HK P7 Questions
- Thread starter Incursion
- Start date
Yes they do still make both. The PSP is just a tad slimmer in the slide, just enough that the M8 feels tighter in the leather. This may have changed on the later PSP's, mine is an old one. The major differences are the magazine release, trigger guard size and the plastic heat shield on the M8. The M8 has the ambidextrous levers at the base of the trigger guard, vice the PSP european style hell release. This does make the gun a little slimmer, maybe a sixteenth of an inch, but the real effect is to make it a slick sided gun. The trigger guard on the M8 is sized to accomodate a gloved finger, for cold weather operations. The heat shield is an attempt to allow trigger operation in more sustained firing, as in training classes.
Overall for concealed carry I prefer the PSP. With practice one change magazines in a second, not much slower then the M8.
Hope this helps.
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Freedom is not Free
Overall for concealed carry I prefer the PSP. With practice one change magazines in a second, not much slower then the M8.
Hope this helps.
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Freedom is not Free
VictorLouis
New member
On the PSP, the heat shield forwar of the trigger(on M8)is abscent. So are the sharp, ambi mag release levers, and the lanyard loop(?). The mag release is found either flush/contoured with the curve of the butt, or a standard protruding latch style. The former is the most desirable, IMO. BTW, the euro releases still forcefully eject the mags if held down. If you just "pop" the release, it will hold under tension for you to pull it out slowly.
Excellent choice for a first gun, with one problem...once you use the P7, nothing else will seem as good. My first gun...a P7M13. I've never sold it (thank goodness). Then went to about 3 other quality handguns over the last 10 years, but NONE feel as good, shoot as well, have a better safety mechanism, or seem as concealable as the P7. Finally, I just went out and bought one of the HK refurbished P7M8's, in ADDITION to my P7M13. I've stopped seriously considering anything else now.
You will have to go through this too, to understand. Just do one thing...NEVER sell the P7 you buy. You can add other guns, but DO NOT trade the P7 for them. You will regret it if you do.
Also, move with reasonable haste...while Colt may not succeed in buying HK, clearly they are considering offers...who knows with liability issues if they will remain selling to the public. Plus, all the HK refurbished P7's are slowly going away.
The HK refurbished P7M8's seem pretty good, and can be found for $600-$750. Only problem is slightly discolored and loose white dots in the sights (the sights aren't loose, but the plastic dots that are in them are), and sometimes the slide coloration is a bit more reddish brown than black. Watch out for the sight problem...one of my rear plastic dots in the sight fell out (like everything with the P7, even the sights are overdesigned...the "dots" are actually the back end of a plastic cylinder about 3/8" long). I found it, and carefully glued it back in place. Thats the worst problem I had on the refurb.
You will have to go through this too, to understand. Just do one thing...NEVER sell the P7 you buy. You can add other guns, but DO NOT trade the P7 for them. You will regret it if you do.
Also, move with reasonable haste...while Colt may not succeed in buying HK, clearly they are considering offers...who knows with liability issues if they will remain selling to the public. Plus, all the HK refurbished P7's are slowly going away.
The HK refurbished P7M8's seem pretty good, and can be found for $600-$750. Only problem is slightly discolored and loose white dots in the sights (the sights aren't loose, but the plastic dots that are in them are), and sometimes the slide coloration is a bit more reddish brown than black. Watch out for the sight problem...one of my rear plastic dots in the sight fell out (like everything with the P7, even the sights are overdesigned...the "dots" are actually the back end of a plastic cylinder about 3/8" long). I found it, and carefully glued it back in place. Thats the worst problem I had on the refurb.
VictorLouis -
Interesting comment on the mag release, I prefer the extended button. It enables faster mag changes, with no impact to the concealibility of the gun. The 'buried' mag release is much harder to hit in a hurry, at least in my experience, so I am curious why you like it better. No offense intended, this is why they have so many different guns.
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Freedom is not Free
Interesting comment on the mag release, I prefer the extended button. It enables faster mag changes, with no impact to the concealibility of the gun. The 'buried' mag release is much harder to hit in a hurry, at least in my experience, so I am curious why you like it better. No offense intended, this is why they have so many different guns.
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Freedom is not Free
I don't *think* the slide of the PSP is any thinner than that of the P7M8.
The heat shield is a small piece of plastic that hugs the top of the trigger guard. Hardly noticable, but very good to have. Also, on the P7M8, the trigger itself is plastic (a very strong plastic). This prevents heat from being transmitted down thru the trigger...the gas delay system on the P7 can transmit quite a bit of heat after about 50+ rounds of sustained fire.
