&K USP 9 Compact. The engineering on it is superior to just about every gun I've ever used extensively. The fit is exactly what it should be, nothing more, nothing less.

It also had the paddle style mag release. I didn't find that too much of an issue. It's location and operation were close enough to a standard button release that I never faltered or fumbled with it.

Capacity was never an issue for me either. We're limited to 10 here.

However, as great as the design was, as precise as the fit and finish were, as easy as it was to operate, I just couldn't shoot it well. I could never figure out what it was, but I couldn't get that thing to shoot small groups no matter what I did. I have no trouble with my M&Ps.

It was an excellent write up and I agree on all points.

 

[Saudade]

I have a FS 1.0 with a CORE slide, RMR, and 2.0 trigger. It's my favorite range gun.

I also have a M&P Compact 1.0, Shield 1.0, a VP9, 3 PPQs (2x5", 1x4"), and a P320 Compact. None have safeties. A safety does not prevent "Glock Leg", especially if it's not used.

If I find myself in another LA Riot, I'll use my Sig.

 

[The Viking]

I recently purchased a Smith and Wesson M&P 1.0 FS with a thumb safety.
I had the gunsmith make the thumb safety stiffer and the trigger lighter. I prefer the 1.0 rtf the 2.0 rtf.
Previously I had a HK VP 9. I sold it. The take down lever and the slide lock lever were very abrasive to my support hand thumb. Both are good guns but I will take the Smith any day.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Glad that the M&P hangs in with the H&K. Training with S&W mag releases, I am confident that I can find them. I am also confident that any incident that I am likely to get into would be settled within 17 rounds. If I sold all of my S&W's, I might be able to buy last year's H&K calendar. I may be a peasant, and H&K's are very good guns, but I am confident in, and enjoy my S&W's, Rugers and Walthers.

 

[Beentheredonethat!]

H&K also released a push button traditional style mag release, the VP9-B, "B" for button release. For 2020, H&K offers an optic ready version with 17 round mags as well. And if you can find them in their limited production runs, H&K offers a factory 20 round mag as well.

I own both, among many others, and shoot these two frequently, and I am a big H&K fan. However, my choice is to use my M&P in a law enforcement role, both criminal investigations and SWAT. My 1.0 has an Apex barrel, and Apex FSS in 9mm.

I have used my M&P for years, and I have yet to have a single malfunction on this gun. We train in in the rain, heat, snow, and it always runs without question.

It is a regional tactical team and we are authorized to carry anything we want, though generally it's 1911, Glock, Sig, and M&P. They all work and the M&Ps are as boringly reliable as any of them, don't feel your M&P is inferior to the VP9.

 

[changemyoil66]

I got both. Vp9 i dont need to do anything. M&P, needed an apex trigger.

So price comes out the same.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[minconrevo]

I got both. Vp9 i dont need to do anything. M&P, needed an apex trigger.

So price comes out the same.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I had both also. I put the Apex hard sear into the S&W M&P. With a little stoning it's trigger came right along.

Takes some shopping but one can get the H&K at a price not too far off. Mags for H&K can be had at a price not too much above the S&W mags with same hard shopping.

Both are really good products. Quality wise I rank the H&K a bit above but not by a lot. Not afraid to put either to hard duty.

 

[Fishinfool]

A friend I used to work with bought the H&K about 2 years ago, in 9mm. He loves it, and of the many handguns he owns, it is his favorite carry gun. I have shot it, and its OK, but nothing "special", at least in my eyes. Most of the new generation plastic striker fired guns are pretty good these days. I always stuck with my Glocks, cause they worked. I didn't see the H&K as really any better made than the S&W or Glock versions. In a H&K, you have to step up to a USP to really start seeing a difference, IMO.

The only new striker fired gun to really catch my fancy lately is the Sig P365. That one impressed me, and is now my go to carry gun.

Larry

 

[Univibe]

A friend I used to work with bought the H&K about 2 years ago, in 9mm. He loves it, and of the many handguns he owns, it is his favorite carry gun. I have shot it, and its OK, but nothing "special", at least in my eyes. Most of the new generation plastic striker fired guns are pretty good these days. I always stuck with my Glocks, cause they worked. I didn't see the H&K as really any better made than the S&W or Glock versions. In a H&K, you have to step up to a USP to really start seeing a difference, IMO.

