Little .380 Walther is something else!

[Marshal Tom]

I have owned a stainless PPK and both a blue and a stainless PPKs. I think they are beautiful little guns but I never liked shooting any of them due to the issues stated by the other responders above. Most of that size pistols are now available in 9mm which is generally cheaper more effective and easier to find. I am not a fan of the .380 anyway so there you have it!

 

[LVSteve]

As far as the OP's original question is concerned...

Yes, the Lehigh products are effective IMHO. I reload the 65gr in 380 acp, 9mm (and even 357 SIG upon occasion) with no problems.

Cheers!

P.S. If it was good enough for "Bond: James Bond..." it should be good enough!

Bond used a 7.65x17 (AKA 32ACP) PPK, the proper round for that gun IMHO. I have no time for blowback 380s.

For me they kick more than a locked breech 9mm of the same size and weight, so I would have one because...?

 

[brucev]

Just a further thought. No idea what is the manufacturer of the magazine which came with the pistol. It is a matte blue seven round steel magazine with the pinkie extension.

Bought to new nickle plated Walther magazines ... one w/ a plain bottom and one w/ a extension. Figure the plain bottom will be easier to CC w/ the other magazine as a reload. The matte blue magazine is for range use. Little thumper is addictive! Not hard to shoot several boxes of ammo through it at a fairly sedate pace. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[ggibson511960]

I got rid of mine for many of the same reasons listed above plus one more. The silly loaded chamber indicator rod that protrudes through to the hammer slot can get jammed or free floated if dirty or if the return spring breaks, as mine did. It then protrudes into the breach face at random times, jamming the fresh cartridge from sliding up the breach face. Very nicely crafted weapon, but perhaps a bit too complex, a German penchant carried over from Bochardts and Lugers.

 

[BB57]

I have a couple Ranger made Interarms marked stainless steel PPK/S pistols in .380 ACP as well as the slightly heavier FEG AP and APK steel frame .380 ACP pistols.

If you choose a hollow point and it fails to expand it will act like an FMJ with a similar sized meplat. The only real risks of using a hollow point are potential feeding issues and the potential to over expand and under penetrate with some loads.

Reliability can be addressed by just shooting it with the mags you intend to carry and ensure it’s reliable over a 100-200 rounds.

Hollow point expansion depends on velocity and velocity is very dependent on barrel length as the .380 ACP is much more sensitive to barrel length than a 9mm.

With a 3.4” PPK/S the Hornady 90 gr XTP will reliably expand and penetrate 12-13” with a muzzle velocity of 1000-1050 fps. Not all commercial loads will achieve this even in a 3.4” barrel and as you get down in the 3.2” range many of those 90 gr XTP loads are only generating around 900-920 fps. IMHO Hornady factory 90 gr XTP loads are a bit on the slow side compared to some other brands and I think that’s intentional as Hornady wants you to buy their FTX load instead.

For shorter barrel .380 ACP pistols the FTX is the way to go, but in a 3.4” or 3.9” barrel it’s likely to under penetrate.

Other loads like the 85 gr Mag Tech are also ok in a short 2.75” barrel but will start under penetrating in any thing over 3”.


In the PPK/S reliability with hollow points in my experience depends on the recoil spring. Normally, with a fresh standard power recoil spring and a standard power hammer spring they give good reliability.

Since it’s a blow back design where the cocking of the hammer and the large leverage advantage the hammer has over the slide in the initial movement, the hammer spring plays a big role is slowing the opening of the slide.

Consequently if you start “upgrading” your pistol with a lighter hammer spring and a extra power recoil spring, you’re actually screwing with the engineering and mechanics of slide velocity and over run and you going to potentially effect the reliability, particularly with hollow points.

The PPKS/S DA trigger pull is heavy and that’s an artifact of the design and its geometry. A lighter hammer spring is going to create more issues than it solves.

If the recoil, starts feeling or sounding metallic, it usually an indicator of excessive slide velocity from worn out or too light springs. The block on the end of the trigger guard prevents the slide from moving too far back, and the trigger guard acts a spring to prevent that block from bottoming out on the frame. When it does start hitting the frame you get that metallic feel or ring. It’s your sign your springs are too weak.

I find the best results come from factory standard spring weights and then ensuring you replace the recoil spring every 800 rounds or so.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

For 380 carry ammo I recommend and use loads with the Hornady XTP bullet. They have a great compromise of penetration and modest expansion. FMJ over penetrates.

Fiocchi, Underwood, Hornady and Precision One all make great carry ammo. I prefer Fiocchi or Underwood for the nickel plated casings.

 

[Faulkner]

I occasionally carried one off duty for a number of years. It operated reliably with Federal Hydra shoks and was quite accurate. Like others have already noted, though, I did not like shooting it recreationally and seldom shot it without a shooting glove. Too many sharp edges. I believe the S&W PPK/s models have been smoothed out some.

I was always intrigued with the James Bond factor, but I eventually transitioned to a Ruger LC9s Pro which is lighter, just as accurate and reliable, and much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[Holden6v8]

The PPK and /S are more complex in models than I thought. I settled on, not for, an Arkansas manufactured one with several subtle improvements, such as extended beavertail, and fantastic quality. I did so because I compared it to the Interarms and even original German manufacture and found it superior to both. Generally, these are looked down upon these days as underpowered and lacking capacity. With Buffalo Bore hardcasts in their unofficial +P loaded, it's pretty snappy!

 

[Abbynormal]

I had a Waffenproofed .32 acp PPK in the 80's and loved it, but wanted the better .380 stopping power. Never found one in my price range.

Later had a 60's PPK in .22 LR that I still kick myself for getting rid of. Most accurate and compact .22 I've ever seen.

Carried it in my RF pants pocket on hundreds of miles of trails and months of camping.

Shot several snakes and once faced down a local Ajo who loved to be a PIA to campers. He told the local popo, that I was pointing a 9MM at him, when they realized it was a .22 LR. they laughed and arrested him for assault. Dumbest thing I ever did was to get rid of it.

 

[Grayfox]

Most folks here know that I'm a fan of the Walther PP Series pistols. I have carried a PPK or PPK/s in the past and would have no trouble doing it again.