Heckler & Koch has clearly been listening to its customers because the company is highlighting three products at SHOT Show 2025 that we’ve been asking to see for a long time.
First, and my personal favorite, is the HK CC9 sub-compact 9mm pistol. People have been asking for an HK micro carry pistol for years. It’s a striker-fired design with an overall width that’s less than 1 inch. It uses either a 10-round flush-fit magazine or a 12-round extended mag.
With the 12-round magazine, I can just fit my entire medium-large hand on the gun, making it about the size of a SIG Sauer P365 XL. One noteworthy grip feature is the replaceable backstraps, which are increasingly uncommon for CCW guns now.
Controls are fully ambidextrous. It comes as an optics-ready option and includes night sights. The slide serrations and grip texture are good. Disassembly is simple and exposes a standard Browning-style tilting action.
I think the real standout feature is the great trigger. CCW pistols usually focus on concealability at the expense of shootability. HK clearly wanted to make a shootable pistol that was also concealable. At SHOT Show’s Industry Day at the Range, I was pleasantly surprised by how soft shooting and accurate it was. The great trigger and grip made it easy to make precise shots at a distance.
After feeling it and believing it will have that legendary HK reliability and build quality, I predict it will be a winner in 2025.
VP9A1 Pistol
The next new HK product is an upgrade to the VP9 line. The VP9 is a beloved striker-fired pistol, but it suffered from outdated features. HK has now brought it into the 21st century with the new HK VP9A1.
The most obvious and requested upgrade is the addition of an optics-mounting capability. Red dots are here to stay, and HK has updated the VP9 accordingly.
Next, the finger grooves were eliminated. While they work for many shooters, there are some who just plain hate them. Slide serrations were also improved for a better grip during manipulations. The magazine well was widened, and mag base plates were changed to help with magazine clearance.
Finally, the already great VP9 trigger was smoothed out even further by coating the trigger components with nickel-Teflon. All these new features, combined with the established reliability and accuracy of the VP9 platform, will make it a contender again in the pistol market.
The new guns will come as both a full-sized VP9A1 F and compact VP9A1 K model. Buyers can also choose between an optics-ready format or one already equipped with a factory-installed red dot.
MR A4 Rifle
Lastly, HK introduced the MR A4, the updated commercial version of the short-stroke gas-piston HK416 rifle made famous by elite operators worldwide.
The biggest change for me was the overall lightening of the gun. HK has taken a pound of weight out of the system. I always thought the previous versions were front heavy. The MR A4 is better balanced and more comfortable because of the redesigned handguard.
Other improvements include an adjustable gas block, refined upper and lower fit, completely ambidextrous controls, M-LOK slots, QD attachment points, new grip, and new buttstock.
One thing I couldn’t believe was the accuracy guarantee. The rifle must shoot 1 MOA with a 10-shot group. Most companies use a three-shot group. Not only that, but when its rifles shoot a 2-MOA group, you can send it back for a new barrel because HK believes 2 MOA is unacceptable. That is truly exceptional.
Finally, there will be a rifle and pistol configuration for the 5.56 NATO models.
