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Picked up a nice HK P7 PSP :):)

8K views 111 replies 47 participants last post by  steve1911 
#1 ·
The HK P7 PSP was designed in the late 1970‘s by Helmut Weldle. PSP translates to Police Self-loading Pistol in English. It was designed to equip West German police with a 9x19 pistol to replace the much weaker 7.65 (32ACP) pistols that they had been carrying. This change had been prompted by the disaster at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. As a result of the size and weight criteria established by West Germany, they adopted three different pistols (The Walther P5, the Sig P6 (P225), and the HK P7). While I own and like all three of these German police pistols, the P7 is certainly the class of the trio from a build quality and accuracy standpoint. The P5 and P6 are both solid, well built handguns, but the P7 is surely a cut above. :thumbsup:

The P7 itself was the first in a series of guns based on it. The P7M8, P7M13, P7M10, and P7K3 all came later. Heckler & Koch made some outstanding pistols over the years, but I believe this series to be their finest by a good margin. The craftsmanship is of these pistols is really impressive and I’ve always loved the design. The bore axis is among the lowest around and the 4“ fixed barrel makes hitting your intended target easy. They point very naturally for me and I enjoy shooting them.

Speaking of the design, the P7 is a gas delayed blowback. More specifically, the gas from a fired round exits the barrel through a small port and into a chamber. The pressure from the gas dampens the reward motion of the slide during recoil. This is accomplished by way of a piston under the barrel that enters the chamber filled with gas. Its a system that does a nice job in making a small, blowback 9mm very pleasant to shoot. The drawback to this system is the tremendous heat that builds due to the hot gas being held in the gun. A rapid fire session with a P7 will make the gun heat up quickly. Another take on this same design concept can be seen in the Steyr GB. While I like the Steyr, the P7 is clearly the better of the two. Outwardly, the biggest design feature of the P7 is the unique cocking system, which renders the pistol completely safe unless its gripped firmly. While it takes a bit of time to get used to, many people who carry a P7 swear by it. :cool:

The last of the P7 Series guns were discontinued about a decade ago due to manufacturing costs and the fact that the gunsmiths building them were aging and approaching retirement. The P7 was the last steel pistol HK was building before going all polymer. The stellar build quality, coupled with the fact that they will never be made again have sent prices through the roof in recent times.

This particular example was built in 1985 and is in outstanding condition, with some very light holster wear. There are no scratches, dings, or rust anywhere on the gun. The aftermarket finely checkered wood grips are flawless and beautiful to look at with some nice grain patterns. Also included with the pistol is the original box, extra mag, and cleaning brush. The scraper is missing, but I have one for my P7M8. I also have the original grips, which are in perfect shape. However, I like the look of the wood grips more, so they’re staying in place. It also came with a manual, but its a later book and not original to the pistol. Upon field stripping the gun, it is extremely clean and the bore is mint. I got the entire package for $1200 OTD, so I was pretty happy, especially considering how prices are going north. I also own the P7M8, which is very similar. However, I’m a big enough fan of the series to have both of them. :)

Other than that, I’m just really looking forward to getting this pistol to the range and putting it through its paces. The P7 is a high performing handgun and never disappoints. Besides the awesome build quality, good trigger, and outstanding inherent accuracy, I’m a huge bore axis guy, so I love guns like this that much more. This pistol feels like an extension of my hand more than perhaps anything else I own.

At any rate, enough rambling. Who here is a fan of the P7? How many other owners do we have on GT? :dunno:

As always, please enjoy the pics and share your thoughts on my latest.

Thanks! :supergrin:































Here it is with my P7M8 and P7M10. The only other model I want is the M13 to complete my collection. :rock:


 
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#40 · (Edited)
I'm a big fan of the P7. I had an older, well-worn model that was my favorite for a long time. Last year, I had a chance to get one in the same condition as the one yr showing us here, so I traded up. $1200 seems to be the going price. I got $800 for my beater on the trade. I would have rather kept it, but I was short on funds, and you don't see a lot of nice ones for sale anymore. Mine was made in '86 and has a tad less wear on the finish. I plan to just leave it stock and enjoy it until it needs a new finish, then we'll see. I like the looks of the nickel-finished guns too.
 
#42 ·
I'm a big fan of the P7. I had an older, well-worn model that was my favorite for a long time. Last year, I had a chance to get one in the same condition as the one yr showing us here, so I traded up. $1200 seems to be the going price. I got $800 for my beater on the trade. I would have rather kept it, but I was short on funds, and you don't see a lot of nice ones for sale anymore.
No, they're getting harder and harder to find in nice shape.
 
#43 ·
I wanted one of those back in the day. I handled one but never fired one. I think it is one of the great concepts of handguns-combination of size, power, readiness.

I would still like to have one. Kinda out of my budget and focus, but I am glad that folks like the OP collect, preserve and shoot these masterpieces.
 