The only new striker fired gun to really catch my fancy lately is the Sig P365. That one impressed me, and is now my go to carry gun.

Larry

Indeed. I Carry P365 when I can't carry M&P.

 

[catcus-jack]

Striker fired guns do not need a thumb safety.You need more training.

 

[minconrevo]

Striker fired guns do not need a thumb safety.You need more training.

LE spec striker fired semiauto's rarely have a thumb safety or a magazine disconnect. Simply put, they complicate something that does not need complication. The typical thumb safety, as on the civilian model, is tiny and difficult to use. My advice is do not purchase one with either if possible. If it has a thumb safety do NOT use it. It's perfectly safe to holster and carry without the thumb safety engaged. Essentially they are the modern iteration of the double action revolver. Those DA revolvers do not have thumb safeties now do they?

 

[M29since14]

I’ll take the counterpoint. Guns don’t “need” safeties, people do. I am one of those people. It’s just as ridiculous to say a gun needs a safety as to say one doesn’t, but I assure you, I “need” a safety on my auto pistols and I’m happy I can get mine that way. (I know, it’s a fun argument if you’re the arguing type. )

But back to the original subject, I’m with Rastoff. Nice write up and I tend to take the same position, but with a slight twist. I was never a big fan of the original M&P9, but I am much more favorably impressed with the 2.0. I can’t think of another plastic 9mm that I prefer over it. S&W should have made the 2.0 in the first place. Easy for me to say, I suppose.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I recently purchased an M&P 2.0 compact and put an Apex Flatty in it after reading a bunch about them and how good they are. It now has the best striker fired trigger I have ever felt and I have shot a bunch of them. Apex sends a chart with the kit so you can tune the trigger to your liking. Also put an Apex in my Shield 1.0 and what a difference. I do like the VP 9 but do not own one.

 

[Buzzzer]

Although I've never shot the full size M&P's the USP 45 in my possession will never leave, ever. Comparing the USP to the 45 shield is apples to oranges obviously. I can shoot both well but if I had to pick just one...

When I picked up the shield I purposefully looked for one without the safety. For carry I didn't want to deal with it...

 

[Not Getting Any Younger]

My first semi-auto pistol was a USP45. It's just a tiny bit large for me to shoot comfortably with one hand, but I love it! Added the H&K 'Match Trigger' and it became AWESOME! Also like the mag release which I use my trigger finger for.

I love the feel of the VP9 in my hand, but the trigger didn't strike me as anything special, and H&K doesn't offer any upgrades for that trigger - so I went with the M&P 2.0 9mm.

LOVE my 3.6" 2.0 Compact - it might be my favorite for accurate rapid fire at the range. I also bought the 2.0 5" long slide 'Pro Series' and like it too.

H&K mags are just too expensive (to me) to get into their 9mm guns, and they have NO cross-compatibility between models. (not sure if I like the SK model so to me it doesn't compare with the M&P product line.)

My M&P 9mm mags work in my SUB-2000, and (by cutting a notch into the front of them) they also work in my Ruger PC Carbine (with the Ruger mag-well insert).

I'm very comfortable with the 2.0 M&P trigger since I started my M&P 'journey' with the Shield45.

Just my $0.02.

 

[VikingDude]

In my opinion I think that HK pistols are overrated and overpriced. Why should the VP9 be better than a M&P9, especially the 2.0 series? In my experience there is nothing special about HK that makes them better than other brands like S&W, Walther and Glock.

I work at a gun store and I have tried my fare share of guns. We also have HK P30L, Glock 17 Gen4, M&P9 M2.0 and Walther PPQ as rental guns. On several P30L we have had we had to send them back to the distributor for repair, and this is the pistols that is least used. The only guns that we never had any issues with what so ever is the M&P9.

I am not saying that HK pistols are bad, but in my experience there is nothing special about them that warrants the holy grail status many people give them. In this case they have compared a pistol that was released in 2005 against the VP9 that was released in 2014, and the outcome is that the M&P first generation is still a good design compared to newer guns.

Smith & Wesson did a damned fine job with the first M&P9 and an even better job with M2.0 series. I think that M&P is a better pistol than HK.