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HK VP9 & VP9A1 Magazine Buying Guide
The Heckler and Koch VP9 has received much attention in recent years since it was featured in one of the best assassin movies of all time, John Wick. The movie emphasized how aesthetically pleasing the pistol is and how effective it can be (in the right hands).
Capitalizing on that success, H&K released an optics-ready version and two new frame sizes – VP9F A1 and VP9K A1. The new A1 series also features new sights, including a blacked-out rear sight and a hi-vis front sight. The finger grooves were removed from the grip as well.
New, improved, and intriguing. Source
But we’re here to discuss the magazines for the VP9 and VP9 A1 family. While factory magazines are typically best for defensive use, others can be great for a trip to the range or competitions.
Defensive Purposes
When using a firearm for defensive purposes, I always recommend having it as close to the factory as possible for two reasons. Your firearm was designed and tested with those parts, so reliability should be top-notch.
Plain Jane VP9 out of the box. Source
Two, your firearm was designed with those parts. I just said that, right? Yes, so that means no court can try to use your having a modified firearm against you. It’s happened more than once, and it’s best not to give them more to use against you.
But of course, you should always test your firearm and any magazine you choose many times before relying on them.
H&K VP9/P30
The classic H&K VP9 pistol has been around since 2014, and has been a huge success. Although the VP9 originally released with a 15-round mag, H&K now ships the pistol with a durable 17-round steel magazine.
H&K redid the internal geometry of the magazine to achieve this, and the result is a respectable 17-round magazine.
This magazine is made from the same steel and advanced polymer blend that Heckler and Koch is known for. It also has rear-facing witness holes indicating how many rounds are left before you need to reload.
Want even more firepower? This 20-round magazine is a game changer, as long as you don’t mind your magazine extending past the grip quite a bit.
H&K VP9F A1
Just like the pistol, H&K redesigned the VP9 magazine, too. The VP9F A1 pistol takes a new 17-round magazine, made from durable steel construction and a new polymer baseplate.
Of course, it features a rear-facing witness and a polymer follower.
While H&K didn’t make a dedicated 20-round mag for the A1 family, the original VP9 20-round magazine is still compatible.
H&K VP9K A1
Due to its compact frame, the VP9K A1 pistol takes a smaller 15-round magazine.
Featuring a sleek black steel body with quality H&K internal components, its factory performance is hard to beat.
Range and Everything Else
Going to the range does not have to be strictly business. When you’ve finished your concealed carry drills and just want to blow off steam, these larger capacity magazines are the way to go.
I also love them for breaking in new pistols.
ETS 30 Round VP9 Magazine
ETS is well known for its translucent polymer magazines, which can be found for many platforms—from the AR-15 to almost every pistol on the market.
Part of our appreciation for ETS magazines comes from the company’s dedication to providing the highest-quality aftermarket magazines. ETS makes cleaning simple without using tools, and we have been surprised by how well they perform.
So much so that many shooters trust them for competition and some even for defensive uses.
These don’t yellow over time like other translucent magazines, so you don’t have to worry about them tarnishing the look of your beloved VP9.
Promag H&K VP9 32 Round Extended Magazine
Unlike the ETS magazine, these Promag 32-round extended mags feature a polymer sleeve that sits flush with the grip of the VP9. Rugged construction and side-facing witness holes make these a great range or competition companion.
Typically, with these higher-round-count magazines, a mag loader is recommended to make things easier and less problematic on the thumbs later. Still, these Promags have a lighter spring, which makes getting those rounds in easy.
Which, when dealing with this much reloading, is a lifesaver.
Conclusion
The Heckler and Koch VP9 and VP9 A1 lines don’t have many aftermarket magazine options, but the factory mags will surely provide what you need while maintaining the utmost reliability.
I’d recommend running the ETS mag if you want a more reliable aftermarket magazine. They are also available in darker colors if you don’t like translucent mags.
I’d like one of each, please. Source
To reiterate, test your magazines at the range regardless of the manufacturer. You always want to ensure maximum reliability before loading them into your pistol reserved for a defensive role. Everything can fail and has failed—even factory parts.
Be good and take care.
