At seven yards, 13 of 18 rounds made it to the paper with the VP70. The P7 went 16-for-16, although I could have done a better job. I forgot I had optimized the P7's spring rate for 100gr defense loads, so it kicked more, and I had to make some minor adjustments in my shooting stance for the second magazine. When by brain functions properly, the P7 can keep all the rounds in the black, even with my meager skills.
The VP70 was just a truck with bad springs. I could get used to the 20-pound trigger pull, which was fairly consistent. But the trigger finger also cocks that hugh recoil spring, which is of unknown, but heavy, power.
Being a straight blowback, too, the VP70 provides a real slap to the hand in both directions that heavy slide moves. The grip-cocking mechanism and retarded blowback of the P7 makes for a much more pleasant shooting experience, until the gas cylinder just above your trigger finger gets too hot to tolerate after about four magazines of rapid fire. The VP70 could probably fire around the clock with no problems, buy my hand said "uncle" after 36 rounds.
The clear winner, and my favorite 9mm handgun, is the H&K P7. But the VP70 is an interesting piece, and an evolutionary example of something H&K almost got right. Still happy to have it in the collection.