#44 ·
Nice wood graining on those grips. The P7s are definitely my favourite HKs (though P9s are close).

I prefer the single stacks as well, so picked up an M8, but would like to add an M13. The M10 is interesting from a collectors perspective for sure because they are rare, but its execution was not compatible with the intent of the original design. I held one a few years ago and the first word that came to mind was 'abomination'.

I"m liking the clean design of the original P7 and PSP. I've never had issues with the heel mag releases, and for the pistol's intended use, less to catch on clothing etc..

 
#45 · (Edited)
Yeah, I remember seeing it, Gino. Very cool indeed :cool:

No, they aren't as svelte and I actually prefer the PSP and M8 over the M13 and, especially the M10 (I really don't care much for the M10, but I still own one). However, the M13 was Han's Gruber's gun. I need to have it for the collection. ;)

The M13 is still a damn cool pistol, thick or not.
I just saw a nice M13 in factory nickel (or so he says) on Armslist. He wanted $2500 w/5mags and other original stuff. If it is factory nickel, that's a tempting price (not great but good IMO) as it looks perfect from the pics.

Edit: This guy is newly registered so I'd tread lightly. Definitely get some references.
 
#48 · (Edited)
Bac, I have a P7. Most accurate 9mm I own. Very reliable. Beautifully made. The firing system is problematic in that if the shooter is poorly trained and has their finger on the trigger when activating the front cocking piece there is a very real possibility of an accidental discharge. The Beretta M13 submachine gun has a safety on the front of the grip and suffers from the same ergonomic issue. Don't ask me how I know...

As a working handgun it’s too heavy for the amount of ammo it carries, and, of course, that pesky training issue. None the less, it’s a really nice handgun and a great range gun.

Enjoy!

Oh, one last thing. Thirty years ago Ken Hackathorn showed a bunch of us at a training venue a method for reloading the P7 with its heel-release. Hard to explain, but I'll try;

Non-shooting hand grabs spare mag.
Non-shooting hand finds shooting hand (which has P7 in it, duh..)
Upraised thumb of non-shooting hand activates mag release.
Mag is dumped and fresh mag is inserted into magazine well in a flash.

Faster and more positive than the "Browning" side magazine release we all know and love in the States.
 
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#49 ·
All true. It's a great toy though, which is all that matters to a civilian like me.

I learned to exchange mags the way you describe too, just trial and error. They're small enough I can swap them out quickly. I bring the fresh mag up to the butt in my left hand, eject with left thumb. The mags aren't drop-free, so at one point, I have both mags in my left hand, which could be problematic in a fight. I suppose if I was stressed and in a hurry, I'd just fling the spent one away. The grip angle and the angle of the mag are so different, getting the loaded one in is the most difficult step for me.

If I never shot anything else, the squeeze cocker would be more of a plus, but I consciously have to think about using it properly. I like that I can drop the slide with it though. There's no way I could field strip the thing under pressure. I'm always fumbling with it when I'm cleaning. It takes me a while to get everything lined up properly to get the slide re-assembled.
 
#51 ·
Other than GB is there any place you could find a example like the old police turn-ins that works well but may have cosmetics not up to show quality?? aka a piece that would WORK 100% and be CC friendly??

Im still hesitant to mess with GB after trying it 1 time and getting ripped off 1 time..
 
#54 ·
The desigN with modern CNC and perhaps a ceramic gas chamber inlay to reduce temp on hand would be a great run for a boutique gun maker... The trigger pull on the P7 series is above average and a fixed barrel is sexy type of accurate.
 
#56 ·
You always have the best pictures BAC. I always look forward to your new additions to your collection.
 
#60 ·
The HK P7 PSP was designed in the late 1970‘s by Helmut Weldle. PSP translates to Police Self-loading Pistol in English. It was designed to equip West German police with a 9x19 pistol to replace the much weaker 7.65 (32ACP) pistols that they had been carrying. This change had been prompted by the disaster at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. As a result of the size and weight criteria established by West Germany, they adopted three different pistols (The Walther P5, the Sig P6 (P225), and the HK P7). While I own and like all three of these German police pistols, the P7 is certainly the class of the trio from a build quality and accuracy standpoint. The P5 and P6 are both solid, well built handguns, but the P7 is surely a cut above. :thumbsup:

The P7 itself was the first in a series of guns based on it. The P7M8, P7M13, P7M10, and P7K3 all came later. Heckler & Koch made some outstanding pistols over the years, but I believe this series to be their finest by a good margin. The craftsmanship is of these pistols is really impressive and I’ve always loved the design. The bore axis is among the lowest around and the 4“ fixed barrel makes hitting your intended target easy. They point very naturally for me and I enjoy shooting them.

