COOL CARRY INSIDE GLOCK S NEW GEN 5 DOUBLE DOWN ED BROWN S LONG SLIDE THE SUBCOMPACT VERSION OF HK S VP9 PROVIDES PLENTY OF PUNCH

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "COOL CARRY INSIDE GLOCK S NEW GEN 5 DOUBLE DOWN ED BROWN S LONG SLIDE THE SUBCOMPACT VERSION OF HK S VP9 PROVIDES PLENTY OF PUNCH"

Loraine Butler
5 years ago
Views:

1 INSIDE GLOCK S NEW GEN 5 COOL CARRY THE SUBCOMPACT VERSION OF HK S VP9 PROVIDES PLENTY OF PUNCH + SMITH & WESSON AIRWEIGHT.357 ROCK RIVER 1911 BASIC LIMITED STREAMLIGHT TLR-6 DOUBLE DOWN TWO NEW S&W 686 REVOLVERS ED BROWN S LONG SLIDE A 10mm WORTH WAITING FOR

2 TINYBY PATRICK SWEENEY 22 HANDGUNS JUNE/JULY 2018

3 HK SHRINKS ITS EXCELLENT VP9 PISTOL TO SUBCOMPACT SIZE. MEET THE VP9SK. Heckler & Koch has been on a roll thanks to the solid, reliable and effective VP9, and now the company has introduced a subcompact version, the VP9SK. The VP9 line features the HK precision strike trigger. This is a UHÀQHPHQWRIWKHVWULNHUÀUHGV\VWHPZKHUHWKHSUHFL VLRQVWULNHKDVDVKRUWHUDQGOLJKWHUWDNHXSWKDQ\RXU EDVLFVSRQJ\FUXQFKHQVTXLVKVWULNHUWULJJHU7KHQ once you ve pressed through the clean break, the reset is shorter and cleaner. I don t want to sound too snarky, but it s as if the engineers were told to listen to shooters and make a WULJJHUWKDWVDWLVÀHGWKHPDQG\HWVWLOOKDGDOOWKHXVXDO safety mechanisms built in. The trigger has a safety OHYHUWKDWEORFNVWULJJHUPRYHPHQWXQWLO\RXUÀQJHUKDV pressed it out of the way. There s also a striker safety, EORFNLQJWKHIRUZDUGSURJUHVVRIWKHSUHFRFNHGVWULNHU until the trigger has cammed this safety out of the way. The only other control on the VP9SK, the slide stop, LVDPELGH[WURXV,W VDORZSURÀOHOHYHULQVHWRQWKHOHIW VLGHDQGDORQJHUOHYHUÁXVKZLWKWKHIUDPHRQWKHULJKW VLGH,QKDQGOLQJDQGVKRRWLQJWKHULJKWKDQGOHYHU never caused a problem, even though I fully expected it to. Also ambidextrous is the magazine release, and here HK and I part company. The magazine release is a dual paddle design, where the paddles parallel the bottom of the trigger guard. This is a clever, positive and solid way to hold and release the magazine. Unfortunately, my grip, developed back when gasoline was priced at 61 cents a gallon, is not a fan. My grip is so high and hard on the frame that I can t lever the magazine paddle down to drop a mag without changing my grip on the frame. But that s me, and it may not be a problem for you. Try it and see. On the plus side, the trigger guard is wide and slight O\FXUYHGDQGGRHVQRWKDPPHU\RXUÀQJHULQUHFRLODV some narrower ones are wont to do. The takedown lever is on the left side, forward of the slide stop, and rotates only when the slide is back far enough to let the lever pass through the clearance curve that s cut in the bottom of the slide. The VP9SK WDNHGRZQGRHVQRWUHTXLUH\RXWRGU\ÀUHWKHSLVWROLQ order to disassemble it. Remove the magazine, ensure the chamber is empty and lock the slide back. Rotate the takedown lever. Press the slide stop lever while restraining slide movement and ease the slide off the front of the frame. 2QFHLW VRII\RX OOVHHWKH+.GXDOVSULQJUHFRLO V\VWHP,WLVVHOIFRQWDLQHGDQGUHVWVLQDQRWFKLQWKH bottom of the barrel, so once you remove the spring and the barrel, you can scrub to your heart s content. 7KHJULSKDVWKHVDPHGHVLJQDVWKHIXOOVL]H93 with interchangeable backstraps and side panels that can be swapped to change the size and shape of the grip. There are nine inserts in all: three sizes of

