Dose any body know the difference between the Walther P99 and Smith SW990. What is the difference? or is their any. What would make one more desirable than the other? Are they both made in Germany or both in America...... thanks

Dose any body know the difference between the Walther P99 and Smith SW990. What is the difference? or is their any. What would make one more desirable than the other? Are they both made in Germany or both in America...... thanks

P99 is german made, SW99- frame is german made, slide is US made. There are only a few cosmetic differences in the two guns, a couple of functional upgrades on the SW99- small. SW99 has a skirt built up around the slide release to stop stuff from hanging up on it like it can do on the P99.

JMOfartO:

The Walther P99/AS and the SW99 are basically the same pistol (pretty much TDA w/anti-stress action too, which is long pull, SA..@ 4.4lbs), with the exception that the Smiths have a barrel and slide made in the U.S. (The P99 is 100% German made.)

Walther fans are of the opinion that the all German made P99 is the best, S&W fans don't necessarily agree, and as mentioned earlier, with the exception of the slide and barrel, the SW99, more than less, IS a P99..

Same with the SW990 as to all German manufactured, or partially German manufactured.

I had the P99/AS and my Buddy has the SW99 and in our experiences both do the same job equally well but the S&W comes with a lifetime warranty to the original owner whereas the Walther has a one year warranty. (Also warranted by S&W, as S&W is the IMPORTER of the P99's (& PPS).

The SW990, to my understanding, started out as an SW99 reconfigured to a DAO platform and from the posts on various firearm forums never gained popularity, and was basically the "red headed step-child of the P99/SW99/SW990 family.

I've read, more than once, where S&W screwed with the fine SW99 to try and make it more "politically correct" and therefore appeal to more LEO agencies, but in the process threw the baby out with the dishwater. Or, they "tinkered" with it until they screwed it up and then couldn't give them away.

I think a quick "google" search, or even using the search/find option on any of the gun forums will get you plenty of input for any questions you might have.

From the little I know I'd say if you are interested in the P99/SW99/SW990 pistol the SW990 would be my last choice of the three.

If I wanted another plastic gun I'd buy a SW99 in a heartbeat, I wouldn't buy an SW990. CDNN is selling the SW99 quite reasonably now, you might consider checking them out.

Just personal opinion, others might disagree.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

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"Laus Deo"

Thanks and nice picture. I think I at least understand the difference. I just purchased a PPS German made as I guess all PPS's are it has a amazing safe action trigger and for a short barrel it is damned accurate for a small 9mm. I just saw the P99 and thought they the Smith and Walther looked the same. However I didn't get to see them together...Thanks to all

gm:

Yep, all PPS's are 100% German manufacture.. I had one (actually two) last year, but being an old fart who never learned to keep his cotton-pickin booger picker off the trigger I never got comfortable using one for cc and sold it.

I was afraid I'd shoot myself in the butt trying to withdraw the PPS from my FIST iwb holster because of the light trigger/striker.. The heavier DA first round of my other 9's will help me with that little concern.

I think folks who are comfortable with the trigger/striker of the PPS will be well served, as I have a high regard for the Walther line of firearms.

I'm a TDA kinda guy, and prefer steel over plastic so replaced the excellent PPS with a 3rd gen S&W 3913LS & CS9.

I'm very pleased with my choices, but I'm sure you'll be well served with the PPS.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

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"Laus Deo"

Jessie:
i guess you will be happy the 39 series were the best. the chiefs special is like the old 3913 I guess? I had one that was redone by Novak's and Action by T. I got 1300 from collector. good price but have kicked myself ever since.

gm:

You know I have never figured out where the CS series fits in the 3rd gen family.. Appearance is somewhat different from the 3913 and the like, and for whatever reason S&W never advertised or marketed the CS versions very much.

But I really like my CS9, and SURPRISINGLY I like the CS45 equally well. The CS45 offers the favored 45cal round in just a slightly larger package, and I'm really growing fond of it.

Too many choices, but that's not a bad thing.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

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"Laus Deo"

If you want a polymer 9mm you cannot go wrong with the P99 or P99c from Walther. They're accurate, have very smooth triggers (AS version) and feel great in hand.

If you're open to an alloy framed pistol, take a look at the CS9 or 3913 from S&W. Any of these are terrific pistols!

The original SW99's had the Walther AS trigger (the sear housing block controls the 'action'), so they were traditional double action pistols and equipped with the Walther decocker button.

The SW99NJ was an interesting variation which S&W reportedly didn't really want to make the way the agency wanted it made, and there's seemingly more to the story which isn't really relevant to this thread. FWIW, the second SW99/P99 armorer class I attended had a manual which listed the SW99NJ. I'm keeping that manual as a potential collector's piece.

