Heckler & Koch HK VP9SK Striker-Fired, High-Capacity Subcompact 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol for Deep Concealment Ops and other Concealed Carry (CCW) Applications

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com

Photo(s) Credit: Hecker & Koch (HK)

April 27, 2017

A few days agao, Heckler & Koch USA (HK USA) issued a press release on the new HK VP9SK striker-fired sub-compact (also written “subcompact”) 9mm Parabellum/9x19mm NATO combat/tactical pistol, and even from the mediocre company photos of it, the new pistol still looks pretty good. While the PP9SK utilizes a 10 round mag (magazine) as standard,  13-round and 15-round mags will also be available for it in November 2017, making it a true high-capacity subcompact pistol. DefenseReview (DR) is curious as to how the new gun will handle and perform against the lower-capacity single-stack Walther PPS, which is currently DR’s favorite subcompact pistol, even over a (factory) Glock 43 (G43), a Nous Defions Arsenal Democracy customized G43 mini/pocket blaster notwithstanding.

That said, DR would REALLY like to see a subcompact variant of the Walther PPQ M1/M2 and CZ P-10 (see our recent CZ P-10 C piece), and then run THOSE two pistols in a three-way head-to-head against the HK VPSK for a true apples-to-apples comparison. DR readers may remember that back in 2015, DR published a Walther PPQ M1-versus-HK VP9 face-off piece, based on Dave Pavlick’s (Nous Defions Arsenal Democracy) detailed analysis of the two pistols, particularly their triggers, and the PPQ came out on top, due to its superior trigger design (in Mr. Pavlick’s opinion).

It’s certainly a great time to be a striker-fired 9mm pistol proponent. Yes indeedy.

The following HK VP9SK info comes directly from the HK USA website:

VP9SK

The eagerly anticipated subcompact model of the acclaimed Heckler & Koch VP Series handgun, VP9SK (in 9mm) has all of the sought-after characteristics of larger frame VP pistols but in a more concealable design.

The highly-rated HK VP precision strike trigger is also found on the VPSK. The VP trigger surpasses those found on competitors. It has a short, light take-up with a solid, single action type break followed by a short positive reset. The net result is trigger quality unmatched in production striker fired pistols.

A small-scale interpretation of the completely adjustable VP grip feature — consisting of interchangeable backstraps and lateral grip panels — is replicated in the compact grip frame of the VP9SK. This allows the pistol to be easily modified to fit any individual user and is a feature found only on Heckler & Koch handguns. Molded finger grooves in the front of the pistol’s grip also instinctively position an operator’s hand for optimal shooting.

The VPSK has the features of the latest, state-of-the-art handgun. All controls are completely ambidextrous. Slide releases are present on both sides of the frame and the paddle style magazine release can be easily activated by left- or right-handed shooters.

HK’s patented charging supports, found on full size VP pistols, are also present on the VPSK. The charging supports 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 VP easier for shooters with reduced hand strength.

VPSK pistols can use a variety of proven HK magazines, including compact double stack 10-round and 13-round with either flat or extended floorplates for a more ergonomic grip. The VPSK can also use the same high capacity 15-round magazine used by the full size VP and P30 handguns. Magazine sleeves that replicate the grip profile of the VP handgun are also available.

VPSK pistols have an abbreviated Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail molded into their polymer frame for mounting lights and accessories.

VPSK pistols use a proprietary captive flat recoil spring that helps reduce the recoil forces affecting the operator and the handgun, improving shooter control during rapid firing and prolonging component life span.

HK’s famous cold hammer forged barrel — made from cannon grade steel — ensures a long service life. Similar HK barrels on 9 mm P30 models have fired more than 90,000 rounds in endurance tests in 2010. The polygonal bore profile, with no traditional lands-and-grooves rifling, contributes to longer service life as well as a slight increase in muzzle velocity.

The VPSK’s machined steel slide is protected from corrosion and wear by HK’s hostile environment finish and all metal components, including springs and pins have superior metallurgy.

Despite their small size, VPSK subcompacts have excellent weight and balance making them naturally pointable, easy to control, and accurate to shoot. VPSK models are currently available in 9 mm.

VPSK pistols are made in Heckler & Koch’s Oberndorf factory in southwest Germany and are well suited for civilian sport shooting, security, military, and law enforcement use.

