What’s up, Squat Squad! This one comes straight from SHOT Show Media Day at the HK booth, where I got hands-on time with two 2020 introductions: the HK SP5, the first civilian semi-auto version of the MP5 from HK itself, and the updated VP9 that HK calls the VP9 2020. Quick heads-up: this is a show-floor first look with range time at Media Day, not a full T&E review, and there was no HK rep interview this time, so these are my first impressions.
HK SP5: The Real MP5, Finally From HK
In full fairness and disclosure: I’m not an MP5 fanboy, so take my comments with that in mind. The big deal with the SP5 is that it’s the first true semi-auto MP5 for the civilian market built by HK, not a third-party gun made on old HK machinery or a clone.
The fit and finish were very nice. It was a joy to shoot and a joy to handle, and it takes standard MP5 magazines. If you’re an MP5 fan, you’re probably going to run out and buy one.
What might hold you back is the price. MSRP at launch was $2,795, and when I filmed this, they were going for close to $3,000 on GunBroker. My guess was that prices would come down to the low twos. Even then, you’ll have to decide for yourself, because there are other really nice 9mm PCC-type guns out there.
Side note: every HK gun on the line was loaded with five rounds per magazine. Ridiculous.
HK VP9 2020: Not a New SKU, a Running Update
I think more people will care about this one. The VP9 2020 isn’t a separate model. It’s a set of updates going into every VP9 HK sells from here on. There are three main changes:
- 17-round magazines instead of 15. This is a good move. The VP9 and the P30 share a magazine, and 15 rounds was behind the Glock 17 and most other full-size guns, with some CZs at 18 or 19. I still like the extensions from XTech Tactical, which bring it up to 20.
- Cleaner sights. HK sights can be busy with those big white dots. Now you get a high-contrast front sight and plain black serrated rear sights. Clean, and that’s my personal preference.
- Optics ready. This is the biggest improvement. There’s a cut in the slide with a cover plate, and you buy separate mounting plates for five different optic footprints.
One caution: when you put a red dot on a gun that wasn’t designed for one, it changes how the gun shoots. Sometimes that’s better, but more often it’s worse. The VP9, the P30, and a lot of the SIGs are already fairly top-heavy, and with a dot adding weight to the slide, it felt a little slow to me. That was based on limited time, though. I’m hoping to get an optics-ready VP9 in and try a couple of different dots on it, probably something from Burris among others.
Even if you never mount an optic, the sight and capacity upgrades are worth having. And on 15-round mags: I believe Colorado is now the only state with a 15-round limit, while everyone else with a limit, Jersey included, went down to ten.
My Take
The SP5 is for MP5 lovers who want the real HK and are willing to pay for it. The VP9 2020 updates are smart, practical improvements for everyone. If you’re shopping HK, check out my HK P30 video too. I think it’s a terrific all-around pistol.
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Keep squatting.
SP5 or the optics-ready VP9: which one would you take home? Let me know.
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