VP9 grip / frame pressure point question

[Stubbs]

Hi folks...

New VP9 Tactical owner....I'm running into an issue with how the frame hits my strong hand and would like to see if anyone else has run into this....and more importantly what their solution was.

I've got a pretty large thumb knuckle that the frame hits quite solidly when I'm gripping the pistol (note the red circled areas in the pictures). I've tried every combination of backstrap and side panels, but nothing has fully solved it. I'm currently configured with L backstrap, M right side, S left side.

Any suggestions on how I can minimize the pressure point there? After some time at the range, that knuckle starts hurting pretty good (no blisters or anything, just more like bad bruising). It's the only thing I don't like about shooting it.

I was thinking about buying one of the L extended backstraps and see if it would put just enough space in the filled in area to move my thumb knuckle out past the corner.

By contrast, the beaver tail on my Shadow 2 nestles right down in the crook of my thumb and misses the knuckle entirely....it's super comfortable.

Thanks in advance for any help y'all can give...

 

[AGG]

Welcome to the site.
Options:

1. Different backstrap;
2. Hogue handgun grip;
3. Get a smaller hand;
4. Get a USP.

Tony

 

[Stubbs]

Welcome to the site.
Options:

1. Different backstrap;
2. Hogue handgun grip;
3. Get a smaller hand;
4. Get a USP.

Tony

Different backstrap is #1 on my list.....hopefully the Lg. extended will help. I think all I need is a little tweak and it'll be great. What's really frustrating is that a small backstrap allows me to wrap the top of my thumb around far enough to get that knuckle away from the corner....but then there's not enough room for my support had to get a good purchase on the grip. My dang "gorilla hands" causing me trouble once again....it's just like me trying to find shoes to fit my size 15EE feet anywhere but online.

I just ordered a Hogue grip to try...it was inexpensive and I really like the Hogue monogrip that I put on my Ruger Mk 2 Target.

There is an option 5 though......I also shot a Walther PDP at the range recently. It felt really nice and didn't hit my knuckle at all. Hmm....

I told my oldest son that I would get him his first 9mm when he gets his CCW (he's 20 now, so still has to wait a year).....I might just have to get a USP or PDP (blasphemy, I know!), and gift my VP9 to him. #keepitinthefamily

 

[bystok]

Call HK Customer Service in Columbus, GA….tell them your problem and ask to buy a large extended backstrap….your problem will be solved

Other option is to dremel your knuckle off!

 

[AGG]

Call HK Customer Service in Columbus, GA….tell them your problem and ask to buy a large extended backstrap….your problem will be solved

Other option is to dremel your knuckle off!

HK CS will probably send you one at no charge.

Tony

Contact - HK USA

Contact Manufacturing (USA), Commercial, Military, Law Enforcement Sales (USA) HECKLER & KOCH USA5675 Transport BoulevardColumbus, Georgia 31907 USAMain: (706) 568-1906Customer Service: (706) 701-5554: Hours (9:30AM-4:30PM EST)E-mail: CS@heckler-koch-us.comUS Website: www.HK-USA.comFor Law...

hk-usa.com

 

[Stubbs]

HK CS will probably send you one at no charge.

Tony

Contact - HK USA

Contact Manufacturing (USA), Commercial, Military, Law Enforcement Sales (USA) HECKLER & KOCH USA5675 Transport BoulevardColumbus, Georgia 31907 USAMain: (706) 568-1906Customer Service: (706) 701-5554: Hours (9:30AM-4:30PM EST)E-mail: CS@heckler-koch-us.comUS Website: www.HK-USA.comFor Law...

hk-usa.com

I was actually on the phone with HK Customer support when you posted your reply... Unfortunately, the Lg. extended backstrap isn't available for sale at the moment. HK is still filling production gun orders, but the rep said that the backstraps should be available for purchase separately sometime in early 2026. Bummer.....

In the meantime, I'll give that Hogue grip sleeve a try and see if helps. If it does, that will be a good indicator that the extended backstrap could be a more permanent solution.

Complete sidebar.....apparently, this is more of an issue for folks than I thought. While searching for solutions, I've come across multiple forum / social media / Reddit posts about it.
Lots of folks have been comparing the beavertail on the much more comfortable P30 to the VP9 (the P30 is both more rounded and angled upwards). I know it's comparing striker fired vs. hammer fired, but if the VP9 rear had roughly the same shape as the P30, the issue would go away entirely.

 

[Guyanaman1963]

Welcome to the site! Hopefully the Hoge grips solve the issue. Maybe someone with smaller hands has the large backstrap that you can buy from them?
M.

 

[bystok]

HK CS will probably send you one at no charge.

Tony

Contact - HK USA

Contact Manufacturing (USA), Commercial, Military, Law Enforcement Sales (USA) HECKLER & KOCH USA5675 Transport BoulevardColumbus, Georgia 31907 USAMain: (706) 568-1906Customer Service: (706) 701-5554: Hours (9:30AM-4:30PM EST)E-mail: CS@heckler-koch-us.comUS Website: www.HK-USA.comFor Law...

hk-usa.com

Agree...especially when offer to purchase made 1st instead of all the give me, give me, give mes!!!!!!!

