Heckler & Koch MP7

"MP7" redirects here. For other uses, see MP7 (disambiguation).

Heckler & Koch MP7
MP7A2 with attachments, including a weapon light, weapon sling, and an Aimpoint Micro T2
TypePersonal defense weapon
Submachine gun
Place of originGermany
Service history
In service2001–present
Used by20+ countries (see Users)
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerHeckler & Koch
Produced2001–present
Specifications
Mass
  • 1.90 kg (4.2 lb) with 20-round empty magazine (PDW)
  • 2.10 kg (4.63 lb) with magazine (MP7A1)[2]
Length638 mm (25.1 in) stock extended / 415 mm (16.3 in) stock collapsed[3]
Barrel length180 mm (7.1 in)[4]
Width51 mm (2.0 in)[3]
Height169.5 mm (6.7 in)[3]
CartridgeHK 4.6×30mm
ActionGas-operated, short stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate of fire950 rounds/min[citation needed]
Muzzle velocity735 m/s (2,411 ft/s) (Fiocchi CPS Black Tip ammunition)
Effective firing range200 m (660 ft)[5][6]
Feed system20-, 30- or 40-round detachable box magazine
SightsTritium-illuminated flip-up night sights; handgun and rifle sights (adjustable)

The Heckler & Koch MP7 (German: Maschinenpistole 7) is a personal defense weapon chambered for the HK 4.6×30mm armor-piercing cartridge designed by German defence manufacturer Heckler & Koch.

It was designed (together with the new cartridge) to meet NATO requirements published in 1989, which called for an SMG-type weapon with a greater capacity to defeat Kevlar body armor (versus pre-existing submachine guns using conventional pistol cartridges such as the .45 ACP and 9×19mm Parabellum).

The MP7 went into production in 2001, and is a direct rival to the FN P90, also developed in response to NATO's requirement by Belgian company FN Herstal. The weapon has been revised since its introduction and the latest production variants are the MP7A1 and MP7A2.[7][8]

The proliferation of cheap yet effective soft body armor has begun to make guns that fire pistol ammunition (such as Heckler & Koch's earlier MP5 submachine gun and USP pistol) ineffective. In response to this trend, Heckler & Koch designed the MP7 (along with the cancelled UCP pistol, which was to use the same ammunition) to penetrate soft body armor while being small enough to be used in place of either a pistol or a submachine gun.[7][9]

Design details

The MP7 uses a short-stroke piston gas system as is used on H&K's G36 and HK416 in place of a blowback system traditionally seen on submachine guns.[10] The 4.6×30mm ammunition is exclusive to the gun and offers low recoil.[7] This ammunition is unique among submachine guns in that the bullet is made almost entirely of a hardened steel penetrator instead of softer copper or lead. The MP7 has a cyclic rate of fire of around 950 rounds per minute[citation needed] (which is around 15.8 rounds per second).

The MP7 allows a conventional 20, 30 or 40-round box magazine to be fitted within the pistol grip (the 20-round magazine is comparable in size to a 15-round 9×19mm magazine, while the 40-round magazine compares to a 30-round 9×19mm magazine). It features an ambidextrous fire selector, bolt catch lever and magazine release. It has an extendable stock and a folding front grip (MP7 and MP7A1 variants, the MP7A2 lacks the folding front grip); it can be fired either one-handed or two-handed.[7] It is compact and light, due to the use of polymers in its construction.

Ammunition

The MP7's specially designed armor piercing (AP) high-velocity rounds consist of either copper-plated solid steel (DM11), alloy-plated steel jacket (DM21) or copper-alloy-jacketed lead core projectiles (Fiocchi FMJ ZP). Standard AP high-velocity DM11 (Ultimate Combat) round with a 2.0-g (31 gr) projectile has a muzzle velocity of 720 m/s (2,362 ft/s) and a muzzle energy of 506 J (373 ft-lb).[11] The DM11 round penetrates the NATO CRISAT target (20 layers of Kevlar with 1.6 mm titanium backing) at 200 m.[12] The round has a small diameter, allowing for redoubling penetration capability and high capacity in a very small magazine.

VBR of Belgium produces a 4.6×30mm two-part controlled-fragmenting projectile that is claimed to increase the content of the permanent wound cavity and double the chance to hit a vital organ.[7][13] Heckler & Koch claims that the CPS Black Tip ammunition made by Fiocchi has a muzzle energy of approximately 525 J, which would be comparable to 9×19mm Parabellum rounds.[14]

Accessories

The MP7 features a full-length, top-mounted Picatinny rail that comes as standard with folding fore and rear iron sights attached. When the sights are folded flat, they resemble Patridge style open sights. Folded up, they feature aperture sights. The sights can easily be removed by loosening a single screw and lifting them off. Besides iron sights, other optics such as a red dot sight or a scope can also be mounted on the top picatinny rail. the MP7 is also usually fitted with additional rails on both sides of the barrel, which allows the MP7 to be mounted with other accessories such us a laser aiming modules (LAM), tactical flashlights, and more, without obscuring the view while aiming. The MP7 can also accept a suppressor, and its tailor-made suppressor does not interfere with its accuracy or rate of fire.

Variants

A recent production MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) with a Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight on display as part of Germany's IdZ program.[15]
  • PDW: The first prototype was shown in 1999 through the 1999 SHOT SHOW and was designated as the 'PDW' (Personal Defense Weapon).[16] It had a short Picatinny rail on the top and a smooth pistol grip surface.
  • MP7: In 2001, it was designated as the 'MP7' and went into production. Changes include a full-length Picatinny rail, a thick curved stock and an anti-slide surface on the pistol grip much like the HK USP. It also features folding iron sights mounted on the Picatinny rail and the button to fold the foregrip was made larger for easier operation.
  • MP7A1: In 2003, its designation was changed to 'MP7A1' and featured a redesigned pistol grip with a different surface and curved shape, a smaller stock with a straight buttpad, side-mounted picatinny rails as standard and the folding iron sights were made more compact. The weapon was made slightly longer, but because the stock was shortened, the overall length did not change. The stock is also able to be locked into 3 positions. Recent MP7A1 models have a trigger safety similar to a Glock pistol; the middle section of the trigger must be pulled first before the outer part will move. This helps to stop accidental discharges if the trigger is bumped.[7]
  • MP7A2: A variant without the folding front grip but features a Picatinny rail to mount various grips in line with the user's preference.
  • MP7-SF: A semi-automatic only variant of the MP7 which is currently used by the Ministry of Defence Police in the United Kingdom.[17]

Clones

  • T7 Pistol: MP7 clone by Tommy Built Tactical, unveiled at SHOT SHOW 2024.[18] It can be sold as a pistol or as a SBR.[18]
  • AMK MP7: 3D printable lookalike by Deterrence Dispensed, available in 5.7×28mm and 9×19mm[19]
  • PSA X5.7: Submachine gun made by PSA, unveiled at SHOT SHOW 2024.[20] Has a close resemblance to the MP7.[21] It's able to use 40-round magazines.[22]

Users

A map with Heckler & Koch MP7 users in blue
Country Organization name Model Quantity Date Reference
 Algeria Algerian special forces, DSI, DGSPP − − − [23]
 Australia Western Australia Department of Corrective Services Emergency Support Group − − − [24]
 Austria Einsatzkommando Cobra (EKO Cobra) of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior − − − [25]
 Brunei Special Forces Regiment of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces MP7A1 − − [26]
 Czech Republic Police of the Czech Republic – PDW of ordinary police officers – guns are locked in a special compartment of ordinary police cars' front doors MP7A1 − 2012 [27]
 Estonia ESTSOF − − − [28]
 France French special forces, DGSE SA, GIGN MP7A1 − − [29]
 Georgia Ministry of Internal Affairs − − − [30][31]
 Germany German Army − − − [7][32]
GSG9 der Bundespolizei counter-terrorism group of the German Federal Police − − − [33]
Baden-Württemberg Police − 3000 - [34]
Missions Abroad and Special Operations unit of the Bundeskriminalamt _ _ _ [35]
 Indonesia Komando Pasukan Khusus (KOPASSUS) special forces of the Indonesian Army MP7A1 − pre-2012 [36]
 Ireland Garda; Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Regional Support Unit, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation MP7A1 − 2006 [7][37][38]
[39]
 Japan Japanese Special Forces Group − − − [40]
 Jordan Jordan Royal Guard, 71st Special Battalion − − − [41]
 Lithuania Lithuanian Armed Forces − − 2023 [42]
 Malaysia Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) counter-terrorism divisions of the Royal Malaysia Police − − 2007 [7]
 Norway Norwegian Armed Forces − 6,500 2007 [7][43]
Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) and the Royal Police Escort − − − [44]
 Oman − − − − [41]
 Papua New Guinea Parliament security MP7A1 − − [45]
 Serbia Serbian Special Forces MP7A1 − − [46]
 South Korea Republic of Korea National Police Agency SWAT − − − [7]
Presidential Security Service − − − [47]
 Spain Spanish Army − − − [48]
 Turkey Special Forces Command MP7A1 − − [49]
 United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Police MP7-SF − − [7][50]
 United States United States Capitol Police MP7A1 [51]
United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group − − − [52]
Nephi City Police − − − [53]
Colorado Springs Police Tactical Enforcement Unit − − − [54]
 Vatican City Pontifical Swiss Guard MP7A1 − − [55]
 Sweden Swedish Army − − 2018 [56]
  • An MP7A1 with Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight and LLM01 laser light module.
    An MP7A1 with Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight and LLM01 laser light module.
  • MoD Police officer on range with an MP7-SF in CBRN suit.
    MoD Police officer on range with an MP7-SF in CBRN suit.
  • MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) with a Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight.
    MP7A1 (note the safety trigger) with a Zeiss RSA reflex red dot sight.

Heckler & Koch UCP

Heckler & Koch UCP
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originGermany
Specifications
Mass0.85 kg (1.9 lb)
Length200 mm (7.9 in)
Barrel length130 mm (5.1 in)
Width30 mm (1.2 in)
Height135 mm (5.3 in)
CartridgeHK 4.6×30mm
ActionDelayed blowback
Muzzle velocity695 m/s (2,280 ft/s)
Effective firing range70 m (230 ft)
Feed system20-round box magazine
SightsIron

The Heckler & Koch Universal Combat Pistol (HK UCP), also known as the HK P46 is a double action, semi-automatic handgun developed under commission for the German Bundeswehr. The concept for the UCP was later cancelled at the prototype stage.

History and description

The UCP was to be the companion sidearm to the HK MP7, using the same HK 4.6×30mm cartridge. The 4.6×30mm round is a direct competitor to the 5.7×28mm by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN). As such, the UCP would have been a direct competitor to the FN Five-seven pistol. Both have greater armor-piercing capabilities and less recoil compared to other commonly used military handgun cartridges, such as the 9×18mm Makarov and 9×19mm Parabellum.

The UCP operated on the delayed-blowback operating principle. The external design of the UCP appears to have been borrowed from the HK P2000 pistol,[citation needed] and includes ambidextrous controls, interchangeable backstraps, and a Picatinny rail system for the attachment of accessories. Like the USP and P2000 series of pistols, the trigger mechanism is reported to have been modular and capable of different configurations. The UCP was designed to accept an extended, threaded barrel capable of accepting the attachment of a sound suppressor made by Brügger & Thomet.[57]

The design remained in the prototype phase as of 2006, and had been reported as entering limited trials with the Bundeswehr.

In July 2009, HK USA's president, Wayne Weber, indicated that the UCP project has been cancelled because "HK felt it did not provide adequate ballistics in handgun form."[58]

