Is the P7 all it's been cracked up to be?

[Madcap_Magician]

Having only one mag for a P7 is actually not too bad of a thing. It means you can shoot it longer because the gun has a chance to cool down when you stop to reload the magazine.

I love mine. I would really like to have an extra magazine for it, though. Can't afford to take all three of yours, but if you were to sell for $50 apiece shipped, they'd fly out of your hands.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Agreed, I bought three spare mags for mine (In addition to the 2 it came with). I paid 75 each for two of them and I found the third for 50 bucks. I didn't even need the 5th magazine but I wasn't going to pass it up for 50 bucks.

 

[Sapper771]

I was at a local gun shop a few days ago, talking about the P7s. I figured I would go out on a limb and ask the shop owner if he had any P7 magazines. He fumbled around behind the counter and rifled through a few boxes and produced two like new P7 magazines. I got both for $80!
They were marked "IA" and they look as if they had not been used very much. Better than paying $60 a piece on midway USA.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Awesome. I wish I would have found a deal like that.

 

[PX15]

JMOfartO:

I think anyone who owns a P7 "should" have at least 2 magazines for it.. I have the same opinion about ANY pistol a person owns.

Even if a person never intended to shoot whatever pistol it is having a 2nd magazine just makes good sense.

Extra magazines for the HK P7 are even more critical than for most pistols because they can become almost impossible to find at times, and even when they are available the price can vary greatly..

So,imo, IF a person already HAS a 2nd magazine for their P7, EVEN with no intentions of shooting that P7 it is, again imo, foolish to sell it..

Just makes no sense.

IF a person can afford a P7 pistol, he/she should certainly be able to afford a spare magazine.

Just personal opinion.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[ForumSurfer]

This is strictly my opinion, but if you are keeping the gun why not keep at least one spare mag? When I was younger, I was much less open minded and set in my ways. I liked my one particular brand/style of weapon and perceived all others as inferior. The older I get, the more I like all firearms of any type. I actually hate seeing fellow gun owners bickering over typical Glock vs 1911 vs sig vs whatever bs. We're all gun owners wanting to keep the same rights and enjoy our hobby or lifestyle. Why bother fighting to the point of throwing personal insults when there are so many politicians targeting us these days? Anyway, enough of that rant!

The odd ball, unique fire arms are always a rare treat to shoot and having an extra mag just makes shooting chores smoother. It isn't like they take up lots of room in the safe, either. My kids love shooting with me, but are starting to get particular about one style or the other. One thinks Glocks are the best thing ever, and the other loves 1911's like myself. I have a soft spot for a totally factory original old school govt model Colt right down to the spur hammer, but he loves my customized Kimbers. I have preferences, but I own 1911's, revolvers, plinking 22's and various pieces of tactical tupperware. I love them all and most if not all have quirks here or there I could do without. I do however, have 2 if not 3 mags for them all. I may not like it and never shoot it, my sons may not....but my grandson God willing may like some firearm I hate and appreciate the fact I kept that handy little spare mag. Just my 2 cents!

Edit: This is my first post here, though I have lurked for a long time and invariably been brought back repeatedly while on Google trips researching various firearms. Everyone seems very friendly without the annoyingly typical "my gun is better than your gun and you are ignorant for not buying a gun just like mine and not agreeing with me" banter you find on most gun forums. Thanks!

 

[Madcap_Magician]

YMMV, but one minor point is that if I had to have a gun for which I only had one magazine, my P7 would be it. It's such a well-designed, well-made magazine I sincerely doubt it will ever malfunction. Love the no-tilt follower.

 

[Slamfire]

I asked a knowledgeable gun designer why the squeeze cocker mechanism went out of service. He said that accidental discharges happened when people convulsively gripped the frame front and the trigger at the same time.

Anyone ever heard of this happening?

 

[usp9]

Anyone ever heard of this happening?

