Ok I still do not understand the hype about this gun, can someone let me in as I was looking at one at a local store price was 1200 which though was high but I know nothing about this so please spill it. Thanks
G
gm: First, let me fess up I'm a newbie HK P7 owner, but I'm NOT a newbie when it comes to wanting one..
I believe the pistol you saw was more than likely a P7M8.. The P7M8 is the series after the P7, which is basically the same pistol as the P7 with subtle differences.. The M8 has a larger triggerguard and a plastic heat shield in the top of it to retard heat from the barrel to the trigger finger.. The M8 has the "Americanized" magazine release in the grip.(ambi). I've heard the sights are slightly different in width of gap, etc. and I think the firing pin comes out in a slightly different, easier, or more difficult way.. (don't know for sure about that.).
The HK P7 pistols I bought from CDNN are from the batch recently released by the German Government, and came from the armory (or coffee shop, or someplace) of the Lower Saxony Police. (I think Lower Saxony is like a "state" would be here.)
These P7's were graded by HK people in Germany prior to shipment and rated according to INTERNAL wear. I believe the three grades were "A,B,C".. I've never seen any "C"s, but there are lots of "B"'s (very good to excellent), and fewer "A"'s, (excellent to like new). Apparently you can see some "B"'s that appear nicer than some "A"s, but again the pistols were graded on internal wear, not visual appearance.
If you care to research you will find the HK P7 series of pistols are considered by knowledgeable firearm experts as one of the very best 9mm pistols ever manufactured..
The pistol is made of the highest quality materials, has a reputation for fantastic reliability, and amazing accuracy. The photo below was taken of the results of the 1st mag (8rds) fired from my first surplus P7.
The target was shot from only 7 yards as I was just trying to determine poa/poi. I'm a senior citizen, shaky hands, crappy eyes, and an average shot. I was quite amazed when the first round impacted in the X ring, as did all the rest of them. (I've posted this before, so I apologize to those folks having to read it again).
The squeezecocker HK P7 has an amazingly light single action trigger pull.. Every time.. The design of the pistol makes it capable of unusual accuracy if the shooter will do his part.
The Cons of the P7 series are they will get hot quickly if more than several mags. are fired thru them rapidly. The pistols are heavy as they are all metal. The mag capacity is 8.
The Pros of the P7 series are they have the reputation as the "safest" 9mm pistol, (squeezecocker), top reputation in both reliability and accuracy, and have a great resale value.. Even tho once you buy and shoot one you won't have the desire to part with it. In fact chances are you'll buy more..
I did not intend to buy three of these suckers.. But after shooting my first I wanted more.. (This sickness is known as "HK P7 fever)..
The prices of these surplus P7's run $599.95 for B grades at CDNN and $674.95 for A grade pistols. These same pistols are sold elsewhere for varying amounts + or -..
All three of my A grade P7's appeared to my uneducated eye as basically unused. I'm not saying they were, but they have that appearance, and that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
All three are amazingly accurate, a pleasure to shoot, and you need to buy one and see for yourself.
Hope this helps.
Jesse