Heckler & Koch P7

P7
Heckler & Koch P7.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Helmut Weldle
Designed	1976
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1979–2008
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	PSP: 785 g (27.7 oz) P7M8: 780 g (28 oz) P7M13: 850 g (30 oz) P7K3: 775 g (27.3 oz) (.22 LR) / 760 g (27 oz) (.32 ACP) / 750 g (26 oz) (.380 ACP) P7M10: 1,250 g (44 oz) P7PT8: 720 g (25 oz)
Length	PSP: 166 mm (6.5 in) P7M8, P7PT8: 171 mm (6.7 in) P7M13, P7M10: 175 mm (6.9 in) P7K3: 160 mm (6.3 in)
Barrel length	PSP, P7M8, P7M13, P7M10, P7PT8: 105 mm (4.1 in) P7K3: 96.5 mm (3.8 in)
Width	PSP, P7M8: 29 mm (1.1 in) P7M13, P7M10: 33 mm (1.3 in) P7K3: 29 mm (1.1 in)
Height	PSP: 127 mm (5.0 in) P7M8: 129 mm (5.1 in) P7M13: 135 mm (5.3 in) P7M10: 145 mm (5.7 in) P7K3: 125 mm (4.9 in)
Cartridge	PSP, P7M8, P7M13: 9×19mm Parabellum P7K3: .22 Long Rifle, .32 ACP, .380 ACP P7M10: .40 S&W P7PT8: 9×19mm PT P7M7: .45 ACP (prototype only)
Action	PSP, P7M8, P7M13, P7M10: Gas-delayed blowback P7K3, P7PT8: Straight blowback
Muzzle velocity	PSP, P7M8, P7M13: 351 m/s (1,152 ft/s) P7K3: 275 m/s (902.2 ft/s) (.22 LR) / 330 m/s (1,082.7 ft/s) (.32 ACP) / 305 m/s (1,000.7 ft/s) (.380 ACP) P7M10: 300 m/s (984.3 ft/s)-345 m/s (1,131.9 ft/s) P7PT8: ~410 m/s (1,345.1 ft/s)
Feed system	PSP, P7M8, P7K3, P7PT8: 8-round box magazine P7M13: 13-round box magazine P7M7: 7-round box magazine P7M10: 10-round box magazine
Sights	Front blade, rear notch 148 mm (5.8 in) sight radius

The P7 is a German 9×19mm semi-automatic pistol designed by Helmut Weldle and produced by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) of Oberndorf am Neckar. 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 9mm service pistol and replace existing 7.65mm Browning-caliber weapons was prompted after the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre. The new firearm was to meet the following requirements: chamber the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge, weigh no more than 1,000 g (35 oz), the pistol's dimensions would not exceed 180 × 130 × 34 mm, it should have a muzzle energy of no less than 500 J and a service life of at least 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 instantly. 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 designated the PSP) and the Walther P5.

Series production of the P7 started 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 P7 was produced primarily by H&K but also under license by the Greek defense firm Hellenic Arms Industry as well as in Mexico by the Departamento de Industria Militar (DIM), as a sidearm for general officers and staff. The pistol was also exported to several countries.