mg357
Absent Comrade
Dear Smith and Wesson Fourm i would like to hear some opinions from my fellow Forum members about the Walther ppk semi automatic pistol sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum
opinions about the walther ppk pistol
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GyMac
US Veteran
My brother bought one new (I believe from Sports Authority)about ten years ago and ended up returning it for a trade on something else. It continually malfunctioned, although I don't remember how. It's known to cause railroad tracks on your shooting hand, but S&W added a beavertail to prevent this.
Chris
Chris
Vadermedic
Member
mg357, I purchased a Walter ppk over 1 year ago. The first time I fired it, nothing but ftf and jams. At that same time, a recall was issued, so I contacted S&W, they provided ups instructions and label and off it went. I included a letter about the malfunctions and requested any help they could offer. The pistol was gone about 3 months due to the influx of a lot of pistols. Long story short, finally got a chance to put it through its paces with quality ammo today and it worked like a charm. Understand that it is not a comfortable weapon due to its design, but with practice it can be a lot of fun. I do carry it concealed, especially on days with very light clothing.
Kelly Green
Member
In 1989 I bought an Interarms Walther PPK from a local gun shop that was going out of business. It was a display model in stainless and the price was well below retail. My work schedule was hectic so I put the gun away in my safe. Almost six month later I took it out and field stripped it.
While the gun looked pristine on the outside, the inside was not. What I saw was bad workmanship. The frame’s right side slide groove was poorly machined with jagged metal its entire length. The feed ramp was not smooth—it looked carved out.
After a thorough cleaning I took it out for a test. I loaded both factory magazines with Winchester 95 GR FMJ’s. The grip magazine feed all rounds flawlessly. When I inserted the flat bottom mag and tried to chamber the first round, no luck—failure to feed jam again and again.
At 17 lbs., the double action pull is unbelievably stiff and long. The first time I shot it, I had to check to make sure the safety was not engaged. I could not pull the trigger in DA with the tip of my finger. On the other hand, the single action pull is light and the hammer breaks nicely. I have small hands but even so it manages to bite me at least once an outing. If my shooting hand rides up ever so slightly, ouch!
I’ve feed my PPK rounds form different manufactures with no problem except for Independence ammo—failure to feed about every third round. I’ve even put Winchester 85 GR Silver Tip HP’s through it without a hiccup.
Even with its flaws, I like the gun. It’s very accurate and fun to shoot.
While the gun looked pristine on the outside, the inside was not. What I saw was bad workmanship. The frame’s right side slide groove was poorly machined with jagged metal its entire length. The feed ramp was not smooth—it looked carved out.
After a thorough cleaning I took it out for a test. I loaded both factory magazines with Winchester 95 GR FMJ’s. The grip magazine feed all rounds flawlessly. When I inserted the flat bottom mag and tried to chamber the first round, no luck—failure to feed jam again and again.
At 17 lbs., the double action pull is unbelievably stiff and long. The first time I shot it, I had to check to make sure the safety was not engaged. I could not pull the trigger in DA with the tip of my finger. On the other hand, the single action pull is light and the hammer breaks nicely. I have small hands but even so it manages to bite me at least once an outing. If my shooting hand rides up ever so slightly, ouch!
I’ve feed my PPK rounds form different manufactures with no problem except for Independence ammo—failure to feed about every third round. I’ve even put Winchester 85 GR Silver Tip HP’s through it without a hiccup.
Even with its flaws, I like the gun. It’s very accurate and fun to shoot.
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Pisgah
Member
The PPK is a beautiful design, but quality control issues with various makers (Walther, Manhurin, S&W) have occurred -- and frankly, the PPK is the most uncomfortable-to-shoot .32 or .380 I have shot.
In my experience, very good, inexpensive, accurate, reliable and COMFORTABLE guns of the type are the Astra semi-clones (also marketed as Firestorm).
In my experience, very good, inexpensive, accurate, reliable and COMFORTABLE guns of the type are the Astra semi-clones (also marketed as Firestorm).
jaysouth
US Veteran
My poor red blooded soul could not rest until I had a PPK or PPK/S. I guess I had seen too many James Bond movies.
My first one was the copy made in France. It was OK but the trigger was horrible and the slide cut the web of my hand a couple of times.
Later, I got the lucre together to buy a 'genuine' Walther. It was not reliable and very in-accurate. It was very cool of course. I had to wear a tux on weekends. I got a shoulder holster to wear the gun in. It was very "Bondesque", wearing a tux and carrying a PPK in a shoulder holster, but I replaced it with a gun that I had more conficence in, a J-frame Smith.
Later, a couple of decades, I tried out a Stainless Smith. There was no improvement.
This covers my almost 40 years experience with Walthers.
