Heckler&Koch VP9 User Manual

VP9

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

9 mm x 19

SAFETY RULES

Please read this operator's manual before handling your ﬁrearm. The following safety rules are placed in this manual by HK as an important reminder that ﬁrearm safety is your responsibility. Firearms can be dangerous and can potentially cause serious injury, damage to property or death, if handled im prop er ly.

1. Never point a firearm at anyone or in any direction other than a SAFE direction, i.e. down range.

2. Treat all firearms as if they are always loaded.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger and out side of the trigger guard until your sights are aligned on the target and you are ready to fire.

4. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard while loading or un load ing the firearm.

5. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard while pulling the firearm out of the holster or while returning it to the holster.

6. Be sure of your target and the backstop beyond.

7. Never give a firearm to or take a firearm from anyone unless the action is open and the magazine and/or chamber are free of any ammunition or brass.

8. Be sure that the ammunition you are using is factory loaded, is of the correct caliber for the firearm in which it is to be used, and that it is not damaged in any way.

9. Before firing, remove the magazine from the firearm, lock the action open, make sure the chamber is clear of any am mu ni tion or brass, and check the barrel of the unloaded firearm for any possible ob struc tions.

10. Before firing any firearm that is unfamiliar to you, make sure that you understand exactly how it functions. A lack of familiarity with the firearm can result in serious accidents. Attend a certified training course on any firearm which you intend to use or with which you are not sufficiently familiar.

11. Always wear hearing and eye protection when using your firearm.

12. Keep all body parts, especially the hands and fingers, away from the muzzle to avoid injury or burns.

13. Be sure that no part of either hand touches or interferes with the slide. The slide is moved backward by the recoil force of the pistol during firing and may cause serious injury.

14. Firearms should be locked and stored separately from ammunition and beyond the reach of chil dren and/or any untrained individuals.

15. Avoid the use of any alcoholic beverages or drugs before or during your use of a firearm.

16. Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead; a substance known to be associated with birth defects, reproductive harm and other serious injury. Have adequate ventilation at all times. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.

WARNING: A ﬁrearm has the capability of taking your life or the life of someone else! Be extremely careful with your ﬁrearm. An accident can occur at anytime and is almost always the result of not following basic safety rules.

VP9

Operator’s Manual

Clearing the Pistol - The VP9 Pistol is not considered “clear” or safe unless:

STOP! Know how to clear this pistol before attempting to operate.

1. The magazine is removed from the pistol;

2. The slide is locked to the rear and;

3. The chamber is free of brass or am mu ni tion.

To Clear the VP9 Pistol:

1. Make sure fingers are outside of the trigger guard and the pistol is pointed in a safe direction at all times!

2. Remove magazine. Depress the magazine release lever and remove the magazine from the pistol.

3. Open and lock slide. While pointing the pistol in a safe di rec tion, lock the slide open by pulling the slide rearward as you press the slide release upward. Watch for a cartridge or empty case to be ejected from the pistol.

4. Inspect chamber. Inspect chamber for the presence of a cartridge or empty case by:

• Visually view ing chamber through open ejec tion port.

• Physically in sert ing finger into chamber through ejec tion port to check for the pres ence of a

cartridge or empty case.

• Remove any cartridges or empty cases from the cham ber or from with in the pistol.

The VP9 Pistol is now con sid ered “Clear.”

HECKLER & KOCH

5675 Transport Boulevard

Columbus, Georgia 31907 USA

USA Website: www.hk-usa.com • Global Website: www.heckler-koch.com • Email: cs@ heckler-koch-us.com

Tel: (706) 568-1906 • Fax: (706) 568-9151

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

Safety Precautions & Clearing .......................................................... Inside Cover

Section 1 Introduction .......................................................................................5

Section 2 Nomenclature ...................................................................................7

Section 3 Speciﬁcations ....................................................................................9

Section 4 Function & Op er a tion ....................................................................10

Cycle of Operation .........................................................................10

Safety Features ................................................................................11

Section 5 Instructions for Use .........................................................................12

Clearing Procedure .........................................................................12

Installation of Backstraps and Grip Panels ......................................13

Ammunition.....................................................................................14

Filling & Emp ty ing the Magazine ...................................................14

Loading ..........................................................................................15

Sights and Aiming ...........................................................................16

Firing ...............................................................................................16

Unloading .......................................................................................17

Selection & Use of a Holster ...........................................................18

Storage & Trans port .......................................................................18

Section 6 Disassembly & Assembly ...............................................................19

Disassembly ....................................................................................19

Magazine Disassembly ....................................................................20

Assembly ........................................................................................21

Magazine Assembly ........................................................................23

Function Check ..............................................................................24

Section 7 Cleaning & Main te nance ................................................................25

Cleaning .........................................................................................25

Inspection .......................................................................................26

Lubrication .....................................................................................27

Troubleshooting Prob lems & Re pair ..............................................28

Warranty Registration Information ..................................................28

Section 8 VP9 Accessories ......................................................................................29

Section 9 VP9 Parts List ..........................................................................................32

Exploded View ........................................................................................33

Firearms Service Record .......................................................................34

The VP9 was developed by Heckler & Koch to meet the need for a safe, robust, ergonomically enhanced, striker ﬁred handgun.

