My 'grail' pistol, HK P7

American1776 · Apr 15, 2015

For many years I've wanted an HK P7. Prices and other considerations kept me from getting one of these cool pistols.

I watched over a 4 year period as prices went from costly, to ridiculous, to other-worldly. The writing is on the wall, and I knew that these aren't ever going down in price. Now is the time to get one before prices become beyond affordable.

After several attempts at several auctions, I finally hit one for 1100 and change. It looks to be a former German police gun, with very little wear inside. Came with two mags, box, brush, and manual. My local FFL had a new mag, so I left with 3 mags total. The gas piston has sharp ridges, with just a little carbon build-up on the last flange. Slide operates smoothly, feed ramp looks new.

I'm already a fan of this model. It's highly compact while still having all the good traits of a full size service pistol.

Any tips or general advice from other HK P7 owners?

M29since14 · Apr 15, 2015

No tips or advice - never owned one - but congratulations on the new weapon. I got nomenclature mixed up a bit and opened your thread thinking someone considered a VP70Z his grail gun and had bought one. P7 "a little bit different," of course.

American1776 · Apr 15, 2015

M29since14 said:
No tips or advice - never owned one - but congratulations on the new weapon. I got nomenclature mixed up a bit and opened your thread thinking someone considered a VP70Z his grail gun and had bought one. P7 "a little bit different," of course.

Thanks.

You know, I've looked at the VP70Z (not as a grail, of course) as an interesting looking 'space-gun', and thought it'd be cool to have one day. The only concern I'd have is that the early polymer formula may de-polymerize rather rapidly, and that those 70's and 80's made guns may soon be unsafe to use.

This P7 is an engineering marvel, in my own opinion.

Modified · Apr 15, 2015

American1776 said:
Any tips or general advice from other HK P7 owners?

Mine is my favorite Semi Auto to shoot, but I will say it heats up something fierce. If you plan on a range day with it be sure to bring something else to shoot so you can let it cool down a bit.

Or buy 2 more and cycle through them

Here's mine:

American1776 · Apr 15, 2015

SixgunStrumpet said:
Mine is my favorite Semi Auto to shoot, but I will say it heats up something fierce. If you plan on a range day with it be sure to bring something else to shoot so you can let it cool down a bit.

Or buy 2 more and cycle through them

Here's mine:

Your M8 variant looks great. The prices of the M8/M13 versions are extreme. I predict that the the P7 versions are going to be just as costly in only a few years from now. It's why I got one now.

howiema · Apr 15, 2015

I just recently got one also and in this link a member wrote an article on the P7 and it is a great read.

Enjoy it as I do.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/418899-new-hk-p7-m8.html

Shorty 45 MK2 · Apr 15, 2015

Congrats on your newest!

They are very neat pistols. No tips as I haven't owned or shot one, but will help justify the price. Two words, Colt Python.

ColbyBruce · Apr 15, 2015

I liked my HK P7 PSP so much I bought my son one

Both of these are commercial models. Mine is marked "PSP", made in 1997. My son's is a early 1980s model.

colt_saa · Apr 15, 2015

Congratulations on the new addition

These pistols are Exceptionally accurate.

The other thing, as already stated, they get warm rather fast.

I have had my PSP for several decades now. I recently replaced the discolored plastic grips with the nice HK Logo grips that Nills makes, I just need to do a new photo

XAVMECH · Apr 15, 2015

German Staple-gun

I prefer to shoot mine in the winter, it is a wonderful hand warmer. These HK's have an amazing history and are quite a unique technology...

ColbyBruce · Apr 15, 2015

Oh yeah, be aware

People, total strangers, will approach you at the range and ask to shoot it.

Muley Gil · Apr 15, 2015

When I was in Kosovo, my police station commander was a German lieutenant. When he went on leave, I offered to clean it for him.

Of course, the week he was gone I was working as a firearms intructor and had access to unlimited ammo.

It was extremely accurate. As we wound up shooting in the snow part of the week, getting warm didn't bother me.

When my buddy got back, I had it cleaned up nicely.

dmar · Apr 15, 2015

Congratulations, great looking P7!

The P7 is one of the memorable "shoulda bought it when I had the chance" guns. About 5 years ago my LGS had a real nice one, in the box. I liked it, my buddy at the LGS said they were sought after, but I really didn't know much about it at the time.

I went home, read about it, and went back two days later. Of course, it was gone... Looks like I could have more than doubled my money, had I bought it then! Oh well, it happens. This being said, cool gun, but it's not really on my wish list.

