Considering buying a small automatic to carry. Have looked at both the Walther PPK stainless and Glock 42, both in .380. Has anyone had experience with either weapon?? Appreciate insight on the pros/cons of each gun. Thank you!

I have a German made 1939 PPK in .32 ACP. Guess the .380 would be similar.

Pros : all steel gun, very accurate for its size if you can see the sights (I can), pretty and well made, very reliable (shot a lot of Silvertips without a hiccup), easily concealable, easy to field strip.

Cons : can’t think of much. Magazine capacity (?)

Saw a regular at the range with a Glock 42. Jammed once or twice on every magazine. Not saying it’s characteristic of this gun, maybe he was limp wresting it. My 17 and 20 never jam.

How you intend to carry (pocket, belt or inside the waistband) will dictate the size and weight of your choice.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

A friend bought a G42 recently and has had a lot of jams.

I told this to a gun store sales guy and he says his customers haven't complained of this problem.

My friend is a experience gun person and carries a G17.

Perhaps the problem will resolve itself with more use.

I don't have experience with either, but I'd like to recommend Kahr pistols since you like (sub) compact single stack guns.

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Jorge

I have an original model of the Ruger LCP and it has been 100% reliable w/everything I’ve put down range. The one problem is the magazine keeps popping out when the gun is in my pocket so I stopped carrying it.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Go with a locked breech design like the Glock 42, Ruger LCP, Kahr CW or CT380 and the Sig 290 RS.

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Release the Kraken

I second the recommendation for a Kahr .380 if you intend to pocket carry. A good friend has the Glock 42, no issues. I think the 42 is a bit big for my pocket.

Do some research before you commit to a Walther PPK/S. Some have had problems with the ones licensed by Smith and Wesson.

I have had a few PPK and PPKs pistols in 32 and 380. If buying new you will be fine the German/West German pistols were always great with Walther made mags. The early stainless American made PPK had a jamming issue across the board. It is worked out now. I have one friend that has only Glock pistols EXCEPT a Walther West German PPKs, he owns a G42 and a G43, but relies on the Walther!

For ammo, I know there are several premium defense loads in 380. The Winchester Silver Tip Hollow Point in 32 & 380 have not changed since they were introduced, there has been no need to. I am a big fan of Federal Hydra-shok ammo (especially in 45 ACP) but in 380 STHP always worked better in feed and expanded penetration!

There are great offerings for PPK concealed carry holsters, including the James Bond 007 crotch holster!

Ivan

If weight or cost is an issue, consider the Ruger LCP (first gen are very reliable and super reasonably price (If any new ones are left)

Point #1: Practice with your new pistol so that you are thoroughly familiar with it under every possible condition. The smaller compact semi-autos can have a tendency to strip skin off your hand between thumb and forefinger, if you take a high grip on the piece.

Point #2: Compact and sub-compact semi-autos are not terribly suitable to any type of holster carry (perhaps best suited for pocket or purse). Any holster design that contains enough of the pistol to provide positive retention will probably limit accessibility to a point that it may be difficult (if not impossible) to obtain a solid grip on the weapon during the draw, and you may find yourself fumbling around with the pistol before you can service a target (defend against an imminent threat).

If you intend to carry in a pocket, or a fanny pack, or whatever you may find the smaller semi-auto pistols suitable for your uses. Holstered carry may be highly concealable, but accessibility is likely to be compromised. Training time will be required to allow you to consistently grip the pistol properly to avoid injuring yourself when firing.

I tried the G42. It wasn't for me. It was a little too big for my pocket and did have a problem with jamming. I stayed with my Bodyguard 380 for over 5 years. I now carry a Sig-224 in .40.

My wife carried a Sig P238 and it's a great weapon.

Cant comment on the Glock .380, never shot one. I did, however, carry an Interarms PPK/s back in the early / mid 1980's as a uniformed back up gun. Usually in a coat pocket or a boot holster.

The gun was never close to 100% reliable using hollowpoints that were available back then. It was close to, but not quite 100% using FMJ loads. I settled on a FMJ flat nose that I believe was offered by S&B.

