9mmepiphany: said:The H&K P7 is without a doubt the safest semi-auto pistol.
1. Not only is the striker uncocked when at rest, it is physically blocked from moving forward by the cocking lever
2. Squeezing the front strap cocks the striker. It takes 14lbs to depress the front strap, but only about 3lbs to hold it in the cocked position
3. Should the pistol be dropped or otherwise caused to be released from the hand, it automatically decocks...while still being physically blocked moving beyond the front of the breachface
4. The P7 can be disassembled without unblocking the striker and cannot be disassembled while there is a round in the chamber
I don’t know that discussion of the HK P7 or P8 Is relevant in the present tense since it’s been out of production for so many years. I can barely remember the last time I even saw a P7M8 on the used gun rack at the LGS I used to frequent, but I can sure remember the wild-assed asking price. If a P7M8 is the same price as a BHP, you can guess which way I’m spending my $, YMMV and the world still turns!
Although the P7M8 was a great gun, “IMHO” I’d still rather have my own current production HK P30 and P2000 since these guns are made from polymer and steel and the previous HK’s are made from “unobtainium”.
While my HK P30 is not an “S” model with the manual safety lever, you can get it that way if you want it that way. Although the HK manual safety is a good one, I don’t want mine that way, that’s unnecessary complication for a v3 trigger variant SA/DA hammer fired service pistol with a great decocker button. I’m glad that HK doesn’t feel the need to offer the P2000 with an “S”.
The only handgun safety that always has to work for me is the one between my ears. Every carry gun I own regardless of whether it’s hammer or striker fired works as long as the ol’ “brain” safety works.