The MP7 is given a rate-of-fire of 950 rounds per minute with a 2,400 feet per second muzzle velocity. Effective range is approximately 200 meters. The weapon can be fed from a 20-, 30- or 40-round detachable box magazine, this being inserted in an UZI-style magazine well that makes up the pistol grip handle. Firing controls (selector, safety) are all ambidextrous to accommodate left- and right-handed users. Sighting is through a front and rear folding/adjustable iron sight installation as well as a Tritium-illuminated flip-up type night sight.
The external design of the HK MP7 series is typical Heckler & Koch, utilizing sharp clean lines in an all-black finish. There are Picatinny accessory rails along the top of the receiver and both sides (newer model) of the forend. The gas cylinder is mounted over the barrel which is largely shrouded by the forend cover. The magazine/pistol grip is mounted near the center of the design for a good balanced hold. This lets the rear of the receiver come over the forearm to which the stock is fitted. Being collapsible in nature, the stock can be brought in or pulled out as needed. One design feature of note is the folding forward vertical grip that is hinged to collapse along the underside of the forend, just ahead of the trigger. The trigger itself is encased in an oblong ring that allows use of a gloved hand. The fire selector switch is easily found near the thumb with the typical HK graphical settings in white and red. The single white bullet indicates the safety while the single red bullet allows for single-shot, semi-automatic fire. The four inline bullets indicate full-automatic fire.
The HK MP7 is designed to accepted a variety of tactical accessories including a sound suppressor over the barrel, flashlights, laser aimers, reflex sights and various scopes.
The MP7 design was updated with a new grip, smoother contours, side-mounted Picatinny rails and revised stock in 2003. From this point on, it carried the company model designation of "MP7A1". There exists a semi-automatic-fire-only version of the weapon - the "MP7-SF". Production of the MP7 continues as of this writing (2012).
To date, the MP7/MP7A1 is utilized by Albania, Australia, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many are being issued to special forces groups or police units. The weapon has seen combat actions in Afghanistan since the American-led invasion of 2001.
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