Anyway, the SW990L, or the "Lightning" version as it was being called by some folks at S&W when I first heard about it, features the Walther QA trigger. There's an interesting difference in the SW990L pistol compared to the Walther P99 QA, though, and that is that the 990L doesn't incorporate the reduced profile decocker button in the slide that Walther uses in their QA models. Instead, S&W decided to use the 'smooth' DAO slide (think of when the early SW99 manuals first listed the SW990, which would've been similar in operation to the original Walther P990, which was really DAO, and therefore didn't have, or need, a decocker).

That meant that in order to release the striker of the partially cocked 990L the user has to pull the trigger on an empty chamber, in the same manner as on the Sigma (and the Glock). On the Walther P99 QA the user depresses the reduced profile decocker in order to release the partially cocked striker.

The Walther P99 AS and the P99 QA models use different striker springs, too, with the QA model having a slightly heavier striker spring.

The trigger bar guide, a small steel part located on the bottom front of the sear housing block, can be different, as well.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

LH2: Yep..

I've had 'em all...

Best Wishes,

Jesse

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"Laus Deo"

Great information and great pictures. I really like the CS size. etc, since I retired I don't want to carry a heavy piece so the PPS came home but I still am sick for selling the very special 3953 I shot and carried for years. I had all that first class work done on it. I just couldn't pass on 1300. Anybody know what a CS goes for. And are they available? I'm thinking about a PC Shorty 40 but I have never really liked dbl. stack.......But they are nice and I like a steel pistol...Hell I'm old fashioned. Hell I'm old 40 years in the business I guess is enough. It's all i know...well there is golf.

New CS9's are available at Perkiomen gunworks for $585. They had 5 left a couple weeks ago.

Where is that? and a number? if you have one. thanks.. George

gm:

www.Perkiomengunworks.com
931-761-0800 Joe Wallace or Lorie Jolly.

Great folks to do business with. I bought my NIB CS9 from them a couple of months ago.. Class act..

Best Wishes,

Jesse

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"Laus Deo"

I have a cs40 and like it well enough. I thought if I ran across a deal on a cs45 that I might pick it up.

Am I to understand that the MP pistols have a shorter trigger travel than the earlier plastique fantastique?

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Caveat venditor.

I like them all. The HK I'm sure is the most accurate. I have had the P7 M8 and the PSP both were very accurate. the only draw back with my PSP is the weight of the grip and the shortness of the barrel. Picking a real good holster is a problem for cc. I ended up with a kydex IWB that puts the pistol low behind belt. Also they take a pistol smith or watch maker to work on but what a pistol!! That solid barrel sure is spot on if sights are right for you they have accuracy almost as good as a match gun.

Just to add to the confusion, There was a run of Walther P-99's that used Smith and Wesson slide, machined to Walther specs, and sold as Walthers.

These pistols have serial numbers begining with the number "46", and were apparently made only in .40 S&W cal..

Mine has an O.D. frame, but I don't know if all of this varient do also.

Maybe someone can add more information to this "unusual" varient.

Cool ...

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Just purchased an SW990L and I would like to replace, (nicks and marks on nylon bushing means use, though function is good, and it's best to start with new "unstressed" springs), the recoil spring assembly. Can't find OEM replacements in stock anywhere but I am interested in the Sta-Tite assembly from the BT Guide Rods | website. It is a ss rod that uses the mfg.'s bushing and spring. More expensive than oem but the appearence and reputation seem to imply quality. Given your qual's...What are your thoughts?

"Just purchased an SW990L and I would like to replace, (nicks and marks on nylon bushing means use, though function is good, and it's best to start with new "unstressed" springs), the recoil spring assembly. Can't find OEM replacements in stock anywhere but I am interested in the Sta-Tite assembly from the BT Guide Rods | website. It is a ss rod that uses the mfg.'s bushing and spring. More expensive than oem but the appearence and reputation seem to imply quality. Given your qual's...What are your thoughts?"

KCREEK, I am new to this forum and have had my SW99-.40 for about 3 years now, and absolutely LOVE IT, and with much searching I found that MidwayUSA carries S&W 99 parts, Their Recoil Guiderod P/N is 168115 for the SW9940, If yours is not a .40 cal then ask the guys is customer service to look up the part number for whatever cal you pistol is. They are much faster than looking through page after page of Parts. I know that is has been a while since you wrote this, I hope this helps you. I have no info on the sta-tite assy. from BT Guide Rods. Sorry

Just saw this thread. Dunno why it didn't notify me when you posted back in Aug ...

Anyway, I order all my SW99/P99 parts directly from S&W, meaning from either the S&W parts dept or the Walther America parts dept.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I have an SW99 in 45 ACP---I like it quite a lot---maybe I'll pick up a PPQ in 9mm---heard good stuff about the PPQs from people I respect.