H&K VP70 - Worst handgun ever?

[gdawg]

Could be I guess, but i bought one anyway. I've wanted one ever since I read about them as a kid, and saw it for the first time at the Italian gun store in Vancouver in the early 80s. It totally stood out in the display cabinet ("one of these things is not like the others").

I have to say that I really like it, but I admit that has as much to do with the heritage of the gun than anything else. Developed as a cold war "bug out" gun or for 2nd tier resistance in case the communists invaded, was the first polymer frame pistol, had a very high capacity mag for the time (18), simple striker fired design with only a few moving parts so very reliable, originally in a selective fire military variant with the shoulder stock (capable of 3 round bursts at 2200 rnds/sec). Too many compromises so never adopted by Military markets. Sold as a civilian version for years but with the heavy DA trigger, not great as either a range gun or defensive gun compared to other pistols avail. Regardless, I think it is a very cool gun.

For sure the trigger takes effort. The take-up is long, but smooth and predictable. Tripping the firing pin is definitely a heavy 'clunk' though. I'm going to swap out the firing pin spring to see if it makes a difference, but if it doesn't, oh well, this is a collector i'll use for plinking, not target work.

You have to respect the 70s and 80s vintage HKs. Even though they didn't survive because they were either too compromised like the VP70, or too expensive to build,
like the P9s and P7s, they are all unique and ground breaking.

here is a clip of the military 3 round burst version (VP70M).

 

[B]

I was a huge Resident Evil fan when I was young. Always thought the VP70 was badass. I have come close to buying one a few times but never went through with it. I am bad enough with pistols without having a god awful trigger to work with so perhaps it's for the best.

 

[Auggie Doggie]

Don't know about worst, but among the ugliest for sure.

Auggie D.

 

[Conscript]

Sadly HK's band of engineers that were around from the 70's to the 90's that pumped out the G36, P7, USP, G11 among other guns, are probably retired now and that golden age of groundbreaking German weaponry is pretty much all over.

HK is nowhere near the same company that they were back then. The VP9 is a catch up game to the PPQ and the Glock. Nothing in the last 10 years from them has ever been anywhere near as good as what they came out with decades before.

These older guns will always be reveled because they're bold. I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like an older HK...

 

[Still alive]

Gdawg,
Firstly, congrats on the purchase. I've played with the VP70 back in the late 80s and, yeah, they are all that!!
Heavy, ugly, crappy trigger and, what about the " awesome" sights? Does yours have the original triangle aiming system also? Kinda like the Steyr ones?
But it's still a cool gun. Too bad we don't get standard cap mags! Now you need the Steyr GB to go with the modern ugly gun collection!

 

[gdawg]

Gdawg,
Firstly, congrats on the purchase. I've played with the VP70 back in the late 80s and, yeah, they are all that!!
Heavy, ugly, crappy trigger and, what about the " awesome" sights? Does yours have the original triangle aiming system also? Kinda like the Steyr ones?
But it's still a cool gun. Too bad we don't get standard cap mags! Now you need the Steyr GB to go with the modern ugly gun collection!

Thanks. Funny you mention the Steyr GB. That is definitely close to the top of my wtb list. Yes maybe they are a little homely but someone has to like them. (though i do think the VP70 is kind of cool looking)

The front sight is very interesting. have no idea how well it will work.

 

[Master-G]

Thankf for the write-up! I've got a soft spot for the classic H&Ks.

 

[ghostie]

...

 

[gdawg]

ok i think you win the vintage collector competition, Ghostie.

I actually think the GB looks cool too (and down right bad ass if wield akimbo as apparently you can).

I'd like to add the more modern USP Expert to my meagre collection at some point but these are my all time favourites.

 

[Master-G]

I'd like to add the more modern USP Expert to my meagre collection at some point but these are my all time favourites.

I wouldn't call your collection meagre although I do agree with you on the USP Expert. I've owned two and have found them wonderfully accurate.

 

[gdawg]

.. I do agree with you on the USP Expert. I've owned two and have found them wonderfully accurate.

Nice. which caliber(s) did you have? I missed one a few months ago and i am still kicking myself, but I had to heat the house and feed the kids (a reluctant compromise lol).

