Walther PPQ is better than the VP9. In my opinion, it isn't really even close. Just picked up my P10, so not sure where it stands yet.
Better is relative... I did not care for the PPQ at all - the trigger reset, especially.
Plus, I am of the mind now that triggers that light belong on guns with thumb safeties.
That was the problem with my PPQ. The trigger became so light over time that I quit carrying it and sold it.
I had the same problem as well with the ppq I had, after a couple thousand rounds, the trigger got noticably lighter, I checked it with a trigger pull gage that the LGS I bought it from had. When new, it was 4.5 lbs, after a couple thousand rounds it got down to 3.9-4.0 lbs.. way too light for a striker fired pistol with no manual saftey, I quit carrying it, it was a accident waiting to happen.
As far as which is better, the VP9 or the P-10, I've had both, I still have the VP9, the VP9 is overly complicated internally, but, it's also had fewer problems when first released than the P-10 has had, the striker for example dosen't rotate, the slide release, and mag releases were'nt stiff or needed polishing to work acceptably, they were fine out of the box. I'd also say that internally the VP9 is finished better. It's going to be up to the buyer to decide, on the plus side, the P-10 is smaller, and is just as accurate as the VP9, the VP9's grip is almost as long as a g17, and yet holds fewer rounds. All pistols are a compromise, they all give up something to gain another, it's up to the buyer to figure out what compromises they can live with..
The internal complexity of the VP9 (and, truthfully, the desire for a hammer-fired gun) is what drove me back to CZ and the P-07. I really enjoy being able to replace parts and do basic maintenance on my guns and, with HK, I just felt like that wasn't going to happen since they do not offer their armorers course and documentation to non-LE/military folks.
David at CGW (@schmeky) has been absolutely phenomenal and encouraging in sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise with the CZ user base. Really, I see that as pretty unprecedented, at least with regard to the platforms I've had experience with.
I have to agree with you, I've never understood how HK could take a simple striker fired pistol and over complicate it to the degree that it uses 56 parts, when Glocks and the P-10 use around 34-36 parts. I guess it's because they're German and over complicating things runs in their blood..My experience with the PPQ, is in part why I went back to hammer fired guns, that and alot of good discussion over at pistol-forum, from some SME's that had alot street experience.. One thing I saw on the 'net really pushed me over to hammer fired pistols, was a dash cam video of a LEO, who after chasing this guy on a motorcycle, pulls the guy over, and accidently shot him with a Glock, from what I could figure, the stress combined with all the adrenaline of chasing this guy, and he likely had tunnel vision, he probably did'nt notice that he was gripping the pistol, and the trigger, tighter, and tighter until it went off.. had that been a DA/SA pistol, it might not have happened. That vid is also a good lesson for those folks who run light triggers on a striker fired pistol (like a PPQ) that dosen't have a manuel saftey..
I had CGW do some work on my steel framed SP-01compact, it turned out great, one thing I had done was to have the frame,barrel, slide, saftey levers, trigger, and slide stop sent off and black nitrided.. Waaay better than polycoat, and very rust resistant.. the little porker is still on the heavy side, and this is where the polymer framed guns shine, they are much easier to carry.. but it is a sweetheart to shoot. I'm not parting with it anytime soon.