Speaking of the design, the P7 is a gas delayed blowback. More specifically, the gas from a fired round exits the barrel through a small port and into a chamber. The pressure from the gas dampens the reward motion of the slide during recoil. This is accomplished by way of a piston under the barrel that enters the chamber filled with gas. Its a system that does a nice job in making a small, blowback 9mm very pleasant to shoot. The drawback to this system is the tremendous heat that builds due to the hot gas being held in the gun. A rapid fire session with a P7 will make the gun heat up quickly. Another take on this same design concept can be seen in the Steyr GB. While I like the Steyr, the P7 is clearly the better of the two. Outwardly, the biggest design feature of the P7 is the unique cocking system, which renders the pistol completely safe unless its gripped firmly. While it takes a bit of time to get used to, many people who carry a P7 swear by it. :cool:

The last of the P7 Series guns were discontinued about a decade ago due to manufacturing costs and the fact that the gunsmiths building them were aging and approaching retirement. The P7 was the last steel pistol HK was building before going all polymer. The stellar build quality, coupled with the fact that they will never be made again have sent prices through the roof in recent times.

This particular example was built in 1985 and is in outstanding condition, with some very light holster wear. There are no scratches, dings, or rust anywhere on the gun. The aftermarket finely checkered wood grips are flawless and beautiful to look at with some nice grain patterns. Also included with the pistol is the original box, extra mag, and cleaning brush. The scraper is missing, but I have one for my P7M8. I also have the original grips, which are in perfect shape. However, I like the look of the wood grips more, so they’re staying in place. It also came with a manual, but its a later book and not original to the pistol. Upon field stripping the gun, it is extremely clean and the bore is mint. I got the entire package for $1200 OTD, so I was pretty happy, especially considering how prices are going north. I also own the P7M8, which is very similar. However, I’m a big enough fan of the series to have both of them. :)

Other than that, I’m just really looking forward to getting this pistol to the range and putting it through its paces. The P7 is a high performing handgun and never disappoints. Besides the awesome build quality, good trigger, and outstanding inherent accuracy, I’m a huge bore axis guy, so I love guns like this that much more. This pistol feels like an extension of my hand more than perhaps anything else I own.

At any rate, enough rambling. Who here is a fan of the P7? How many other owners do we have on GT? :dunno:

As always, please enjoy the pics and share your thoughts on my latest.

Thanks! :supergrin:































Here it is with my P7M8 and P7M10. The only other model I want is the M13 to complete my collection. :rock:


:wow:

Love the wood grips on the new addition!
 
#64 ·
I was told buy a dealer a few years ago that while many of the German police surplus PSPs that made there way over here show holster and finish wear, internally they are generally in excellent condition. Apparently the training regime was very different with the German police (at least when the PSPs were in circulation), compared to US counterparts. I gather they would only train with them sporadically or a few times a year so the PSPs had lower round counts than one would expect.
 
#69 ·
Very nice Brian!

The GSG9 also used the P7(M13) shortly - until they practiced house clearing drills and the cocking/decocking noise was considered a give-away. I used to shoot the P7s of friends quite a lot and always found them very accurate and easy to shoot.
 
#76 ·
Thanks M5 :cool:

This was local, actually. It really caught my eye and I got a nice deal considering the condition and extra grips. :thumbsup:

I know the squeeze cocking function isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I don't mind it. Its the build quality, bore axis, and accuracy is what really draws me to the P7, however.
 
#78 · (Edited)
Great pistol!

Your P7 was in service at the German Bundeswehr and the State Police of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony).

The BWB marking is the marking for military issued firerarms in Germany. BWB stands for Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (federal agency for defense technology).

P7 PSP was used by German military police and air force, as a defense weapon for pilots.
German Bundeswehr replaced most P7 by the HK P8 in den 90's.

Second user was state police of Lower Saxony (NDS marking), which issued the P7 in the late 70's or early 80's and additional bought those replaced P7's from the BWB.
Lower Saxony police replaced the P7 and issued HK P2000 in 2001.


The P7 PSP is still in use by Bavarian State Police, you could see some at media pictures from Munich shooting rampage yesterday.

I own a P7 M13 and I love it!
 
#79 ·
Great Pistol!

Your P7 was in service at the German Bundeswehr and the State Police of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony).

The BWB marking is the marking for military issued firerarms in Germany. BWB stands for Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (federal agency for defense technology).

P7 PSP was used by German military police and air force, as a defense weapon for pilots.
German Bundeswehr replaced most P7 by the HK P8 in den 90's.

Second user was state police of Lower Saxony (NDS marking), which issued the P7 in the late 70's or early 80's and additional bought those replaced P7's from the BWB.
Lower Saxony police replaced the P7 and issued HK P2000 in 2001.


The P7 PSP is still in use by Bavarian State Police, you could see some at media pictures from Munich shooting rampage yesterday.

I own a P7 M13 and I love it!
Thanks for chiming in from Germany. :cool:

Yeah, I knew the NDS marking, but I had no idea of the other one. Thanks for clarifying. Looks like I have an M13 headed my way in the upcoming weeks as well. :)
 
#85 ·
Very nice - looks to be in great condition.
 
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