The firing pin mechanism on the P7M8 can also be removed without tools. The mag side release on the side allows for rapid reloads.
The P7M8 is the way to go over the PSP. The P7M8 is a more "evolved" design over the PSP.
The heat shield is a small piece of plastic that hugs the top of the trigger guard. Hardly noticable, but very good to have. Also, on the P7M8, the trigger itself is plastic (a very strong plastic). This prevents heat from being transmitted down thru the trigger...the gas delay system on the P7 can transmit quite a bit of heat after about 50+ rounds of sustained fire.
The firing pin mechanism on the P7M8 can also be removed without tools. The mag side release on the side allows for rapid reloads.
The P7M8 is the way to go over the PSP. The P7M8 is a more "evolved" design over the PSP.
VictorLouis
New member
ATM: I prefer the "buried" style, yes. It's very unlikely that you could bump up against something and inadvertently pop your mag out. Seems a real possibility on the other one. Ever have the arm or backrest of a chair "grab" your piece when you sit down? Also, I just feel it makes the gun look more streamlined. :0 
love my P7M8. great gun and accurate too. the P7M13 is a thicker gun, enough to make it feel uncomfortable in my hands. definately get the P7M8 if it is avaialable.
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Mik
<A HREF="http://"http://marina.fortunecity.com/harbour/347/10mm.html"" TARGET=_blank>my 10mm page</A>
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Mik
<A HREF="http://"http://marina.fortunecity.com/harbour/347/10mm.html"" TARGET=_blank>my 10mm page</A>
I have both an M8 and an M13--I must agree that after shooting P7's no other defensive handgun satisfies.
As to the thickness, the M13 is less than 1/4 inch wider in the grip than the M8, and approximately 3/8 inch longer. The differences are minimal, considering that the M13 holds five additional rounds. I think the M13 FEELs so much thicker because it's grip is FLATTER on the backstrap than that of the M8. So it doesn't seem to fit the hand as well. But I think this is more a function of shape than width. For me, the two pistols feel virtually the same when carried in a Blade-Tech IWB holster.
As to the thickness, the M13 is less than 1/4 inch wider in the grip than the M8, and approximately 3/8 inch longer. The differences are minimal, considering that the M13 holds five additional rounds. I think the M13 FEELs so much thicker because it's grip is FLATTER on the backstrap than that of the M8. So it doesn't seem to fit the hand as well. But I think this is more a function of shape than width. For me, the two pistols feel virtually the same when carried in a Blade-Tech IWB holster.
The P7 is a great pistol. Like the others have already said, it'll spoil you for anything else.
Since you're under 21, if you have the money for a P7, consider having your parents or another adult family member purchase the gun for you, with the understanding that you will behave responsibly with it. In some states it is legal for a person 18 or older to POSSESS a handgun; they just can't buy one through a FFL dealer, since the ATF will not permit an FFL delaer to transfer a handgun to anyone under 21.
Some feel that that at 18, a person may not be mature enough to possess a pistol. Well, then why can you possess a rifle or a shotgun, either of which is more efficient than a handgun? I may be in the minority here, but IMHO, if you're old enough to put on the uniform of the U.S. Army/ Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard and then go out and die for your country, you should be old enough to buy a beer or a handgun.
Rant mode off. Stay safe,
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Roger Shambaugh
Ottawa, Kansas
"No man who's in the wrong can stand against
a man who knows he's right and keeps on
a-comin'." Capt. Bill McDonald, Texas Rangers
Since you're under 21, if you have the money for a P7, consider having your parents or another adult family member purchase the gun for you, with the understanding that you will behave responsibly with it. In some states it is legal for a person 18 or older to POSSESS a handgun; they just can't buy one through a FFL dealer, since the ATF will not permit an FFL delaer to transfer a handgun to anyone under 21.
Some feel that that at 18, a person may not be mature enough to possess a pistol. Well, then why can you possess a rifle or a shotgun, either of which is more efficient than a handgun? I may be in the minority here, but IMHO, if you're old enough to put on the uniform of the U.S. Army/ Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard and then go out and die for your country, you should be old enough to buy a beer or a handgun.
Rant mode off. Stay safe,
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Roger Shambaugh
Ottawa, Kansas
"No man who's in the wrong can stand against
a man who knows he's right and keeps on
a-comin'." Capt. Bill McDonald, Texas Rangers
Unfortunately, there is no way in hell that my parents would buy me a gun, but maybe I could convince my brother to buy it for me. The problem is that I still couldn't buy ammo for it if I wanted to go to the range. My brother lives in a different city. I guess I could ask him to buy it over the internet for me. I don't know what the law is in Texas for possessing a handgun. Does anyone know?