The gun was blued, and very nicely polished and fit. The problem was machined flats in areas like the slide and take down trigger guard were razor sharp, and were apt to draw blood if you were not careful taking the gun down. It needed to be "de-horned". As a side note, I have big hands, and the slide always drew blood on the web of my hand on the range.

Trigger pull on SA was nothing great, and very heavy on DA. Recoil is also a little more than it needs to be for the guns all steel weight do to it being a blow back design.

IMHO there are better designed .380 pistols available these days as a carry weapon, though few offer the classy looks and finish a blued PPK / PPK/s offer. Personaly, I carry an old LCP in my pocket most every day.

Larry

Take a look at a Sig 230 or 232 - they are excellent .380's. They are no longer being produced, but there's always 2 or 3 available on gunbroker.

My EDC is a Smith & Wesson manufactured Walther PPK/S in .380 ACP, been carrying it since 2016 and it has never given me any trouble.

I have tried the G42 and concluded that given the size, I'd rather have the more effective 9mm G43 - if I wanted something like that. I don't. I carry a G27.

I'd recommend putting AT least 300 rounds through a firearm to find/workout any bugs before carrying. Finding a problem in a critical moment is never a good thing.

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Thread Killer.

I currently own a G42 which I purchased new about 6 months ago. I've put a little over 400 rounds through it with zero malfunctions using 4 different mags. I've shot factory FMJ, commercial FMJ reloads, and Hornady XTPs. It eats everything I've put through it and has a great trigger that breaks right at 5lbs. I like it.

FWIW, the Bersa Thunder is a near clone of the Walther PPK, with an alloy frame. This makes it a couple of ounces lighter. I started a thread about them and the response was 95% positive. Might be a more economical and easier to carry alternative.

Mine did the same thing until I used a dremel to grind off about half the height of release button. Now it sits well below the grip cutout and no more pocket releases. Also if you still have the original mag release it is made of plastic and eventually wears out and you'll end up having mag drops when firing it. If you sent it in for the recall you should have a metal release....if not call Ruger CS and request a metal release...they'll probably send you one for free.

Actually, the Bersa Thunder 380 has more in common with the SIG P232 than the Walther PPK/S. (Yes, the PPK/S, the PPK is a smaller/lighter model which holds 1 less round and has a 1-piece grip.) In fact, the only trait that it shares directly with the PPK/S is the frame-mounted safety lever, everything else is all P232.
Granted that the P232 has a lot in common with the PPK/S, as does the Thunder 380, but most of the similarities between the P232 and Thunder 380 aren't present in the PPK/S, and seeing as the P232 was sort of designed to be something of an improvement over the design of the Walther PP Series, it's kind of doing it a disservice to compare it to the PPK/S over the P232.

That all being said, the Bersa Thunder is definitely a good option for Concealed Carry, and the TC ought to look into it.

Good to know Inspector!
I didn't know much about the P232 beyond manufacturer and caliber. Thanks for the info.

A couple others here mentioned the kahr pistols. I'm gonna go ahead and suggest to check out Kahr. My first carry gun was a kahr CW40, then I picked up a CM9, then finally treated myself to a K9. The all steel Kahr k9 size wise is not that much bigger than the Walther ppk and it's in 9mm. For pocket carry you can't go wrong with a CW380 or even a sub compact CM9 which is a 1/4" taller and 1/4" longer than a M&P bodyguard 380 but in 9mm.

Smith & Wesson Model 340PD. Light weight. Easy pocket carry. Five rounds of 357 mag.

Attached Images

357MagModel 340PD.jpg (204.6 KB, 13 views)

I'm not a fan of Glocks but over the years I have come to the realization they are hard to beat for carry. Very reliable, compact, durable, etc., add in the relative low cost and they are hard to beat. Another benefit is they are pretty slab-sided and comfortable to carry and are more resistant to sweat.

I've got several 1911's and similar (EMP, P238), and a few CZs to carry but find myself drawn to Glocks for the reasons I mentioned.

I carried a Walther PPKs in .380 as a backup gun and off duty for over 10 years, they make good carry guns but they're not much fun to shoot in .380 and they're heavy by modern standards.

