First observations with the HK P7M8

Reliability?

What? :rolleyes: I put the P7 right up there maybe even surpassing my Glocks.

The P7 was designed to be abused. Designed to run dirty as all hell. Designed to be dropped.

And when you run out of ammo and loaded mags, its a great bludgening tool.

Designed for anti-terrorist and hostage situations.

Dirty is made by the ammo you shot. Ask a reloader. some powders are dirty and some are very clean. Reloading would fix that problem.

Stay away from that cheap third world ammo, Russian, Egyptian, Brazilian-made and the submachine gun ammo and your P7 will run cleaner. The Hungarian-made MFS ammo is clean and hot too just like the P7 doctor ordered!

The Port of Seattle PD use their P7M8s and P7M13s (SWAT/Tactical/Entry) on land and water and those fellows love them. Border patrol would love them too but with so many agents and limited resources, they'll be with Beretta's a while.

If I can only have one 9mm, you know . . .
 
Indy Sig:

I've been shooting P7's for a number of years--also Glocks, Sigs, USP's etc--and I think that this gun may be just about the least likely in the world to have any reliability problems whatsoever.

For feed reliability, the feed ramp is very straight, and the gas system allows extractions even without a working extractor. Magazines have the toughest feed lips I've ever seen and aren't easily damaged. I've personally never had any sort of jam at all, regardless of limp wristing, shooting upside down, any type of ammo etc. The only thing I've ever heard negative is that P7's don't do as well with the heaviest forms of ammo.

For mechanical reliability, these things are more overbuilt than virtually any handgun, and there are reports of P7's shooting thousands upon thousands of rounds with no breakages. Again, the only thing I've ever heard is that the firing pin coupling sheath can crack. If it does, it's my understanding that the gun still continues to work normally. But in any event, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check this part every now and then.

Two other related matters.

1. I have heard that SOME P7's have feeding problems if they aren't cleaned regularly. I think this may relate to a gas cylinder on that particular gun not being bored straight or something since most P7's can go for a few thousand rounds (at least with decent ammo) without any problems from not being cleaned.

2. Something else related to the gas system. Most people report that P7's have just about the least felt recoil of any 9mm's they've ever shot. Occasionally one hears exactly the opposite. Felt recoil is subjective, but I've noticed different felt recoil levels from different P7's. I think the guns with the heaviest recoil may need to have their gas system looked at. Worst case scenario? That the gas cylinder is cracked. This is unlikely in the extreme, and if it happens, HK would fix it for free. The P7 has a lifetime warranty, assuming you've bought it new.
 
From a reloader's perspective, the only problem with the P7 is that it's not supposed to shoot bullets smaller than 115 grainers. It's in the manual.

But lots of us around Seattle are shooting 147 grainers and carrying 147 self defense ammo.

I know one shooter who only shoots 147s out of his P7M8.

The issue may be OAL since the 147s tend to run longer. But that can be overcome by seating the 147 a little deeper in the case and lightening the charge to account for less space in the case.

The P7 does 147 just fine.

Now a 200 grain 9mm round would be a problem. But I haven't figured out how to cram one of those into a 9mm case yet.;)
 
I suggest that you can solve your heating problem by buying more of them and more mags. I currently have 3 PSP's with 24 mags and find that is about perfect. I can shoot about 500 to 6000 rnds in a morning with heating anyone of them up to much by shooting about 3 mags and then going to the next one. Works great for me.

Glad you enjoyed the P7. I bought my first one and after one range session got 2 within just a few weeks.

Good luck.
 
The manual only warns about light bullets.

However, some have found feeding problems with the heavier rounds, usually cured by new mag springs, but interesting since everything else still cycled fine.
 
I have been shooting handguns for 37 years. Started on revolvers, didn't take long to take up auto loaders. I've owned just about everything. Too many 1911s, and no more. I can agree on a couple of things. I just know, although I've never owned one (yet), if I ever purchase, trade into, obtain or otherwise get my hands on an H&K P7M8, I will most likely throw all my other handguns in the dipsey-dumpster (place them for-sale, mucho pronto). I would love to try out the squeez cocker, and the low bore to grip axis. To add to the discussion, I now own an S&W 4516-1 which has a 6 Lb trigger pull, yes I've measured it many times, and I love it. I will not go for less than 4# on any self-defence handgun. You are so lucky to have tried the H&K squeez cocker, buy it, groove into it, and just think, any perp who tries to take it from you, won't have a clue how it works. Everyone I know who owns one, loves it.
 
larger?

Handy just said the manual only warns about the lighter bullets (or smaller, here).

Whassa goin on? I dig these pistols, but don't you think it would be silly if you were warned against shooting the standard 147gr FMJs? I'd be bummin if my USP .45's manual warned against me using 230gr ball ammo...
 
Krept, this is probably some sort of meaningless tempest in a teapot since there are hundreds of active P7 shooters reporting that their pistols cycle every type of ammo out there. One NEVER hears that the design is particular to a particular ammo brand or anything else.

The bottom line? In some absolute sense maybe there IS something to what HK reports; but in a relative sense, this gun is more reliable than any other pistol I've ever shot--most people report the same.
 
The manual warns about shooting light bullets. 115s, 124s, 130s, 135s, 147s are fine.

But at 90 and 100 grains, there appears to have been some issues.

At that weight you might as well shoot 380 auto anyway!
 
Too hot? Try a cool(er) P7M10...

I've found that the P7M10 shoots MUCH cooler than the 8's or 13's that I've owned / shot. Don't know what is the bigger factor: caliber, or slide mass. Either way, I've found the 10 is smoother as well, with LESS recoil and flip.

On another note, I have experienced a feed problem with one of my M10's - but it is mag specific. Get a jam between the 3rd and 4th round every time. Hopefully a new spring will solve the problem...
 
Peepsite

Just curious why you haven't gotten one of the P7's since you seem so sure of its obvious attributes? I do have one, (and LOVE it), but it doesn't keep me from wanting more 1911's. etc.:D
 
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