References

  1. ^ "West Papuan separatists declare provisional government, tell Indonesia to leave the region". ABC News. December 2020.
  2. ^ "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Hk-usa.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Heckler-koch.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Famous Guns, Heckler and Koch MP7: the Replacement for HK MP5". Famous-guns.com. 9 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Heckler and Koch MP7: the Replacement for HK MP5". Famous-guns.com. 9 September 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  6. ^ EnemyForces.com. "Enemy Forces, Heckler & Koch MP7". Enemyforces.net. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "HK MP7A1". Guns Lot. 13 December 2007. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  8. ^ "MP7 | Compact, lightweight and 4.6 times more effective". Heckler and Koch. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Heckler & Koch – Group Website". Heckler-koch.de. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  10. ^ Cutshaw, Charles Q. (2003). "Heckler & Koch's cutting-edge compacts G36C and MP7 PDW: when less really is more". Guns Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009.
  11. ^ "HK MP7A1 Ammunition". Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Heckler-Koch, Products, MP7A1". Heckler-koch.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  13. ^ "The 4.6x30 mm B2F cartridge". Fsdip.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  14. ^ "Heckler & Koch – Group Website". Heckler-koch.de. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  15. ^ "Zeiss RSA-S Reflex Sight". Zeiss.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  16. ^ "HK Unveils New Personal Defense Weapon - Small Arms Review". March 2000.
  17. ^ "The Personal Defence Weapon ~ Part2". 11 April 2018.
  18. ^ a b "MP7 at Home: Tommy Built Tactical's T7 — SHOT Show 2024". 2 February 2024.
  19. ^ DrDeath1776. "I'm THRILLED to announce the AMK MP7 ..." Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "[SHOT Show 2024] the PSA X5.7 PDW Concept". 26 January 2024.
  21. ^ https://archive.today/20240703123059/https://www.guns.com/news/2024/02/05/palmetto-state-touts-concept-x57-pdw [bare URL]
  22. ^ "[SHOT 2024] PSA Displays Wide Range of New Guns and Prototypes". 26 January 2024.
  23. ^ Vivenot, Emmanuel (March 2013). "Prise d'otages massive au Sahara". RAIDS (in French). No. 322. Histoire & Collections. p. 59. ISSN 0769-4814.
  24. ^ "WAtoday, Armour-piercing bullets ordered for WA prisons". Watoday.com.au. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  25. ^ "COBRA: Austria's Special Police Commandos" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  26. ^ Faizal. "Terima anugerah Warga Kehormat RPK | Media Permata". mediapermata.com.bn. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.[failed verification]
  27. ^ "HK MP7A1 u Policie ČR" (PDF). June 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  28. ^ "Kaitseväe eriüksuste juht: peame olema valmis reageerima igasugustele nähtustele". 6 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  29. ^ "Al-Shabab militants in Somalia post alleged photo of French commando killed in botched raid". CBS News. 14 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  30. ^ "ინდივიდუალური შეიარაღება ("Individual weapon")". geo-army.ge. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015.
  31. ^ "Exhibition of military equipment in Tbilisi". Geo Army. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  32. ^ Gourley, S.; Kemp, I (26 November 2003). "The Duellists". Jane's Defence Weekly (ISSN 0265-3818), Volume 40 Issue 21, pp 26–28.
  33. ^ "АРСЕНАЛ: ОРУЖИЕ НЕМЕЦКОГО СПЕЦНАЗА (Arsenal: Weapons of the German Special Forces)" (in Russian). Bratishka. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  34. ^ Germany, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgart. "Polizei in Baden-Württemberg: Alle Streifenwagen bekommen neue Waffe". Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ Sören Sünkler (2019). ASE SG BKA, Auslands- und Spezialeinsätze Sicherungsgruppe Bundeskriminalamt. In: Kommando-International Special Operations Magazine, Nr. 2/2019 ISSN 2196-1204, S. 4-23
  36. ^ Ditulis Oleh Penkopassus (8 October 2012). "Wamenhan RI Berkunjung ke Stand Kopassus". Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  37. ^ Ferry, Declan (17 April 2013). "Garda crack squad that will protect Obama". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  38. ^ Tom Brady (4 September 2008). "Quick-change armed gardai hit the streets — National News, Frontpage". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  39. ^ "Garda College Yearbook listing weapons training on page 66" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2014.
  40. ^ 陸上自衛隊唯一の特殊部隊 特殊作戦群の解説 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  41. ^ a b Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  42. ^ "Litauen beschafft Maschinenpistole MP7". 11 October 2023.
  43. ^ Skagemo, Leif Inge (5 June 2007). "En liten røver med trøkk i". Hæren (in Norwegian). Forsvarsnett. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  44. ^ "MP7A1 – Femte generasjons maskinpistol innført i Norge" (in Norwegian). Pro Patria. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  45. ^ "Papua New Guinea Parliament armed". Archived from the original on 18 July 2013.
  46. ^ "Specijalne-jedinice.com – HK MP7". specijalne-jedinice.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  47. ^ "대통령경호실". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  48. ^ "POTD: Heckler & Koch MP7 and G36E in Ejército de Tierra". The Firearm Blog. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Bordo Bereliler: The difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer". 6 October 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  50. ^ Steven Partridge. "A Modern Weapon for a Modern Role" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  51. ^ "UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TIMELINE OF EVENTS FOR JANUARY 6, 2021 ATTACK" (PDF). govinfo.gov. 11 May 2024. p. 5. USCP mandates that each Dignitary Protection detail include MP7 or M4 assault weapons.
  52. ^ Nicholas Schmidle (8 August 2011). "Getting Bin Laden: What happened that night in Abbottabad — New Yorker". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  53. ^ "B&T USA Awarded the Contract to Supply the Nephi City Police Department with Mp7 Suppressors. | B&T USA". Archived from the original on 10 December 2023.
  54. ^ "Significant Event Briefing: Officer-involved Shooting on August 17, 2023 | City of Colorado Springs".
  55. ^ "Guns of the Swiss Guard". Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  56. ^ "MÖP-måndag: H&K 416/417 och H&K MP7 nu officiellt i Försvarsmakten". cornucopia.se (in Swedish). 22 January 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  57. ^ HK UCP
  58. ^ "pistol-training.com » Blog Archive » Pistol News from Heckler & Koch". pistol-training.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heckler & Koch MP7.