Unlike some of the others I am a fan of Glocks with probably over 50,000 rounds downrange shooting them myself I have seen how well they perform. But, if you are even considering looking at a Glock 42 or 43 let me recommend a Ruger LC9s. I have shot several of these side by side with the Glocks and they are comparable in size, just as reliable, just as accurate, carry one more round than the G43, and are usually $50+ less expensive.

I sold off my beloved Walther PPKs to a friend, passed on the Glock 43 even though I'm a Glock fan, so when I carry something small it's a Ruger LC9s.

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- Change it back -

I've carried a PPK/S as a back up and as my primary on dressed up occasions. I've had the S&W version and did not like it, due to both being picky on ammo and having some reliability issues, such as not firing when close to being inverted). I also still have a couple of Ranger made (for Interarms) PPK/S pistols and a pair of police surplus Manuhrin made PP pistols that are all well made and reliable. I've found that the Hornady 90 gr XTp usually feeds well in a PP or PPK/S as does the Remington 102 gr Golden Saber. Both loads perform well.



I've also carried a Kimber Micro in the same situations. It take a velocity hit with the 2.75" barrel but hollow point performance is still acceptable in bare gelatin. In heavy clothing it can plug at 2.75" velocities so expansion fails to occur about 40% of the time - but it still penetrates well like an FMJ in that circumstance.

It's about 10 oz lighter than the PPK/S and has a thinner profile and slightly smaller size that that is great for IWB or pocket carry - but has similar felt recoil thanks to the locked breech design that spreads the recoil out over a longer period of time. A much lighter spring is also used due to the locked breech design and it is consequently easier for women, older persons, etc to manipulate the slide.



My Kimber Micro has been relentlessly reliable and feeds most hollow points well.

I bought a RIA Baby Rock and it also works well for concealed carry. It's all steel and nearly identical in weight and recoil to the PPK/S. But with a 3.75" barrel it gets the most out of the .380 ACP velocity wise and it is better suited to IWB carry. It's also about half the price of a Kimber Micro, Colt Mustang, or Sig 238.



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What you won't find in my gun safe is a Glock. Glicks were designed for OWB carry in a duty holster and they do that really well. However all the safeties are tied to the trigger so the trigger needs to be fully protected. Any intrusion of clothing etc into the trigger guard can lead to an negligent discharge and there have been cases where just sitting down with a wad of short inside the trigger guard has caused the pistol to fire.

The moral here is that if you have a Glock and you want to carry it concealed, you need to be sure to have a proper holster that fully protects the trigger, and allows you to ensure there are no obstructions when holstering the gun. Ideally it will have a clip that allows the holster to be removed so the pistol can be re-holstered whole out in front of you where you can see it and avoid any and all obstructions. Yes, those little clips that attach to the slide and let you clip it to a belt or pocket are popular - but any shooter who uses one is none the less incredibly ignorant and an accident waiting to happen.

I am a big fan of the PPK platform.

"Glicks were designed for OWB carry in a duty holster"

I like my Glock 42 very much, and carry it in an inside the pocket holster. Mine has never jammed, shoots well, and has fed several types of ammunition with no problems.

For me, smaller than 42-sized .380's are too small, and the 42's locked breech design makes it softer shooting. Everybody is going to have their own opinion, but for me it's just right, not too big or too small.

I own a Walther PP, but consider it too heavy for a pocket pistol, for me.

Have an Interarms PPK, and got the Glock 42 last year. While extremely accurate and reliable, the PPK is really heavy and lot of recoil for a 380. Braking the edges of the slide rails made it more comfortable to shoot without slicing dicing the hand.

Finally decided to try the Glock, and it is as accurate, light and reliable with full power loads. It has the old man sights which are very usable, but does not like light loads. For me, neither is a pants pocket gun.

Any of the small pistols need a tight grip to function, which can be problematic for people with larger hands.

I'm a big fan of the Walther PP series pistols. I own several and have carried them. Totally reliable and accurate. I think they're a little heavy for pocket carry. But then, I very rarely carry guns in my pocket as it just doesn't suit me. In a good belt holster the PPK is easy to carry and conceal. However, I prefer the slightly longer grip of the PPK/s because it fits my hand better.
OTOH, my favorite .380 for carry is the Colt Mustang. The locked breech design makes for lighter recoil, its very small and its easier to rack the slide. These have also been reliable and accurate.
I don't do glock.

