Heckler & Koch, the German gun maker with a reputation for producing high-quality and high-priced firearms, made a splash among gun fans in 2014 with its more proletarian VP9 semi-automatic pistol – proletarian by H&K standards, anyway.
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The VP9, still pricey compared to similar models by other gun makers, attracted a slew of new buyers appreciative of a price that made owning a Heckler and Koch possible. Reviews of the new Heckler & Koch pistol were praiseworthy, too, for combining an internal "striker" firing system – one H&K pioneered 40 years ago – that is mechanically simpler and easier to maintain with a set of customizable grips to fit just about any hand.
Wrote Guns and Ammo magazine reviewer Tom Beckstrand, "HK borrows many inspirations from (an earlier model), but I have no reservations in saying that it has managed to create a superior product when compared with other striker-fired guns currently available. Given a $719 (suggested retail price), it's the least expensive pistol I can remember HK offering. Sure, there are other striker-fired guns out there for less money, but none of them comes close to the VP9's ergonomics and performance."
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A.J. George, a police patrol sergeant in Scottsdale, Ariz., summed up his favorable report of the new VP9
for Policemag.com: "If you're looking for a new duty weapon, something to carry off duty, or just a great gun for killing paper at the range, check out the VP9. This pistol's performance is impressive and HK's quality and reliability are without question. If you're a civilian, HK offers a limited lifetime warranty. One year is standard for all law enforcement and military users."
Of H&K's P30 pistol,
The Truth About Guns blogger David Jensen wrote: "Isn't she beautiful? You won't find any blued steel or wood grips here, but I think she's pretty in the same way a shark is. Just like those monsters of the deep, the P30 is highly evolved and looks downright predatory."
Price comes up in most comparisons of H&K weapons to comparable models, but H&K fans say you get something for the money. Andrew Butts, reviewing an HK556A1 semiautomatic rifle
for PoliceOne.com, said: "(T)he MR556A1 is substantially more expensive than piston driven AR's from competing manufacturers. With that noted, there is something to be said about owning a rifle with such an impressive design pedigree."
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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