Join Sean Burrows from the HK Shooting Team as he tests the felt recoil of the VP40 as compared to the legendary soft-shooting P30L (chambered in .40 S&W). www.seangoboom....
Really appreciate somebody finally coming out and taking the time to produce a great video in regards to the VP40. Really look forward to seeing more from your channel.
It is a good gun. I like it. Of course, that is why it was the first video for my new RU-vid channel. I saw a meme that said something to the effect of, "The VP40, like a VP9, but for men." :)
I found and ordered a VP 40 at a good price. I already have the P30L in 9 mm and 40 along with the VP 9 I purchased 2 weeks ago. This weekend will be H&K day at the range and I can't wait.
What an excellent video. Great format, videography and most importantly you spoke in a manner that essentially removes the subjective nature of the topic you are addressing. Very Nice!
I own a VP9 and a VP40, along with a USP 45C and a P30l in 40 cal. All that being said my EDC weapon is the VP40. I have a nice IWB kydex holster for my VP's and it is a very comfortable carry, even all day. I don't mind the 40 recoil at all. I hear a lot of 40 bashers out there crying it's too rough. Obviously, they have never fired a VP40. Good video and info. I'm a new subscriber. Charlie Mike (continue mission for you civilians)
If it tells you anything, my friend and i both could not distinguish the difference in recoil between his Gen5 G19 (9mm) and my VP40 using standard FMJ range ammo. I have fallen back in love with .40 SW because of this pistol.
Well you aren't going to get an unbiased view from me here. You pretty much know where I stand. But within that context, I will give my honest opinion about the gear I use and the companies I represent.
Really wanted a vp9 but can’t find one so ended up getting a 509m. Think I might go with a vp40 the next time I see one though. With the way ammo is now it’s probably good to have a couple pistols in different calibers
P30LS LEM 40 for me...If you reload, the 40 can be a cream puff making PF with heavier bullets. On the flip, the ballistics are great with factory loads for a defensive handgun. Best of both worlds. Great vid as always
i'm still a .40 holdout and i think people who hate on it have only shot glock 23's. my vp40 and a usp 40 that i sadly had to sell both shoot smoother than many 9s ive shot. looking to get a usp .40 expert someday as i consider that the holy grail of .40s
Saw a USP Expert .40 go on Gun Broker for under $500 the other day. Couldn't believe it. If I didn't have two already I would've grabbed it. I think .40 is a viable caliber. It is very popular in certain pistol competition divisions. I don't 'know any law enforcement that use anything less than a .40 in Alaska (where I grew up) because they have to contend with wildlife from time to time and a 9mm just won't cut it. Just depends.
I just purchased a VP40 for my son because he loved shooting my HK P30v3 in .40 so much. But he wanted a striker fire since he was used to the sig p320 in the Army. The trigger on it is sweet and would be a great competition pistols. He likes it better than the P320. My edc of course is the H&K P30 in .40 cal. Best civilian pistol I have ever owned. Good review and I don't understand why it was not on the list to tested for procurement by the military but trying to figure our their wisdom is like trying to understand a liberals point of view...At least the USP is still an option for those who have options!
The P30 and VP series are basically structurally the same. The difference is the VP trigger and slide length but Sean you basically said that for the most part so I will just shut up! hahaha Love your videos and always enjoy listening to someone who actually knows what they are talking about and easy to understand to your novice or amaterures in your viewing audiance.
They have a lot of similarities. Striker triggers and hammer triggers operate on completely different mechanical principles, so they feel different. It is hard to say they are the same, but there are a lot of ergonomic comparable, yes. Plus they take the same magazines!
My first gun was a G22c. My second was a sig 226 .40. When I was 11. I learned on a Was P91 in .40. My wife's first gun was an M&Pc in .40. When she learned it was on my 226. When did everyone become recoil sensitive. Jeez it's not like your shooting a .454.
When capacity became more of a concern than proper shot placement. You're right though. We should all be a little more focused about getting our hits than follow-up / makeup shots.
Sean, I work in private security I recently got both the VP9 and VP40. Some people say the VP guns had recoil reduction, but they do not. They are still soft shooting guns. I got both for my job. Last year laws changed, we now can carry 9mm,40S&W, and 45acp. Clients can now choose what gun is carried on there post. I now qualify with 5 guns every year. I got both guns a week apart, then went to get the new holsters. I could not find a duty holster . I got a Blackhawk duty holster for a H&K USP 40. The gun will lock in the holster, but I have to oil the inside of the holster. Do you know if a holster for a P30 in 40 S&W or even a H&K 45 work with the VP40? Even Safariland will not make me a left handed holster for the VP40.
