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SP7 Coming? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/17/2026 5:26:44 PM EDT
 Did HK Just Finally Crack the Civilian MP7? |
TEAM GIMMICK 2026
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Originally Posted By southerncross: I think it's really cool they're doing it. I have to wonder how bad the ammo pricing and availability is gonna be for the whole equation though. I'm glad it's happening though, regardless. I know of several dealers that stock ammo. Most that carry 5.7x28 that I come across also carry the 4.6x30, which is surprising seeing as it’s pretty much only used in the MP7 |
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It is cool simply because it is H&K legit product and difficult to attain. By that virtue, it has appeal. By its design, its a modernized uzi-like SMG from an ergonomic standpoint. There is the cartridge, which is an oddity. Frankly just make one in 22LR for the US market that should be easier and wet the appetite for a Centerfire gun. If it has to go through German standards for redesign vs just a US market compliance - then lets pray it won't be what the SL8 was for G36 looks-wise. |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: If it has to go through German standards for redesign vs just a US market compliance - then lets pray it won't be what the SL8 was for G36 looks-wise. It will be imported as a pistol in the form shown, similar to what they did with the SP5. The days of the neutered guns like the SL8 and USC are gone. |
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Originally Posted By willi3d: It will be imported as a pistol in the form shown, similar to what they did with the SP5. The days of the neutered guns like the SL8 and USC are gone. Thats not true at all. There is still a barrel ban on all non-sporting rifles. They were designed to not be non-sporting. |
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Originally Posted By jagdkommando: I am a HK fan, I have zero interest in a SP7. Practicality and ammo cost/availability be damned. I just want one for the cool factor. I think it’s super cool and want one solely for that reason. But, I would much rather get my hands on the civilian G36C first. That is an immediate buy now gun for me. |
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Originally Posted By willi3d: It will be imported as a pistol in the form shown, similar to what they did with the SP5. The days of the neutered guns like the SL8 and USC are gone. Originally Posted By willi3d: It will be imported as a pistol in the form shown, similar to what they did with the SP5. The days of the neutered guns like the SL8 and USC are gone. Originally Posted By TheSadPatriot: Thats not true at all. There is still a barrel ban on all non-sporting rifles. They were designed to not be non-sporting. Originally Posted By southerncross: Explain The GCA of 1968 prohibits the importation of not suitable for sporting purposes aka "non-sporting" complete rifles, shotguns, and handguns as well as standalone/stripped receivers and barrels. There are different BATFE import criteria that determine whether a Rifle (centerfire or rimfire), Shotgun, Handgun , a stripped receiver or a barrel is "sporting" and can be imported for civilian sale. For a complete centerfire "rifle" if its going to be defined as a "sporting" rifle its not going to be able to accept a magazine capable of holding more than 10rds and it can't have multiple "evil" features like a pistol grip, bayo lug, flash hider, etc. This is why post-89 imported semi-auto centerfire "rifles" based off of their famous military cousins looks like a USC or SL8 because it can't come in accepting a "high cap" magazine and have any BATFE defined evil features via the 1989 and subsequent 1998 import studies. As a result you end up with these abortion looking imports today. This rule is absolutely still in place today or importers would be bringing in traditional semi-auto AK and MKE "HK" rifles, etc. by the crate load. This is also why some importers like FN (SCAR) and Century (WASR) bring in neutered rifles that can't accept regular mags which are deemed "sporting" for import purposes and then once in the US the importer makes them 922(o) compliant and then add the evil features back and open up the magwell. You can see evidence of this on a SCAR via the mill mark where FN USA mills away the standard sized magazine block in the lower and the WASRs don't have the traditional stabilizing magazine dimples in the sheet metal of the receiver. Handguns have a totally different sporting purpose import criteria based off size, weight, type of sights, etc. that were traditionally developed to prevent the import of cheap zinc alloy construction foreign handguns. Magazine capacity and other "evil features" like a pistol grip don't really come into play on handgun "sporting purpose" importation rules. The most famous of the handguns caught up in this dumb handgun sporting purpose importation factoring criteria was the Austrian made Glock 25 and 28 380acp handguns because they didn't weigh enough to meet import restrictions. Over the past 10 to 20 years importers have realized that these handgun sporting purpose factoring importation rules which were designed to prevent cheap/lightweight handguns from coming into the US could be leveraged to import really heavy, steel construction, former military style "rifle" by converting it to handgun for importation into the US. As a result you got AK Dracos, HK SP5s, MKE AP53s, etc. This handgun importation sporting purpose factoring rule was stretched to an extent with 12"+ long barrel "handguns" like the