I have a few PP series pistols.

I have a couple Ranger made Interarms branded PPK/S pistols both in .380 ACP, and I had a S&W PPK/S. I rarely turn a firearm back into money but I had no regrets selling that one after two recalls, continued unreliability and that uncomfortable extended tang.





I have a Walther PP .22 LR in the British L66A1 configuration, as well as the newer Umarex Walther PPK/S .22 LR. Surprisingly I have found the newer pistol to be far more reliable and accurate than the original Walther. They made some very worthwhile changes to the magazine and feed angle.





I have a couple Austrian police surplus Manurhin made Walther PP pistols in .32 ACP. They are a pleasure to shoot and are much more reliable than their .380 ACP counterparts.




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I also have a number of FEG PP series derivative pistols, including:

A PPK’esque SMC in .380 ACP. It’s the smallest pistol to be imported post GCA 1968 thinks to the magazine extension. With its small size and alloy frame it’s also brutal to shoot. These were imported by KBI as a self defense pistol, but frankly the reliability is poor.



I also have civilian steel frame AP PP sized (bottom) and the shorter APK PPK/S sized (top) pistols in both .380 ACP (AP9S and APK9S) and .32 ACP (AP7S and APK7S). (Shown with a PPK/S in the middle for comparison.)

These were imported by Interams with a very high degree of polish and finish at a time when it wasn’t clear that Interamrs would retain the US distribution rights for the Walther pistols, and then they were retained as a less expensive but still high quality alternative to the Walther PP and PPK/S.

The grip frame, frame and slide proportions are slightly larger as they are based on the military PA models designed to shoot the slightly larger 9mm Makarov round. They have slightly more generous chamber dimensions and a slightly looser fit that improves reliability compared to the Walther pistols.



Tennessee Guns also imported the AP and APK pistols with a slightly lower standards of polish and finish. A TGI APK7S at bottom.



I also have the military model PA-63 in 9mm Makarov. It’s crudely finished compared to the civilian “AP” models, has a very heavy (even by PP series standards) DA trigger, and between the heavy trigger, alloy frame and chambered in the slightly more powerful 9mm Mak cartridge it’s not the most pleasant pistol to shoot.



I rate it as slightly less pleasant to shoot than the alloy frame Bersa Thunder in. 380 ACP (although my Bersa Thunder in .22 LR is pleasant accurate and very reliable). At least the Bersa pistols benefit from updated trigger geometry and have better triggers than their Walther and FEG counterparts.

If you look closely you’ll note the Bersa in .380 is missing it’s front sight which departed the pistol after about 50 rounds. Rather than go to the trouble and expense of sending the slide back under warranty, I just ordered a new front sight (about $4) and installed it myself.



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On balance, as much as I like the Walther PP series pistols and their derivatives, and as much as it pains me to say it the Beretta 81 series pistols (single stack 82, 83 and 85, and double stack 81, 84, and 80X) pistols are much more reliable and are a far better choice for self defense use. Among other things they have much better DA triggers not limited by the original geometry of 1929 designed Walther PP pistol.