H&K brings .40 to VP series
Heckler & Koch released a press release on June 12th about their newest addition to the VP line up, a .40 caliber version, VP40. I’m curious as to why it took them this long, being that .40 and 9mm handguns usually share the same dimensions when it comes to manufacturing. From the press release-
Heckler & Koch added a .40 caliber model to its new VP striker fired pistol line. The VP40 (Caliber .40 S&W) joins the 9 mm VP9 that was introduced to the U.S. commercial and law enforcement markets in June of 2014.
“Just a year after launching the VP series pistol with the 9 mm VP9, we are thrilled to have a .40 caliber model join the line-up,” said Michael Holley, HK-USA Vice President for Commercial and Law Enforcement Sales. “Last year the VP9 took the market by storm and the VP40 promises to live up to its birthright. For civilian shooters and law enforcement agencies looking for a little more power to go with the VP’s well-recognized superior quality – this is it. Once again it shows Heckler & Koch’s commitment to the U.S. market and American shooters.”
The VP pistol line has been in development for more than four years and its debut marked the return of HK to striker-fired models. Heckler & Koch pioneered striker fired handgun designs with the HK VP70 and P7 pistols more than 35 years ago and was also the first company to produce polymer frame models. The 9 mm VP9 has been one of Heckler & Koch’s most successful products – selling widely – and receiving positive reviews from civilian and law enforcement shooters throughout the U.S.
Wayne Weber, President of HK-USA stated, “Like the 9 mm VP9, the VP40 has been through just about every test and challenge possible. Heckler & Koch’s strict company testing program put the VP40 through just about every trial imaginable; NATO and U.S. NIJ drop tests, water, dust, mud, and sand tests worst that the most extreme environmental conditions in the world.”
….
Covered by Heckler & Koch’s limited lifetime warranty, the VP40 is designed and manufactured in Oberndorf, Germany with HK’s famous long-term durability. The VP40 is value priced with a suggested retail cost of $719. A law enforcement configuration VP40 with tritium night sights and three magazines is also available for $819 SRP. VP40 pistols are shipping now (June 2015).
Phil Note: TFB will be reviewing both the 9mm and 40 caliber H&Ks shortly.
Infantry Marine, based in the Midwest. Specifically interested in small arms history, development, and usage within the MENA region and Central Asia. To that end, I run Silah Report, a website dedicated to analyzing small arms history and news out of MENA and Central Asia.Please feel free to get in touch with me about something I can add to a post, an error I've made, or if you just want to talk guns. I can be reached at miles@tfb.tv
More by Miles
Comments
Join the conversation
Why did it take so long?
Different parts for starters....close in tolerance does not equal the same part.
9mm is a bigger caliber in popularity.....if they launched it first, every blogger would be telling them they missed the market.....if they launched right afterward, no one would care and it would have flopped.
Plus, they wanted to assess the market for model acceptance before launching another caliber.
I own a VP9. In the stock configuration it is (in my opinion) superior to my Glocks, Springfields, etc. If the magazine capacity was on par with modern striker fired pistols, I'd probably be a full-blown "fan-boy" (and more inclined to spend $50+ on a magazine). I love the pistol, but as is I'd recommend people spend their hard earned money on a more reasonably priced pistol.