Walther PPK
Mine was a 32 acp and was the sweetest small pistol I ever owned. Stolen in 1995 and still would like to have it back.
380 would make one a nice concealed carry pistol.
Mine was from WWII and 100% utterly reliable , very thin and flat...the best.
Gary

I didn't read the whole thread, but they are not comparable and any way besides caliber. I've owned and shot both extensively, and for the record - I am not a fan of Glock pistols.

1. The Glock is lighter and smaller.
2. The Glock has far less recoil. This may seem counterintuitive, but the Glock uses a Browning pivoting barrel design which eats a lot of recoil. A .380 PPK is harder on my hands than a N frame 44 magnum.
3. The PPK trigger DA is ridiculously heavy, and due to its design becomes far less reliable if you lighten it. Conversely the Glock trigger is much lighter, though mushy and imprecise like all Glock triggers.
4. My Interarms PPK would not reliably cycle any hollow point ammo. That said, IMO .380 ACP is anemic enough that I carry a FMJ bullet rather than JHP, but if you prefer hollow points the PPK will likely be problematic.
5. Slide bite is a serious problem for folks shooting a PPK with oversized hands. Mine seem to be just small enough that it wasn't a problem, but may people suffer from this problem.

My PPK had sentimental value, but ultimately I sold it because I really, really hated to shoot it. Meanwhile, the G42 is still in the collection just in case I need a very small pistol. I also have a S&W Bodyguard 380, which actually gets carried more, but the Glock is perfect for my wife if she ever decide to start carrying. It's tame to shoot, weighs very little, and is easily concealable.

BTW, if I fell on a good price for a .32 ACP PPK, I'd reaching for my wallet.

My experience with the smaller pocket pistols is limited to two. Manhurin/Walther PP in 32 acp. Weight I think is actually a bonus. Very accurate and I think mag holds 8 rds. The other one is a S&W model 36 in 38 special. That one gets the Speer 135 grain +P gold dot ammo and the Walther gets Federal 71 gr FMJ's. The model 36 is the one 9 times out of 10 that I carry. Only thing I don't like about the Walther PP is slide bite. I'm careful how I put my hand. There was a smith that did a well thought out extended beaver tail extension for the Walthers. It's a welding proposition not an add on. Frank

The G42 is very small. I suggest you find a place to try them and see if you really like them. It is super concealable, but a little challenging to manage for me (it's my wife's gun) because it's so tiny. I prefer the slightly bigger G43, or even better, S&W Shield.

After many years of trying different revolvers, J-frames, K-frames, Colts, Rugers, I finally settled on a Ruger LC9s as my EDC gun. Good capacity, adequate power, small, compact size. I don't know about pocket carry, I've never even liked the idea, so I've got both IWB and OWB holsters for it.





Oh, and I forgot to mention. I shoot it better than any small revolver I've ever tried.

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John 3:16 .

I've owned two Walthers, both PPK/S models. I found that both guns suffered occasional failures to eject, with a smoke stack stoppage. Research indicates that the guns are designed to function best with European ammo which is loaded a bit hotter than domestic ammo. I should have function tested the guns with Norma brand ammunition but I never did.

I don't expect this will go over well here, but if you are really looking for the super small pocket semi, perhaps you should consider 32 ACP.

I've heard many times how there is no justification for carrying a 32 ACP gun given there are 380 semis of almost the same size.

But, the trouble with that line of thinking is the really small 380s are also really hard to shoot, recoil is terrible, and reliability is questionable.

32 ACP is better than 25 acp and the 22 alternatives.

PP or PPK looks better with a white dinner jacket.

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Certified Curmudgeon

Much of the recoil with 380 goes away in a locked breech design such as I suggested in my earlier post.

I've carried and shot a PP clone in 32 ACP and likewise with a Ruger LCP in 380. The recoil is similar, with a slight edge to the PP clone because of its larger (3 finger) grip. When I have shot my wife's Sig P290RS in 380, its bigger grip (compared to the LCP) makes 380 recoil a total non-issue, especially with the longer mag inserted.

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Release the Kraken