Real issue for original poster is to fix the strong hand grip and get the right thumb low and left of the support thumb which will lower his overall grip profile. The issue will go away and a better solution achieved through a better grip.

 

[Stubbs]

Agree...especially when offer to purchase made 1st instead of all the give me, give me, give mes!!!!!!!

Real issue for original poster is to fix the strong hand grip and get the right thumb low and left of the support thumb which will lower his overall grip profile. The issue will go away and a better solution achieved through a better grip.

If I position my right thumb to the left of my support hand thumb, it completely opens up my contact on the back of the grip and creates a big void where the web of my thumb touches the crook of the beavertail.

It's either that, or I have to rotate and move my support hand so far forward that I'm pressing into the tips of the fingers on my strong hand as the wrap around the grip, instead of making firm contact with the grip itself.

Goes back to having big 'ole gorilla hands....

I see that you're on the HK shooting team. If you're anywhere near Raleigh, NC, I'd love to meet up with you and get some advice in person.

I've shot handguns all my life, but mainly just one-shot plinking or bullseye stuff. I'm definitely interested in building my grip for fast repetitive shots and improving fundamentals in general.

 

[LEMming]

It looks like the large extended backstrap (#50256707) is still available on the HK web store. I just bought one a few weeks ago for my VP9A0.

I honestly used to dislike shooting VP9's. Some of that was for the reason you're dealing with @Stubbs . This backstrap did make a BIG difference for me. It's definitely more comfortable, less of a hot spot for me around the knuckle or web of my hand, and also had the side effect of improving my index of the gun substantially.

 

[Stubbs]

It looks like the large extended backstrap (#50256707) is still available on the HK web store. I just bought one a few weeks ago for my VP9A0.

I honestly used to dislike shooting VP9's. Some of that was for the reason you're dealing with @Stubbs . This backstrap did make a BIG difference for me. It's definitely more comfortable, less of a hot spot for me around the knuckle or web of my hand, and also had the side effect of improving my index of the gun substantially.

Thank you for both the link and the feedback on how it worked for you. No idea how I missed seeing this when I was searching on the site....oh well. I just ordered one, so at least I'll get to compare it to the Hogue grip sleeve.

 

[AGG]

Keep us updated--- Hogue grip and no large extended backstrap, and just the large extended backstrap.

Tony

 

[Stubbs]

Keep us updated--- Hogue grip and no large extended backstrap, and just the large extended backstrap.

Tony

Update #1...

Well, I can say with 100% confidence that the Hogue grip sleeve is definitely NOT the solution. Not only did it make the awesome ergonomics of pistol (minus the thumb issue I'm having) extremely uncomfortable, it doesn't fit worth a darn either. In Hogue's defense, the grip sleeve says that it fits the Ruger Security 9, but ALSO fits H&K VP9, so I went into the experiment knowing this could be the result.

I actually could have maybe lived with the less than stellar fitment if it had actually resolved my issue. The problem is that the beavertail portion is really thin, so it didn't move my hand back very much. Conversely, the palm swell areas of the grip sleeve are REALLY thick (picture the shape of the grip from the rear looking like J-Lo in her prime)........I measured the thickness of the sleeve in that area at 3.5mm (a tick over 1/8" in freedom units). This made the grip almost unusable, even for my gorilla sized hands and with the small side panels installed.

I didn't even bother to take pictures.....between the crappy fitment and the huge palm swells, I would have been embarassed to show up at the range with the thing on my VP9. Definitely a two thumbs down from this customer. Luckily it was only $15 shipped with a coupon code, so I'm not out much.

I'll post update # 2 once the extended back strap arrives.....

 

[AGG]

Thanks--- we will await the second update.

Tony

 

[Stubbs]

Update #2....

The size Lg. extended backstrap (part # 50256707) arrived yesterday. This is definitely the solution.....

The beaver tail depth was reduced about 5mm at the deepest point compared to the same measurement for the Lg. non-extended backstrap, which is exactly what I was looking for. (See second and third pictures below for measurements)

The side profile now resembles the shape of the P30 and is WAY more comfortable in my hand when shooting.

The pressure point on the thumb knuckle is almost completely eliminated.....the only way to get it 100% gone would be if the VP9 had the more curved rear profile that the P30 frame has, but I would say that this easily eliminates 95% of the issue.

 

[AGG]

Thanks for the update--- glad you got what worked for you.

Tony

 

[LEMming]

Glad to hear it! Honestly, I really disliked shooting the VP9 before. Something about how deep the beavertail area is, how much of the slide overhangs the web of the hand plus the shape of it like you mentioned. With that large extended backstrap, though, I actually like the gun now. It's not perfect but, good enough I an ignore any remaining annoyances.

 

[Stubbs]

Glad to hear it! Honestly, I really disliked shooting the VP9 before. Something about how deep the beavertail area is, how much of the slide overhangs the web of the hand plus the shape of it like you mentioned. With that large extended backstrap, though, I actually like the gun now. It's not perfect but, good enough I an ignore any remaining annoyances.

I agree.....now I just gotta get the grip texture improved. No idea why they didn't use the same texture as what's on the P30.

I'm trying some Talon Grip adhesive stuff now. If I like it, I'm going to send my side panels and back strap out to have Silicon Carbide applied (I'm not a fan of stippling).