P7M13 Hurts to shoot!

S

Sambonator

New member
Anyone else besides me have problems with firing the P7? For me its the most painful gun to shoot...it really pounds the heck out of the web of my hand between thumb and index finger. I don't have this problem with any of the other pistols I own (Walther P99, HK USP45f even with .45Super loads, Springfield 1911, etc.)

Is this a problem with just the P7M13s? I haven't fired an M8 so I can't compare. Could it be the replacement spring I installed? (I replaced the original with a higher-rate Wolff spring after I purchased it). Could I be holding it wrong in order to be able to make the "Squeeze" cocker operate easier? Or does this gun with its straight backstrap just not "fit" everyone as well as others pistols with curved backstraps? Or is it the combination of the straight backstrap with the "gas retard" system that makes for a stiffer initial recoil, since the slide does not move immediately to compensate for the inertia?

Sam
 
H&K P7M13

I would suggest to check if the gas cilinder is clean enough and most important if the channel between the barrel and the cilinder isn't clogged with lead. The combination of polygon rifling and gas system makes the P7 not suited for shooting LRN bullets.

If the gun is thoroughly cleaned and the problems persists even while firing FMJ's, better have it checked by your local gun smith.

Hope this solves the problem ;)
 
I once fired a Heritage Stealth in 9mm and found it hammering the web of my hand. It seemed to recoil directly back, hard. The Stealth is also a gas-delayed blowback pistol.
 
The recoil of the P7 is directed straight back into the shooter's hands and has much less muzzle flip than a "traditional" semi-auto. This allows for faster sight reacquisition. But the felt recoil will be quite different. This will be the same between the M13, the M8 and the M10. The only difference between the M8 and the M13 is in the grip. The M13 has a double column stack magazine to hold the extra rounds, and the grip on the M13 is the same size as that of the M10.
I have a P7M13 and I am comfortable shooting it. But I will admit if I shoot a lot (>200 rounds) my hand may be a tad achey the next day. But generally I don't have any problems.
You may want to try varying your grip a bit. (& as the other poster mentioned, make sure that the cylinder and gas port are clean!).
Can't comment on the slide springs. I use the factory springs in my P7, with regular & +P ammo. I don't believe there is much benefit in moving up to the higher strength spring. You could try going back to the factory spring. I believe they are rated for something like 10,000 rounds.
Best
 
While I have never shot the M13, I can assure you that the M8 is one of the easiest shooters I have ever handled in terms of skin friction, hand stress and recoil. On the otherhand, my USPc kicks like a mule and is as abrasive as coarse sandpaper.
 
I too have a P7M13, and while I don't claim to be all-knowing, I'm going to take a stab at your problem:

I think you are gripping your gun too tight. To squeeze the squeeze-cocking mechanism on the P7, you need to give it a lot of force. However, once squeezed, you can loosen up your hand somewhat and the gun will remain cocked. If I had to guess, I'd think that you are squeezing the gun very tightly the whole time you are shooting, and that this excess pressure causes your pain.

Try this, empty the gun. Aim in a safe direction, and squeeze the squeeze-cocker until it clicks. Then loosen up your grip until it clicks back onto safe. Squeeze again, and loosen until you find the amount of force necessary to keep the gun cocked without squeezing very tightly. Then put 50 rounds through it with that loosened grip. I say 50 because it gets too hot after that. See if that works. Good luck.
 
Your pistol is faulty, and the only thing you can do to fix it is to sell it to me :) (as long as the barrel is over 105mm; I can't be trusted with one otherwise).
 
branrot's suggestion is something I hadn't thought about before.

First check the gas port. It's at the base of the barrel just beyond the chamber. You should be able to stick a bent paperclip throug the hole, and into the gas chamber. If you have difficulty getting it in, then it needs to be cleaned because the port is plugged. If the recoil is REALLY bad, that's probably the cause.

The P7 is usually reported as having less recoil than other 9mm pistols because of the gas delayed blowback.

-Morgan
 
I used to think that the P7 had snappy recoil as well, but after gaining a lot of experience, I realize that it has the lowest muzzle flip of any 9mm that I've shot. All of the recoil is directed straight back.
 
I had a chance to buy one at the local gun shop. It was ANIB with three mags but it just didn't feel right so I passed it back to the fellow behind me who bought it immediately.
Since I have a few 9mms that fit perfectly I saw no need for the exotic. One of the first times in my life I showed some discipline but I could have made $$ on it - just didn't want it.
mac
 
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I'll clean the gun thoroughly (esp. the gas ports), practice a "loose grip" technique and try it out next weekend.

Ehornad: Why did you install 25# springs? Will it help with recoil?


Sam
 
Sambonator,

Branrot gives good advice. Gripping the P7M13 has been compared to "holding a brick" and can cause pain to your hand when gripped too hard. I don't think you need to consider new springs in it until you try a softer grasp.
 
Branrot is right. I purchased a refurb last year and started out with a tight grip high on the grip. I have a permanent scar on the web of my hand, where the slide cut me. I also wondered how anyone could have considered its recoil the most managable among compact 9mms. When I loosened my grip both problems disappeared. I now consider the P7 one of the easiest guns to shoot fast.

Additionally, I've noticed that the pistols shoots "softer" when it's had a few rounds put through it. I guess when the gas chamber is fouled a bit, the gas delay system works better. The gas port should be clear though, I'm not advocating ignoring routine maintenance.

Good luck, hope you exorcise the gremlins out of your P7, it is a great little pistol.

JJCII
 
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