SP5-L and the MKE/Zeinth Z-43P "HK33". Supposedly the BATFE is no longer allowing long barrel bottleneck rifle "handguns" to be imported anymore as it was just a bridge too far to accept that a Z-43P was a GCA interpreted sporting handgun. Receivers of firearms deemed "non-sporting" and barrel deemed "non-sporting" are also banned from import. For years the BATFE allowed imports of receivers and barrels as "repair and replacement" use only but that was cut off under Clinton. Recently the BATFE is allowing the importation of "dual use" barrels where the barrel could be used in a sporting fashion on an SP5 or a non-sporting fashion on an MP5. However, this barrel import restriction technically has no bearing on the importation of a complete rifle or handgun as long as the entire firearm was considered "sporting". So you ended up with these dumb rules that allowed for the imporation of a complete SP5 but you couldn't bring in standalone SP5 barrels because god forbid they were used to build a stocked MP5 that would have been banned from importation. The SP7 is coming in as a handgun so it doesn't have to meet the current BATFE sporting purpose "Rifle" importation rules and ends up looking like an MP7 had a baby with an SL8 or USC. This is very similar to what HK did with the SP5 and why HK still to this day can't bring in an actual "rifle" version of the SP5 but can bring in a handgun version the SP5-L. i.e. no more HK94s. The other challenge is that Germany prohibits the export and sale of handguns in a centerfire caliber under ~6.3mm which the MP7 shoot a 4.6mm cartridge. It looks like HK Germany is trying to get some sort of German sporting classification exception for the SP7 in its native 4.6mm cartridge so it can export. The US doesn't care what the caliber of the imported firearm is in as long as its 50 cal or smaller (unless its specifically deemed sporting like a 600NE) and there is a non-armor piercing variant of that caliber to be used in that firearm. |
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Originally Posted By jbntex: The GCA of 1968 prohibits the importation of not suitable for sporting purposes aka "non-sporting" complete rifles, shotguns, and handguns as well as standalone/stripped receivers and barrels. There are different BATFE import criteria that determine whether a Rifle (centerfire or rimfire), Shotgun, Handgun , a stripped receiver or a barrel is "sporting" and can be imported for civilian sale. For a complete centerfire "rifle" if its going to be defined as a "sporting" rifle its not going to be able to accept a magazine capable of holding more than 10rds and it can't have multiple "evil" features like a pistol grip, bayo lug, flash hider, etc. This is why post-89 imported semi-auto centerfire "rifles" based off of their famous military cousins looks like a USC or SL8 because it can't come in accepting a "high cap" magazine and have any BATFE defined evil features via the 1989 and subsequent 1998 import studies. As a result you end up with these abortion looking imports today. This rule is absolutely still in place today or importers would be bringing in traditional semi-auto AK and MKE "HK" rifles, etc. by the crate load. This is also why some importers like FN (SCAR) and Century (WASR) bring in neutered rifles that can't accept regular mags which are deemed "sporting" for import purposes and then once in the US the importer makes them 922(o) compliant and then add the evil features back and open up the magwell. You can see evidence of this on a SCAR via the mill mark where FN USA mills away the standard sized magazine block in the lower and the WASRs don't have the traditional stabilizing magazine dimples in the sheet metal of the receiver. Handguns have a totally different sporting purpose import criteria based off size, weight, type of sights, etc. that were traditionally developed to prevent the import of cheap zinc alloy construction foreign handguns. Magazine capacity and other "evil features" like a pistol grip don't really come into play on handgun "sporting purpose" importation rules. The most famous of the handguns caught up in this dumb handgun sporting purpose importation factoring criteria was the Austrian made Glock 25 and 28 380acp handguns because they didn't weigh enough to meet import restrictions. Over the past 10 to 20 years importers have realized that these handgun sporting purpose factoring importation rules which were designed to prevent cheap/lightweight handguns from coming into the US could be leveraged to import really heavy, steel construction, former military style "rifle" by converting it to handgun for importation into the US. As a result you got AK Dracos, HK SP5s, MKE AP53s, etc. This handgun importation sporting purpose factoring rule was stretched to an extent with 12"+ long barrel "handguns" like the SP5-L and the MKE/Zeinth Z-43P "HK33". Supposedly the BATFE is no longer allowing long barrel bottleneck rifle "handguns" to be imported anymore as it was just a bridge too far to accept that a Z-43P was a GCA interpreted sporting handgun. Receivers of firearms deemed "non-sporting" and barrel deemed "non-sporting" are also banned from import. For years the BATFE allowed imports of receivers and barrels as "repair and replacement" use only but that was cut off under Clinton. Recently the BATFE is allowing the importation of "dual use" barrels where the barrel could be used in a sporting fashion on an SP5 or a non-sporting fashion on an MP5. However, this barrel import restriction technically has no bearing on the importation of a complete rifle or handgun as long as the entire firearm was considered "sporting". So you ended up with these