Heckler & Koch P7 is an unusual pistol that can be used rapidly, with neither a safety catch nor a cocking hammer delaying matters, yet it is totally safe while being carried loaded.
Introduction
The Heckler & Koch P7 (originally called the PSP for ‘Polizei Selbstlader Pistole’) is a pocket or holster weapon, relatively small, but firing a powerful cartridge. For this reason, it demands some form of breech locking, and this is done by gas pressure. The slide has the usual recoil spring beneath it, with a guide rod inside the spring.
But this guide rod is carefully machined and as the slide recoils, it moves inside a close-fitting cylinder lying in the frame above the trigger. A port between this cylinder and the barrel allows high-pressure gas to flow in and fill the cylinder when the pistol is fired; this pressure resists the rearward movement of the slide.
Design and firing mechanism
Once the bullet has left the barrel and the gas pressure drops, the rod can move back, forcing the gas out of the cylinder and into the barrel and thence out to the atmosphere. Thereafter the action is that of any other blowback automatic pistol.
In order to carry the weapon safely in a loaded condition, the firing pin is not cocked during the recoil stroke is usual; instead, it is controlled by a grip forming the front edge of the butt. When the firer grasps the butt and squeezes the grip, the firing pin is cooked there is no need for him to keep squeezing since the grip engages in the cocked position.
Once he releases his grip, however, the pistol is de-cocked. It can thus be carried safely with a round in the chamber and brought into action with no delay; if once uncocked, the shooter drops it, it is uncocked before it hits the floor.
Sights
The sights are fixed, but the foresight can be changed and the rear sight moved sideways to zero the weapon. Both sights have inlaid white dots to assist in aligning in poor visibility and it is possible to have ‘Betalight’ luminous markers fitted for night firing. Disassembly of the Heckler & Koch P7 distinctive pistol is easy, though it requires the use of a special stripping tool.
Technical specifications: Heckler & Koch P7 (PSP)
| Manufacturer: | Heckler & Koch GmbH, D-7238 Oberndorf/Neckar, Germany |
| Type: | delayed blowback, semi-automatic |
| Caliber: | 9 mm Parabellum |
| Barrel: | 4.13 inches (105 mm) |
| Weight (empty): | 27.07 oz (785 gm) with empty magazine |
| Capacity: | 8 rounds |
Where is this available and how much does it cost?
Had a P7 back in the early 80 and really loved it . Great shooting pistol. Had to get rid of it and it took me almost 25 years to find another one. Got the P7M8 and I will not be getting rid of this one cause it is so hard to find this guns now. If you are lucky enough to find one, you should really think about grabbing it up as a good gun to own.
great gun, very fast into action. sold my m13 to buy an m1a. I don’t regret the trade but I do miss the p7.
had occasion to shoot a P97 back in the early 70’s. One hell of a weapon. Kinda hard to find them these days unless you are looking for a collectors weapon.