Why do people always seem to rave about the P7M8? Is there anything truly special or unique about this handgun? Or is this a case of a good gun that just has a strong "cult" following? To the skeptics: what similar handgun is just as good without the premium price tag? Thanks for any opinions.
HK P7M8: Why the love affair??
- Thread starter RM
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I bought my P7 long before it became a cult. It established a fine reputation because it is very well made, a unique and practical design, extremely reliable and extremely durable along with a fine trigger. When you carry a gun these are the things that you should look for rather than looking cool or being a cult gun.
Marko Kloos
Moderator Emeritus
You have touched upon the main reason for the cult status of the P&: there is no "similar" handgun out there. The P7 combines a bunch of good features in a design that is literally unique on the market.
There are pistols that are lighter, thinner, hold more rounds, are as accurate and reliable, and are almost as quick to bring into action, but there is no gun that combines all the good features of the P7 into one package.
denfoote
Member
Some guys just like to squeeze things and when the wife or girlfriend isn't around...
Oh heck, just forget it!!
Oh heck, just forget it!!
Sean Smith
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Overweight, average sights, spongy trigger, prone to overheating, and has a poorly executed blue job that will rust on demand. Oh, and expensive.
Extremist
Member
Flame Bait!James
Tamara
Senior Member
Not necessarily, Extremist.
Everything Marko said was true. So was everything Sean said. Like any other pistol, the P7 has its pluses and minuses. If you're looking for a sorta compact single-stack 9mm that's reliable and drives tacks, and don't mind learning the odd manual of arms, it may be just the bee's knees for you. On the other hand, if you want something in .45, or with a more conventional manual of arms, or a longer sight radius, or the ability to fire lead bullets, maybe it's not so hot.
Outstanding pistol? Yup. Perfect? No, but neither is anything else...
Everything Marko said was true. So was everything Sean said. Like any other pistol, the P7 has its pluses and minuses. If you're looking for a sorta compact single-stack 9mm that's reliable and drives tacks, and don't mind learning the odd manual of arms, it may be just the bee's knees for you. On the other hand, if you want something in .45, or with a more conventional manual of arms, or a longer sight radius, or the ability to fire lead bullets, maybe it's not so hot.
Outstanding pistol? Yup. Perfect? No, but neither is anything else...
10-Ring
Member
I originally bought my P7M8 for its inherent safety. After shooting it, I just found it the nicest pistol I had shot. After 15 years of ownership, I've grown to appreciate the unique qualities of this pistol.
BerettaNut92
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I kinda refer to it as a bullpup pistol...it's a relatively small package but has a full 4" barrel, flat as heck (great for going tuckable), safe as heck, different as heck....I sure hate cleaning it though.
Here's why I rave about the P7M8:
Magazine changes are FAST!!
Accurate follow up shots are fast!
Accuracy is excellent.
Trigger is excellent.
Aside from those practical things, I just like the way it looks and the unique operation of the squeeze cocking mechanism is completely fascinating to me. It's also fun to shoot! It comes with me EVERY time I go to the range.
Magazine changes are FAST!!
Accurate follow up shots are fast!
Accuracy is excellent.
Trigger is excellent.
Aside from those practical things, I just like the way it looks and the unique operation of the squeeze cocking mechanism is completely fascinating to me. It's also fun to shoot! It comes with me EVERY time I go to the range.
dude
Member
Why the love affair with the P7??
...............because of the P7!
Get one and you will understand.
...............because of the P7!
Get one and you will understand.
BerettaNut92
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- Dec 23, 2002
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I sure with they made Novak sights for the girl though.
duncan
Member
Accurate
High quality steel and manufacturing
German precision engineering'
Built like a tank
But deploys faster than any other 9mm pistol
And with a single action trigger
No extractor needed
Sub one inch groups at 25 yards offhand with my PSP - even thinner and lighter than the P7M8.
And now, the P7s are harder to find hence the big $$$$ to even get a used one.
If I could only have one 9mm handgun, my PSP would be the keeper.
Sell my Glocks, Sigs, Springfields, etc. But the PSP stays.
High quality steel and manufacturing
German precision engineering'
Built like a tank
But deploys faster than any other 9mm pistol
And with a single action trigger
No extractor needed
Sub one inch groups at 25 yards offhand with my PSP - even thinner and lighter than the P7M8.
And now, the P7s are harder to find hence the big $$$$ to even get a used one.
If I could only have one 9mm handgun, my PSP would be the keeper.
Sell my Glocks, Sigs, Springfields, etc. But the PSP stays.
Wildalaska
member
Sorry Tam...Browning High Power!
Anyway, P7s, I have owned dozens since they first came out...everything Sean said, heavy, overengineered, bulky, poor bluing, mall ninja aura etc.......but they are cool...
PS...dont get em dirty
WildtoomanylittlepartsAlaska
Because they look like this:
This photo of the internals was taken by it's owner K. Lunde. More pictures are available at this Cult of the P7 link:
http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=003252
If you don't understand after this, you'll never understand.
This photo of the internals was taken by it's owner K. Lunde. More pictures are available at this Cult of the P7 link:
http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=003252
If you don't understand after this, you'll never understand.
