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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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#88 ·
My two PSPs.

The 1987 on top is the later model while the 1982 at the bottom is a transition model. The 1982 model has the flush fit heel mag release instead of the older lever mag release that sticks out more prominently BUT it doesn't have the slope of the back strap of the older 1987 model. The problem with the 1982 model is that Nill grips won't fit it. Nill makes grips for the older lever mag release and the newer flush fit mag release, but not for the transition model.

Bac's 1985 model is of the later model like my 1987.

The middle photo shows the flush fit heel release and sloped back strap of the later model, while the bottom photo shows the transition model with the flush fit heel release but humped back strap.

Funny how times and fun funds change perspectives on things. Back in the mid-1980s when I was a young US Army private (dirt poor), I had to be more selective of what to purchase. The PSP and M8 were like $400 back then and nobody wanted to buy them. I bought the SIG Sauer P220 for $500 instead, and weren't even close to like the PSP/M8.

Fast forward 2010, I bought two of these suckers. Still not my favorite pistols, but I do appreciate the HK workmanship.



 
#89 ·
I bought the SIG Sauer P220 for $500 instead, and weren't even close to like the PSP/M8.

Fast forward 2010, I bought two of these suckers. Still not my favorite pistols, but I do appreciate the HK workmanship.
I agree fnfalman. As much as I love the old P-Series Sigs, especially the P220, there's no way they come close to the workmanship of the P7.
 
#105 ·
I have a P7M8 I traded for. I love it and it is a shooter, accurate and low recoil due to bore axis. I envisioned finding a nice AIWB for it, then reality set in, though I could get a holster, it really wouldn't work due to weight distribution, and then there is availability. I would love to find another.
 
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