 

[machman]

VP70; the pistol featured in "Aliens". Futuristic looking staple gun!

 

[gdawg]

Futuristic looking staple gun!

pretty good analogy, actually

 

[ghostie]

...

 

[Still alive]

ok i think you win the vintage collector competition, Ghostie.

I actually think the GB looks cool too (and down right bad ass if wield akimbo as apparently you can).

I'd like to add the more modern USP Expert to my meagre collection at some point but these are my all time favourites.

Gdawg,
Are the three HKs to scale in your pic?
The VP70 looks so small compared to the P9S Sporter. I always loved the P9S in .45!
I recalled the VP70 to be a huge gun but then, it was almost 30 years ago that I saw one!
i had a P7M8, bought in 1987, but traded it off here last year. Probably the best built and thought out handgun in history. Great conversation piece but was not an accurate gun in my hands. It was and still is one of the best looking handguns ever IMHO.

You and ghostie both did very well on very desirable guns!
The VP70 trigger may be stiff and toy like but the GB trigger is just as bad but different, kinda like a Tavor trigger in a handgun, very " boingy", if there is such a word!

 

[H.K.Glock 007]

I wouldn't call your collection meagre although I do agree with you on the USP Expert. I've owned two and have found them wonderfully accurate.

I like the expert but my soft spot is the USP match. Wish I could find a few more at a decent price.

 

[gdawg]

Gdawg,
Are the three HKs to scale in your pic?
The VP70 looks so small compared to the P9S Sporter. I always loved the P9S in .45!
I recalled the VP70 to be a huge gun but then, it was almost 30 years ago that I saw one!
i had a P7M8, bought in 1987, but traded it off here last year. Probably the best built and thought out handgun in history. Great conversation piece but was not an accurate gun in my hands. It was and still is one of the best looking handguns ever IMHO.

You and ghostie both did very well on very desirable guns!
The VP70 trigger may be stiff and toy like but the GB trigger is just as bad but different, kinda like a Tavor trigger in a handgun, very " boingy", if there is such a word!

Yes that is a pretty fair representation of relative size.

The P9s (that's a 9mm btw) has a fairly thick and long grip for a single stack. the VP has the most compact grip by a large margin I would say, even compared to the P7 with the squeeze cocker depressed. The VP70 is comparable or slightly smaller feeling than the CZ75. The Nill grips are thicker than the plastic grips, though.

The slide on the VP is thicker and heaver than the other slides, however. It is a straight blowback design so needs the extra mass.

 

[Master-G]

The P9s (that's a 9mm btw) has a fairly thick and long grip for a single stack. the VP has the most compact grip by a large margin I would say, even compared to the P7 with the squeeze cocker depressed. The VP70 is comparable or slightly smaller feeling than the CZ75. The Nill grips are thicker than the plastic grips, though.

I always thought the VP70 was bigger as well--that's an interesting comparison picture. I agree about the P9S--the front-to-back depth of the grip is a little off-putting to me.

Nice. which caliber(s) did you have? I missed one a few months ago and i am still kicking myself, but I had to heat the house and feed the kids (a reluctant compromise lol).

I owned a .45 and a 9mm with a jet funnel. The 9mm was my favourite--low recoil and the easiest centrefire pistol I've ever owned to shoot accurately.

 

[gdawg]

I owned a .45 and a 9mm with a jet funnel. The 9mm was my favourite--low recoil and the easiest centrefire pistol I've ever owned to shoot accurately.

9mm with the jet funnels is what I would go for ideally too. Harder to find them with the jet funnels though and even harder to find the proper jet funnel magazines I understand.

 

[Still alive]

Yes that is a pretty fair representation of relative size.

The P9s (that's a 9mm btw) has a fairly thick and long grip for a single stack. the VP has the most compact grip by a large margin I would say, even compared to the P7 with the squeeze cocker depressed. The VP70 is comparable or slightly smaller feeling than the CZ75. The Nill grips are thicker than the plastic grips, though.

The slide on the VP is thicker and heaver than the other slides, however. It is a straight blowback design so needs the extra mass.

Thanks gdawg!
This is truly a case of how one's perception changes over time! I would have bet the VP and GB were the largest 9mm pistols ever...and I would be wrong!