PPK yes or no?

[jdh]

I did a search and did not find a PPK thread. Please pardon me if this has been done recently.

New production S&W marked PPK buy or no buy? My wartime production version has become a safe queen but I still need to get my Bond fix in once in a while.

 

[Broker50]

My two cents, look for an Interarms stainless. I've owned several of 'em, never had a bad one, still have a PPKs. The S&W made ones have had a lot of problems, & that extended "beavertail" is a deal breaker for me.

 

[surfgun]

I think you would be happier with a Sig Sauer P232. Pro-slicker more modern pistol with the Walther lines. Con- non-Amercan (if that bothers you). I an make exception for German products.

 

[stanws6]

I recently purchased a lightly used S&W PPK/S. It has been flawless and I'm very happy with it.

 

[geodimeter]

I bought a PPKS about a month ago and have fired about 400 rounds without a single jam or any problem. That includes JHP's and flat nosed FMJ's. The trigger pull is very smooth. Nice DA shooter. It's still a very collectible pistol plus they're about $100+ less than a SIG 232. Just clean 'em good when you get 'em and blaze away.

 

[DCWilson]

I bought a PPK/S in .380 a couple of years ago just before the recall. I didn't even have a chance to shoot it before I sent it east.

It came back to me cleaner than it was when I got it and with some additional action polishing above the recall repair. It has worked without problems every time I have taken it to the range.

I know there are people who reported problems or bad experiences with the Smith PPKs, but I'm not one of them.

 

[Sebago Son]

S&W PPK/s

I know that they are pretty cheap around these parts and don't have a very good reputation.

Drew

 

[rck281]

I would recommend a Kahr P380

 

[remat457]

Mine has been completely flawless. I couldn't get rid of my Interarms fast enough (stovepiped on FMJ and horrible DA trigger). I use it as a sample pistol for training classes. Not a bad word from first time shooters about it or the alleged "excessive recoil" I sometimes hear about on forums.

 

[RussellD]

Run the other way...PPK is a dated design for those with a James Bond fetish. They seldom feed modern ammo and have sharp edges that do not work well towards concealment.

Never mind a terrible trigger pull..

If you need an auto..look towards a compact 9mm, or for self defense..look at a j frame snub.

 

[Catshooter]

Since you asked . . .

Nope. It's a .380, not a 45. It is virtually the same overall size as my Kahr PM 45 but weighs more. And the PM is a 45.


Cat

 

[18DAI]

If you must have a PPK I'd second the suggestion for an Interarms PPK.

My shooting partner had two of the S&W versions. He sent them back a few times and dumped them both in the end. He is a PPK fan too. Good luck! Regards 18DAI.

 

[rags]

Interarms...Yes.

rags

 

[jdh]

Thanks for all the suggestions,BUT I have a J, and a BG380, and a M&P9c and a few others for "pocket carry". Oh and a real Bond-ish PPK. A 42+/- built PPKin 32acp. It stays in the safe now for a couple reasons. The main being it has a primo set of original, difficult to replace, brown mottled grips. The grips are likely worth as much as the pistol by themselves.

The local shop has two stainless PPKs ( that being the plural of PPK not a PPK/S) in stock that I could get for cost and 10%. It would not be a EDC but a tool to reduce the temptation to do something foolish with the real one.

Would be better to find a used 32 but I can't afford the ones I would have and wouldn't have the ones I can afford at the gun shows in the area. For example a 80% Manurhin with replacement grips and one no name non-finger rest mag for $450. The local shop had a 95% Walther 32 and sold it for $700

But I will keep looking even if I should do a deal for one of the new ones.

 

[Stainz]

Last Thursday found my wife gazing at the S&W revolver section in my local pusher... or so I thought. She had zeroed in on a new PPK/S - engraved and wearing a nicely carved wood grip and residing in a mahogany presentation case. She, who must be obeyed, had it under her arm as we left, leaving me feeling weird - I am an S&W revolver nut - who secretly likes the PPK series, even if my personal rude-case-tosser count is still at zero. The new S&W PPK/S joined a P22 she has - a gift from a friend.

Yesterday found us at the range - and the new S&W PPK/S hiccupped once in two boxes of FMJ - PMC Bronze and CCI Blazer Brass. Actually, despite my instructions, she rode the slide home with her hand, jamming a new mag's first round. Drop the mag, rack the slide, down drops the scarred round (... and titewad me picks it up! I fired it singly... yeah, I shot a bottom-feeder - gasp!). Reload the mag, properly rack the slide, and back to shooting - totally uneventful - and a nice trigger! She did think the recoil was a bit more stout than she was accustomed to - she had a 9mm CZ-75 for years - and carries a Seecamp .32 as a CCW - which she loves. It was a great range day - I had my PC627 UDR, 60 Pro, & 3" 63, too.

This is just proof that some really fine guns still come from S&W - even the PPK/S.

Stainz

 

[remat457]

This is just proof that some really fine guns still come from S&W - even the PPK/S.

What I don't get is all the recommendations for the Interarms version. When they were out people complained that they were made by some unknown company and were inferior to a real Walther.

 

[Decker]

Run the other way...PPK is a dated design for those with a James Bond fetish. They seldom feed modern ammo and have sharp edges that do not work well towards concealment.

Never mind a terrible trigger pull..

If you need an auto..look towards a compact 9mm, or for self defense..look at a j frame snub.

I'll argue those points.
I bought my PPKs brand new in 1974, way back when legal concealed carry would have been laughed at.
So if you wanted to carry a defensive pistol, you DAMN sure didn't want to be seen with a bump under your shirt.
The PPKs is very slim, although heavy being made from real steel (plastic guns would also be laughed at back then ).

It was so thin that I carried it for a couple of decades and never got a second look from a police officer.

No, I don't carry it anymore since it's been replaced by lighter and smaller pistols (my smallest carries are a Rohrbaugh 9mm and an LCP .380), but I wouldn't hesitate to stake my life on it again if the need arose.
Yes, the trigger is heavy, but it's about right for a defensive pistol.
I wore it so much that the blue wore off so I had it refinished in satin nickel so that it now looks like a stainless pistol, and hasn't shown a bit of wear since.

 

[Cruiser RN]

DON"T BUY S+W PPK........Lots of problems

 

[jdh]

Cruiser,
Do you have first hand experience with the current/post recall PPK or are you repeating old opinions you read on the internet?

 

[Maximumbob54]

Check out a Bersa Thunder .380 and you might like it just as much for way less. Mine has run flawless for a few years now.

Same idea as a PPK but it actually works all the time.