I've been prepping the P7M13's since earlier this year to finalize any changes needed before moving into machining. Similar to the Titanium-framed P7 run earlier this year, this started with slight modifications to the trigger guard and the addition of a picatinny rail. The factory trigger guard on the P7M series is too large to allow any practical length of a picatinny rail to mount even a compact light, so this has to be shortened to allow even a compact light such as a Surefire XSC or Streamlight TLR7.
Several 3D models were made to verify the dimensions, etc.
I also tried 3D printing titanium and then doing post treatments with electropolishing to see if that was a route to go
After several iterations on the model, there were still a few issues that were intrinsic to the M13 that my model shared:
1 - Blocky grip - even with the updated checkering on the backstrap and several iterations of a mild to moderate beavertails, the grip wasn't very comfortable. Overall thickness was the same as well as the curvature of the backstrap.
Width of the original H&K is 33mm for reference.
2 - Same gas cylinder area - significant amount of metal in the gas cylinder sleeve area resulting in the same heat issues shared with the factory M13.
I spent quite a bit of time addressing the two problems above as well as the general heft of the M13.
The result was the comparison you'll see of the two models below:
I received my custom run of 7068 aluminum earlier this year, so it's time for a prototype:
Several 3D models were made to verify the dimensions, etc.
I also tried 3D printing titanium and then doing post treatments with electropolishing to see if that was a route to go
After several iterations on the model, there were still a few issues that were intrinsic to the M13 that my model shared:
1 - Blocky grip - even with the updated checkering on the backstrap and several iterations of a mild to moderate beavertails, the grip wasn't very comfortable. Overall thickness was the same as well as the curvature of the backstrap.
Width of the original H&K is 33mm for reference.
2 - Same gas cylinder area - significant amount of metal in the gas cylinder sleeve area resulting in the same heat issues shared with the factory M13.
I spent quite a bit of time addressing the two problems above as well as the general heft of the M13.
The result was the comparison you'll see of the two models below:
I received my custom run of 7068 aluminum earlier this year, so it's time for a prototype: