New (S&W) WALTHER PK380 First Edition special

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460v LAC du FLAMBEAU

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I justed checked out the new Walther PK380 "First Edition"...S&W is just shipping now.

First 2000 pistols named "First Edition"...comes with 2 magazines and a special Walther holster. Looks good...will be ordering one today.
 
I am getting mine through Lipsey.com.

For the photo go to...www.Lipsey.com

Search: "Walther PK380 First Edition"

Only 2,000 made with "First Edition" logo...each has serial #.

Should be about $385 including 2 magazines & Walther nylon holster...sound like a great value!
 
Be aware, the safety system is not Hammer Drop. In order to go to hammer down DA ready, you must PULL THE TRIGGER with a MAGAZINE in the weapon!

Geoff
Who notes the size factor is very good, BUT I do not like that safety for training on either the .380 or the .22 LR.
 
460v LAC du FLAMBEAU said:
I justed checked out the new Walther PK380 "First Edition"...S&W is just shipping now.

First 2000 pistols named "First Edition"...comes with 2 magazines and a special Walther holster. Looks good...will be ordering one today.
Click to expand...

I am always happy when new guns are introduced, however, after a thorough examination of this gun at the SHOT Show, I cannot see the use for it.

It is, essentially, a .380 version of the P22. This makes it too large for its intended cartridge, too expensive to use for plinking (use the 22 instead) and too large for real concealed carry use. The Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT follow the rule for carry guns of being large enough for the cartridge, but not any larger than necessary.
 
I had to send my back for warranty and just had it 2 days. Hang up city and barrel severly scratched. I think I got a lemmon.
 
Picked up a First Edition for my wife last Saturday when she was out of town (haven't run any ammo through it yet).

My question is this: Since this is a "big" (size wise) .380, why in the world doesn't it have a double stack magazine? With the size of the mag well it looks as if Walther could have easily gotten 12 (and maybe even 15) rounds in there. Being as large as it already is, the extra rounds wouldn't have made that big a difference in weight.

Just doesn't make sense to me. I think the wife will love it. She likes to shoot, but isn't fond of a bunch of recoil. I thought this would be perfect for her.
 
shawn mccarver said:
I am always happy when new guns are introduced, however, after a thorough examination of this gun at the SHOT Show, I cannot see the use for it.

It is, essentially, a .380 version of the P22. This makes it too large for its intended cartridge, too expensive to use for plinking (use the 22 instead) and too large for real concealed carry use. The Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT follow the rule for carry guns of being large enough for the cartridge, but not any larger than necessary.
Click to expand...

As a MA resident, I'm interested because the LCP and P3AT will never be available here.

I have a couple of P-22s in the family and this would offer a decent caliber upgrade in a similar format so that training and carry use all of the same muscle memory. My wife and daughter both want a 380 for these reasons.

.
 
As a MA resident, I'm interested because the LCP and P3AT will never be available here.
Click to expand...
Can you get a Kahr CW9?
About same size as the Walther, better ergonomics, more powerful cartridge.
 
Actually, the Kahrs are on the AG's Approved List. Unfortunately, the state also has the Consumer Protection Regulations that require DA triggers be more than 10 lbs. Which sucks b/c the Kahr is one of my all time favorite pistols.
Gotta to love this state!
Doug
 
Dougdeb said:
Actually, the Kahrs are on the AG's Approved List. Unfortunately, the state also has the Consumer Protection Regulations that require DA triggers be more than 10 lbs. Which sucks b/c the Kahr is one of my all time favorite pistols.
Gotta to love this state!
Doug
Click to expand...

I think you meant, that the Kahrs are on the EOPS list. There is no AG list, and it is the AG consumer protection regulations that I was commenting on.

There's plenty to get confused about, for sure.
 
Skeptic 9c said:
Be aware, the safety system is not Hammer Drop. In order to go to hammer down DA ready, you must PULL THE TRIGGER with a MAGAZINE in the weapon!

Geoff
Who notes the size factor is very good, BUT I do not like that safety for training on either the .380 or the .22 LR.
Click to expand...


To decock the pk380 you put it on "Safe" and pull the trigger while holding onto the hammer and slowly lower it. An extra safety measure would be to eject the round from the chamber if you wish.the fireing pin is completely blocked when the gun is on safe, I have purposely dropped the hammer on a live round to test this fact.
 
They're Cool, But...

I looked at a PK380 First Edition on Friday, was tempted to buy it, but decided not to. Perhaps I am missing the obvious (wouldn't be the first time :confused:), but I really don't see any point to this gun. It is priced right and has good ergonomics, but as a member already mentioned, it looks like it could have been designed as a hi-cap but is instead a single stack. I also agree that it is a bit large for its caliber and capacity.

The gun also has an odd field strip procedure that requires use of a "wrench," which is included, to rotate a retaining pin in the frame so the takedown latch can be used (For me, I know that I would lose the damn wrench!).

If I were looking for this size auto, I would go with the Walther PPS, which is a 9mm para and is about the same size, maybe thinner, than the PK380, even though the PPS is almost twice as expensive. If I wanted a .380, I would go with a hi-cap Beretta 84, which also has good ergonomics (also almost twice the price of the PK) and, as I recall, is about the same size as the PK

Just my humble opinion.
 
The Beretta and its cousin the Browning BDA 380s hold more ammo at the same size or smaller in some dimensions. My Kel-Tec PF9 is decidedly smaller in all dimensions, and holds 8 rounds of 9mm while costing about the same money. It will be a decent gun for those that want or must use a .380 round as it does have a nice feel to it. I have fondled one, but not fired one yet. It is the first new .380 since 1929 for Walther, so has some significance for that reason alone. If it shoots as well a my P22, it will find a place somewhere.
 
I brought my PPS 9mm to the gunshop to check size comparison with the PK380. They are almost identical in size, but the PPS is narrower. The PPS is the same size in 9 or .40.
The PK380 has a nice feel to it, better than the PPS, but it IS big for a carry 380, and why tote a 380 if you can have 9 or .40 in the same size?

Now, if you REALLY can't shoot a 9 due to recoil, I guess...
then there's the ammo cost issue. You'll make up the purchase price difference between them soon if you shoot much at all.

I still would like to have one for my wife. It might move her up from her P22 "capgun" caliber. (I'll hear about that one).

Jeff
 
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