VP9 slide release / grip issues

[thorium]

Team Calguns!

Looking for any advice here.

My main duty pistol is an HK VP9, its a great gun for me, near perfect in fact. Just one problem, my grip keeps activating the slide release (resulting in the slide not locking back for quick reloads after last round fired).

Before you tell me to move my right hand thumb, that's not it. It's actually the meaty part of my left hand (area between the wrist and support hand thumb) that is activating the slide lock because I get such a high grip on the side of the frame with my support hand.


(Not a picture of me, but just an illustration of how the left hand can get s high grip and sit atop the slide release, which on the VP9 is a bit more high profile than most pistols)

Any suggestions?

- I've looked for aftermarket low profile slide release, don't think one is available for VP9 yet (there appears to be one for other HK models like P30)
- I've tried going larger on the left side grip panel
- I'm considering taking off the slide release and re-profiling it to be lower profile by filing/dremel/etc.

Please note simple "change your grip" posts are useless; I'm a fairly advanced pistol shooter (eg can consistently shoot 2" groups at 10 yards with a variety of pistols), I own a dozen pistols, and this is something unique to this gun.

[pointerman]

Are you using this pistol in action pistol competitions? If not, I wouldn't do anything. If you are using it for competitions and plan to use it consistently you are going to need to adjust grip or practice your slide racking reloads. My son's pistol doesn't lock back on his last round (he is 14 and his grip strength isn't strong enough yet) and many of his reloads are on an empty chamber with the slide forward. He has gotten pretty quick at it.

[deephouse]

I have the same type of "issue" with my PPQ. You've covered all the options I contemplated too. At the end of the day I modify my grip slightly... But that in itself is quite irritating (to have to retrain).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nitroxdiver]

Having tried the larger left side grip insert already with no success, I think you are left with trying to modify a factory lever since I have yet to see any aftermarket ones. Currently oos, sign up for email notification when it's back in and order a couple factory replacements. https://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/Slid...-367p16787.htm
Start reprofiling a little at a time with a dremel drum sander and see if you can make your own to your liking. They are cheap so even if you destroy it you're only out 10 bucks. Good luck and let us know how it goes.


Sent from classified location using Tapatalk.

[nlpamg]

I experience that issue occasionally with my VP9.

Didn't really think it was my grip, but now that you mention it, it makes sense.

It doesn't happen all the time, but I thought it was possibly my recoil spring and since I have over 5000 rounds down the gun. I replaced it and still encounter the issue every once in a while.

[atledpikachu]

I have the same issue with my PPS M1. Unintentionally held the slide release down. I just had to modify my grip by sticking my right thumb up, instead of straight forward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thorium]

Having tried the larger left side grip insert already with no success, I think you are left with trying to modify a factory lever since I have yet to see any aftermarket ones. Currently oos, sign up for email notification when it's back in and order a couple factory replacements. https://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/Slid...-367p16787.htm
Start reprofiling a little at a time with a dremel drum sander and see if you can make your own to your liking. They are cheap so even if you destroy it you're only out 10 bucks. Good luck and let us know how it goes.


Sent from classified location using Tapatalk.

Thanks team, Looks like this is my best option.

I didn't think there were any magical solutions but at least the hive mind has now confirmed it. I found the slide release part in stock at "Midwest gun works" and ordered two... Knowing my handy man skills I'll need two tries!

Will report back for those of us that grip too high, too aggressively!

Retraining is really not an option, I'm very proficient with this pistol and have designated it my "go to" full size hand gun over everything else I own, from a glock 23 (go to for many years) to a sphinx sdp to a Springfield professional model 1911. Only thing I've seen that made me think twice about that is military arms channel (YouTube) "torture test" where he dunked the VP9 he had made his carry gun into silty mud and it failed pretty quick. But I'm not an operator, and if I ever had the occasion to rely on a gun in that kind of extreme circumstance (1% chance), I'd have two guns on me anyways.

[Skeez]

The guy in your picture has his support hand index finger wrapped around the trigger guard. If you are holding your gun that way, then that may be your problem. Also, shooting groups is not a very good indicator of being an advanced shooter.