dumb rules that allowed for the imporation of a complete SP5 but you couldn't bring in standalone SP5 barrels because god forbid they were used to build a stocked MP5 that would have been banned from importation. The SP7 is coming in as a handgun so it doesn't have to meet the current BATFE sporting purpose "Rifle" importation rules and ends up looking like an MP7 had a baby with an SL8 or USC. This is very similar to what HK did with the SP5 and why HK still to this day can't bring in an actual "rifle" version of the SP5 but can bring in a handgun version the SP5-L. i.e. no more HK94s. The other challenge is that Germany prohibits the export and sale of handguns in a centerfire caliber under ~6.3mm which the MP7 shoot a 4.6mm cartridge. It looks like HK Germany is trying to get some sort of German sporting classification exception for the SP7 in its native 4.6mm cartridge so it can export. The US doesn't care what the caliber of the imported firearm is in as long as its 50 cal or smaller (unless its specifically deemed sporting like a 600NE) and there is a non-armor piercing variant of that caliber to be used in that firearm. My comment was mostly to give him the chance to reword his in English. |
TEAM GIMMICK 2026
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Originally Posted By southerncross: My comment was mostly to give him the chance to reword his in English. Gotcha, I was also p responding to the two previous posts both of which were factually a bit off base. i.e. "the days of neuter guns are gone" and the "barrel ban prevents their import" neither of which is really reflects the reality of the current import restrictions for a semi-auto version of a firearm like the MP7. |
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Originally Posted By jbntex: This handgun importation sporting purpose factoring rule was stretched to an extent with 12"+ long barrel "handguns" like the SP5-L and the MKE/Zeinth Z-43P "HK33". Supposedly the BATFE is no longer allowing long barrel bottleneck rifle "handguns" to be imported anymore as it was just a bridge too far to accept that a Z-43P was a GCA interpreted sporting handgun. Receivers of firearms deemed "non-sporting" and barrel deemed "non-sporting" are also banned from import. For years the BATFE allowed imports of receivers and barrels as "repair and replacement" use only but that was cut off under Clinton. Recently the BATFE is allowing the importation of "dual use" barrels where the barrel could be used in a sporting fashion on an SP5 or a non-sporting fashion on an MP5. However, this barrel import restriction technically has no bearing on the importation of a complete rifle or handgun as long as the entire firearm was considered "sporting". So you ended up with these dumb rules that allowed for the imporation of a complete SP5 but you couldn't bring in standalone SP5 barrels because god forbid they were used to build a stocked MP5 that would have been banned from importation. Much of that concerning the ATF is no longer in effect with the new administration and turnover/removal of many previous ATF officials, based on form 6s I’m seeing getting approved by importers I personally know. |
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I have the strangest erection right now.... |
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Originally Posted By Apec: Much of that concerning the ATF is no longer in effect with the new administration and turnover/removal of many previous ATF officials, based on form 6s I’m seeing getting approved by importers I personally know. Ay specific examples you can share? My wallet is standing by waiting for this not to be the case. It pretty clear importers are making good strides with the dual use barrel change, and I know of some HK receivers coming in that could be dual use handgun/sporting, and some of the sniper/dmr semis like PSLs and SVDs that natively take 10rd mags have also come in recently as well. Hopefully some of the long barrel handgun stuff goes away so longer barrel pistols like the Pindad FNC handguns could have a route into the Country. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any centerfire semi-auto rifles capable of accepting 10+rd mags (like standard AK or HKs) come into the US unneutered in any quantity. |
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Originally Posted By jbntex: Ay specific examples you can share? My wallet is standing by waiting for this not to be the case. It pretty clear importers are making good strides with the dual use barrel change, and I know of some HK receivers coming in that could be dual use handgun/sporting, and some of the sniper/dmr semis like PSLs and SVDs that natively take 10rd mags have also come in recently as well. Hopefully some of the long barrel handgun stuff goes away so longer barrel pistols like the Pindad FNC handguns could have a route into the Country. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any centerfire semi-auto rifles capable of accepting 10+rd mags (like standard AK or HKs) come into the US unneutered in any quantity. Originally Posted By jbntex: Originally Posted By Apec: Much of that concerning the ATF is no longer in effect with the new administration and turnover/removal of many previous ATF officials, based on form 6s I’m seeing getting approved by importers I personally know. Ay specific examples you can share? My wallet is standing by waiting for this not to be the case. It pretty clear importers are making good strides with the dual use barrel change, and I know of some HK receivers coming in that could be dual use handgun/sporting, and some of the sniper/dmr semis like PSLs and SVDs that natively take 10rd mags have also come in recently as well. Hopefully some of the long barrel handgun stuff goes away so longer barrel pistols like the Pindad FNC handguns could have a route into the Country. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any centerfire semi-auto rifles capable of accepting 10+rd mags (like standard AK or HKs) come into the US unneutered in any quantity. The return of HK MR223s, and the new addition of MR308s and G28Zs. AoA also announced approval of FB Radom GROTs. The Pindads won't come for simple reasons - the importers were not serious in the first place, and some of their products that would not have been stopped by a hypothetical rifle caliber pistol ban (i.e their 9mm SMGs and BM59 sporter) were never submitted in eforms. Can't import something if you don't request approval in the first place. This is not the first or last time an importer or manufacturer made a big announcement at SHOT that turned out to be vaporware. |
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Originally Posted By Apec: The return of HK MR223s, and the new addition of MR308s and G28Zs. AoA also announced approval of FB Radom GROTs. The Pindads won't come for simple reasons - the importers were not serious in the first place, and some of their products that would not have been stopped by a hypothetical rifle caliber pistol ban (i.e their 9mm SMGs and BM59 sporter) were never submitted in eforms. Can't import something if you don't request approval in the first place. This is not the first or last time an importer or manufacturer made a big announcement at SHOT that turned out to be vaporware. Originally Posted By Apec: Originally Posted By jbntex: Originally Posted By Apec: Much of that concerning the ATF is no longer in effect with the new administration and turnover/removal of many previous ATF officials, based on form 6s I’m seeing getting approved by importers I personally know. Ay specific examples you can share? My wallet is standing by waiting for this not to be the case. It pretty clear importers are making good strides with the dual use barrel change, and I know of some HK receivers coming in that could be dual use handgun/sporting, and some of the sniper/dmr semis like PSLs and SVDs that natively take 10rd mags have also come in recently as well. Hopefully some of the long barrel handgun stuff goes away so longer barrel pistols like the Pindad FNC handguns could have a route into the Country. Unfortunately, I have yet to see any centerfire semi-auto rifles capable of accepting 10+rd mags (like standard AK or HKs) come into the US unneutered in any quantity. The return of HK MR223s, and the new addition of MR308s and G28Zs. AoA also announced approval of FB Radom GROTs. The Pindads won't come for simple reasons - the importers were not serious in the first place, and some of their products that would not have been stopped by a hypothetical rifle caliber pistol ban (i.e their 9mm SMGs and BM59 sporter) were never submitted in eforms. Can't import something if you don't request approval in the first place. This is not the first or last time an importer or manufacturer made a big announcement at SHOT that turned out to be vaporware. When you say the ‘return of MR223s’, what do you mean? Can you elaborate on that? That topic interests me greatly. |
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Originally Posted By ChandlerKJ: When you say the ‘return of MR223s’, what do you mean? Can you elaborate on that? That topic interests me greatly. Keep in mind these are grey market imports by BT USA, which at present due to legal trouble unrelated, may not be bringing more in. Some other independent importers may, but not any large companies I am aware of. https://axarms.com/product/bt-heckler-koch-hk-mr223a3-semi-auto-rifle-11-barrel-sbr-civilian-hk416a5-rare-german-market-edition-black/ https://armsunlimited.com/heckler-koch-hk416d-sf-semi-auto-rifle-11-barrel/ https://armsunlimited.com/heckler-koch-mr308a3-semi-auto-rifle-13-barrel/ |
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Originally Posted By jagdkommando: I am a HK fan, I have zero interest in a SP7. This. There’s very few guns I still want these days. I love my HK handguns…their GPMG’s, and MP5’s. I’ll probably end up with a K to round out my stable. But a SP7 or whatever it will be called if it ever happens just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve been down that road with the PS90. Fun gun and round but really boring in semi auto. |
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Originally Posted By willi3d: Less than zero chance of that happening. HK isn’t going to make their gun in a competitor’s PDW caliber. I remember when Sony said similar about Beta vs VHS, but HK will indeed stick to 4.6. They know someone would buy it because its real HK |
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Most people don't really want an SP7; they want an SMG with a straight magazine in the pistol grip that's reliable and doesn't look like crap. Anything with an angled magazine (like a Glock) automatically looks like crap. This includes every pistol chassis. Since these are toys, looks are as important as reliability. |
AMDG
At this point everybody can suck it! -Dru
At this point everybody can suck it! -Dru
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Originally Posted By MikeMilligan: Most people don't really want an SP7; they want an SMG with a straight magazine in the pistol grip that's reliable and doesn't look like crap. Anything with an angled magazine (like a Glock) automatically looks like crap. This includes every pistol chassis. Since these are toys, looks are as important as reliability. 
