| Heckler & Koch VP70 | |
|---|---|
 VP70Z variant | |
| Type | Machine pistol |
| Place of origin |
 West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1970 |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
| Produced | 1970–1989 |
| Variants | VP70Z |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 820 grams (28.9 oz) empty |
| Length | 204 millimetres (8.0 in) |
| Barrel length | 116 millimetres (4.6 in) |
| Height | 142 millimetres (5.6 in) |
|
| |
| Cartridge |
9×19mm Parabellum 9×21mm IMI (VP70Z only) |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | 2200 rounds/min (3-round burst mode) |
| Effective firing range | 50 m |
| Feed system | 18 round box magazine |
The VP70 is a 9 mm, 18-round, double action only, semi-automatic/three-round burst capable polymer frame pistol manufactured by German arms firm Heckler & Koch GmbH. VP stands for Volkspistole[1][2][3] (literally "People's Pistol"), and the designation 70 was for the year of the first edition: 1970.
Design[]
It was the first polymer-framed pistol and predates the Glock 17 by 12 years. The weapon weighed 820 g (28.9 oz) unloaded, lighter than most other metal framed pistols of the time. Although it was the first polymer pistol, the Remington Nylon 66 rifle introduced in 1959 was the first polymer-framed firearm in production.
One unique feature of this weapon involved the combination stock/holster for the martial version of the VP70. The stock incorporates a selector switch that, when mounted, allows selective fire. Cyclic rate of fire for the three-round burst is 2200 rounds per minute. When not mounted, the stock acts as a holster. The VP70 uses a spring-loaded striker like a Glock, instead of a conventional firing pin. It is double action only so the trigger pull is relatively heavy. In lieu of a blade front sight, the VP70 uses a polished ramp with a central notch in the middle to provide the illusion of a dark front post. Contrary to a common misconception, the VP70 does indeed have a manual safety. It is the circular button located immediately behind the trigger and is a common crossblock safety.
Variants[]
VP70Z with magazine.
The handgun comes in two varieties. The "Z" (Zivil, civilian) variant is a semiautomatic only version, and although many have no provision to mount a stock, some of them can have a stock fitted after minor alterations to the handgrip (however they remain semiautomatic only); the "M" (Militär, military) variant is burst capable. The VP70 was produced from 1970 until 1989. Four hundred VP70-Z pistols were made chambered in 9×21mm IMI; these samples were made primarily for the civilian market of Italy, where the use of the 9×19mm Parabellum is a sole privilege of military and law enforcement agencies. All of the VP70-Z pistols sold in Italy can mount the stock-holster but are not selective-fire capable.
Users[]
References[]
- ↑ Kersten, Manfred; Schmid, Walter (1999) (in German). HK- Die Offizielle Geschichte der Oberndorfer Firma Heckler & Koch [The Official History of the Oberndorf Firm Heckler & Koch]. Weispfennig. ISBN 978-3000050916.
- ↑ David Higginbotham. "The HK VP70 The First Polymer Framed Pistol". Guns.com. http://www.guns.com/2012/08/28/the-hk-vp70-the-first-polymer-framed-pistol/. Retrieved 2013-11-10. "HK says the VP [...] means Volks Pistole or People’s Pistol [...] This is where another (erroneous) name for the pistol comes from. Vollautomatische Pistole."
- ↑ Jack Lewis (12 September 2007). The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons. Gun Digest Books. pp. 250–. ISBN 978-1-4402-2652-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=HyF_GKQdPXgC&pg=PA250. "Around 1970, Heckler & Koch developed the selective-fire VP70 (VolksPistole: People's Pistol) with the reported hope that it would be chosen to arm village militias in Vietnam."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- HKPro.com: Heckler & Koch VP70
- Modern Firearms: Heckler und Koch VP 70
- Heckler & Koch VP 70Z Specifications
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The original article can be found at Heckler & Koch VP70 and the edit history here.