Archer

The SFP version has two magwell options (aluminum and polymer), a true match trigger, 20-round mags configured for the magwells, and nickel plated action parts. The US version is crippled, with the full weight combat trigger, and no magwell, for reasons unknown.

I saw that video as well. I personally think it would not be difficult to make a plate that would drop a couple of nubs into a couple of the serrations, should this turn out to be an actual issue.

I have a friend who built two P320 80% kits on his home ShopSmith. He builds cigar box guitars in his spare time so he’s accustomed to doing fine work, and the triggers in his are better than any off the shelf 320 I have ever shot- and considerably crisper than my GG kitted X-fives. Another friend built a Glock Poly80 with just hand tools, he took his time, used good quality parts, and it’s really very good, at least as good as any Glock I’ve ever handled.

Any concerns about the non-lugged plate mount?

The VP9L-OR has a measurably flatter behavior in rapid fire. Not quite as flat as a regular VP9-OR with a PMM comp, but better than a standard VP9 OR. Some accelerometer numbers for the general differences (all numbers with 124 grain ball)

Just finished running 500 rounds of the Norma 115 “range and training” red box through a VP9L-OR over the past couple of weeks, it all ran just fine, cleaner than 115 grain “Federal Training” (white box CCI Blazer brass) and it’s an agreeably hot loading. Accuracy was fine at 25 yards and zero issues. Not much flash. Reasonable price a month ago when I bought it. Good quality brass as well. I like it, good stuff.

You don’t really need a special punch for that pin, it’s not a super-tight fit, and it can be pressed out by hand with a 1/16” (catching the edge on one side) or 1/8th” punch. Many VP9 shooters end up intuitively using the index or the middle finger of the strong hand on the paddle- it’s faster and results in less grip change that trying to thumb it. You might consider trying this, by practicing with a safely configured pistol in a safe direction of course.

They probably could, but it would be at Korth prices. The thing you have to realize is that HK will not do a lot outside their lane, which means mostly firearms with contracts for LE and military.

Yeah, it will fit the VP9-B frame, no problem.

If the current situation with the election prevails, our future access to ammo may be severely affected- not to mention gun parts. That is a real concern.

I guess that is a fair question. Buz Mills has owned Gunsite since 1999, and as far as I am aware he has always had the finest of staff there. It’s true that he has installed major physical upgrades over the years as well. Ret. Sheriff Ken Campbell has been in charge of operations for several years now. Although there was a 16 year gap in my taking formal classes there, I kept in touch with my instructors and a few students who became true friends (including a very respected federal instructor/agent) from my various classes, many of whom continued at least semi-annual training there, and I went back most years for the annual Alumni Shoot. I never saw or heard about any decrease in quality or course offerings in the intervening years. You never know the motivations some people might have in writing about a place or an experience. I hope mine were clear- I have no financial interest in Gunsite, except paying my bills there. Which I would not be in a position to have to have done, if I did not respect the institution and its management and instructors, and felt that I got true value from the experiences.