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Originally Posted By MikeMilligan: Most people don't really want an SP7; they want an SMG with a straight magazine in the pistol grip that's reliable and doesn't look like crap. Anything with an angled magazine (like a Glock) automatically looks like crap. This includes every pistol chassis. Since these are toys, looks are as important as reliability. Are you having a stroke? |
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Originally Posted By willi3d: Less than zero chance of that happening. HK isn't going to make their gun in a competitor's PDW caliber. And a new straight mag designed explicitly for 5.7x28mm seems like it wouldn't work in the MP7's curved magazine well. Welp, guess that means Fiocchi and S&B better start working on tooling up for Hk 4.6x30mm. But I'd sure appreciate the option. |
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The design is sort of been done before with the Uzi, MAC and other mag in the grip SMGs. Ironically it was the HK MP5 that moved that model eventually into obsolescence where a SMG that offers better small rifle like ergonomics and hit placement accuracy wins the day. HK went back to this tired compact SMG design in the 90s when NATO thought it wanted an ultra compact PDW that every typist and radio guy in the army could have just in case the Russians broke through. Then NATO matured from that bad idea and HK/FN did not and brought these designs to the LEO market where they should have died but didn't because some people think they are good. The FN brought some new ideas forward, the H&K sort of brought old ideas forward. Americans will buy it because they buy whatever HK offers. I'm going to re-write the Dr Suess "Sneetches" story with HK  Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: It is cool simply because it is H&K legit product and difficult to attain. By that virtue, it has appeal. By its design, its a modernized uzi-like SMG from an ergonomic standpoint. There is the cartridge, which is an oddity. Frankly just make one in 22LR for the US market that should be easier and wet the appetite for a Centerfire gun. If it has to go through German standards for redesign vs just a US market compliance - then lets pray it won't be what the SL8 was for G36 looks-wise. Build me a 22LR version and I’m a buyer. I already lust after the Keltec C33 and it has tons of issues. |
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I still don't understand why HK didn't just have Umarex build them a plastic shell .22LR gun like they did for their MP5 and 416. They have a proven track record with those .22LR clone guns as both rifles and pistols, and I guarantee you they would sell ten or even a hundred of the cheaper Umarex .22LR clone variant to every one actual 4.6 gun they sell. I think more people want the sizzle and not the actual steak because the actual steak is expensive and hard to find ammo for. Hardcore collectors will have their "real" SP7 and everyone else will have a nice, cheap .22LR clone they can go plink at the range with. Hell, people like me would buy both... one for the wall and one for the soda cans. |
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Anyone see this? Arms unlimited has the SP7 listed on their website. https://armsunlimited.com/heckler-koch-sp7-4.6mm-semi-auto-pistol/ |
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Originally Posted By Nintendo64: Anyone see this? Arms unlimited has the SP7 listed on their website. https://armsunlimited.com/heckler-koch-sp7-4.6mm-semi-auto-pistol/ They have it listed, but have never had it in stock because it doesn’t exist yet, hasn’t been imported by anyone yet, and an actual price hasn’t been set yet. This is just to gauge interest and harvest emails. |
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Originally Posted By willi3d: They have it listed, but have never had it in stock because it doesn’t exist yet, hasn’t been imported by anyone yet, and an actual price hasn’t been set yet. This is just to gauge interest and harvest emails. It says "Available Q4 2026". I know it's not out yet, but they are saying a timeline and a price of $2,500 on their website. |
SP7 Coming? (Page 1 of 2)
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