Ok... I get it now. I saw your DM, but didn't quite get what you were asking until I read this comment. I use a Safariland Pro Fit GLS holster, and it holds ALL my HKs. I can literally use the same holster for my HK45, my USP Expert, my VP9, my P30... anything I want to bring to a match. The only one it doesn't hold is the Mark 23, but nothing holds that big bastard without serious custom work. :) The GLS retention system is just amazing too. I can run like a madman in 3-gun matches with my long guns and know that my pistol isn't going anywhere.
You know, I've used huntin guns all my life and own revolvers but when I finally got a mag fed side arm, I chose th VP 40 but I did my home work and I'm happy if I never buy another. I appreciate all th time and knowledge you guys put into these videos to help me in my choosing. THANKS
Sean I’m always interested in H&K firearms. I have several of them. My USP compact in .40S&W is a delight to shoot. Since they ( H&K ) sponsor you; you probably have more insight into their product. Keep those videos coming !!
I haven't been with HK for 6 years now. Not sure you'll see anything from me about their guns again any time soon. Glad you like the old videos though.
There is some footage on my Instagram profile. I may throw some up here too. Hadn't really thought of doing that (funny enough). I was just going to use this for gear demos. But competition footage is a good idea. Maybe I need to limit my exposure to lead a bit more.
Lol, well, as an HK fanboy I love to see competition footage. I shoot with Tom Carlson and have tried twice to get on the team, one of these days:) Thanks.
I posted some for you last week. Here's my competition footage playlist I'll be adding to for you form time to time. ru-vid.com/group/PLnRx79fafG8YrMRlLm7unMCMMehGJ8i0O You can also see more on my Instagram account.
There is the hard to find HK P30 chambered in 40 S&W. That with the LEM trigger system would be awesome choice. The LEM trigger is what every striker fired pistol trigger should feel like. Super light trigger movement until it hits the wall then with a little more pressure it fires. So similar to a single action trigger all the time.
My VP40 is the softest shooting, most accurate 40 I've owned. The USP 40 I had went real fast. It didn't like my hand at all, and it had a noticeable recoil impulse. I've had a few 40's. I've bought couple of them more than once, thinking my first impressions were not correct. Only to find out they had to go fir the second time. Two Sig P229's, two G27's, two G23's, two G22's, one Glock Dragonfly by Zev (worst, most horrible shooting 40), two SW 4006, one 4006 shorty forty, one 4013TSW, one 4006TSW. The third generation Smiths were ok. But, the best IMO is the VP40. I think the chunkier slide made specifically for the VP40 helps the recoil impulse, along with the ability to change grip panels. VP40, by far my favorite smooth firing 40. It will never be sold.
I've tried different gun rental 40s&w pistols & so far the softest recoil is the one I own a Glock22 gen 3 with a non-captured steel guide rod with a 20lb spring from Wolff it feels like shooting 9mm.
Great vid and good to listen to someone who actually knows how to "advise" people on what you like and not what you think should be the ONLY gun or round someone should use LOL Great job Sean!
Damn fine German weapons!! Thought I'd check out your video and was really impressed!! Hopefully one day I'll feel how the VP and P30 shoot due to living in Califoolya and they are off roster. Keep up the great work looking forward to more videos!!!
Thanks for the kind words! I thought I'd start off with a less popular HK pistol to test the waters. Especially since I've received so many questions about the VP40 on Instagram. I'm finishing up the final touches for the VP9SK next so stay posted. That should be up sometime this week.
Nice! A little advice though, get a lav mic so you are heard better than the ambient sounds (seriously frisky bird in the backgroung) and mabye ease off the hard sell on the guns lol. Yea i get they are a sponsor, but it kinda came off a bit like an infomercial. This is what happens at 1am and I can't sleep. I watch RU-vid and become a critic lol. Pretty awesome though. Keep rocking it!
I have a lav. It died. I reshot, it died again. I ordered one on Amazon, and it hasn't come. So I finished with teh footage I have for this video. Kinda sick of talking about the VP40. I"d rather just shoot it at this point. I'm a hard seller of what I like (cars, guns, books, music, etc.)... it will always be like an infomercial. I'll never be neutral. My opinions are strong and deeply rooted. I was that way before I joined the HK team, and I will be after that ship sails. Hot or cold is great... no body likes lukewarm. Wait until you hear how much I like products from Vortex, Breda, and Safariland, etc. It just gets worse from here. I appreciate the comments though. Get some sleep, bro :).