Incorporating a variation of the well-proven, modiﬁed Browning link-less short recoil system of operation, the VP9 striker ﬁred design ensures a consistent trigger pull weight from the ﬁrst shot to the last.

Safety features abound on the VP9 and include a unique side mounted drop safety for the ﬁring pin. The frame incorporates a trigger mounted safety that prevents accidental discharge from impact if the VP9 is struck or dropped, and a disconnector ensures that the slide must be in battery for the VP9 to ﬁre.

The take down lever acts as a disassembly safety and precludes the VP9 from being disassembled unless the magazine is removed from the magazine well. If cocked, the ﬁring pin is also decocked as the take down lever is rotated forward.

The design of the VP9 allows the operator to visually assess the status of the ﬁrearm by featuring an extractor that also functions as a loaded chamber indicator. A red colored insert at the back of the ﬁring pin indicates if the ﬁring pin is in the cocked or uncocked mode. Witness holes on the back of the magazine housing allow the operator to view the amount of ammunition present by means of a quick glance.

VP9 controls are completely ambidextrous. Slide releases are present on both sides of the frame, as well as an easy-to-access ambidextrous magazine release on the rear, bottom portion of the trigger guard. Ambidextrous ﬁnger recesses, located on the bottom sides of the magazine well, allow the operator to achieve purchase on the magazine’s ﬂoor plate in the unlikely event that the magazine does not drop free when the extended ﬂanges on the magazine release are activated.

The VP9’s high strength polymer frame includes a unique ergonomic handgun grip design consisting of interchangeable grip panels and backstraps, as well as a dustcover with a standard Picatinny rail interface. The handgun grip design includes three changeable backstraps and six side panels— accommodating all hand sizes. Molded ﬁnger grooves in the front of the pistol’s grip also instinctively position an operator’s hand for optimal shooting. Only HK handguns have such a customized grip.

Milled from a solid block of high carbon steel and then enhanced with a corrosion resistant nitro-carburized ﬁnish, the slide on the VP9 features non-radioactive luminous sights as standard that are adjustable for both windage and elevation, front and rear slide serrations, as well as extensions on the back of the slide.

Designated as charging supports, this new patented HK feature allows operators of different sizes and statures — and shooters with reduced hand strength to obtain better gripping leverage for racking the slide rearward, facilitating smoother and easier manipulation of the slide during clearing or reloading.

Heckler & Koch, famous for small arms construction and technology, has outﬁtted the VP9 with a cold hammer forged barrel and a polished feed ramp. The barrel — made from canon grade steel — ensures long service life. Similar barrels on HK P30 9 mm 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.

VP9 pistols use proven HK P30 pistol steel magazines (15 and 10-round capacity available).

Quality of the VP9 is maintained by ensuring that the design is tested in accordance with both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) AC/225 D/14 and the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Standard 0112.03 certiﬁcations.

In development for more than four years, the VP9 is Heckler & Koch’s ﬁrst striker ﬁred handgun since the renowned P7 series pistols were introduced in the 1980s. Experience gained by HK engineers with the recent P30 pistol had a direct inﬂuence on the design of the VP9, but the VP9 breaks new ground with its integration of a unique striker ﬁring system with an enhanced HK “light pull” trigger. The net result is trigger quality unequaled in any production striker ﬁred handgun.

HK pioneered the ﬁrst modern striker-ﬁred handguns, producing both the VP70 and P7 series, designs that impacted several models by HK competitors. But a superior trigger has eluded most recent striker ﬁred pistol designs.

The VP9 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 VP9 trigger has a consistent pre-travel pull with a positive wall and crisp break. Typically, striker ﬁred guns have a pre-travel pull that increases in weight as a shooter goes through the trigger stroke. With the VP9, you have a less than noticeable pre-travel pull until the trigger reaches the engagement point of the ﬁre control parts prior to trigger break.

