I'm not wanting to bash S&W but...

gunfan · #1 01-30-2013, 02:19 AM

I have heard a lot of bad reviews about the Walther pistols. I wanted to look into one of their PPK pistols in .32 ACP, but discovered that they had been discontinued.

With their QC as it is, perhaps it is just as well.

Scott

catcus-jack · #2 01-30-2013, 08:41 AM

Seems to me you don't have anything to bash them about unless you count rumors.

da gimp · #3 01-30-2013, 11:50 AM

The Walther PP & PPK pistols were extremely well made pocket pistols, suffering only on their calibres.......that being said, I used one as back up gun & off duty piece for years. The Walther TP & TPH along with the PP & PPK are among the few that will work well in chamberings in .25ACP & .22LR.

lhump1961 · #4 01-30-2013, 07:07 PM

I have two S&W Walther PPK/S's and both function fine. I find them to be well made and reliable. As was previously posted they only suffer from their caliber...380's are notoriously ammo sensitive with factory as well as hand loads. I worked at reloads and probably tried 6 or 8 different combinations before arriving at a couple that work 100%. This was not an issue in my 3rd gen 9's, 40's or my 1911's or of course not the revolvers...but the .380's took a little more effort. Once I found what they like they are wonderful performers and very accurate with ball or HP ammo.

I have read all the mud slinging on the Walthers and it means nothing to me except that perhaps there are those who experienced a little of the finicky behaviors and did not make the effort to learn the gun. Many guns are prone to be finicky in one way or another...ammo, cleanliness, lubrication, ect. Lack of these tendencies is what makes guns like the 3rd gen Smith autos so beloved.

.455_Hunter · #5 01-31-2013, 12:47 AM

Where did you see that they had been discontinued?

I still see both the PPK and PPK/S listed in .32 acp on the Walther-USA website.

TexasG · #6 01-31-2013, 01:41 AM

Forums 101. You only read about the problems of a half a dozen people. A percentage of those are competitive hacks the get paid to post....

TexasG · #7 01-31-2013, 01:49 AM

My USCG son bought a used PPK in 380 ($250.00) - the LGS said the former owner complained of too many FTE's and FTF's... the dang pistol was dryer than a bone in the hot desert sun. Complete cleaning and good oil and grease and the pistol was flawless and accurate as we could aim it.

goldenlight · #8 01-31-2013, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasG

My USCG son bought a used PPK in 380 ($250.00) - the LGS said the former owner complained of too many FTE's and FTF's... the dang pistol was dryer than a bone in the hot desert sun. Complete cleaning and good oil and grease and the pistol was flawless and accurate as we could aim it.

Just like Sigs, 1911's, and ALL of the metal framed S&W semiautos I've ever owned, my Walther PPK/S runs quite well with adequate lubrication. If it's been sitting in the safe for too long, it needs some oil before I shoot it at the range, or I will get some failures to feed and extract properly.

YMMV

Riverkilt · #9 01-31-2013, 02:29 AM

Back in the late 60's concealed carry a Walther PPK .380 for work. (Jewelry sales). The one time I needed it the thing jammed. Saved my bacon with a lot of humiliating fast talk and lies and the attacking Alabama rednecks backed off. Took it back to the LGS who laid out some bull about needing to run more rounds through it...sold it back to him and it put me off pistols until last year. Having a pistol fail when your tail end is on the line will put anyone off whatever brand malfunctioned. Course...it was probably my fault somehow....someway...its NEVER the machine....

And ain't attacking ALL Alabama rednecks...I are one...was born in Selma.

TexasG · #10 01-31-2013, 02:35 AM

I'm speachless....

paulj84003 · #11 01-31-2013, 11:23 AM

I have carried a 380 S&W PPK's daily since I purchased it in 2004. When I arrived home with it I took it a part cleaned and removed a few rough spots. Lubed it with breakfree, and tried it out in my test tank. To the present it has worked flawlessly with every cartridge I have used in it. I clean it once a month to remove the lint that acumulates and relube with breakfree. Paulj

99savage308 · #12 01-31-2013, 03:34 PM

What TexasG said.

Alnamvet68 · #13 01-31-2013, 11:58 PM

Clean it, lube it, and use EFMJ ammo (expanding Full Metal Jacket), and 99% of all auto feed handguns will function as advertised. There's a reason, besides the Geneva Convention, that virtually all the military services in the world use ball ammo in all their auto-loading weapons. Still having problems, the I blame the user, limp wrists, or paid hacks from opposing camps.