I hear ya! HK makes bad ass lead singers. I love vortex as well. I have a strikefire2 on my ar. Don't have any hands on experience with Breda or safariland.
Not sure what you are getting at with the HK and lead singers connection, but my curiosity is piqued. Breda is an 80-year-old shotgun company but have only been in the US for a couple years. They invented the first semi-auto shotgun that can be taken down without tools, they are credited with bringing the inertia driven mechanism to market (they were associated with Benelli for a number of years prior to Benelli coming to the USA), and they were the first company to make shotguns with removable chokes. Their barrels are drilled like rifle barrels, instead of forged and cryo-treated, so they are SUPER accurate, especially with slugs, so they are perfect for 3-gun. I could go on... but there will be videos soon enough.
Hello Sean..... I am still a beginner with shooting and I am on the fence between the VP40 and the P30. I like the idea of the hammer fired for myself as it sort of serves as a secondary safety measure to avoid the inadvertent misfire. I am looking for a home protection firearm and would like to know your thoughts. I which of the two controls kick better? I do like the idea of the ergonomics of the VP40 reducing the kick. Does the anti-kick mech of the P30 work equally as well? Thank you for your time Darrin
The recoil reduction system in HK pistols is not really there for your comfort, but rather to reduce stress to the frame so the gun can last longer and withstand higher pressure rounds than other pistols. They are tough workhorse guns that are made to last a long time and deliver consistent results. So, with that in mind, remember .40 is just a snappy cartridge compared to 9mm. Even .45 has a nice “round” recoil impulse by comparison. So, I would look to choose something you k ow you’re going to train with regularly, and put in the time learning the recoil pattern of it. The vp40 and the p30 are very comparable. I prefer the p30 myself. At the end of the day, felt recoil is such a personal thing. The more you train and learn to manage it, the better you’ll get at managing it. Check this video out as another example ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yw0lhA1kjVc.html
I do have a review coming on a new blaster in .40 but unfortunately you're not going to be seeing anything from me on HK products any time soon. I haven't been affiliated with the brand for a few years now.
i keep wondering the same thing myself. The only answer is to buy both. I can justify it because one is a striker and the other has a hammer. Physically though it seems like both the VP9 and VP40 make up for it with better grip geometry and the VP series were always meant to be budget HK’s to get people into the brand, so why use a more expensive RSA?
Good idea. I'll do a breakdown of the alterations I've made with my competition rifle(s)... which isn't much, but if you wanna see, I'll be happy to show. The core functioning isn't at all touched though. All 100% HK... mostly just the peripherals (stock, hand guard, etc.)
My VP40 is my EDC weapon. I carry it in a Concealment Express IWB kydex holster and you can wear it all day long and never know it's there. It's as easy to shoot as it is to carry. Everything else is just a copy.
Holster are a very important piece of gear for multiple reasons , the problem with HK pistols are the holsters, they lack of aftermarket support and going to finish carrying it in a shitty holster because is never out there the one you want, eventually the gun going to finish in your safe and you going back to a Glock or similar gun with better after market support.
There is only one holster I've seen outright banned at competitions, and that is the Blackhawk Serpa. The placement of the locking / unlocking mechanism right over the trigger guard has caused more negligent discharges and self-inflicted injuries than any other holster I have ever heard of (by name). There are plenty of other holsters that work equally as well. If you want a similar retention, and ease of release, check out the Safariland GLS Pro-Fit holster. It is designed to work with 229+ pistols, and indeed does fit the HK VP series. You can see my review of it here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mYQ1vDTPdcU.html ...and I can't stress enough... move away from the Serpa.
Excellent video and channel, Sean. I have a P30 in 9X19 and I love it. I really like the sounds of a VP40 or P30L in 40SW. It would go nicely with my USP 40 Tactical. :cool: Subscribed to you channel!
Did HK happen to give any insider info on a VP45 in the near future?? looking at a vp40 right now as I already own a VP9 and one of my friends gave me some free 40cal (normally not a 40 guy so I didn't have a bullet launcher for it at the time)
Unfortunately I'm not privy to that kinda stuff (usually). And if I were, and they saw me spouting it out on public RU-vid comment threads, I wouldn't be ever again. But I don't know about a VP45. I do have an HK45 as my bedside gun, and I love the HELL out of it. I probably wouldn't trade it for a striker-fire version. It is too perfect. The HK45 shoots so well, and the USP45 is such a favorite, I don't really see HK feeling a necessity to make a striker-fire 45. I could be wrong, but my guess is don't hold your breath. But... you never know. HK is pleasantly surprising everyone these days.
