From Recoil Magazine:
”…the MP71A is unavailable to civilians and for good measure. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of.”
From a post on Facebook:
Hey guys, this is Jerry Tsai, Editor of RECOIL. I think I need to jump in here and clarify what I wrote in the MP7A1 article. It looks like I may not have stated my point clearly enough in that line that is quoted up above. Let’s be clear, neither RECOIL nor I are taking the stance on what should or should not be made available on the commercial market although I can see how what was written can be confused as such.
Because we don’t want anything to be taken out of context, let’s complete that quote and read the entire paragraph:
“Like we mentioned before, the MP7A1 is unavailable to civilians and for good reason. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of. It is made to put down scumbags, and that’s it. Mike Cabrera of Heckler & Koch Law Enforcement Sales and veteran law enforcement officer with SWAT unit experience points out that this is a gun that you do not want in the wrong, slimy hands. It comes with semi-automatic and full-auto firing modes only. Its overall size places it between a handgun and submachine gun. Its assault rifle capabilities and small size make this a serious weapon that should not be taken lightly.”
Let’ also review why this gun should not be taken lightly. In the article it was stated that the MP7A1 is a slightly larger than handgun sized machine-gun that can be accurately fired and penetrate Soviet style body armor at more than 300 yards. In the wrong hands, that’s a bad day for the good guys.
As readers of RECOIL, we all agree that we love bad-ass hardware, there’s no question about that. I believe that in a perfect world, all of us should have access to every kind of gadget that we desire. Believe me, being a civvie myself, I’d love to be able to get my hands on an MP7A1 of my own regardless of its stated purpose, but unfortunately the reality is that it isn’t available to us. As a fellow enthusiast, I know how frustrating it is to want something only to be denied it.
Its manufacturer has not made the gun available to the general public and when we asked if it would ever come to the commercial market, they replied that it is strictly a military and law enforcement weapon, adding that there are no sporting applications for it. Is it wrong that HK decided against selling a full-auto pocket sized machine gun that can penetrate armor from hundreds of yards away? It’s their decision to make and their decision they have to live with not mine nor anybody else’s.
I accepted their answer for what it was out of respect for those serving in uniform. I believe that we as gun enthusiasts should respect our brothers in law enforcement, agency work and the military and also keep them out of harms way. Like HK, I wouldn’t want to see one of these slip into the wrong hands either. Whether or not you agree with this is fine. I am compelled to explain a point that I was trying to make that may have not been clear.
Thanks for reading,
– JT, Editor, RECOIL
Yeah, his clarification didn’t help anything. It’s okay for the Government to have this gun, but not us Civvies, because We All Know that MP7 has Technology that is not for our hands. SCREW THIS GUY, and SCREW RECOIL. That illustrates a flawed train of thought when it comes to guns and gun control. This is the basis for everything the Liberal Idiots build their cases on… and it’s now propagated in a supposedly pro-gun magazine?
Let me Clarify. The Second Amendment is not about SPORTING PURPOSES. It’s not about HUNTING. It’s not about SELF DEFENSE.
I had a subscription my my Nexus 7 to Recoil Magazine. I have now cancelled it. An Anti-Gun Gun Magazine is about as usefull as a Football Bat. Especially when the magazine is called on on the Jim Zumbo Style SNAFU and doubles down in it. I suggest everyone cancels their subscriptions and make sure to let Recoil know why.
When you publish a Gun Magazine, you are acting like some sort of knowledgeable authority on firearms. Then when the Editor of the Magazine publishes something like this in the magazine, it not only discredits the author, but the magazine as a whole. This proves beyond a doubt, that this magazine really doesn’t know anything about firearms.
The little round the MP7 fires is a step behind the 5.7mm that the FN PS90 fires from it’s 50 round magazine and that gun has been available for some time now. For years. And a handgun to go with it. The MP7 isn’t as potent as an AR-15 either… of course not. We’re talking a full power rifle round. Sure, a rather weak rifle round, but still… a rifle round. AR’s run off 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 100 round magazines. Not to mention the conversions to belts allowing just about endless lengths.
I want to know what this supposedly sinister “Technology” the MP7 has in it that sets it apart as too deadly for the average Cake Eater. (No longer in the Service, I am also a proud member of the Cake Eater Battalion) There is no “Technology” here different from anything else out there that is already perfectly legal for the American Gun Owner. Boxer Primed Metallic Cartridges, small caliber, detachable box magazine fed, air cooled… There is no new Technology here. It’s just Spiffy Packaging. And any Knowledgeable Gun Guy instantly recognizes this.
Recoil Magazine has just shown their asses and is in dire need of serious Damage Control now. I don’t see this magazine as surviving much longer. Especially since it was very shallow to begin with. Lots of big glossy pictures, with very little actual content. No meat, just sauce. It’s not worthy of your time to flip through it. At best, it’s a bathroom Rag… to flip through while you are evacuating yesterday’s burrito.
I’d cancel my subscription, but until today I’d never even heard of that magazine.
That’s the last issue of that rag I’ll ever buy. It wasn’t very interesting anyway. Just pretty pictures of stuff I can’t afford.
It struck me as Maxim For Guns, but Maxim has more depth.
What Kurt said. Recoil who?
Never heard of it before.
I usually stick to Guns and American Handgunner, as well as an occasional issue of Shotgun News.
From H&K’s website:
“In response to the NATO PDW requirement document D29, HK developed a Personal Defense Weapon system that will penetrate the CRISAT vest, comprised of 1.6mm titanium plates and 20 layers of Kevlar, out to 200 meters and beyond.”
From a 40 gr FMJ bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2000 fps? That’s roughly the same as .22 WMR ballistics.
I call bullshit.
Um, the PS90 & 5.7 round are in the same catagory but have been available for how many years now???
And the PS90 has a 50 round magazine.
I’d agree on the ballistics of .22WMR vs. the HK 4.6 round, but what’s the core on the HK 4.6 round made of? I would think a steel core would make some difference in penetration.
That’s not what “for good measure” means in English.
Sincerely,
Constable Inspector Don Gwinn
Grammar Police
I had liked that magazine. The photography was great and some of the articles were halfway decent. Yes, there are many liberals that only think the cops and military should have guns, but there are also an unfortunate number of ‘conservatives’ that are just fine with the NFA and placing restrictions on suppressors, machine guns, and similar things, and are OK with limiting the ability to own these things.
A pity, it seemed a little flashy and commercial but its inclusion of some survival stuff made it seem like a Maxim version of SWAT magazine.
Good riddance though, I shant be getting it anymore. I never had a subscription but I will never buy a single issue again.
Oh, and for HK not offering the weapon to civilians I will let Larry Correia say it since he is so good at it: http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/hk-because-you-suck-and-we-hate-you/
So, were they even making them before ’86? And how many were papered? –‘Cos it’s all moot otherwise, except as evidence of Fuddishness.
Roberta, Wikipedia claims that the MP7 started production in 2001. Wikipedia also lists the muzzle energy at 373ft/lb compared to the 383ft/lb in the 9mm. Clearly they are the only people professional enough to carry a weapon smaller than a AR-15 with that kind of power…
The shooting sports is a “big tent” and should be as inclusive as possible. I am always disappointed when the Public Servants seem more privileged than the Private Citizenry. Just as the Gutenberg Bible increased access to knowledge, desktop CNC machinery should eventually make these childish toy fights irrelevant.
Mall Ninja’s may swim in the shallow end of the gene pool, but their right to play with the same toys as Public Servants should not be infringed. Manufacturers by pandering to this “Only Ones” mindset do not have my sympathy. I try not to give my hard earned coin to anyone that values my patronage with contempt. Mad Ogre thanks for the information, I intend to neither support Recoil magazine nor the MP7.
I had just heard of this mag and was thinking of giving a look. Not now, I won’t even subscribe to that publisher, unless that is who does cycle world…
I think its Motorcyclist… And I can’t hold them responsible for this Tool’s comments about guns.
Why are so many in the gun community defending this douche?
I don’t get it either. We have here a gun magazine staffed by people are are not Gun Advocates… His apology was a middle finger response instead of an actual apology. SCORTCHED EARTH is the only response I have for them.
There is a “sporting” application, if the hunting of decrepit Politicians and turncoat Public Servants is considered sport.
had the chance to see this mag did like it but now WILL NOT BUY IT there is some people in witch think that as long as I do not want it the gov can ban them
Well, you fail to understand is that the government is better than us. We simply are not capable of making decisions on our own. So, like thinking, we shouldn’t be allowed to own dangerous, scary guns that might hurt people’s feelings.
My Glock just said “Fuck You!”
I hold the opposite view. It’s not civilians who should be banned from owning weapons, it’s Governments.
Obama has killed far more people with unmanned drones than I have or ever could with my Glock…
Governments have consistently shown themselves unable to handle the awesome responsibility of possessing weapons.
It’s time we disarm them.