November 21, 2007

Squeeze Cocker

I just got back from the store with a new toy - the Heckler & Koch P7M8.  I've been wanting one for nearly two decades, and since H&K claims the last batch that came across the pond are the last ones they'll ever make, really, seriously this time, cross-their-heart-and-hope-to-die, I figured I'd better get one while the getting was good.

P7M8.jpg

They're an extremely odd firearm because of their unique manual of arms, and as a result they've never been terribly popular, and hence are hideously overpriced.  But they are a very thoughtfully designed pistol that just happens to have solved the various design problems (accuracy, reliability, speed, and safety) completely differently than anybody else.  H&K was famous for that sort of clean-sheet design for decades before they decided "thinking different" wasn't as lucrative as "thinking the same but still charging too much for it".  I guess you could say H&K is the Apple of the gun world.  Anyway, this pistol is the last remnant of the old H&K philosophy that they sell, at least until inventories finally deplete.

They're nicknamed "squeeze cockers" because of the funny lever sticking out of the front of the grip below the trigger.  This lever cocks the striker, so once it's cocked then you can pull the trigger to fire.  If you release pressure on the lever then the pistol will instantly decock; so the lever doubles as the safety.  Since it takes about 18lbs of force to pull the lever into firing position and the pistol won't fire until you do, it's impossible for it to accidentally go off unless (1) you're squeezing the %#@& out of it and (2) you've pulled the trigger.

If you're using proper shooting form then all this happens automagically - you get into shooting position and the gun will be in shooting condition without having to think about it.  But it is a bit more tricky if you're just trying to cap it gangsta style - there are stories of cops lives being saved by this feature when a perp grabbed the cop's gun while being wrestled down and then couldn't figure out how to make it work.

Posted by: mparker762 at 02:14 PM
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