[Libertarian71]

The VP9 has poor ergonomics, IMO. My problem with it is that the slide takedown lever protrudes too far from the frame, and gets in the way of my thumbs forward grip. Not a problem with the Glock; the takedown tabs are nicely recessed in the frame. And it has a lower bore axis than the VP9, too.

[softmentor]

I will point out that if you move your strong hand thumb down, that will move your support hand away from the frame and controls.
just a though

[jyo]

I believe that your straight thumbs grip is your problem---competition shooters developed this grip, but doing so reduces one of the very things that makes human hands so unique---opposing thumbs that lock down for extra strength and a more powerful grip---it also keeps the thumbs away from the controls. Don't believe this? Try shooting a powerful revolver in one of the "get your attention" rounds like say 454 Casull or 460 S&W---the gun flys out of your support hand---with your thumbs locked down instead of waving in the breeze, you can control the gun better and keep parts of your support hand away from the controls… Just a thought...

[nitroxdiver]

VP9 slide release / grip issues

Thanks team, Looks like this is my best option.

I didn't think there were any magical solutions but at least the hive mind has now confirmed it. I found the slide release part in stock at "Midwest gun works" and ordered two... Knowing my handy man skills I'll need two tries!

Will report back for those of us that grip too high, too aggressively!

Retraining is really not an option, I'm very proficient with this pistol and have designated it my "go to" full size hand gun over everything else I own, from a glock 23 (go to for many years) to a sphinx sdp to a Springfield professional model 1911. Only thing I've seen that made me think twice about that is military arms channel (YouTube) "torture test" where he dunked the VP9 he had made his carry gun into silty mud and it failed pretty quick. But I'm not an operator, and if I ever had the occasion to rely on a gun in that kind of extreme circumstance (1% chance), I'd have two guns on me anyways.

Best of luck with your mod. MGW is a great company and should have your parts to you pretty quick. I forgot they sold HK parts and have only used them for FN stuff. Anyway, you are set on your grip, and your weapon. You are effective with both. At that point, making a mod to a slide stop, mag release, trigger guard etc. to better suite your style is certainly not uncommon. Just because there isn't an aftermarket solution to your issue, yet, is no reason not to try and do it yourself.

As to Tim's "torture" test, and I really like him, it means absolutely nothing to me. You can find several high round count VP's from guys using them in comp already with no issues except for maybe a slide racking tab on the slide going awol. Cruise around on HK pro and you'll find some.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[213NJL]

just modify your grip.
don't do any stupid "customization" on your gun...
i would never take a dremel on something that wasn't meant to be shaved down.

[bigbas101]

Thanks team, Looks like this is my best option.

I didn't think there were any magical solutions but at least the hive mind has now confirmed it. I found the slide release part in stock at "Midwest gun works" and ordered two... Knowing my handy man skills I'll need two tries!

Will report back for those of us that grip too high, too aggressively!

Retraining is really not an option, I'm very proficient with this pistol and have designated it my "go to" full size hand gun over everything else I own, from a glock 23 (go to for many years) to a sphinx sdp to a Springfield professional model 1911. Only thing I've seen that made me think twice about that is military arms channel (YouTube) "torture test" where he dunked the VP9 he had made his carry gun into silty mud and it failed pretty quick. But I'm not an operator, and if I ever had the occasion to rely on a gun in that kind of extreme circumstance (1% chance), I'd have two guns on me anyways.

Here is another video in response to the Military Arms torture test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJr453erCAc

Basically, the "mud" he put his gun in is more like cement. Watch the video and you'll see it functioned flawlessly in water.

[k1dude]

Are you placing your support side index finger in front of the trigger guard like shown in the photo? Jerry Miculek, one of the greatest pistol shooters of all time also uses that grip. I know he has a video showing how to place your hands using his grip. Maybe watch it and see if he does something different.

I've noticed all of my pistols sporadically don't lock back. I don't know if it's because of my grip/technique, but I doubt it. They do it occasionally even with a thumbs away grip.

I've basically learned to not rely on the slide locking back. On emergency reloads, I simply change mags and rack. You know when you're out.