Attachments
I'd buy a P7 tomorrow if they didn't cost twice as much as they are worth. It's not that I can't scrape up the bucks, it's the principle of the thing. I waited a long time for the prices of the P5 and P5C to drop down where they belong before I bought them, and I guess I'll bide my time on the P7 too.--Leigh
Wilalaska is strange , it took him "dozens" of P7s before he realized he didn't like them !! As for dirty - Ayoob did a reliability test firing 4500 rounds before the gun had to be cleaned. If you don't like your P7s send them to me , I'll give them a good home.
cslinger
Member
Yeah it's kinda heavy for a 9mm.......
Yeah it gets a bit hot after a couple hundred rounds.....
Yeah the blueing may not be the best....
Yeah it costs more that the GNP of some small countries......
Yeah the magazines are made by a Austrian hermit named Han's who only makes about 10 a year.........
But for me I think it is about the most well thought out defensive handgun I have ever seen. It is extremely safe, while being extremely fast into action all while having that wonderful single action trigger. Accuracy is incredible and controls are just right for me.
The gun is robust, reliable, accurate, safe, concealable and just plan cool.
I bought mine simply because of the cool factor and I wanted to get the three German pistols from the Muinch Olympics trials. My P7 was meant to be more of a odd addition to the collection, nothing more.
What I found was it is simply a stellar civillian/LEO defensive handgun. It may not be robust enough for a military application but for my use it is perfect.
I guess it's kind of like buying a Porsche and realizing that it makes a heck of a daily driver too.
P7s are love hate guns. You either love them or you hate them. I have met very few people who walk the middle line. I happen to love them. They are the only handguns that I cannot compare to my beloved SIGs because the P7s truely are in a class of there own in every way.
Are they worth $1400? Nahhhhhh that is just artifical market inflation. They are a killer $800 gun though. They do warrant a premium cost just not as high as they are currently commanding.
As I try to explain this I guess I am coming to the conclusion that the phrase, "If you have to ask, you just wouldn't understand." is very true. They seem to be a very personal weapon with a very unique fit. If they FIT you, you will be assimilated into the cult and understand. If not they will always be that odd little German gun that costs too much. I guess in a way P7s pick their owners not the other way around.
The gun the new Bond should be carrying in my opinion.
Yeah it gets a bit hot after a couple hundred rounds.....
Yeah the blueing may not be the best....
Yeah it costs more that the GNP of some small countries......
Yeah the magazines are made by a Austrian hermit named Han's who only makes about 10 a year.........
But for me I think it is about the most well thought out defensive handgun I have ever seen. It is extremely safe, while being extremely fast into action all while having that wonderful single action trigger. Accuracy is incredible and controls are just right for me.
The gun is robust, reliable, accurate, safe, concealable and just plan cool.
I bought mine simply because of the cool factor and I wanted to get the three German pistols from the Muinch Olympics trials. My P7 was meant to be more of a odd addition to the collection, nothing more.
What I found was it is simply a stellar civillian/LEO defensive handgun. It may not be robust enough for a military application but for my use it is perfect.
I guess it's kind of like buying a Porsche and realizing that it makes a heck of a daily driver too.
P7s are love hate guns. You either love them or you hate them. I have met very few people who walk the middle line. I happen to love them. They are the only handguns that I cannot compare to my beloved SIGs because the P7s truely are in a class of there own in every way.
Are they worth $1400? Nahhhhhh that is just artifical market inflation. They are a killer $800 gun though. They do warrant a premium cost just not as high as they are currently commanding.
As I try to explain this I guess I am coming to the conclusion that the phrase, "If you have to ask, you just wouldn't understand." is very true. They seem to be a very personal weapon with a very unique fit. If they FIT you, you will be assimilated into the cult and understand. If not they will always be that odd little German gun that costs too much. I guess in a way P7s pick their owners not the other way around.
The gun the new Bond should be carrying in my opinion.
lunde
Member
Drifting Fate
Member
I found it to be the fastest gun at under 10 yards, even faster than highly tuned 1911's and Hi Powers.
I wasn't the impressed with the accuracy, but all of the old HK ads pushed the handling. I found the claims to be true.
It's faster out of the holster and for head shots at short range than anything. At least, for me it was. And, if memory serves, that's pretty much what GSG9 asked HK to design for them.
I regret selling a few guns, but I really, really miss my P7.
I wasn't the impressed with the accuracy, but all of the old HK ads pushed the handling. I found the claims to be true.
It's faster out of the holster and for head shots at short range than anything. At least, for me it was. And, if memory serves, that's pretty much what GSG9 asked HK to design for them.
I regret selling a few guns, but I really, really miss my P7.
BerettaNut92
Member
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- Dec 23, 2002
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- 9,723
Ken, I love it when you do that
El Tejon
Member
Tacticool, baby!
RM, p7mania springs from a combination of beingdifferentness (I don't want to be like everyone else)and Dutchophlia (it must be good it comes aus Dutchland).
Look at it this way, if they like it, it provides an incentive to practice with it more.
RM, p7mania springs from a combination of beingdifferentness (I don't want to be like everyone else)and Dutchophlia (it must be good it comes aus Dutchland).
Look at it this way, if they like it, it provides an incentive to practice with it more.
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