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| Country |
Germany |
| Type |
Semi-automatic pistol |
| Manufacturer |
Heckler & Koch |
| Introduction |
1976 |
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| Weight |
785 g (27.69 oz) (PSP)
780 g (28 oz) (P7M8)
850 g (30 oz) (P7M13)
P7K3: 775 g (27.3 oz) (.22 LR) / 760 g (27 oz) (7.65x17mm Browning SR) / 750 g (26 oz) (9x17mm Short)
1,250 g (44 oz) (P7M10)
720 g (25 oz) (P7PT8) |
| Length |
166 mm (6.5 in) (PSP)
171 mm (6.7 in) (P7M8, P7PT8)
175 mm (6.9 in) (P7M13, P7M10)
160 mm (6.3 in) (P7K3) |
| Barrel length |
105 mm (4.1 in) (PSP, P7M8, P7M13, P7M10, P7PT8)
96.5 mm (3.8 in) (P7K3) |
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| Cartridge |
9x19mm Parabellum (PSP, P7M8, P7M13)
.22 Long Rifle (P7K3)
.32 ACP (7.65x17mm Browning SR) (P7K3)
.380 ACP (9x17mm Short) (P7K3)
.40 S&W (P7M10)
9x19mm PT (P7PT8) |
| Action |
Gas-delayed blowback (PSP, P7M8, P7M13, P7M10)
Straight blowback (P7K3, P7PT8) |
| Muzzle velocity |
351 m/s (1,152 ft/s) (PSP, P7M8, P7M13)
P7K3: 275 m/s (902.2 ft/s) (.22 LR) / 330 m/s (1,082.7 ft/s) (7.65x17mm Browning SR) / 305 m/s (1,000.7 ft/s) (9x17mm Short)
300 m/s (984.3 ft/s)-345 m/s (1,131.9 ft/s) (P7M10)
~410 m/s (1,345.1 ft/s) (P7PT8) |
| Feed system |
8-round box magazine (PSP, P7M8, P7K3, P7PT8)
13-round box magazine (P7M13)
10-round box magazine (P7M10) |
| Sights |
Front blade, rear notch |
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The P7 is a German 9 mm semi-automatic pistol designed by Helmut Weldle and produced by Heckler & Koch GmbH (HK). It was revealed to the public for the first time in 1976 as the PSP (Polizei Selbstlade Pistole – \"police self-loading pistol\").
The decision to equip West German police with an advanced 9 mm pistol and replace existing 7.65 mm caliber weapons was prompted after a terrorist incident that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The new firearm was to meet the following requirements: chamber the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, weight - no more than 1,000 g (35 oz), the weapon’s dimensions would not exceed 180 x 130 x 34 mm, the initial muzzle energy – 500 J, service life – 10,000 rounds. The pistol was also to be fully ambidextrous, safe to carry with a loaded chamber and able to be quickly drawn and ready to fire instantaneously. As a result of a competitive bid the German police forces selected three different pistols into service: the Swiss SIG-Sauer P225 (designated the P6) and two German designs – the P7 (officially called the PSP) and the Walther P5.
Series production of the P7 was initiated in 1979. Shortly after, the pistol was adopted by the German Federal Police’s counter-terrorism unit (GSG 9) and the German Army’s special forces formations. The pistol was also exported to several countries. The P7 was produced by HK and Greek defense firm Hellenic Arms Industry (under license).
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