Questions about the H&K P7M8

I've previously owned a P7M8. Carried it for awhile. Extremely accurate pistol due to fixed barrel and SA like trigger pull. As in "scary " accurate.

Only downside is the frame heats up, A LOT, even with as few as 2 mags fired in quick succession. The polymer M8 heatshield was supposed to correct this from the PSP, but it really didn't. Just a consequence of directly blowing gas onto the frame right above your trigger finger onto the piston that actuates the slide. Not a big deal if you're not running high count fast firing strings.

Still, it's target pistol accurate in a very concealable package. There is a reason they have a cult following.
 
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Ditto on all the above. I don’t recall seeing a police surplus P7M8, those were all PSPs that I can recall (with the heel magazine release).

In the current market I think you could easily offer about $2000 and have a good margin for re-sale.
 
Here’s a period ad, not sure that describing it as the most expensive pistol in the world is very enticing

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And my M13 LNIB

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And together with my M8

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They are truly fantastic guns imo

While you’re at it you should get the P210 too

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pawngal said:
Well, no tools for the P7. Just the instruction manual. It seemed very hard to pull the slide back, is this normal?
Commercial import, Sterling, VA.
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Well, the slide is rather slim (not "tall"), so a bit less real estate on which to gain purchase for operating the slide. Also...the slide to frame fit is quite snug. And, it *is* a blowback (albeit, a gas-delayed blowback), so it does have a rather stiff recoil spring. So, yeah...I guess it is a bit harder to pull back than other 9mm pistols.

Well, the commercial import mark isn't a negative. Generally...a gun w/o import marks will garner a bit of a premium, though I can't say how much. Depends on the buyer, I'm sure. I'd guess a model without import marks might gain 10% value? I also *believe* that I recall the Chantilly marked imports to be slightly more desirable...but I can't say why, or to what degree.
 
Bullzaye said:
... I also *believe* that I recall the Chantilly marked imports to be slightly more desirable...but I can't say why, or to what degree.
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I believe that tends to be the case, and it makes sense. I think the Chantilly-marked guns were all commercial guns which have not seen police service, and are in correspondingly better average condition.

The police surplus P7s (Nds, BMI, or both marked) all came from a batch of 13,000 which were re-purchased by HK and imported to the US for resale in 2007/08 after having been on active duty for up to 25 years. You’d expect to pay less for those just based on expected previous use and wear. I think most have HK Trussville, some HK Columbus import stamps.

The police guns have appreciated rather nicely. German officers could purchase theirs for €160 (about $240 at the time), when they hit the market here they were at $700 to 900, and now they’re $2000 plus. And some sellers are aiming for the same considerably higher asking prices of the commercial variants.
 
Early 2000's I picked up a used surplus P7 at an LGS - these were the PSP version with the heel mag-release. IIRC, I got it for ~$400, and an extra mag was almost $50 - the most I'd EVER paid for a mag!

I'd always been fascinated with the design and here was a way to get into a 'usually-over-my-budget' HK for relatively cheap.

I soon learned that yes, it got warm when shooting a lot rather quickly, but it also shot like a rifle in the accuracy department.

Carry gear is certainly not on every corner. I ordered a Avenger-design scabbard from Haugen Handgun Leather, a very long delivery time, but was very satisfied with their product.

I still carry the P7 and train with it enough that the squeeze cocker, a.k.a. 'staplegun' is not strange anymore.

Agree with friend old cop that it is a chunky piece of steel and heavy for it's dimensions. Good carry gear that keeps the grip frame area from flopping around is very important if you intend to EDC.

Many have said it was a design ahead of it's time - don't know.
If other lighter alloys had been looked into to reduce some weight, that would've been interesting - and I'm sure even more expensive.
 
Speaking of carry gear, I had a time locating a holster for this "obsolete" pistol.
 
And attaching accessories gets interesting .... :)

Bavarian state police SWAT used clamps that attached a combat light to the magazine bottom. They apparently counted on any night incident being handled before a reload was necessary.


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I purchased a PSP when they first came out. Loved the gun but not the mag release on the bottom. I ended up selling it due to the mag release. A year or two later I attended a seminar at a local sheriffs office. We were able to shoot the M13 and M8 as well as the HK rifles. I was able to buy a M13 at law enforcement pricing. It cost me a little over $ 400.

When I went to semi auto pistol instructors school I used my M13. Never had a hiccup with it. Not long after my department finally allowed autos for carry. (We had to buy our own.) We were going through the police accreditation process. I wrote our firearms policy to allow for the P7's. We didn't want to allow single action. So I copied the New Jersey State Police policy as they used M8's. NJSP are the ones who milled off their logo when they got rid of the HK's. They reportedly had a minor uprising when the state wanted to replace them with Glocks. The state relented and purchased Sig Sauers which satisfied most of the troopers.

As the head instructor for our department and academy I taught a conversion course from revolver to semi auto. Some students seemed to not quite understand my example of decocking with the P7. I then used my Sig P228 and that seemed to help them.

During this period I had gotten married and needed a bigger house. I sold my P7M13 for $ 1300 with 6 mags and a Desantis pancake holster. If I had only known.
 
Absalom said:
And attaching accessories gets interesting .... :)

Bavarian state police SWAT used clamps that attached a combat light to the magazine bottom. They apparently counted on any night incident being handled before a reload was necessary.


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If what they say about ruthless German efficiency is even half true, he/she is never going to need a reload.;)
 
I need to share just one of many examples of "I should have been slapped". Five years ago, I could have bought a set of three from a local estate for $1800.00. :o:o
 
I had a friend who looked at one hard before he bought one. He was at a Boise, ID training session, when Massad Ayubb told him the main disadvantage was that if hit in the strong hand the weak hand could be too weak to cycle it and squeeze cock it. Dave answered him respectfully he said, but he was fond of declaring as a natural lefty "I don't have a weak hand". Congratulations on your purchase, I hope you continue to be happy with it.
 
You bought two nice examples of iconic European pistols. Can't argue with that. You just needed a Steyr GB to complete the set. ;)
 
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