4 backstraps and three pairs of side panels. You can mix and match them in any combination to get just WKHULJKWÀW The panels are held in by the backstrap, and the backstrap is held on by means of a cross pin through the frame. Drift out the pinandyoucanremovethebackstrap and the panels. Assemble the setupyouwant,thenpressthepin back through. No, you can t make changeswithyourbarehands, but how often are you going to be swapping panels and backstraps, anyway? The cross pin also serves asalanyardloopshouldyoufeel the need to attach one of those. 7KHIURQWVWUDSKDVÀQJHUJURRYHV I long ago gave up on trying to get ÀQJHUJURRYHVWKDWFRUUHVSRQGHGWR P\ÀQJHUVDQGQRZ,MXVWRYHUORRN them.thevp9sk stwogroovesdo not have a radical ridge between them,soijustusethedesignas more of a non-slip grip surface. If WKHJURRYHVGRQ WÀW\RXMXVWJHWD JRRGÀULQJJULSRQWKHIUDPHDQGOHW the grooves fall where they may. Thedustcoverhasanabbreviated Picatinny rail. When Picatinny railsonhandgunswerenew,such ashortrailmighthavebeena problem. Today, with the popularity of railed compact pistols, accessory makers are producing plenty of lights and lasers that are small HQRXJK WR ÀW VWXEE\ UDLOV The dust cover is also the location of the serial number plate. The VP9SK is not a chassis pistol, and thepolymerframeistheframe,so the serial number has to be permanently attached to it. Putting it therekeepsitoutoftheway,butit LV HDV\ WR ÀQGDQGFKHFNZKHQGRLQJ inventory. The bobbed slide is pure HK. Machined from alloy steel, it has EHHQJLYHQDVHPLPDWWHÀQLVKDQG hasbeentreatedtobeascorrosionresistantasanalloycanbe.it featurescockingserrationsfore andaft,withthenewsignaturehk chargingsupportsattherearofthe slide. These small ridges extend out IURPWKHÁDWVRIWKHVOLGHWRSURYLGH extra purchase when working the VOLGH,I\RXÀQG\RXGRQ WQHHG them, or don t want them, HK has ÁXVKÀWWLQJUHSODFHPHQWVIRU\RX In operation, once I got over the What are these things? feeling, I nevernoticedthem.however,someonewithsmallhandsorwhohas hadsomelossofgripstrengthcould ÀQGWKHPYHU\XVHIXO,I\RXQHHGWR work the slide, anything that helps, helps. 7KHH[WUDFWRULVDODUJHÁDWSLHFH ofspringsteelthatispinnedand pivots to snap over the rim of a case. It is powered by a coil spring in the rear,andtheveryideathatitwould breakorfailisabsurd.theejection port is generous, which helps ensure you won t have any malfunctions. The pistol features an ambidextrous slide lock lever. The magazine release is an ambidextrous paddle at the bottom of the trigger guard. The trigger is crisp, with a short reset. ACCURACY RESULTS HK VP9SK Bullet Muzzle Standard Avg. 9mm Luger Weight (gr.) Velocity (fps) Deviation (fps) Group (in.) Super Vel JHP 90 1, SIG Elite V-Crown 115 1, Wilson Combat XTP +P 124 1, Federal Premium Hydra-Shok SIG Elite FMJ Streak TMJ Winchester Defend JHP Notes: Accuracy results are the average of five five-shot groups from a Sinclair shooting rest at 25 yards. Velocities are the average of 10 shots measured by a LabRadar chronograph set 15 feet from the muzzle. Abbreviations: FMJ, full metal jacket; JHP, jacketed hollowpoint; TMJ, total metal jacket The VP9SK is available with photoluminescent sights that can be quickly charged with a lashlight. The pistol also features HK s charging supports for easy slide manipulation. 24 HANDGUNS JUNE/JULY

German marking requirements dictate the serial number mustbeontheslideandbarrelas wellastheframe,andhkhaslaserengraved these below and forward oftheextractor,respectively.