A high quality and well-engineered design, the VP9SK possesses all the features and long-term durability that make HK products especially cost-effective when subjected to total life cycle cost analysis. And like full size VP pistols, the VP9SK is value priced at $719 (MSRP).

Available Configurations

Part No. 700009K-A5, VP9SK, 9mm with 1 flat and 1 extended floorplate 10 round magazines – MSRP $719

Part No. 700009KLE-A5, VP9SK, 9mm with 1 flat and 2 extended floorplate 10 round magazines with night sights – MSRP $819

NOTE: 13-round and 15-round extended magazines will be available November 2017.

Dimensions

Caliber Length Height Width Barrel Length Sight Radius
9mm 6.61 in. 4.57 in. 1.31 in. 3.39 in. 5.73 in.

Weight

Caliber Weight (with empty magazine)
9mm 23.07 oz.

Other Specifications

Caliber Magazine Capacity
9mm 10

Company Contact Info:

HK USA Contacts:

Commercial and Law Enforcement Sales (USA)
HECKLER & KOCH
5675 Transport Boulevard
Columbus, Georgia 31907 USA
Tel: 706-568-1906
Fax: 706-568-9151
Email: cs@heckler-koch-us.com
Website: http://www.hk-usa.com

Military and Federal Law Enforcement Sales (USA)
HECKLER & KOCH
19980 Highland Vista Drive, Suite 190
Ashburn, Virginia 20147 USA
Tel: 703-450-1900
Fax: 703-450-8160
E-mail: info@heckler-koch-us.com
Website: http://www.hk-usa.com
HK VP9 Product Page:
http://hk-usa.com/hk-models/vp9/

Global Corporate Headquarters & Primary Manufacturing Center
HECKLER & KOCH GmbH
Postfach 1329 D-78722
Oberndorf/Neckar Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 74 23 79 -0
Fax: +49 (0) 74 23 79 -23 50
Global Website: http://www.heckler-koch.com

© Copyright 2017 DefenseReview.com (DR). All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links. If you are reading this article anywhere other than DefenseReview.com, please email us the website address/URL (where the unauthorized DR article reprint is located) at defrev (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you.

Related Articles

Walther PPQ M1 Classic versus Heckler & Koch HK VP9: High-Capacity Polymer-Frame, Striker-Fired Combat/Tactical 9mm Pistol Face-Off!

Heckler & Koch HK VP9 Striker-Fired, Polymer-Framed 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol with Ambi Controls: Better Late than Never…But is it Better than the Glock 17/19 and Smith & Wesson M&P9 Series Pistols? It may be, but we’ll just have to see. (Video!)

5.11 Tactical Defender-Flex Lo-Pro/Lo-Vis Stretch-Denim Jeans and Stretch-Cavalry Twill Combat/Tactical Pants for Concealed Carry (CCW)!: High-Functioning Tactical Clothing Goes Hipster Chic (Video!)

Brugger and Thomet B&T USW-A1 (Universal Service Weapon) 9mm Parabellum/9x19mm NATO Pistol-Type Semi-Auto PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) with Aimpoint Nano Mini Red Dot Sight Combat Optic and Side-Folding Stock!

Arsenal Firearms AF Stryk B Compact Ultra-Low-Bore-Axis Striker-Fired 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol with Grip-Mapping Technology Grip and Reciprocating/Sliding Barrel: Flattest Shooting Combat Pistol Ever? (Video!)

CZ P-10 C Compact Striker-Fired 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol for Concealed Carry (CCW): Superior to the Glock 17 (G17) and Glock 19 (G19) Pistols?

Nous Defions Arsenal Democracy NDAD Blackside Custom Glock 17 (G17) and Glock 43 (G43) Pistols and Pistol Accessories: Actual, True Glock Perfection May Finally be Upon Us! (Videos!)

Arsenal Democracy AD Blackside Glock Pistol Packages: Customized Combat/Tactical Pistols with AD SwiTch Aluminum Glock Trigger, DOCTER Sight III Bronze 3.5 MOA, Trijicon Night Sight Suppressor Set and Storm Lake Threaded QPQ Barrel for Silencer/Sound Suppressors! (Video!)

Arsenal Democracy AD PDW 8.5″ 5.56mm/300 Blackout (300BLK) Tactical AR-15 SBR (Short Barreld Rifle) with AD-PDW Stock Minimalist Buttstock and Ambi Controls for Dynamic CQB/CQC Gunfighting, Military PSD, and Vehicle Ops! (Video!)

