Smallest of the HK...past and present?

D

DPSproles

New member
I saw a picture lastnight in a gun periodical (Shotgun News maybe) and it had a pic of a HK P9s (maybe?) and it looked quite small. Was the picture accurate or was it not in good perspective? I would love to have an HK, but even the USP compact is pretty large. I love the size of the Kahrs and the Makaroves, etc (small hands here) and the idea of a smaller HK is very appealing.

Please advise me on the place to view details about this firearm or any other "smaller" HK pistols.

David
 
The P9S is a full-size single stack 9mm or .45. It's at least a bit bigger than the USP compact in everything but width.

The smallest HK would be the late HK 4 (similar to the Mauser HsC, correct?) which was PPK size.

The smallest current HK is the P7. It's still bigger than the Kahr and comparable to the Mak.
 
The HK 4 would be the smallest in size. The P7M8 K3 (.380 with conversions for .32 acp and .22 LR) is a bit smaller than the standard P7. Alas, no longer available, I would like another....
JB
 
The HK4 was a cheap knock-off of the Mauser HSc. IIRC, rather than a real frame, this lightweight POS was built of sheet-metal stampings, tack-welded together. Overall quality was about what you'd find in a Jennings or Lorcin.

A friend had one, convertible between .22 and .380. On those rare occasions when it didn't jam, it would sometimes - unpredictably - squirt out 2 or 3 rounds with a single squeeze of the trigger.

Eventually the frame broke.

I understand today's HK's are much improved.
 
Welcome to the world of H&K!

Look into the H&K P7s, small as an .380, and one of the most fastest & accurate out-of-box pistols due to it's fixed polygonal barrel and squeeze-cocker. Crisp trigger as well.
The H&K P7/PSP is a slightly smaller earlier variant than the more common H&K P7M8. Most people don't complain about the size or concealability, though perhaps the weight and cost.

H&K lovers are as "cultish" as 1911 fans.

Check out this BBS and look up "Cult of the P7:
http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true
 
the p9 looks small until you actually get to handle one...it is about the smae size as a colt commander with an added hammer shroud that extends over the web of your hand. but it is much lighter and very accurate besides having the option of carrying in condition one.

the smallest hk was the hk4, for the 4 calibres it was convertible to, it was most reliable in .32 and .380
 
if you buy a P7..make sure you sell every other handgun you own..and when you see somebody at the range with a P7 and he hands it to his buddy who just used a glock..leave as fast as you can..its an accident waiting to happen..yes the HK4 was cheap...HK never had a handgun until the Usp line..lets not forget the vp70z..geez..my 2 cents..HK-out
 
HankB,

That's interesting about the HK4. I knew it was based on the Mauser HSc. I've liked both of these guns since I was a teenager back in the 1970's. I bought a used HSc at a pawnshop when I was a freshman in college, and still have it. I've wanted an HK4 since seeing them in an old Harrington Richardson catalog I used to have. I like the looks, light weight, and ability to switch between .380 and .22LR in the same gun. I looked at one at a gun show not too long ago and was tempted to make an offer.

So, are they really THAT bad? I wouldn't want one unless it worked reliably - I would want a shooter, not a collector's item. I'm not interested in the .25 and .32 conversions (except for the novelty). Since they are no longer made, I suspect that collectors will keep the price high enough that I'll never find one for a price that I can justify for my uses. If they really aren't good guns anyway, that'll pretty well cinch it for me.

Doug
 
doug...if you want it that bad start searching at the gun shops that are out of the way....a local gun shop out here had an HK4 with original box and he sat on it for months..finally went for 250bux...he also had a NIB VP70z that he had in the display case for close to 2 years...it was NIB and he finally unloaded that for 500bux...just when your goin thru a small town somewhere and you see a small gun shop just stop in..Ive found a lot of great stuff in small town shops..my 2 cents..HK-out
 
No need to sell every other handgun you own if you get an HK P7, there are plenty of folks on the P7BB, who have 1911's, and USP's, and Glocks, etc. The argument for this is that the P7's manual of arms is so radically different that you will suddenly be incapable of working all other handguns. The only reason P7 owners sell other guns they own, from all my talks with folks on the P7 BB is to finance more P7's. Some folks sell their P7's to finance custom 1911's, and others get into P7's by doing the reverse. The only real difference between a P7, and a regular DA/SA in terms of operation is that you squeeze before or after you pull the trigger. It, like Sigs, and Glocks does not have an external safety (other than the squeeze cocker).

It is, also the smallest production handgun HK makes currently. It's small than just about any compact single stack handgun, ala SIG P225, P239. Exceptions being made for the Glocks, which are really sub compacts, and double stacks to boot. It's very thin, very accurate, very reliable (if cleaned). It's not a combat gun, it's a "Polizei Selbstlade Pistole" "Police Self-Loading Pistol", a cop gun. If you want a combat handgun, but all means get a USP. If you want a good CCW, get a P7.

http://www.hkp7.com <---- also has HK4 info.
http://www.enter.net/~samlex/p7.htm
http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi <--- select "cult of the P7"

-Morgan
 
Never heard the VP70 and Hk4 dissed so much.

The HK4 wasn't the size of a ppk, it was bigger, by a noticable difference. More like a Sig 230. It came in 4 calibers and specimens with all 4 conversions bring big $$. Ever see an ankle holster for an HK 4?? looks like a Colt Commander would fit in it.

That pistol was out the same time as the P9s. That was one of the coolest 45's ever made.

I passed on a VP70 ten years ago for $325, kicking myself ever since. that was one cool gun. Only its hard to find gunleather for it.
 
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