Hk P7?

[Shadow1198]

The HK P7 is quite possibly the most perfect CCW gun that has ever been created. It's slim, has a low bore axis, is 100% perfectly safe unless you grab the gun and squeeze, the gun has a nearly vertical insertion angle for the mags which makes mag changes easier and increases the barrel length so it has a longer barrel compared to it's relatively compact size. They also point naturally and are very accurate guns. Overall I feel one of the most positive aspects is the squeeze cocking mechanism as you cannot have any AD's/ND's unless you intentionally grip the gun and ready it. Also, another neat factor is the fact you can remove the firing pin from the gun externally, without disassembly, rendering the gun inert in just a matter of seconds. They are some neat pieces of engineering. It's not for everyone as the squeeze cocker can be an acquired taste, though they are certainly worth considering. Here is an excellent video on them, though beware that it is 18min long so grab a cup of coffee, cold one, or what have you and get ready to sit through it: Link

 

[DENALI]

jehu, would you enlighten us as to what exactly it was that NJSPD decided they didn't like about them? And I'm pretty sure the internet wasn't up and running when I came into my info on the ND's, or at least it was in it's very infant stages of evolution...

 

[Dobe]

They also require a little more care and cleaning than a lot of other guns on the market. After a lot of shooting you can feel the slide start to move sluggishly, and this is a sign that the gun needs to be cleaned.

I respectfully disagree with this. I go about 2-500 between cleanings, and do not have a problem with any of my three P7M8's. You may wish to check two items.
1. The type of oil you are using. I had a problem with Rem Oil in two different handguns with low usage. My AR-24 (totally reliable), and one of my P7M8's became very sluggish after a 100 rounds in each. I cleaned reoiled, and had the same results in each. I changed oil and never had the problem again.
2. Sometimes, P7 owners do not clean the cylinder very well. Try a .270 bore brush and Hoppes No. 9. I read from one owner where he had the same problem after two hundred rounds. He finally got all of the crud out, and has not had any problems since.

Good luck

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

I'm an old fart, but I've owned firearms for over 50 years, and have been cc legally since 1966.

I was blessed in that in a previous incarnation (before retirement in 2000) I could generally buy whatever "flavor of the month" firearm was touted by the various firearm magazines, OR other firearm that caught my interest, and that ran the gamut from: S&W/Colt/Sig/Glock/Bersa/Star/Bollister Molina/Browning/Walther/NAA/Tokarev/Beretta/etc.

Surprisingly one of the few brands I never owned was an HK.. I think perhaps they were too costly for my pay grade..

Anyway, recently I bought my first HK P7 from Neal at CDNN (A grade), and it is a fantastic pistol. High quality/amazingly accurate. Here's a photo of the first magazine (8rds) fired thru it. I only shot from 7 yards, and rested my hands on the back of my wifes golf cart. I was just shooting to see the poa/poi and was amazed when the first round landed in the X ring.. Even more amazed when the other 7 did likewise. I'd never fired a squeezecocker before..

I'm a senior citizen with shaky hands, and declining vision. I'm just an average shooter, and imo anyone who is in better physical condition & vision, with any skill at all, should blow out the ten ring.. The HK P7 is without a doubt the most accurate firearm I've ever owned or fired.



I was so pleased with my CDNN purchased P7 that I ordered another just like it. My 2nd P7 came yesterday, and my first time out back at the range the newer P7 shot just like the first one.

If you research carefully you will find out that the P7 tends to heat up quickly, and needs reasonable routine maintenance. If you want a dedicated "range gun", you might not be best served by the P7. If you are to lazy to keep a weapon clean, (any weapon) you might not be best served by the P7.

But, IMO, if you want a fantastic firearm that is amazingly accurate, of top quality manufacture, and available right NOW at a reasonable price I would suggest you buy an "A" grade ASAP..

If for whatever reason you aren't happy, betch'a you can sell it very quickly and at little loss, if any.

JMOFartO:

J.Pomeroy

P.S. Tell Neal hello...

 

[alpha6164]

I had the same experience as PX15. It was the P7M8 that made me fall in love with the entire HK line. I purchased an AG date P7M8 and the first 8rnds all were all on the X. And i consider myself just an average shooter. Here is the list of the handguns i own:

1) Sig P226
2) HK P7M8
3) HK P7PSP
4) HK Mark 23
5) Kahr PM9
6) Seecamp 380

Although i shoot decent with all of them, the moment i pick up one of the P7s, my shooting just improves dramatically.

 

[beemerphile]

When I bought my first P7M8 I thought "why are all these guys buying more than one?". Then when I bought my second one I thought "where can I find another one without the warning on the slide?". Then I thought "Chantilly, if I can just find a LNIB Chantilly!"

ESCAPE WHILE YOU CAN! RUN!

 

[lechiffre]

"CDNN has both very good an excellent P-7s. I'm trying to think of a good reason to buy one. It's not like I don't have 20 other 9mms."

if your 20 other 9mms are all p7s then maybe you need a reason otherwise.......

