MP7 vs. P90 Compitition: No Point

[kepiblanc]

Okay, I've done some research, and, this is sad:
It goes without saying that the engineers at HK are not content to rest on their laurels. There is much under development whose information will only be released to the public perhaps years from now. Latest to become from HK, and first seen here in detail is the "PDW." PDW stands for 'Personal Defense Weapon.' This unfortunately is going to be a bit confusing for the student of HK, because this is the third firearm by HK to have 'PDW''as either all or part of its name. The others are: MP5K-PDW, and the prototype G11 PDW.
What appears upon first look to be a weapon design to compete with the FN series P90 in 5.7mm x 28, the PDW promises to be a huge improvement on that system. Though no one could fault the engineers at Fabrique Nationale for their vision, the P90 has one reported serious flaw. If you drop a partially loaded magazine, or the gun with a partially loaded magazine, rounds will go flying, get disoriented in the magazine and seriously jam the mechanism.

The heavy use of polymer again shows the design direction that the HK engineers are taking. With a conventional 20 round magazine in the pistol grip or an optional 40 round magazine that extends below the gun, one of the most amazing aspects of the gun is its size, or lack thereof. It is only slightly larger than a SOCOM pistol!

Sporting a retractable shoulder stock and a very small heads up display sight reminiscent of the Eotech/Bushnell Holosight, the PDW also has a T-shaped cocking handle somewhat like the M16 series.



Select fire, with safe, semi and full auto modes of fire, and production models sporting the now familiar red and white bullet in box pictograms, the stated cyclic rate on full automatic is 950 rpm. The PDW has a foldable forward vertical grip. The magazine is conventional staggered box, and the magazine release behind the trigger guard looks almost interchangeable with the USP series handguns.

Several features of the G36 series are present in the PDW as you can see in the photos below. Extensive use of polymer, the rotating bolt and gas system all reflect the G36 series.

The PDW is a quintessential reminder of the lead that HK continues to take in small arms design.

Update: 11/2001: The PDW has been named MP7 now that it is in production. Below is the production version. Notice the heavier buttstock, slightly changed markings, locking system on foregrip, flash hider and open sight option.



PDW Technical Specifications
Overall Length: 13.38 in./ 340mm (stock closed) 21.19 in./ 541mm (stock open)
Barrel Length: 7.09 in. 180mm
Width: 1.89 in. 48mm
Height: 6.77 in. 172mm
Unloaded wt. (20 rnd. mag): 2.64 lb. 1.20 kg
Loaded with 20 rounds: 2.86 lb. 1.30 kg
Loaded with 40 rounds: 3.39 lb. 1.54 kg

4.6 x 30 Ammunition Technical Specifications

Cartridge Length: 1.5 in. 38mm
Projectile weight: 24.7 grains 1.6 g
Case length: 1.18 in. 30mm
Ballistics/Velocity: 2379 fps 725 m/sec
Ballistics/Muzzle Energy: 312 ft/lb 420 joule
Projectile composition: Copper plated solid steel bullet
PDW v. FN P90 HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON

Test:
PDW
P90

Gelatine block at 50 m.* 280mm 230mm
Energy Transfer thru armor**: 220 joule 180 joule
Titanium/Kevlar Penetration* >200m 140m
Energy xfer thru armor 100m** 115 joule 65 joule
* 20 % Gelatine block 300mm long ** 1.6mm Titanium + 20 layers of Kevlar

PDW v. FN P90 Ammunition
PDW (4.6 x 30) P90 (5.7 x 28)
Projectile weight: 24.7 grains 31 grains
Muzzle Velocity: 2,378 f/sec 2,346 f/sec
Muzzle Energy: 310 f/lb
Armor Penetration 1.6mm Titanium/20 layers Kevlar > 200 m 150 m
Max. Effective Range: > 200 m 200 m


PDW featured on the cover of the 1/1/00 issue of Deutsches Waffen Journal
Engineers in Oberndorf with CAD model of PDW on computer screen.
Left side of prototype model PDW, serial number 164-002. The production models are reportedly identified this way, but the white and red circular dots for the fire selector have been replaced with the familiar bullet pictograms. Note the USP style mag. release.

Illuminated reticle sight.

Cocking handle of the PDW retracted. Directly below is retracted buttstock.
Bolt assembly. PDW bolt is strikingly similar to the G36 bolt.

[Kapchar]

MP-7 better than P90. And beautiful!