The extended Picatinny MIL-STD-1913 rail molded into the VP9’s polymer frame can mount a wide variety of lights, laser aimers, and other accessories. The rail has been tested and certiﬁed to handle mounted accessories up to 5.6 ounces.

The VP9’s proprietary captive ﬂat recoil spring helps reduce the recoil forces effecting the operator and the handgun, improving shooter control during rapid ﬁring and prolonging component service life.

VP9 pistols are made in Heckler & Koch’s Oberndorf factory in southwest Germany. The VP9 is well suited for civilian sport shooting, security, military, and law enforcement use.

Covered by Heckler & Koch’s limited lifetime warranty, the HK VP9 is a solid design engineered with the famous long-term durability that make HK products especially costeffective when subjected to total life cycle cost analysis.

SECTION 2 NOMENCLATURE

Figure 1 — VP9 (left side view)

1 Rear sight 6 Trigger guard

2 Slide release, right 7 Frame 3 Extractor 8 Grip panel, right 4 Barrel 9 Serial number 5 Front sight

Figure 2 — VP9 (right side view)

1 Slide 8 Magazine catch 2 Disassembly lever 9 Trigger 3 Slide release, left 10 Trigger safety 4 Charging support, ambidextrous 11 Picatinny-rail 5 Back strap 12 Follower 6 Grip panel, left 13 Magazine lips 7 Magazine

SECTION 3 SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber 9 mm x 19 Operating Principle Short recoil Action Type Browning type, modified linkless locking system Trigger System Striker fired Magazine 15 round or 10 round capacity

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

Length 7.34 inches / 186.5 mm Width 1.32 inches / 33.5 mm Height 5.41 inches / 137.5 mm Barrel Length 4.09 inches / 104 mm

Sight Radius 6.38 inches / 162 mm

Weight (with empty magazine) 26.56 ounces / 753 grams Weight (empty magazine) 3.28 ounces / 93 grams

OTHER DATA

Trigger Pull 5.4 pounds / 24 Newtons Trigger Travel .24 inches / 6 mm

Return Travel .12 inches / 3 mm

Barrel Profile/Twist Polygon, 6 grooves, right-hand twist, 1 in 9.8 inches / 1 in 250 mm

MISCELLANEOUS

Warranty Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original retail

(commercial/civilian) purchaser, one year for law enforcement and military customers

Picatinny Rail Extended MIL-STD-1913 rail with four segments

located under dust cover — rated to 5.6 ounces / 160 grams load for accessory light, lasers, and aimers with no impact on performance

9 Control surface on barrel shoulder 10 Locking block 11 Stop in frame

12 Recoil spring

Figure 3 — VP9 Cutaway View

Service Life Test guns have fired more than 10,000 rounds,

comparable HK 9 mm models have achieved 91,000 rounds

Safety Firing pin block, trigger latch safety. Pistol and

magazine are ACC225 NATO and NIJ0112.03 safety certified including drop tested

Disassembly No tools required for user field strip, magazine

must be removed for disassembly. Minimal tools

1 Chamber 2 Trigger bar

(simple punches) required for detailed, depot level disassembly

3 Main spring 4 Ejector 5 Firing pin safety 6 Firing pin 7 Slide plate 8 Catch

SECTION 4 FUNCTION AND OPERATION

CYCLE OF OPERATION

The cycle of operation is a reoccurring sequence of mechanical events which takes place in the operation of a self-loading firearm. The sequence for the VP9 begins with a loaded magazine inserted into the magazine well with the slide locked back to the rear.

1. Feeding: Removal of a round from the magazine

Depressing either side of the ambidextrous slide release or pulling slightly back on the charging supports allows the recoil spring to expand, driving the slide forward. The feed pawl, an extrusion that is located on the bottom of the slide, passes between the feed lips of the magazine tube, striking the top round and pushing it towards the chamber. The projectile then contacts the barrel’s feed ramp, allowing the base of the cartridge to pivot upwards on the slide’s breech face.

7. Ejecting: Expulsion of the ﬁred cartridge case or live round from the ﬁrearm

The extractor engages the cartridge case’s extractor rim as the barrel travels to the rear. The extractor creates a pivot and the frame mounted ejector creates a contact point, as the slide rakes the cartridge case against the ejector, allowing the ejector to expel the cartridge case out through the ejection port.

8. Cocking: Resetting of the trigger mechanism to allow subsequent shots to be fired

In the first few millimeters of rearward travel, the slide passes over the disconnector and presses it downward, thus precluding the trigger bar from depressing the sear release catch and immobilizing the firing pin system. As the slide continues to move back towards the rear, the frame mounted catch engages and pushes back on the lug mounted underneath the firing pin, thus compressing the firing pin spring and cocking the firing pin.

