Langdon Tactical Technology HK VP9A1 F: Full Review

By Guns & Ammo Staff

Heckler & Koch introduced the VP9 in Guns & Ammo’s September 2014 issue, and it quickly became a big success. HK then released an improved A1 version in January 2025 that included the full-size VP9A1 F and compact VP9A1 K model. However, you know America: We haven’t met anything we couldn’t improve. Enter Langdon Tactical Technology (LTT).

LTT is helmed by Ernest Langdon. As a U.S. Marine, Langdon served as the chief instructor of the 2nd Marine Division Scout/Sniper School and High Risk Personnel Course, and was the platoon sergeant for a close quarters battle (CQB), designated marksman (DM) and a scout/sniper platoon. In the firearms industry, he became a Grand Master Class-rated USPSA shooter and a Distinguished Master in IDPA with 10 National Champion titles and 12 World Speed Shooting titles. Perhaps his fame came from the incredible trigger job work he performed on Beretta’s 92-series pistols in the early 2000s. However, LTT expanded its handiwork to include other brands and platforms. It is one of the fastest-­growing specialty gun companies in the U.S. Enter the HK VP9A1 F 9mm sent to G&A for testing.

The A1 Update

The VP9 is a polymer-­framed, striker-­fired 9mm pistol with a 17-plus-one capacity. HK subsequently increased the capacity of flush magazines to 17 and developed 20-round extended mags for its A1 F model, and cut the slide to accept an optic.

With the new-for-2025 A1 series, HK eliminated the three finger grooves at the front of the frame, making it so you can adjust the reach to the trigger with backstraps, and added an integral magazine well to the frame. The trigger pull was also improved, featuring a nickel-­Teflon coating on the trigger bar. 

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Serrations were cut on the slide and frame for the thumb of your support hand, the contours of the magazine release were tweaked, and the magazine basepads were altered to strip magazines easier if necessary. The pistol doesn’t say “A1”, but the lack of finger grooves and the flare of the magazine well at the bottom of the frame are clear indicators.

The full-­size (F) version of the VP9A1 stretches the barrel from 4.09 to 4.53 inches. Overall, the VP9A1 F is 7.76-inches long, 5.46-inches tall, and 1.3-inches wide. With an empty magazine, it weighs 23.2 ounces (no optic). Lower-capacity 10- and 15-round versions are available for restricted states, but G&A’s sample was supplied with one flush 17-­round and an extended 20-­round magazine.

The hammer-­forged barrel and the slide sport HK’s corrosion-­resistant “hostile environment finish,” as it’s described, featuring aggressive flat-­bottomed serrations that cover almost half of the surface. At the rear of the slide, polymer “wings” remain. HK calls them “charging supports,” but they are polymer ridges that stick out from the rear of the slide under the rear sight behind the rear slide serrations. These are useful for those with reduced hand strength.

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HK is offering versions of the VP9A1 with Holosun SCS optics. On the base optic-­ready model, standard sights are a high-­visibility tritium front with a black-­out rear notch. If you buy a new pistol with the optic installed, blacked-­out rear sights are standard. 

The SCS sits low enough on the slide that you align factory sights through it, but if you buy the optic-­ready version and mount one to it, those factory sights sit too low to be seen with most other optics. HK offers mounting plates for just about every available optic footprint, though.

The VP9A1 has a bilateral paddle magazine release at the rear of the triggerguard. Medium-­size side panels and backstrap are also standard. With the A1, HK offers four backstraps: S, M, M EXT, and L EXT. “EXT” versions offer additional material under the web of the hand to increase the reach to the trigger.

LTT Upgrades

While LTT does stock and offer pistols, it is a custom shop. They will perform work on customer-­supplied guns. Langdon and LTT are known for taming tough double-action (DA)/single-action (SA) triggers, and an improved trigger pull is the heart of the LTT HK VP9A1 models. LTT replaces the trigger with a Grayguns unit, either a flat or a so-called “hybrid” that sports just a slight curve. Both have a flat face. G&A’s test gun had the flat trigger, which is made of aluminum. The standard pivoting safety lever is still in the center of the shoe. Grayguns’ trigger design reduced pre-travel and overtravel, and then LTT does a trigger job before polishing critical surfaces.

The standard VP9 trigger pull wasn’t especially heavy, but it isn’t short. The trigger pull on G&A’s LTT HK VP9A1 was significantly shorter. Take-­up was short, and the trigger fired at 90 degrees — crisp, smooth, and clean. There was no overtravel. As soon as the trigger tripped the striker, it stopped moving. Reset was very short, as well. Total pull weight was a crisp 33/4 pounds, which allowed evaluators shoot to the pistol’s potential.

As part of the package, LTT replaces the factory sights with XS Sights’ backup sights that work for optics with medium heights, including the Trijicon RMR and Holosun 507C X2. Taller factory HK sights are also offered and work best with optics that have taller deck heights, such as the Holosun 509T X2 and the Trijicon SRO.

You can also choose to have LTT mount an Aimpoint Acro P-2 or Holosun optic of choice with the optic discounted versus retail. LTT will replace the factory mounting plate with one from C&H Precision. The machined aluminum mounting plates from C&H are highly regarded — they are the preferred choice of the Gunsite Gunsmithy (finksguns.com), for instance — and allow the lowest possible mount on the slide. LTT mounts the optic with precision and secures the fasteners with blue Loctite. Witness marks on the mounting screws are indicated by a blue paint pen mark to verify that screws haven’t loosened since being installed. G&A’s test pistol came from LTT with XS Sights and a C&H mounting plate for an RMR footprint. A Trijicon RMR RM06 Type 2 with 3.25-MOA dot was used for accuracy testing the LTT HK VP9A1 at 25 yards.

The VP9A1 F is a big pistol, perhaps bigger than most people would want to carry. It is suitable for competition or home defense, though, especially with the 20-­round magazine installed. If you need a compact version for carry, consider the LTT HK VP9A1 K. 

At The Range

During testing, the LTT HK VP9A1 F was completely reliable. The LTT trigger work made this full-size piece predictable to group with and a joy to shoot. HK pistols are known for reliability and durability, but they’re nothing short of accurate. That reputation was simply enhanced with what we saw in our test sample.

Parting Shot

HK did an excellent job of updating the VP9 with the A1 feature set. A few areas good enough for stock guns were addressed for discriminating shooters by LTT. If you’re looking for a striker-­fired gun with excellent reliability, accuracy and handling, the standard VP9A1 is a solid choice. LTT’s version is even better, and it’s a one-­stop c­ustom shop. 

Langdon Tactical Technology HK VP9A1 F

• Type: Recoil operated, striker fire, semiautomatic
• Cartridge: 9mm
• Capacity: 17 + 1 rds., 20 + 1 rds.
• Barrel: 4.53 in.
• Length: 7.76 in.
• Height: 5.46 in.
• Width: 1.3 in.
• Weight: 1 lb., 7.2 oz.
• Slide: Steel
• Frame: Polymer, black
• Sights: Notch, black (rear), XS Sights, tritium (front)
• Trigger: 3 lbs., 12 oz. (tested)
• Safety: Firing pin, trigger lever
• Accessories: One 17-­ and one 20-­round magazine, four backstraps, three grip-panel sets, C&H optic plate, soft case, cable lock
• MSRP: $1,323 (tested)
• MANUFACTURER: Heckler & Koch, 706-­568-­1906, hk-­usa.com
• CUSTOM SHOP: Langdon Tactical Technology, 571-­385-­2979, langdontactical.com