These days I have a P3-AT and a Bursa Thunder. I would recommend either of them. Not much sex appeal in either, but they just keep on ticking without fail or bobble.
My first one was the copy made in France. It was OK but the trigger was horrible and the slide cut the web of my hand a couple of times.
Later, I got the lucre together to buy a 'genuine' Walther. It was not reliable and very in-accurate. It was very cool of course. I had to wear a tux on weekends. I got a shoulder holster to wear the gun in. It was very "Bondesque", wearing a tux and carrying a PPK in a shoulder holster, but I replaced it with a gun that I had more conficence in, a J-frame Smith.
Later, a couple of decades, I tried out a Stainless Smith. There was no improvement.
This covers my almost 40 years experience with Walthers.
These days I have a P3-AT and a Bursa Thunder. I would recommend either of them. Not much sex appeal in either, but they just keep on ticking without fail or bobble.
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BubbaGubber
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Interarms PPKs are very well made and becoming quite collectable. I've owned mine (.32) for 10 years....flawless.
XcessiveCarts
Member
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I owned a Used one for 1 day. It had quite a few FTF's and other jams. Did not like the recoil either. Got rid of it and bought a used Sig P230, what a amazing gun. It shoots great, great low recoil, functions flawlessly. My wife just bought a new Sig P232, which is the new version of the 230.
Funny - this was my same experience. Bought one of the S&W marketed Walther pistols and it was dreadful - wouldn't feed ball ammunition. Unfortunately, I bought mine brand new and paid big bucks for it. After fuming about it for 48 hours I took it back to where I bought a new Sig P323 in stainless with night sights and it was great.
Live and learn.
I made a post on 7/20 detailing some of the problems we had with a S&W PPK/S. Since them we have put a few hundred more rounds through it with out any problems. It is rather brutal on recoil, especially when comparing it to my Browning BDA. But, its the wifes CC and she is happy with it.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/146828-ppk-s-update-antibashing.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/146828-ppk-s-update-antibashing.html
CT-Hunter
Member
I bought an Interarms PPK/S a number of years ago. My wife was enamored by the thought of being able to shoot the James Bond gun. She quickly gave up on that thought as the recoil is pretty tough and she had numerous FTFs.
It is well made. We have had some problems with it. The most common FTF was due to limp wristing. It can also be tough on the web of your hand. A few types of ammo (.380 Blazer) had problems. But, for my pistol as long as you have the right ammo (most brands and my reloads are fine) and a decent grip, its reliable and a good weapon. More importantly, I have no problems carrying it. It is light and conceals easily.
It is well made. We have had some problems with it. The most common FTF was due to limp wristing. It can also be tough on the web of your hand. A few types of ammo (.380 Blazer) had problems. But, for my pistol as long as you have the right ammo (most brands and my reloads are fine) and a decent grip, its reliable and a good weapon. More importantly, I have no problems carrying it. It is light and conceals easily.
+1 The German made Walthers are great guns. I have a PPK/s in .22 that is a joy to shoot and totally reliable. The same cannot be said of S&W's attempt at making the Walther. Check out the Walther Forum for more information:
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hemiram
Member
I had a Walther made one, back around 1980, and it was very disappointing. By far, the best .380's I've ever owned, were the Browning BDA 380, and it's close cousin, the Beretta 84. All the rest were way behind those two, in looks and in function.
Marshal Tom
Member
I started with a PPk stainless in the early 70's and had a trigger job done on it and the barrel throated. It was my off duty gun for some time. It was pretty good reliability wise but it was not comfortable to shoot. Most bite the web of the hand unless you have small hands and they have sharp edges on the gripframe as well. They have a floating firing pin so they can be carried with the safety off but there is no ambi safety for us lefties.
I owned a couple of InterArms .380's and they functioned quite well. I then purchased one of the new S&W Walthers and it was a POS from day 1. In my opinion,there are several other brands of .380 or for that matter small .9mm's that are a better design, more comfortable to shoot with better triggers etc. Look at the Bersa Thunder, MOd. 84 or 85 Beretta or a Kahr .380 to name a few.
I love the design of the Walther but they lack in so many areas compared to other brands that I can not recommend them after owning or shooting several other brands.
Tom
I owned a couple of InterArms .380's and they functioned quite well. I then purchased one of the new S&W Walthers and it was a POS from day 1. In my opinion,there are several other brands of .380 or for that matter small .9mm's that are a better design, more comfortable to shoot with better triggers etc. Look at the Bersa Thunder, MOd. 84 or 85 Beretta or a Kahr .380 to name a few.
I love the design of the Walther but they lack in so many areas compared to other brands that I can not recommend them after owning or shooting several other brands.
