MP7
Summary
| Country | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch |
Technical specifications
| MP7 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 950 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 4.6 x 30 mm |
| Magazine | 20 - 40 rounds |
| Length | 540 mm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) |
| Range | m ( ft) |
Description
The Heckler & Koch MP7 is a personal defense weapon (PDW) developed by the German defense manufacturer Heckler & Koch. It is chambered for the proprietary HK 4.6×30mm cartridge and was designed to meet NATO requirements published in 1989, which sought a weapon with a greater capacity to defeat body armor compared to existing submachine guns using conventional pistol cartridges. The MP7 went into production in 2001 and serves as a direct rival to the FN P90. The weapon was developed in response to soft body armor reducing the effectiveness of pistol ammunition.
The MP7 utilizes a short-stroke piston gas system, similar to those found on HK's G36 and HK416 rifles. Its 4.6×30mm ammunition is exclusive to the platform. The weapon has a cyclic rate of fire of approximately 950 rounds per minute and utilizes standard 20, 30, or 40-round box magazines fitted within the pistol grip. The design includes ambidextrous fire selector, bolt catch lever, and magazine release controls. It features an extendable stock and can be fired either one-handed or two-handed. Constructed with polymers, it is compact and light. The top rail is a full-length Picatinny rail, fitted standard with folding iron sights that can be removed. Additional rails on the sides allow for mounting accessories. The MP7 can accept a suppressor. Specially designed armor-piercing rounds penetrate the NATO CRISAT target at 200 meters.
Several variants of the MP7 exist:
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'PDW': The first prototype, shown in 1999, featured a short top Picatinny rail and smooth pistol grip surface.
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'MP7': The production model, introduced in 2001, featured a full-length Picatinny rail, a thicker curved stock, and an anti-slide surface on the pistol grip.
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'MP7A1': Introduced in 2003, featuring a redesigned grip, a smaller stock with a straight buttpad, side-mounted picatinny rails as standard, and more compact folding iron sights.
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'MP7A2': This variant omits the folding front grip in favor of a Picatinny rail for accessory grips.
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'MP7-SF': A semi-automatic only variant.
The MP7 is currently used by the Ministry of Defence Police in the United Kingdom.