7 Oct 16

ā€œFlakeā€ Magazine-Release Lever:

Weā€™ve see a number of H&Kā€™s Glock-like VP9 Pistols in Defensive Pistol Classes recently. All have run well, and the pistolā€™s ergonomics are pleasing. It represents a very acceptable carry-gun.

However, one ā€œfeatureā€ of the VP9 can be an issue, and that it the pistolā€™s ambidextrous magazine-release ā€œlever.ā€

Most modern defensive pistols have a magazine-release ā€œbuttonā€ on the left side of the frame, just to the rear of the trigger-guard. This represents the ā€œWesternā€ style, and it has been adopted by Glock, SIG, FN, Walther, Kahr, Ruger, et al.

H&Kā€™s VP9 pistol is the exception.

The VP9 retains the ā€œEuropeanā€ style of magazine release, which is a ā€œflake,ā€ or lever incorporated into the rear of the trigger guard, on both sides (ambidextrous).

For one, I prefer the button over the lever, but mostly because that is what I am accustomed to. The learning-curve in getting used to the lever-release is surely well within the intellect of all of us.

But, there is a technique for using the lever that I consider overly dangerous, and thus not recommended.

Many right-handers equipped with this pistol, release the magazine with their right index-finger (trigger-finger). This puts the trigger-finger too close to the trigger, and it is thus too easy to inadvertently press the trigger with sufficient pressure to discharge the gun, while youā€™re trying to release the magazine! In fact, this incorrect procedure is so dangerous, I, for one, donā€™t permit it on my range.

The magazine needs to be released using the right thumb, not the right index-finger, much as is the case with a Western-style button-release.

Of course, not everyone agrees!

But, in my opinion, we have enough UDs with pistols as it is, without fairly inviting one!

ā€œBeing right half the time beats being half-right all the time.ā€

Malcolm Forbes

/John