Sure, that's how the gun is designed. Most guns will fire when the trigger is pulled. Is that an accident?

 

[PX15]

SlamFire1:

I'm lost...

Why in the world would the fact that a pistol specifically to fire ONLY when the cocker was retracted AND the trigger was pulled be surprised at hearing a "bang" thereafter when both functions were activated?

IF a person is too stupid to understand the design of the P7, which most knowledgeable gun experts will agree is one of MOST safe pistols ever designed, that person would be better served with a different firearm.

Don't depress the cocker and pull the trigger at the same time and the pistol will NOT fire..

As designed.

Jesse

 

[jon_in_wv]

I know of a guy who said that a lot of accidental discharges happened with 1911s when they convulsively clicked the safety off and pulled the trigger.

Seriously, I don't know of any other pistol design that is designed to NOT fire when you pull the trigger.

 

[Slamfire]

I know of a guy who said that a lot of accidental discharges happened with 1911s when they convulsively clicked the safety off and pulled the trigger.

You missed the point. These are very similiar movements conducted with the same hand.

On a M1911 flicking the safety is an entirely different action from the trigger pull. (But I have seen accidental discharges in IPSC matches!)

On a squeeze cocker, you use your bottom three fingers to cock the mechanism but your top finger to pull the trigger. Maybe those of you that can pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time won't get confused, but it sure seems to me that with a squeeze cocker it is too easy to just clench all fingers at the same time. Especially under stress.

Hey if a Highway Patrol Man can get so excited that he forgets to put the car in neutral, http://blogs.consumerreports.org/ca...-mats-nhtsa-report-on-lexus-es-350-crash.html, than maybe the accidental discharges reported by my friend happened with squeeze cockers.

 

[Pilot]

^^^^^^^^^^^

If your practicing proper trigger finger discipline, your finger is OFF THE TRIGGER when you squeeze the cocking mechanism. This should be true for ALL guns you shoot. The finger is not in the trigger guard until right before you shoot and after the gun is cocked.

 

[jon_in_wv]

No I think YOU are missing the point. You grab the grip of ANY pistol. If you put your finger on the trigger you are likely to have an accidental discharge. The P7s squeeze cocker is a safety device. If you disable the safety device and pull the trigger if is going to fire. This is firearms 101. On the P7 if you pull the trigger first it take significantly more pressure to pull in the squeeze cocker than if you pull it before the trigger. Either way the weapon is designed to fire in either case. How is the action of gripping the pistol and pulling the trigger any different with the Glock or Sig or any other pistol? They will fire too. Its called poor gun handling NOT an accidental discharge. What is your reasoning that you should be able to grip your pistol and pull the trigger without it firing? KEEP YOUR STUPID FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER! jeez.

I strongly suspect that anyone with these concerns hasn't spent much time with a P7. It is one of the safest weapons I've had. Poor gun handling will get you in trouble but that is true of ALL weapons. No matter now you slice it, you can't blame the weapon for firing IF YOU PULLED THE TRIGGER.

 

[Slamfire]

I strongly suspect that anyone with these concerns hasn't spent much time with a P7.

That's true. I don't own one. Never shot one. They were way too expensive when new, and since they are not being made anymore it is unlikely I will ever own one.

 

[jon_in_wv]

A P7 PSP can still be had for under 600 bucks. Its in the same price range as any of the other quality defensive pistols. You either love them or you don't. I would suggest you spend some time with one. You might be surprised. Personally I LOVE mine. It is such a fine shooting and handling weapon.

 

[N.M. Edmands]

Hmmmm? Not indexed on a threat, cocking and holding/pulling trigger at same time,--gun goes bang in an unintended direction.
Gunman problem, NOT a gun problem.

 

[m2steven]

I finally got a chance to put 50 remmington fmj and some blazer brass thru mine. The pistol has somewhat of a scary hair trigger. You really need to want to pull it when you put your finger on it. It's got a highly excellent trigger. Short stroke, light and smooth as silk.
Follow up shots are extremely easy and the pistol aims well. It's one of the most interesting and best 9mm's i've ever shot. Smooth as silk in all aspects. It's worth the money.
Had zero issues with neither type of ammo. Didn't try hollow points. The loading and ejecting action is so smooth i would expect no problems. The gun did not heat up any more than any other gun, but i've got only 1 mag.

Nice Pistol!

 

[Onesiphorus]

If your going to buy a single stack 9mm to carry, get a S&W 3913 or 908. they are good for 30K-40K rounds and they are reliable and accurate.

 

[jon_in_wv]

m2stgeven, try it with five mags! It will heat up a lot quicker then. I only take three of my mags to the range and I have no problems. With five it tends to get pretty warm. You also sound like you are not used to a single action trigger. You will find it makes shooting a lot easier but training and finger discipline a BIT more important. My P7s trigger is no lighter than my M&Ps but the take up and overtravel are much less. I'm glad you like it!

 

[Pilot]

If your going to buy a single stack 9mm to carry, get a S&W 3913 or 908. they are good for 30K-40K rounds and they are reliable and accurate.

The 3913 and HK P7 aren't in the same class. Try shooting both side by side.

 

[PX15]

Pilot:

You are indeed correct that the 3rd Gen S&W 3913 and the HK P7 are not in the same "class"..

But that is not to say the 3913 is not a good pistol, and for many people, particularly those who prefer a traditional double-action platform, it's often a BETTER choice for personal protection than the fine HK P7.

All of my 3rd Gen Smiths have been absolutely reliable, and more than self defense accurate. I am more concerned about absolute reliability in a firearm I use for personal protection than I am tack driving accuracy (as the P7 offers)..

The Smiths don't require adaptation to a new cocking and firing process, come with a lifetime warranty, mags are relatively easy to find, not too pricey, and the prices of NIB or "like new" 3rd Gen Smiths are generally lower than that of the surplus P7.

All something to think about for the average shooter looking for a quality 9MM pistol.

I believe for dedicated "gun guys/gals", and IF the unusual squeezecocking aspect of the HK P7 suits them, the HK P7 is about as good a single stack 9MM pistol as has ever been made.

But generally speaking, just for the "average" person seeking a small(er) 9MM pistol for cc and personal defense any of the 3rd Gen Smiths are hard to beat.

In my Smiths, I actually prefer the double-stack 6906, using the 5906 mags w/+2 S&W extender, offering me a capacity of 15+1 rounds..

And, as good as the HK P7 is, I have found that for my needs the HK P2000sk (V3) is even a better daily cc choice.. Two more rounds, double-action w/capability of cocking the hammer for a first round sa if desired.. In fact my P2000sk is SURPRISINGLY as accurate as either of my P7's, and I'm still amazed at that..

Additionally, if I want to use the higher capacity mag of the full size P2000 (w/Xgrip) I still have a very concealable 9MM pistol offering a capacity of 13+1...

Just personal opinion, no offense to those who might disagree..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Pilot]

I had a S&W 915 which is a 3rd Gen Smith pistol in 9MM. It was reliable, but terribly innacurate. I got rid of it ASAP.

When I first shot a rental P7M8, I couldn't believe it. I had no training on its use but found the squeeze cocking mechanism very intuitive and it pointed naturally. At 10 yards my first few rounds went into the same hole. I thought something was wrong. I fired the rest of the mag and saw a very tight group on the target with no real concentration on my part. I was really just firing to get the feel of the pistol. It was surreal. I bought an M8 upon exiting the range, then bought a P7 during the first round of the PSP German surplus imports.

 

[m2steven]

Jon-in-wv: I can't afford 5 mags

 

[jon_in_wv]

I hear that. I spent 580 for my P7 and another 200 just for the mags. They aren't cheap at all. They are stout as all get out though. At least they seem like they would last forever.