P7M8 Range Report

[hkusp]

Picked up my NIB P7M8 yesterday and took it to the range. It can shot far better than anything else I've shot to date. I've shots various Sigs, Glocks, Berettas, H&K USP's, Steyrs, Walthers, Rugers, S&W's, 1911's (Colt, SA, Kimber, Wilson, Ed Brown, Dan Wesson, STI, Valtro). The most accurate pistol I shot before owning the P7 was my H&K USP9F. I am able to pull off 8 inch 10rd groups at 15 yards with my USP9F. I'm not a great shot. With the P7 I was able to make my first 2 inch 8rd group on the first mag at 15 yards. I was also able to consistantly print 2 inch 8rd groups until I ran out of the 300rds of WWB ammo I brought with me. Recoil and muzzle flip was no better or worse than any other 9mm I've shot with exception of the Glock and Steyr which had almost no flip and allow very fast follow up shots. The P7 had no malfunctions, but neither have any other of my H&K's. It was a beast to clean. I no longer have any other pistols in my collection than H&K. My first pistol was a Colt 1911 and I've owned just about every brand of 1911 over the years trying to convince myself that I would find one I could shoot well since everyone else could. I just sold my last 1911 and will never own another. Not to mention I have never owned a 1911 that was 100% reliable. The Sigs I shot were nice pistols, but I just couldn't shot them well. The Glocks I shot were just as accurate as my H&K's, but I felt very uncomfortable with a light trigger and no safety. Steyr's were Glocks with nicer grips and funky safeties. Berettas, Walthers, Rugers, and S&W's, just felt and shot wrong. Over the years I've learned one important lesson. Rent before you buy. It will save you a fortune. I'm not trying to push H&K's, it's just what floats my boat.

P7M8 Pros:
Accurate
Fast from holster to first shot
Sweet sights
Lifetime Warranty
Reliable
Durable
Safe

P7M8 Cons:
Price
Get really dirty and hard to clean

 

[Caseless]

Congratulations on your new acquisition. You now have in your possession arguably the most accurate service 9mm ever mass produced. I think you will be shooting at 50 yd targets after owning it a while.
Regarding your USP 9 printing "8 inch 10rd groups at 15 yards," is that a typo? Even with mediocre marksmanship, I am able to send these 40 cal. WWB bullets into a 1.5 in. cloveleaf hole at 12 yards; and 4 in. at 25 yd with my USP 40 freehand.

 

[hkusp]

No typo. I don't have the quietest nerves.

 

[mete]

The P7 should be capable of getting close to 1" groups at 25 yds, after all the barrel is fixed so it's easy. I don't know why 'it's a beast to clean'. The cylinder is cleaned with the scraper, the piston with a brush. Inside of the slide also cleaned with a brush. Lightly lube the slide rails , occasionally remove and clean and lube the firing pin and hole. Don't lube the piston . ....BTW I guess I've been declared a non-person at hkpro.With the new system Icouldn't login no matter how I tried and emails were never answered. I had even tried to contribute to the new system but Paypal wouldn't recognize me either !!

 

[Greg Bell]

Mete,

Yeah, but most of us are a little more cleaning obsessed! But you are right, most of the P7 cleaning horror stories are bunk. If you clean the barrel and gas cylinder you can leave the rest of the gun nasty if you want to.

GHB

 

[hkusp]

"Bunk"

I can clean my usp9f in about 15min. It takes me 3hrs to clean my P7M8.

 

[Greg Bell]

hkusp,

Wow! You must be a cleaning nut! I can take the P7 down to individual components, clean every last part, perfume it, kiss it and have my way with it in less time than that! I can clean all my guns, including rifles in less that that! Wow! I'd hate to see you detail a car engine.

 

[hkusp]

I guess you are superior.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i hope you're not trying to clean all the carbon odd the rings on your piston.

i can, at least i used to be able to, detail strip my p7 psp and clean the whole thing in about an hour.

i do a quick feild strip and clean in about 30 mins

 

[hkusp]

Maybe one day I will be that fast.

 

[sturgeon]

9mmepiphany

In regards to your comment of not trying to clean all the carbon off the piston, I just wanted to know why. Is this something you are not suppose to do? I'm not second guessing you, I just got my P7 not long ago, and wanted to know if this is something I should not try to do.
Thanks,
Sturgeon

 

[Greg Bell]

Well, the manual says not to. I assumed H&K is worried that you will damage the sharp edges of the piston. But who really knows?

 

[Kestrel]

Yep, the rings are supposed to remain sharp.

I love the P7, too (PSPs for me). I hate the heat buildup at the range, though. Have to have several guns to shoot, to let the P7s cool off.

Steve

 

[9mmepiphany]

it is not the manual, it says not to carrry a round in the chamber too

an overly obsessed cleaning of the space between the rings might cause you to round off their edges. the edges of the rings need to stay sharp for the action to work as designed. the rings seal the piston against the sides of the gas cylinder. gas leakage around the edges of the rings accelerates erosion.

when i do clean it (more than just wiping it down), i use an old nylon toothbrush dipped in solvent, then i degrease very completely before assembly (no oil ever in/on the gas chamber/piston)

 

[Greg Bell]

"it is not the manual, it says not to carrry a round in the chamber too "

Umm, not really

Page 17 of the manual I have says no hard tools, brushes or steel wool. Use only a soft patch, etc.

The second sentence of the introduction says that it can be safely carried with a round in the chamber.


GHB

 

[9mmepiphany]

sorry...brain fart...wrong manual

 

[sturgeon]

Thanks for the answer, I did read the manual when I first got it, but that part must have slipped my mind. Now I know, thanks