Front sight’ s reputation is not a good one, but I have no experience there. Enough said. As for Gunsite, I have considerable experience there, and my experience is quite different from the stories told above. Let it be said up front, Gunsite is not a school dedicated to making regular people into USPSA A/B/GM’s. It is there to make responsible citizens into effective defenders, and to make military/law enforcement professionals better at their jobs. I did the Gunsite 250-350-499 pistol classes in 2001, 2003 and 2004. I was an IDPA MA in CDP in those years as well. At no time did Gunsite instructors in the more advanced classes try to change my shooting form in any way that slowed me down or decrease accuracy- the focus was on avoiding problems, and learning to effectively fight with a pistol when given no options, including force on force, night shooting, and much more. I was a much faster and better shooter after those courses. I did the 499 (advanced pistol) class again, in October of this year. There were 9 students, four instructors, and one provost instructor in the class. The instructors included Erick Gelhaus, a well-known law enforcement professional who has developed the Gunsite red dot pistol instruction package, and Walt Wilkinson, a former US SOF SGM and world champion .50 cal shooter. Something like 120 years experience among the instructor group. Two students (including myself) used dots, everyone else (a few law enforcement instructors, a few cops, a couple military guys, and one other civilian besides myself) shot irons. Shooting a VP9-L-OR with an SRO, I had practically one-on-one instruction the entire week, specifically tailored to the effective use of the dot, as did the other dot shooter in the class. Engaging targets at up to 120 yards and more, night shooting, force on force and much more are included in the curriculum. The instructors specifically encouraged shooting IDPA and USPSA competition for skill development, and did not try to impose a change to shooter form except when it was of benefit to speed and accuracy. The class drill standards start with two shots to two targets from the holster at three yards in under two seconds with fighting guns and holsters, with proportionally increased time as distances increase, and stretch to 50 yards. Speed and accuracy are paramount. COM zones on Gunsite targets are much smaller than IPSC A zones and all shots must be completely inside the lines. There’s nothing there that will make a good shooter worse. Speed loads are absolutely a part of the drills. It’s true, they don’t otherwise want you shooting pistols dry outside of speed reloading drills and malfunction drills, and big boy rules prevail- safety is paramount and the range is always hot. If you’re a USPSA GM/A/B class shooter with absolutely zero interest in learning to actually fight with a pistol... No, Gunsite is probably not for you. But, if you want to really learn to handle your pistol (and other tools) under pressure, and a great deal more about controlling your fate in an uncertain world, then yes, it might be for you.

Well, here we are two years later, and they have finally arrived.

H&K USA has just introduced a VP9-L Optics ready as a limited production piece.

FWIW, I just installed the H&K Comp Tracker (a PMM made part) on one of my RMR equipped VP9 optic ready’s. For those who don’t want a comp, but want a longer iron radius, they do a sight tracker version with no comp port which extends the sight radius to about the same level as the long slides. Mounts like a muzzle device on an HK threaded VP9 barrel. Even with the price of the barrel factored in, you’re still ahead (In terms of cost difference, about $150) with this device, compared to the cost of the long slide, for what that’s worth.

Right? Who reads those? (Well, i did...)

If you read the “disclaimer” fine print on GG’s website, the last line mentions the deletion of the spring. It certainly was there when I got mine, more than a year and a half ago. If not for that, I too would have made a 10 minute job into an hour...

I was able to get rid of that part on my X-fives when I did the GG trigger kits. Unnecessary part.

I'm mind boggled that SIG would actually limit this pistol to baby poop brown...er, "coyote". Truly the avocado appliance color of our era.

I've run thousands of rounds of Win NATO ball through both my X-5's with zero problems. Keep your striker channel clean, grease what slides and oil what turns, and carry on.

If it's Optics Planet, that could be six months, based on previous experience with similar items from SIG. I have had certain items on order 13 months, finally cancelled.

I haven't shot the Venom extensively, but I have installed, sighted and fire-tested one for a friend on his Glock 20 using the Glock MOS kit. Brightness and dot acquisition were fine, lifespan on the 10MM remains to be seen. Fortunately for him, he is sponsored by Vortex and would get instant service if needed.

I used a 9mm laser chamber boresighter, noted relative position at 10M, changed it out, clicked it to the same relative zero. I didn't need to make any adjustment on two of the 4 pistols I performed this on.

Yes, there are references to a Romeo1PRO on the SIG website. There are also older references to a Romeo1T. More recently there have been references to the 1T side by side with references to a Romeo2. I suppose we will get a clearer picture in a few days.

Romeo1T has been known for over a year now, but I’ve never seen one in person. Photos indicate an aluminum build, steel shroud with rear sight, and supposedly much more rugged. It might also be the Romeo1PRO being referenced on the SIG website in a few places. Presumably the Romeo2 being referenced is sized to fit the optic cutout flush on the muzzle end of the cutout, as the current Romeo1 does in the current cutouts, because without the lugs found on other designs you would be relying on the screws alone to handle recoil loads. The cutout would have to be about 2 mm longer to handle the DPP. Hopefully all will be much more clear after the SHOT show.