Heckler & Koch MP7
From Free net encyclopedia
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| Caliber: | 4.6 x 30 mm | |
| Action: | Gas-operated, rotating bolt | |
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| Length: |
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| Barrel length: | 180 mm (7.1 in) | |
| Rate of fire: | 950 round/min | |
| Magazine: | 20 or 40-round detachable box | |
| Effective range: | 200 m | |
The MP7 is a submachine gun/machine pistol manufactured by Heckler & Koch (HK).
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Overview
The MP7 is classified as a personal defense weapon (PDW). It went into production in 2001. It is very compact and light, using mainly polymers in its construction.
The proliferation of high-quality body armor has begun to make guns that fire pistol ammunition (such as HK's earlier MP5 or USP) ineffective. In response to this trend, HK designed the MP7 (along with the brand new UCP, which uses the same ammunition) to penetrate body armor, but small enough to be used in place of either a pistol or a submachine gun.
The MP7 essentially operates like a scaled-down assault rifle, with the same action as HK's G36. It fires a specially designed, armor-piercing round with a muzzle velocity nearly as high as that of the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO round used by many modern rifles. This ammunition is unique among submachine guns in that the bullet is made almost entirely of a hardened steel penetrator instead of softer brass or lead. The ammunition is specific to the gun, and also offers low recoil. The round also has a small diameter (it can almost be described as a scaled down .223 Remington), allowing for high capacity in a very small magazine. (Currently, HK is offering 20 and 40 round magazines, the former being comparable in size to a 15-round 9 mm magazine, while the latter compares to a 25-round 9 mm magazine). There is a drawback, however — the round is comparably smaller than a 9 mm bullet, meaning it has less stopping power. The weapon allows a conventional 20-round or 40-round box magazine to be fit within the pistol grip and it features an ambidextrous fire-select lever and rear cocking grip. It has an extendable stock and a folding front grip. It can be fired either one-handed or two-handed.
The MP7 is marketed as a direct competitor to the FN P90. Some observers make the distinction that the MP7 is closer to a true machine pistol than a submachine gun. The FN P90 features a simpler delayed blowback design that fires with a closed breech, so there is no rotating bolt or gas system, but it is bulkier and heavier than the MP7.
Variants
The weapon features a full-length top-mounted Picatinny rail and can fit additional rails on the sides of the barrel, which allow it to mount commercial optical sights, laser aiming modules (LAM), and tactical flashlights. The MP7 can also equip a suppressor.
Usage
In 2005, the MP7 was adopted by the British Ministry of Defence as the preferred weapon for equipping its own police force. The light weight of the weapon, as well as its close range accuracy, were both given as reasons for the purchase.
The German Army following the German Special Forces (KSK) have begun to procure the MP7 in high numbers. German Soldiers in Afghanistan are now using the MP7 on patrol in Kabul.
As with many other exotic weapons, the MP7 has and will continue to be featured in movies and video games. See the discussion page for specifics.
See also
External links
- HK Defense: MP7 product page
- HKPRO page on HK MP7
- Modern Firearms — HK MP7
- Nazarian's Gun's Recognition Guide