Shot an HK P7, very accurate, but ...

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takhtakaal

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I was at the range the other night, running some 9MM through the P99 to make sure I can still hit a barn roof from inside the hay loft, when the guy two down invited me to try his pair of 9MMs.

One was a beautiful just-post-war Browning HP, the other a fairly recent HK P7. I enjoyed the Browning immensely. Dunno if the HK was a P7, or a P7M8, but, well, whatever. It was accurate enough -- I kept everything inside about two and a half inches at 7 yards. But for all the enjoyment, it might as well have been a staple gun.

Is it okay not to get all gaga-gooey over what is a holy grail pistol for some people? I shot it accurately, and would be well served by one if I could learn to deal with the squeeze cocker and the strange-to-me grip angle, but no more than by what I already have.

Somehow, I figured after all the babble about them, I'd wanna sell the first-born after having shot one, but it wasn't so. Am I just uneasily impressed, or have you had the same experience with something that was supposed to be hot shooting stuff that just left you cold?
 
I'll admit...first impressions may be "unimpressed". The P7 for some is an "acquired taste", not for everyone. Thank goodness for multiple manufacturers. Do I hear a Amen!
 
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I love mine. They are absolute tackdrivers for me. By that I mean I can hit the center of the target better than any standard duty/ccw style gun.

But I've always said they don't work for everybody, and thus I highly encourage people to rent/borrow/whatever one and shoot it before dropping down the big $$$ it takes to buy one.
 
Love mine! However, it took me two or three range trips worth of buyer's remorse to get there. when i started using the 50yd small bore rifle sheets (the kind with 12, 1" bullseyes per 8x10 sheet of paper as my targets, i realized something cool was happening there.
 
I love mine, but they are not for everyone.

My friend was shooting one of mine, and making a funny face. I then realized he was releasing the squeeze-cock between each shot. When I told him to just keep it depressed, he was much happier. :eek:
 
Just about 18 to 24 months ago, I had the opportunity to purchase 4, NIB H&K P7M8s for a total of $2,000.00!!! Yes, $500.00 per!!! Does this give any indication as to my decision? :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Now, they sell for about $1,500.00 per!!!

Doc2005
 
HK's weak point has always been ergonomics. I love HKs but I could not comfortable shoot the p7. The grip is very long and narrow so I think that if it fits you well you love it if not then you don't
 
I've loved mine since I picked it up the first time way back when. Love'em, hate'em -- to each his own
 
People seem to either love the P7 or scratch their head wondering what all the fuss is about. Both opinions are valid, of course, as it all boils down to whether or not the unusual manual of arms and other ergonomics work or don't work for someone.

Personally, I like them, I just haven't yet decided I like the price tags on them for an M8 (not as interested in a heel mag release version).
 
You either love em' or you don't.

As it fits my hand very naturally, I don't understand how some posters complain that the angle is wrong. Close your hand so that only your index finger is pointing out; now balance a pencil on the top of your index finger/fist; this is the concept behind how the fixed barrel is located in relation to your hand.
 
Cool pistols, but not a holy grail, IMHO. The balance point is centered in the grip, and I don't care for that. In a high-riding CCW type of holster, a P7 will flop around more, unless the belt is cinched really tight, as all the weight is centered above the holster and belt. (Yes, I used a proper, stiff, wide belt!) I owned a pair of them in the mid-1980's, paying around $400-$450 each, which was an expensive price for a pistol in those days. I carried one on my police duty belt, and the other concealed as a back-up pistol, a really cool combo. But, I reverted to a sixgun, which I could shoot better, and the P7 pistols were eventually sold due to economic necessity. I would not mind having another, just for old times' sake, but not at today's prices.
 
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tak,

Did you keep a death grip on the squeeze cocker mechanism? If so, you don't have to. Relax your grip and see how easy it is to control. See where the squeeze cocker mechanism "breaks" in cocked vs uncocked. The P7M8 is the most natural pointing, very accurate pistol I own.
 
BTW, yes, a P7 is VERY accurate, from a purely mechanical point of view, but what matters to a street cop like me, is how well a handgun shoots in a hurry, in the dark, when thrust toward the target and fired fast and repeatedly. I prefer a balance point forward of the grip for that, like a full-sized 1911 or a 4" sixgun. Others like the weight centered in the grip, as with a P7.
 
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Terrific sights, trigger, reliability, and one of the most accurate handguns on the planet. But I didn't like the squeeze cocker manual of arms, so I dumped mine. If you stick with one, it'll probably become your favorite design. I just didn't want to detune myself from my CZ's.
 
varoadking said:
takhtakaal said:
I kept everything inside about two and a half inches at 7 yards.
Click to expand...
Must have been something wrong with it...they should shoot one, small ragged hole at a target that close...
Click to expand...

Problems? Not the piece. With me, if any. I was shooting one-handed, and weak-handed at that. My right is in the process of healing from surgery.
 
Golddog

My sentiments exactly, at least about the P7. I had one about twenty years ago; great gun, but there was just something about that squeeze cocking action that was somewhat distracting for me. I sold it sometime later and never looked back.
 
The P7 definitely takes some getting used to, especially if your new to it. Once you do get used to it, I doubt you'll find a more accurate, easy to shoot pistol. The "one ragged hole" comment is the norm, and at distances double the 7 yard line.

Those that own them and shoot them understand them, those that dont, usually dont. Once your accustomed to the squeeze cocker, there is no thought to it and shooting is as instinctive as anything else. It also requires very little pressure to hold it cocked. Your thumb and pinky finger can hold it all day long. As far as safety goes, there really is no safer pistol. Once you relax your grip or let go of the gun, its safe. Its also one of the fastest reloads going, especially the M13 with its large mag well and tapered mags. Drop a mag, slam a new one in, squeeze the cocker and hold it as usual, and your in business.

My P7M13 was the most accurate handgun I've owned in a span of almost 45 years of owning and shooting pistols. Great sights, great trigger, and for me, very natural pointing. It was almost as if you just thought about where the bullets were to go and they did. Then again, thats how all my HK's were, rifles and pistols.
 
I love my P7. It points where I expect it to and then the bullets go where it points. I carry it every day and completely trust it to function and do its share when I shoot. But they don't work well for everyone, especially because of the weird manual of arms. I wouldn't trade mine away.
 
I love my P7M8. I find the manual of arms to be very simple and instinctive. I've had mine since the mid 1980's and would be one of the last guns I would sell.
 
I have had one for about a month - bought it for its legendary accuracy.
So far, I am unimpressed.
I would love to know what ammo folks are using to get these one hole groups.
With 124 gr FMJ my Kahr K9 beats it.
 
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