5 German marking requirements dictate the serial number mustbeontheslideandbarrelas wellastheframe,andhkhaslaserengraved these below and forward oftheextractor,respectively.the slideandbarrelalsobearthegerman proof marks, showing they have been inspected and tested and have passed. ThebarrelissomethingHKcan be proud of. It is cold hammerforgedandfeaturespolygonal ULÁLQJ+.FDOOVLW FDQQRQJUDGHμ steel, and given the intense competition between manufacturers, I can understand why the company wouldn t want to provide the competition with the exact grade of steel used. Polygonal barrels are more than happy to shoot accurately when they DUHSURSHUO\ÀWWHGEXWWKH\DUHQRW bigfansofcastleadbullets.soif you are planning on getting in lots of practice with your VP9SK, you ll have to restrict your shooting to ammo with jacketed or plated bullets. The sights are installed in transverse dovetails, with the rear awedgeshape,andyoucanhave your VP9SK with three-dot or night sights. The standard three-dot sights are photo luminescent. That is, they will glow for a period of timeaftertheyhavebeenexposed tosunlight.ifyouwanttorecharge them,afewsecondsofshiningyour ÁDVKOLJKW GRZQLQWR\RXUKROVWHUFDQ do the trick. This is an inexpensive way to get some night-capacity sighting onapistol,butitisn tthesameas DWULWLXPÀOOHGVHWRIVLJKWV,I\RX want those, you ll have to spring for the upcharge. Thepistolcomesinahardcase with all the usual goodies: own- HECKLER & KOCH PRICE: The right-side slide-lock lever is long but doesn t get in the way, and the front of the frame has a short Picatinny rail. Today s light/laser makers offer plenty of small units that will it.

The VP9SK s three sizes of backstraps and side-panel pairs allow you to completely customize the grip to it your hand. er s manual, magazine loader, lock and a pair of magazines.

6 The VP9SK s three sizes of backstraps and side-panel pairs allow you to completely customize the grip to it your hand. er s manual, magazine loader, lock and a pair of magazines. One RIWKRVHPDJD]LQHVKDVDÁDWEDVH SODWHDQGRQHKDVDÀQJHUJURRYH EDVHSODWH%RWKPDJD]LQHVKDYH VLGHSDQHOVRQWKHEDVHSODWH which extend up into relief cuts in the frame. 7KHVHSURYLGH\RXZLWKDVHFXUH JULSLI\RXHYHUKDYHWRULSWKHPDJ azine out in a malfunction drill. I YLHZWKLVDVRQHRIWKRVHLURQLHVRI OLIHRXKDYHDSLVWROWKDWLVSHU KDSVWKHOHDVWOLNHO\WRHQFRXQWHU amalfunction,andthedesigners ZHQWDQGDGGHGDZD\WRGHDOZLWK RQHDQ\ZD\:HOOGRQHJX\V 7KHPDJD]LQHWXEHVKDYHWKH GLVWLQFWLYH +. DSSURDFK WR WKHLU FRQVWUXFWLRQ 7KH WXEH HQGV DUH FXW out in a zigzag pattern, so when the HQGVDUHZHOGHGWRIRUPWKHWXEH the pattern adds reinforcement. If DZHOGRUWZRVKRXOGEUHDN³DQG, can t imagine how that would hap SHQ³WKHWXEHZLOOVWLOOUHWDLQ Ranger II Convenient, Reliable, Effective. 28 HANDGUNS JUNE/JULY

$work. enough structural integrity to The VP9SK mags hold 10 rounds, butthepistolworkswithlarger-ca- SDFLW\+.PDJD]LQHV³VSHFLÀFDOO\ those designed for the VP9 and P30, both 13- and 15-rounders.$

7 work. enough structural integrity to The VP9SK mags hold 10 rounds, butthepistolworkswithlarger-ca- SDFLW\+.PDJD]LQHV³VSHFLÀFDOO\ those designed for the VP9 and P30, both 13- and 15-rounders. Shooting the VP9 SK was utterly uneventful. Well, uneventful as far as recoil and reliability were Sweeney wasn t able to get a full grip on the gun with the lat-base plate magazine installed. The supplied inger-hook mag solved the problem and will be a good option for many. concerned. It ate everything, it functioned properly with everything, and it hit to the point of aim. Itdidsowithanamazinglevelof accuracy, considering it s a subcompact pistol and, due to our testing protocols, was accuracy-tested at 25 yards. This pistol shot like it was one of the bigger brothers, and my hatisofftohkforthis. One note: I shot the VP9SK only ZLWKWKHODUJHUÀQJHUJURRYHEDVH SODWHPDJD]LQH7KHÁXVKSODWHPDJDzineisjusttooshortformetogeta proper grip on the frame. So if you ÀQGWKDWSHUKDSV\RXU936.LVQ W as accurate as this one was, try the ELJJHU PDJD]LQH RXPD\MXVWÀQGLW does the trick. This,ofcourse,posesadilemma. We get a subcompact pistol because it is easier to carry and conceal, but if we use the larger magazine for more accuracy, how do we justify the subcompact?becauseitiscool, it shoots, and it is HK, that s how. 30 HANDGUNS JUNE/JULY

Villages Straight Shooters Seminar November, 2018

Villages Straight Shooters Seminar November, 2018 Selecting the Right Handgun, the 1st Time! Jim Schiefer Selecting the Right Gun What is the Right Handgun for You? Primary Element = Purpose Concealed