Hope you enjoy yours!!

BucknBronco · Apr 15, 2015

I'm the proud owner of a P7 PSP, purchased new in 1983 (manufactured in 1981); it was my first 9mm.

I actually took my P7 to the range today, and fired 108 rounds through it (full carry mag + two boxes of ammo). My P7 is still increadibly accurate, and fun to shoot. The P7 is likely the 'safest' pistol you can own, but you'll need to practice to be proficient handling it, as it's different from all other firearms.

The uniqueness, safety factor, low bore center, fixed barrel, etc. is why I chose it for a home protection and carry weapon.

The one thing you're sure to learn, is there's good reason for the P7 M8 having the heat shield above the trigger guard. Mine was getting very warm (read hot) and uncomfortable to shoot after 100 rounds in ~20-25 minutes. Never stopped me from shooting it, but it's a factor to consider.

Enjoy your P7!

Don Hume makes nice holsters for the P7... model H720 O.T. 25-1. I have/use one.

Double-O-Dave · Apr 15, 2015

I remember reading about the P-7 in a gun magazine in the early 1980s and immediately wanted one. Of course, time, money and circumstances made me forgo the dream until several years ago when I was able to buy one of the West German Police turn-ins (P-7, PSP). It is a fantastic pistol to own and shoot, and it truly is an engineering marvel. Forum member Nyeti recently wrote an outstanding article on the P-7 line, and it is well worth your time to study his articles:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/418899-new-hk-p7-m8.html#post138404426

Advice: 1) holsters can be hard to very difficult to find - unless you are okay with a generic nylon holster. The Bianchi Avenger is an outstanding OWB holster, and can sometime be found on the on-line auction sites. You can occasionally find one of the West German Police holsters for sale, and they are serviceable, but pretty heavy and not designed for concealment. 2) Ammo - stay away from cast bullets and use FMJ or plated ammo only. 3) Shooting - once the squeeze cocker is fully depressed, you only need a minimal force to keep the squeeze cocker depressed and ready to fire. Shortly after I bought my P-7, I was shooting it at a local indoor shooting range. I was shooting it fine, but all of my shots were grouped to the right of the bullseye. One of the rangemasters suggested I lighten up on my grip, and after doing so, all of my shots magically chewed out the "X" ring. Turns out the rangemaster was a former cop who had been issued a P-7, M-8, and he told me that the heavy squeeze on the grip cocker was a sign of a newbie shooting the piece.

The manual of arms for the P-7 is quite unique, and more than one firearms authority has suggested if you wish to carry the P-7 for self defense, you make it the only semi-auto you carry and use.

Best regards,

Dave

wx7b · Apr 16, 2015

I also bought a German surplus PSP a few years ago, is a joy to shoot. Love the crisp trigger, and is actually easy to carry concealed in an IWB holster. Thanks to all for the nice pics and comments.

sigp220.45 · Apr 16, 2015

For a while BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) issued them to their Special Agents. I knew a guy in Montana who had one. I bet they had to fight him to get it back.

billwill · Apr 17, 2015

They are great guns. What else can you buy that lets you shoot a fantastic pistol and cook your bratwurst while you reload your mags.

smithman 10 · Apr 17, 2015

I agree with Double-O-Dave on making it your only semi-auto if you carry it.

I shot one that belonged to a buddy just a few days ago. Lot's of fun, real interesting but so different from everything else I own I'd be afraid to carry it. So it would just turn into a every once in a while range gun for me.

On the other hand, a fellow I used to shoot IDPA with shot one match after match and always scored close to the top.

PALADIN85020 · Apr 17, 2015

The H&K P7 is both innovative and practical as a 9mm carry gun. I got mine some years ago in its original box, imported from Lower Saxony in Germany, where it was a police pistol. It was in excellent shape.

The photo below illustrates the complete "kit" for gun - box, instruction manual, protective plastic bag, cleaning brush, and (most important) the scraper for the gas cylinder. If you shoot it much, you'll find it absolutely necessary. My kit was missing the scraper, so I ordered one - they are available from Midway.

H&K customer service was very helpful on information about this particular gun, and e-mailing them will pay you dividends.

I devoted a chapter in my book 101 Classic Firearms to this gun, and you may find that helpful as well.

The gun is reliable, accurate, and quick into action. An added bonus is that someone who is unfamiliar with it may take a while to figure it out - think about a takeaway in a struggle with a bad guy - should not happen, but it could.

John

My 'grail' pistol, HK P7

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