Glock 43 Single-Stack 9mm Pistol Gets Range-Tested by hickok45: Watch Some Steel Get Pounded! (Video!)

Glock 43 (G43) Single-Stack ‘Slim-Line’ Sub-Compact 9mm Pistol for Concealed Carry (CCW) and Combat/Tactical Shooting Applications: It’s Finally Here! (Photos!)

Hands-On with Beretta APX Striker-Fired, Polymer-Frame Semi-Auto 9mm/.40 S&W Combat/Tactical Pistol Prototype!: Initial Impressions (Photos!)

5.11 Tactical Flannel Shirt Valiant Blue Plaid Long-Sleeve Work Shirt for Lo-Pro/Lo-Vis (Low-Profile/Low-Visibility) Ops and Concealed Carry (CCW): Great-Looking and Functional Shirt for Staying Under the Radar During Missions and Travel!

Tru-Spec Men’s 24-7 Series Cool Camp Shirt for Covert Missions/Ops and Concealed Carry (CCW): Vented Warm-Weather Tactical Shirt Comes in Two Comfortable Mosture-Wicking Fabrics!

Cherries Covert Ops Apparel Tactical Clothing and Gear for Active Shooter Neutralization and Deep-Cover Counterterrorism Ops: Meet the Tactical Response Covert Shirt and ‘The MEDINA’ Appendix BWB (Below-the-WaistBand) Deep-Cover Direct Action Concealment Pistol Holster!

Vertx Speed Concealed Carry Shirt (Long Sleeve, Forest Plaid) and Delta Stretch Lo-Pro/Lo-Vis Combat/Tactical Pants for Covert Special Operations and Civilian Concealed Carry (CCW)! (Video!)

Vertx Airflow Phantom Ops Pant by Fighter Design: Combat/Tactical Pants with Passive Cooling Mesh Technology (Video!)

Ashbury Precision Ordnance APO Custom Shop (APOCS) Now Upgrading/Customizing and Optically Enhancing Combat/Tactical Pistols with the Trijicon RMR Red Dot Combat Optic and Co-Witnessed Trijicon Night Sights for Combat and Competition Shooting: Upgraded Triggers, Tactical Controls and Texturizing, Too!

Walther PPS (Police Pistol Slim) Single-Stack, Striker-Fired 9mm Compact/Sub-Compact Pistol for Concealed Carry (CCW) Applications and Covert Missions/Operations

Arsenal Firearms Strike One Pistol System Internal Parts and Operating Mechanism Shown and Explained at SHOT Show 2013 (Video!)

Arsenal Firearms Strike One Pistol System (“Strizh Pistol”) Striker-Fired Polymer-Frame 9mm Parabellum/9x19mm NATO Combat/Tactical Pistol with Ultra-Low Bore Axis: Meet the New 21st-Century Russian Military Pistol that’s Coming to America for Civilian Tactical Shooters! (Unique Barrel Locking System Details!)

Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Pro Series CORE (Competition Optics Ready Equipment) Standard and Long-Slide Competition/Combat/Tactical Pistol Models with Min-Red Dot Combat Optics!

Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P SHIELD 9mm/.40 S&W Single-Stack, Striker-Fired Compact/Sub-Compact Pistol for Concealed Carry (CCW) Applications

Smith & Wesson (S&W) M&P High-Capacity Tactical Pistols for Competition and Personal Protection: An In-Depth Military Operator/Competition Shooter’s Analysis (Photos and Video!)

Beretta M9A3/92FS/92G 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol at Beretta Tactical Summit (BTS) 2015!: Range Review Featuring Tactical/Technical Shooting Instructor Ernest Langdon (Videos!)

Beretta M9A3 High-Capacity 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol with 17-Round Sand-Resistant Magazine and Steiner eOptics SBAL-PL Lightweight, Compact Green Aiming Laser (Laser Sight)/Tactical White Light/Illuminator (Videos!)

Heckler & Koch HK VP9SK Striker-Fired, High-Capacity Subcompact 9mm Combat/Tactical Pistol for Deep Concealment Ops and other Concealed Carry (CCW) Applications by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

Check Also

Canik TTI Combat 9mm Tactical/Competition Pistol Collab Project with Taran Tactical Innnovations Gives You 18 Rounds of Race Gun-Like Firepower!

By David Crane david (at) defensereview (dot) com March 17, 2024 Canik Arms launched a …