Heckler & Koch MP7: Not your father’s sub-machine gun
I was a teenager in the 1990s, and
I remember a computer game called S.W.A.T. came out. Former LAPD Chief and
S.W.A.T. team creator Daryl Gates’ name was on the cover of the box, and the
game was my first introduction to the MP5. It’s a gun that I still have yet to
shoot, but in this post we’ll be talking about it’s big brother, the MP7 in
4.6x30mm, released in 2001.
click for video ▼
There’s been some recent
controversy over a comment made regarding civilians and the MP7, but you
can read more about that here. I’ll stick to the fun part of shooting it, and
how I met this beautiful gun.
I was invited to an event called
the Industry Shoot, where industry folk got together in Manchester, Tennessee to
share and play with a bunch of fun toys. The NFA-TCA was in attendance, and they
supplied the MP7 along with a bunch of free ammo. I shot the MP7 in single shot
as well as fully automatic with a 40-round magazine. The model I used had an
extendable, lightweight stock. The kevlar piercing 4.6x30mm round didn’t kick at
all, and there was minimal muzzle climb in full auto. I did a few bursts, and
then also let about 20 rounds rip with my trigger finger fully engaged. It was
fairly easy to stay on target through the string of fire. It was such a
satisfying feeling, and I was sad it went by so quickly.
The MP7 is in the personal defense
weapon (PDW) class, and it’s probably good for folks on protection details who
need to conceal it in their jackets, etc. It’s a light, small frame sub-machine
gun that is used by a number of militaries and law enforcement agencies around
the world. As a civilian, I wish I could own one!
click for video ▼