SAFETY FEATURES — The VP9 incorporates the following safety features:

2. Chambering: Placing and seating the round into the chamber of the barrel

The recoil spring continues to expand, driving the slide forward and the slide positions the cartridge into the chamber. The base of the cartridge continues to pivot upwards as the slide mounted extractor engages the cartridge’s extractor rim. Chambering is complete by the time the barrel starts to move when the slide comes in contact with the back of the barrel’s locking block and starts to pivot the barrel upwards and forward.

3. Locking: Closing and locking of the breech mechanism prior to the shot

As the slide is moving forward, the slide’s breech face contacts the extension on the back of the barrel’s locking block and thus pivots the barrel upward until the stepped forward edge of the barrel locking block engages the forward edge of ejection port. As the slide locks into position, the frame mounted disconnector is allowed to pivot upwards into a corresponding relief cut milled on the inside of the slide, thus allowing the trigger bar access to sear release catch. The locking phase is complete when the slide reaches its limit of forward travel.

4. Firing: Ignition of the cartridge’s primer and propellant

As the operator pulls back on the trigger, the trigger safety latch pivots upwards, thus allowing the trigger to be pulled back towards the rear. The trigger bar, connected to the trigger moves back as well, allowing an engagement surface on the trigger bar to pivot the spring loaded firing pin safety to the side which allows the firing pin to move forward once the trigger is pulled. The trigger bar continues to move to the rear until the back of the trigger bar contacts and then presses downward on the sear release catch. The sear release catch, in turn, pushes downward on the catch, disengaging the catch from the firing pin and then allowing the firing pin to move forward, being driven by the expansion of the firing pin spring. The tip of the firing pin contacts and then pierces the primer. The primer detonates which, in turn, ignites the propellant. The projectile, separated from the cartridge case, is forced down the barrel by the expanding gases and is stabilized by the polygonal rifling located inside the bore.

5. Unlocking: Removal of any blocking mechanism to allow the opening of the breech

The resultant force of the cartridge firing produces an impact on the slide and barrel, initially pushing both the slide and barrel back in unison. The slide’s ejection port pushes back on the barrel locking block and after approximately 4.5 millimeters of travel, pivots the barrel downward until the barrel’s angular locking surface engages the contact surface on the frame mounted locking block.

6. Extracting: Removal of the ﬁred cartridge case or live round from the chamber

With the barrel now retained by the locking block, the slide continues to move towards the rear. The extractor pulls the fired cartridge case or live round from the chamber.

1. Firing Pin Safety

The slide mounted firing pin safety helps prevent accidental discharge from impact if the VP9 is struck or dropped. When at rest, the back of the spring loaded safety pivots towards the center of the slide and engages a tang that extends downward on the bottom of the firing pin and thus blocks the firing pin from moving forward in the firing pin tunnel. Once the trigger is pulled, an engagement surface on the trigger bar pivots the firing pin safety to the side and allows the forward movement of the firing pin.

2. Trigger Safety

The frame mounted trigger safety also helps prevent accidental discharge if the VP9 is struck or dropped by blocking the rearward movement of the trigger assembly thereby immobilizing the trigger bar, unless the entire trigger is pulled back to the rear. With the trigger bar unable to press downward on the sear release catch, the catch remains upright and holds the cocked firing pin assembly in place.

3. Disconnector

The frame mounted disconnector ensures that the VP9’s slide must be in battery before allowing the trigger bar access to disengage the sear release catch and thus preclude the release of the firing pin. When out of battery, the disconnector is pushed downward by the slide. In battery, a relief cut milled on the bottom of the slide allows the disconnector to pivot upwards and allows the trigger bar to travel rewards to disengage the sear release catch.

4. Disassembly Safety

The disassembly safety ensures that the magazine must be removed from the magazine well, the chamber be cleared, and the firing pin decocked prior to disassembly. The dismounting safety is pivoted upwards by the presence of a magazine (loaded or unloaded) and thus blocks the operation of the disassembly lever. When the magazine is removed, the dismounting safety pivots downward and allows the disassembly lever to be rotated forward.

The bottom of the barrel locking block prohibits the operation of the disassembly lever when the slide is forward. Having to lock the slide to the rear prior to manipulating the disassembly lever ensues that any round present in the chamber is extracted and ejected. The activation of the disassembly lever also decocks the firing pin by repositioning the trigger bar slightly forward. The slide then presses downward on the trigger bar which disengages the catch from the firing pin.

TIONS FOR USE

+ 13 hidden pages

Heckler&Koch VP9 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual