steven58
Member
Hi All,
I have wanted one of these pistols since they first came out but they were always too expensive. Finally with the last CDNN price cut to $499.00, I broke down and got a LNIB plumslide. I also picked up a nice custom IWB holster for it as well. Here are my reviews of both:
THE GUN:
This is an interesting pistol. It is not a "compact" as it is not a compromise of short grip and barrel to gain light weight and compact dimension. Rather it is a "condensed" pistol. It has a 4"+ barrel, full size grip and full size weight but these elements have been re engineered to occupy the minimum amount of space possible. It is also very flat and thin with no protruding levers or switches. This gun is great either IWB or slipped into a coat pocket in a Nemesis or similar holster that has been safety pinned in place.
My P7 PSP is one of the guns marked “Nds” which were issued to the Polizei Niedersachsen or Lower Saxony State Police of then (gun dated 10/85) “West” Germany. While there were some very minor handling/storage marks here and there the gun appeared to have been only test fired. When field stripped, the contact points of the slide and frame had only the slightest striations in the bluing and the sides of the cocking lever were pristine. The gas piston had only the slightest fouling of the 1st ring only.
The pistol came in a clean plastic HK box with new manual, cleaning brush, magazine and the flimsiest POS gun lock I have ever seen. There was no disassembly tool or cylinder scraper. However, there was a note with the gunlock indicating that the spanner key for it could also be used as a disassembly tool! It works well enough to remove the firing pin assembly when necessary.
After inspecting, cleaning and re-lubricating, I took my P7 to the range and ran 400 rounds of Win White Box Value Pack 115 gr. FMJ and 20 rounds of CorBon 115gr. DPX through it with no problems. Yes, after 100 rounds the P7 got “warm’ under the trigger guard so I let it cool down for about 10 min between strings. This is not a gun for extended “firefights”.
Shooting the P7:
This was a very pleasant experience. I’m a 5’7” med. build lefty with small hands. I had no problem working the 3 operational controls of the P7 with either hand. Working the disassembly latch and slide lock was simple. In fact, the slide lock works better left handed as it is a small latch just behind the trigger on the left side of the frame! Trigger reach was comfortable as was the grip angle. Target acquisition is fast. Follow up shots are very fast with little perceived recoil or muzzle flip. The trigger is relatively clean and breaks at about 4 lbs. after some take-up and with almost no over-travel. As accurate as the gun was from a rest (1.25” 8 round groups at 15 yds. with the CorBon!) It was even more impressive when shooting from a weaver stance or “point shooting” one handed. The P7 really shines at fast from the ready or from the holster shooting. The faster you go the better it feels. Consistent “A” zone hits become boring regularity, multiple targets, left handed or right handed, no problem.
For me, this was one of the easiest guns to shoot “for the first time”. Any time lost in reloading due to the heel latch magazine release is more than made up for by the squeeze cock slide release negating the need to “slingshot” the slide when reloading. Another interesting point was that while the CorBon was noticeably louder than the Winchester ammo, it had virtually the same perceived recoil. I’m guessing this has something to do with the gas piston system.
Cleaning the P7:
This pistol gets dirty! I field stripped it and removed the grip panels. While at first glance it appears complex, it seems that while other pistols have most parts buried inside the frame, on the P7 most parts ride on the frame and under the grips where they are accessible for cleaning. My method was to use Gunslick foaming bore cleaner on everything including inside the cylinder, let it sit 10 min. scrub with a stiff tooth brush then blow it all off with non chlorinated brake cleaner, scrub the cylinder and piston with the cylinder brush and some patches and re lube all but the cylinder and piston with Mobil 1 V twin 20-50.
I like this gun and will use it as a winter coat/jacket pocket gun carried in a safety pinned Nemesis pocket holster. The P7 squeeze-cocking system is the only type of single action pistol I feel comfortable carrying like that. It will replace my Colt Cobra for this purpose. By coincidence; it fits great in the same Nemesis holsters I have in my jackets for the Cobra.
THE HOLSTER:
This is an IWB design made by Dave Galloway of Little Bear Custom Holsters in Jacksonville, FL. http://www.littlebearholsters.com/ This is a small shop that got me my holster in less than 3 weeks and at a very competitive price. They also give an LEO & Military discount.
Dave was a pleasure to deal with and a real professional when it came to the work.
The holster has a cowhide front, Horsehide back, sweat shield and directional pull dot snaps. At my request it was done in a natural leather finish to minimize any possible dye transfer due to perspiration. The fit to the P7 is perfect. When on my belt it is very comfortable with the perfect combination of rock solid retention and smooth draw. If you are looking for a solid, well made custom holster and don’t want to be on a 6 month waiting list I highly recommend you check out this maker.
IF YOU ARE RIGHT HANDED AND OWN A P7-PSP: David originally made mine right handed by mistake (That’s why it took a whole 3 weeks for me to get it) so I know he currently has one in stock same as the one in the pictures!
I have wanted one of these pistols since they first came out but they were always too expensive. Finally with the last CDNN price cut to $499.00, I broke down and got a LNIB plumslide. I also picked up a nice custom IWB holster for it as well. Here are my reviews of both:
THE GUN:
This is an interesting pistol. It is not a "compact" as it is not a compromise of short grip and barrel to gain light weight and compact dimension. Rather it is a "condensed" pistol. It has a 4"+ barrel, full size grip and full size weight but these elements have been re engineered to occupy the minimum amount of space possible. It is also very flat and thin with no protruding levers or switches. This gun is great either IWB or slipped into a coat pocket in a Nemesis or similar holster that has been safety pinned in place.
My P7 PSP is one of the guns marked “Nds” which were issued to the Polizei Niedersachsen or Lower Saxony State Police of then (gun dated 10/85) “West” Germany. While there were some very minor handling/storage marks here and there the gun appeared to have been only test fired. When field stripped, the contact points of the slide and frame had only the slightest striations in the bluing and the sides of the cocking lever were pristine. The gas piston had only the slightest fouling of the 1st ring only.
The pistol came in a clean plastic HK box with new manual, cleaning brush, magazine and the flimsiest POS gun lock I have ever seen. There was no disassembly tool or cylinder scraper. However, there was a note with the gunlock indicating that the spanner key for it could also be used as a disassembly tool! It works well enough to remove the firing pin assembly when necessary.
After inspecting, cleaning and re-lubricating, I took my P7 to the range and ran 400 rounds of Win White Box Value Pack 115 gr. FMJ and 20 rounds of CorBon 115gr. DPX through it with no problems. Yes, after 100 rounds the P7 got “warm’ under the trigger guard so I let it cool down for about 10 min between strings. This is not a gun for extended “firefights”.
Shooting the P7:
This was a very pleasant experience. I’m a 5’7” med. build lefty with small hands. I had no problem working the 3 operational controls of the P7 with either hand. Working the disassembly latch and slide lock was simple. In fact, the slide lock works better left handed as it is a small latch just behind the trigger on the left side of the frame! Trigger reach was comfortable as was the grip angle. Target acquisition is fast. Follow up shots are very fast with little perceived recoil or muzzle flip. The trigger is relatively clean and breaks at about 4 lbs. after some take-up and with almost no over-travel. As accurate as the gun was from a rest (1.25” 8 round groups at 15 yds. with the CorBon!) It was even more impressive when shooting from a weaver stance or “point shooting” one handed. The P7 really shines at fast from the ready or from the holster shooting. The faster you go the better it feels. Consistent “A” zone hits become boring regularity, multiple targets, left handed or right handed, no problem.
For me, this was one of the easiest guns to shoot “for the first time”. Any time lost in reloading due to the heel latch magazine release is more than made up for by the squeeze cock slide release negating the need to “slingshot” the slide when reloading. Another interesting point was that while the CorBon was noticeably louder than the Winchester ammo, it had virtually the same perceived recoil. I’m guessing this has something to do with the gas piston system.
Cleaning the P7:
This pistol gets dirty! I field stripped it and removed the grip panels. While at first glance it appears complex, it seems that while other pistols have most parts buried inside the frame, on the P7 most parts ride on the frame and under the grips where they are accessible for cleaning. My method was to use Gunslick foaming bore cleaner on everything including inside the cylinder, let it sit 10 min. scrub with a stiff tooth brush then blow it all off with non chlorinated brake cleaner, scrub the cylinder and piston with the cylinder brush and some patches and re lube all but the cylinder and piston with Mobil 1 V twin 20-50.
I like this gun and will use it as a winter coat/jacket pocket gun carried in a safety pinned Nemesis pocket holster. The P7 squeeze-cocking system is the only type of single action pistol I feel comfortable carrying like that. It will replace my Colt Cobra for this purpose. By coincidence; it fits great in the same Nemesis holsters I have in my jackets for the Cobra.
THE HOLSTER:
This is an IWB design made by Dave Galloway of Little Bear Custom Holsters in Jacksonville, FL. http://www.littlebearholsters.com/ This is a small shop that got me my holster in less than 3 weeks and at a very competitive price. They also give an LEO & Military discount.
Dave was a pleasure to deal with and a real professional when it came to the work.
The holster has a cowhide front, Horsehide back, sweat shield and directional pull dot snaps. At my request it was done in a natural leather finish to minimize any possible dye transfer due to perspiration. The fit to the P7 is perfect. When on my belt it is very comfortable with the perfect combination of rock solid retention and smooth draw. If you are looking for a solid, well made custom holster and don’t want to be on a 6 month waiting list I highly recommend you check out this maker.
IF YOU ARE RIGHT HANDED AND OWN A P7-PSP: David originally made mine right handed by mistake (That’s why it took a whole 3 weeks for me to get it) so I know he currently has one in stock same as the one in the pictures!
Doing 50 reloads on some mags would turn a thumb to hamburger, but not the outstanding P7 mags... a wonder in their own right. Nice looking gun and holster. Enjoy.