Tom
Well, it would appear that most respondents are in the negative. I, on the other hand, have had much better experiences with them. I can't however comment on the current crop available from S&W.
It is an old design and from what I can tell, they have never tried to improve upon that double action trigger pull. Every one I've ever shot felt like the last one I shot. Heavy, stiff double action pull. But, depending on your requirement(s), this could be a good thing.
Back in the late 80's, early 90's, I carried one as a bug. I carried it in the shock plate pouch of my Second Chance vest. Our department required us to qualify with our bug, however we carried it. At first it was a challenge drawing and firing from the shock plate pouch, but after much practice I got pretty good at it. Thank god for zippered uniform shirts! Anyway, my point is, it served its purpose well and I never felt unsafe with it. It always went bang and even though the trigger pull was heavy, once you become used to it, you hardly notice it. If you're trying to squeeze off an accurate double action first shot, forget it. Where it really shines is in the SA dept. The best thing for them is a LOT of shooting (practice). It was always comforting just knowing it was there. The only time it ever drew blood, was from inside the shock plate pouch. One night, during a scuffle with an "uncooperative character", (like the way I cleaned that one up?), he decided he was going to punch me in the chest in an attempt to get away. Well, you guessed it, right in the old PPK. His glassy stare suddenly became quite focused on his skinned knuckles and his rapidly swelling wrist, grabbing same and dropping to his knees. Trust me, the result was far better than if I had shot him with it. My partner just gave me a dumbfounded look and said, "What the hell was that?" Ahh, the good ole days!
As for me, I'm a big PPK fan. But, I will admit, like most anything else, including S&W's, the older ones are the better ones. Modernization has not been good for either!
Sorry about the long post. I just love War Stories, especially when I'm telling them!!
It is an old design and from what I can tell, they have never tried to improve upon that double action trigger pull. Every one I've ever shot felt like the last one I shot. Heavy, stiff double action pull. But, depending on your requirement(s), this could be a good thing.
Back in the late 80's, early 90's, I carried one as a bug. I carried it in the shock plate pouch of my Second Chance vest. Our department required us to qualify with our bug, however we carried it. At first it was a challenge drawing and firing from the shock plate pouch, but after much practice I got pretty good at it. Thank god for zippered uniform shirts! Anyway, my point is, it served its purpose well and I never felt unsafe with it. It always went bang and even though the trigger pull was heavy, once you become used to it, you hardly notice it. If you're trying to squeeze off an accurate double action first shot, forget it. Where it really shines is in the SA dept. The best thing for them is a LOT of shooting (practice). It was always comforting just knowing it was there. The only time it ever drew blood, was from inside the shock plate pouch. One night, during a scuffle with an "uncooperative character", (like the way I cleaned that one up?), he decided he was going to punch me in the chest in an attempt to get away. Well, you guessed it, right in the old PPK. His glassy stare suddenly became quite focused on his skinned knuckles and his rapidly swelling wrist, grabbing same and dropping to his knees. Trust me, the result was far better than if I had shot him with it. My partner just gave me a dumbfounded look and said, "What the hell was that?" Ahh, the good ole days!
As for me, I'm a big PPK fan. But, I will admit, like most anything else, including S&W's, the older ones are the better ones. Modernization has not been good for either!
Sorry about the long post. I just love War Stories, especially when I'm telling them!!
Raider
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I own a couple of PPk's, one is original German and the other is an Interarms stainless model, both in .380 caliber. Recoil is a mite heavy but controllable and both are extremely accurate and reliable. I carry the stainless .380 during the summertime when I can't wear a coat. There are good and bad PPk's; I guess I got good ones and love em.
Charlie
Charlie
PPK/S
I bought a new PPK/S .380 stainless in Dec of 1990 and loved it from the beginning. It was an Interarms. It was stolen from my company car (which was also stolen) Memorial day weekend in 1991. To the best of my knowledge it was never recovered. I located a used replacement at a gun show in August of 1991 and bought it. I still have this one and I love it. Both of the ones I owned/own have functioned flawlessly and are accurate. As others have stated recoil is a little stout but easily manageable with some practice. Guess I was just lucky twice in a row. I know that the one I have now is a keeper.
I bought a new PPK/S .380 stainless in Dec of 1990 and loved it from the beginning. It was an Interarms. It was stolen from my company car (which was also stolen) Memorial day weekend in 1991. To the best of my knowledge it was never recovered. I located a used replacement at a gun show in August of 1991 and bought it. I still have this one and I love it. Both of the ones I owned/own have functioned flawlessly and are accurate. As others have stated recoil is a little stout but easily manageable with some practice. Guess I was just lucky twice in a row. I know that the one I have now is a keeper.
