HK P7 PSP

H. Weldle designed the P7, a “German 9mm semi-automatic pistol” that was manufactured by Heckler & Koch. For the first time, the news of its production was publicized to the public in the year 1976 as “Polizei Selbstlade Pistol (PSP)”.

By: admin Posted: December 13, 2007

After the terrorist incident, that took place in Munich during the Summer Olympics 1972, the final decision to provide the police force of West German with hi-tech pistol was taken. Heckler & Koch’s advanced technology armament was to fulfil the following requirements:-
• In order to chamber the “9*19mm Parabellum cartridge”.
• Weight of the pistol should be not more than thousand grams.
• The dimension of the armament should not exceed 180*130*34mm.
• The initial stifle energy must be only 500 J.
• Service life of the weapon must be 10,000 rounds.

The Heckler & Koch P7 is a blowback operated, semi automatic firearm. It has the features of blowback system, which is modelled on the “Swiss W+F 47” prototype pistol. The cylinder contains a piston that is situated underneath the barrel. In order to hold back the backward motion of the slide with the help of a piston, gas pressure of heated cartridge is used. To help the extraction process there are 18 flutes in the chamber. The bolt assembly is consisting of the spring extractor, whereas on the surface of the slide catch there is a fixed ejector.

The pistol has a striker firing mechanism as well as a developed trigger. A squeezed cocking lever is situated in front of the grip and underneath the trigger guard. The firing pin is locked automatically when the cocking lever is pressed back with the speed of approximately 20 N. In order to maintain the safety as well as the protection against accidental firing, the squeeze-cocking lever plays an effective role. The firing and trigger mechanism’s technique of operation are secluded by a “US PATENT NR 41320323”, which was issued in 1979.

The P7 is feeded from an individual stack box magazine that is inside the frame of the firearm. These pistols have capacity of eight rounds. The slide of the P7 shall remain open, after the firing of last round. Firearm of the weapon applies a polygonal and fixed barrel. Fixed notch of iron sights along with distinctive dots are used for the firearm. The two handed use of the pistol is increased by the application of an enlarged as well as a profiled trigger guard. The Heckler & Koch P7 pistol is fully ambidextrous.

It is a self-loading pistol, which was designed for the use of agencies of law enforcement. The regular production of P7 was started in the year 1979. Its comfortable handling, good fire accuracy and high reliability make it the best in the field of hi-tech weapons.

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