Just picked up my HK MK23 suppressed. I already know how great the gun is, was given one many moons ago and wanted one for my own collection so I did. It was wallet painful hahaha but it is an investment!
Depends on the holster. I use the Safariland GLS Pro-Fit line, and it fits lots of pistols. Check out my review here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mYQ1vDTPdcU.html
If you want a 40, the USP is the only choice imo. It's was designed for the 40, as opposed to other guns that are designed for 9, then chambered in 40 as an option.
Thats why the slide is heavier on the VP40 than the VP9. The frame was built for heavier calibers and then used on the VP9 first. Then came out with the VP40 and added weight to the slide. Unlike glock who took a 9mm frame and then released it in .40 without many changes.
Hey Sean, have you ever tried the VP40 in 357 sig conv? I saw a guy said it was his big love. Video? I'd like to know how you think the recoil on it feels.
While ballistically it is appealing, I'm not a fan of .357 Sig so I never gave it a go. I own a Sig P229 Equinox in .40 S&W that was my EDC way back in the day and I have a .357 Sig barrel for it. The intent was to practice with .40 and carry .357 Sig.... that was a LONG time ago before I knew jack about anything. I hated shooting it then, and I still do. So I never bothered when I began my love affair with HK, and I certainly don't think I'd love the caliber anymore out of a plastic gun. However, I will say, if there is a polymer frame pistol manufacturer that could handle it, it would be HK.
Sean Burrows thank you for the thorough reply. .357 sig is so loud that at this point I consider it an outdoors option. Can you imagine firing multiple rounds of that in a small room let alone a car? I got the S&W SD40VE bc of the gun shortage/price gouging. Can’t get an HK at this point. The bright side? I’ll be used to compensating for lower-end guns’ triggers if I capture one and have to use it in an active shooter incident.
Your only option right now is a steel frame PPQ in 9mm priced at ~1300 as of typing. Though with the trend of striker supremacy, I wouldn't doubt there being alloy and steel striker pistols on the horizon. Maybe 2020
My favorite till this day..aww so comfortable to hold let alone shoot...The 40 will live on in my book ..its not Dead at all ..recoil sensitive..? HuH.what ? NAH... 10% more than 9x19...Also don't buy a 40 in sub compact...Snappy
Sean Burrows what are your opinions about the mk23 recoil? Is it true what they say, that it is the softest recoiling 45 amp ever created? Do take care.
I would love HK to release USP 2.0’s with modern appointments like double serrated slides, picatinny well, adjustable grips, upgraded light LEM, etc. They could charge any price under 2 grand and I’d buy it. I have small hands and need adjustable panels but I’m not impressed with the P30 or VP yet. They seem to be lacking something.
New shooters.You want to get either a Glock, CZ P10 Or a Walther PPQ. Unfortunately the Sig and HK Striker Fire models aren’t very reliable. I wouldn’t trust my life with anything less than Glock 17/19, Walther PPQ or a CZ P10. If it’s a DA/SA you’re looking for. Sig and HK are still excellent choices in that department.
New shooters, don’t listen to know it all keyboard commandos on the Internet spewing random opinions they gathered from other parts of the Internet. Go and try as many pistols and platforms as you can at a range with a competent instructor before you buy anything. Find what works for you, then train with it. Empty advice like what this guy is giving is a joke. He absolutely has no real experience and no idea what he is talking about.
What Sean said! If anyone says HK and Sig are not reliable has not EVER owned a real gun. Moreover, Snow has more than likely never owned much more than a Daisy Red Rider BB Gun. What a moron you are to make such a stupid comment like that. Anyway, continue Sean as always good to see someone on RU-vid give good solid advice! The HK P30 is a combat weapon not a competition pistol but for those who own and are knowledgeable on HK pistols will tell you in the right hands they can be a tack drivers. I carry the P30 in .40 for EDC as well as my Duty pistol. I have yet to have a FTF or any type of malfunction with my weapon and believe me I torture the hell out of it due to the rigors of my job. It will go bang every single time including and not limited to coming out of salt water and fine sand. So what does it do? BANG!!! lol