 

[PX15]

During the past year I have sold: Walther P1, Walther P5, Bersa Thunder 9/UC, KelTec P11, Sig P239. S&W pre40 Centennial (revolver).

These have been replaced with: Three Seecamp LWS32's . One Seecamp LWS380 (on order), and two HK P7's....

I'm well pleased with the change....


JP

 

[riceboy72]

Yikes! Glad to see this thread started. Two days ago I went in to buy a P229; came home with a P7 PSP after doing a whole lot of thinkin' about it.

Growing up, I remember seeing pics and hearing about these pistols. I also remember reading how they were quite revered but I saw very few of them. I got it because I enjoy German pistols and I think they hold a certain mystique and have a loyal following. This pistol, to me, is HK history. This pistol came about long before the USP made it's introduction into American hands and before it became what most think of when they hear HK (besides the MP5, of course).

Have yet to shoot it, but now comes the fun part: finding leather and finding additional magazines. No real concerns about this pistol in the way of safety, but I'd like to see how much it heats up above the trigger.

Here she is:

 

[Seotaji]

The finish does not hold up well to holster wear, which will be the main differences in the Grading system.

If I'm not mistaken, the only thing that is graded, is internal wear. My B-grade has visible wear on the feed ramp and two nicks on the outer ring of the barrel. Other than that, it's peachy. We'll see how well it shoots tomorrow.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

CDNN has excellent factory (demo) mags, like new, for $39.99. I bought two and they look and function just fine.

I ordered a FIST Kydex iwb holster for my P7. FIST holsters aren't "pretty", but they are extremely thin, and do a great job for cc.

Best Wishes,

JPomeroy

 

[waterhouse]

I respectfully disagree with this. I go about 2-500 between cleanings, and do not have a problem with any of my three P7M8's. You may wish to check two items.

You are free to disagree, but when I said "a lot" of shooting I was talking about more than 500 rounds. I've got 1911s that have gone a few thousand rounds without cleaning and had no issues. Same with other HKs. When the P7 gets around the 900-1,000 round mark (this depends on what ammo you use and how clean the gun was when you started, and sometimes the numbers are much lower, like you say in your quote below) it can get sluggish.

I clean mine very well, but I've also put them through some "torture" sessions.

1. The type of oil you are using. I had a problem with Rem Oil in two different handguns with low usage. My AR-24 (totally reliable), and one of my P7M8's became very sluggish after a 100 rounds in each. I cleaned reoiled, and had the same results in each. I changed oil and never had the problem again.
2. Sometimes, P7 owners do not clean the cylinder very well. Try a .270 bore brush and Hoppes No. 9. I read from one owner where he had the same problem after two hundred rounds. He finally got all of the crud out, and has not had any problems since.

I would say this proves my point again, that P7s require a little more care and cleaning than other guns. You have to use more care (specific oil in your case, although I use Mobil 1 with no problems on P7s just like most of my other guns) and cleaning (making sure the cylinder is very well cleaned, and that the piston is clean as well). If you run a USP or a Glock dirty and with just about any oil, they usually run. P7s like to be clean. Eventually they will get dirty, because that is what happens after lots of shooting, and when they get dirty they will become sluggish.

This is not a turn off for me. I own more than 20 P7s, and have no problems keeping them clean when I want to. I just thought it was worth mentioning as a minor Con compared to other guns.

If I'm not mistaken, the only thing that is graded, is internal wear.

This is quite probable. I haven't spoken with an HK rep, so I don't know what went into the grading, but based on the As and Bs and Cs I have the external finish seems to be best on the As and worst on the Cs. There are a couple Bs that look like the best As, and a couple As that probably should have been Bs if external finish was all they looked at, so you are most likely correct.

 

[beemerphile]

I bought a Raven Concealment holster for my P7M8. Fits very close and carries the weight quite well. I also have a leather FIST which looks great but works not-as-great as the Kydex Raven.

FWIW, The PSP is a good price value, but reloads are quite slow compared to the M8.

 

[Dobe]

When I bought my first P7M8 I thought "why are all these guys buying more than one?". Then when I bought my second one I thought "where can I find another one without the warning on the slide?". Then I thought "Chantilly, if I can just find a LNIB Chantilly!"

Yep. That's what happen's. If it weren't for an M1A that I leaning towards, I'd have yet another.

 

[PX15]

beemerphile:

Reloads not a problem for me... I consider the b/u LWS32 (soon to be LWS380) in my back pocket wallet holster as my "reload"....

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Dravur]

Here is a pic of a couple of mine.

They are both P7 M8s. I had one hard chromed and that one I carry.

 

[Seotaji]

I shot my P7 today. The area around the trigger (on the right side where the grip meets the metal) kept nipping me. Strange. I wonder if I could get that area ground down somehow? It doesn't make me want to get rid of it, but it's a bit annoying. Maybe I can develop a callous there or something.

 

[Seotaji]

0000

 

[Hawaiian]

My dealer has a NIB at the shop for $1300. After reading here, I think I will go with a A grade instead and have it hard chromed.