The HKP7 is perhaps the fastest and safest pistol in the world. The unique grip cocking lever allows it to be carried safely with a round in the chamber, but always ready to fire. Cocking takes place by the natural tightening of the grip on the gun, yet releasing the cocking lever decocks the P7 and renders it safe. Because of the unique cocking system, there's no heavy double action trigger pull like that on a traditional DA/SA pistol (a la Glock.) Many people feel safer with carrying the P7 than the Glock due to the P7's more substantial safety mechanism.
It requires a minimum of 13-14 pounds of pressure on the lever to cock the P7, but only 1 pound of continuous pressure to keep it cocked. As long as the lever is held and fully depressed, the P7 functions like that of a conventional single action pistol.
The P7 has a fixed, polygonally rifled barrel, which has several minor advantages over conventional rifling. Polygonal rifling requires less bullet deformation and a tighter gas seal which improves accuracy and slightly increases muzzle velocity. Polygonal rifling also has easier cleaning characteristics than traditional rifling, and tends to have an increased barrel life.
Another unique feature of the P7 is its fluted chamber, which allows the P7 to extract empty shells without an extractor. The extractor is built in as a failsafe measure and also makes extraction more uniform. A low profile slide minimizes recoiling mass, which combined with the P7's low center of gravity, decreases a shooter's felt recoil considerably.
A grip angle of 110 degrees, a compact size, and the popular three-dot sighting system makes the P7 very well suited for many defense and tactical applications.
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