TELL ME ABOUT THE WALTHER PPK

ordy

ordy

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I was talking to one of the female residents about her weekend and she told me she went to a gun show with her boyfriend and bought a PPK. I'm pretty sure this is her first (and probably her last) gun purchase. Everyone at work knows I enjoy the shooting sports and she asked me what I thought about the Walther. I don't know a whole lot about the gun other than the James Bond connection. I suggested she take a basic gun safety course, get it to the range to become familiar with it and learn to shoot it well. In doing a little research this morning, I found out the ones made in conjunction with S&W had been recalled due to a problem with the decocker actually discharging the weapon when engaged. Is there a way to tell if her gun has been upgraded without taking it to a gunsmith?
 
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Ordy, I'm sorry I can't answer your last question.

As to general impressions of the PPK, I find it to be heavy for what it is with a pretty heavy trigger pull. As a 1911 guy, I will note that the safety is mounted backward. ;) If none of this is a problem, then it's a fine weapon.
 
When it comes to semi's, I'm also a 1911 guy and did notice the configuration of the safety. As far as hammer or slide bite, I guess that's a function of hand placement. This would not have been my choice for her if she had asked me.
 
Thanks labworm. This is just the info I was hoping someone could help me (and her) with. I printed this out and will give it to her when I see her tomorrow.
 
ordy said:
Thanks labworm. This is just the info I was hoping someone could help me (and her) with. I printed this out and will give it to her when I see her tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Tell your friend to use only FMJ ammo, hollow points may or may not be wise if it is carry gun.
 
Good morning Ordy:

I owned a stainless steel PPK-S imported by the now defunct Inter-Arms. Surprisingly, at least in the .380 chambering, the recoil from firing it is fairly substantial. In fact, subjectively speaking, I beleive the recoil form the PPK-S was greater than that of a 9mm semi-auto. Jimmy is right about the hammer (slide) biting your hand. This happened to me, as well as my wife. I had a problem with mine as it suddenly decided to go full-auto on me one day at the range. Fortunately, there were only about 4 rounds in the magazine when the piece decided to go Class 3.

To their credit, Inter-Arms paid for shipping both ways, and repaired the piece at no charge to me. I never knew what part was fixed or repaired as the factory refused to provide me with that information.

I think your friend would be much better off by selling/trading the Walther and going with something more modern, and with better engineering and ergonomics. The M&P semi-auto comes to mind - I have one and am very happy with it. I don't have a 9mm Shield, so I cannot advise on that, but perhaps your friend could visit a shooting range with rental guns that she could try out. I was lucky enough to trade my Walther, and about $200.00 for a used H&K PSP P-7 a few years ago when the West German Police guns were released for sale here in the land of the big PX. That was one of the better gun trades I've made in my life.

Best of luck,

Dave
 
I owned a 1966 PPK, fine build quality. When I got the gun, like many pocket guns, this had been carried for years and shot seldom. I did change the recoil spring (Wolff), ran several mags through. I could not find a comfortable grip, gun was sold to a women because it fit her hand. The reason was good and I understand she has enjoyed shooting and qualified for her CC with it.
 
I have had a InterArms PPK since 1989. If this is her first gun she will not like it.
They are heavy. They bite. They fail to feed if limp-wristed. The trigger pull is heavy. Continuous firing will make your hand sore. They have a stout recoil. The slide is very heavy to rack.
Having said all this;
Mine is not for sale. It is well made, durable, and an iconic piece. I wore it many years in an ankle holster, and then in a body armor holster, as a back-up gun when I was in uniformed patrol. It is still one of my concealed carry pieces.

There are many more comfortable small semis to carry out there, especially for a noobie.
 
I have a PPK .380 and it’s been a good gun. Mine shoots anything I can put in it including lead hand loads. I have at times carried it as a CCW and it’s as accurate as a gun of this type. On one occasion due to a big jail break in my immediate area I carried it in an ankle holster with my .45 on my belt.

I have gone to other carry guns now, but I would grab the Walther and feel comfortable with it as my CCW.
 
NYlakesider said:
I have a PPK .380 and it’s been a good gun. Mine shoots anything I can put in it including lead hand loads. I have at times carried it as a CCW and it’s as accurate as a gun of this type. On one occasion due to a big jail break in my immediate area I carried it in an ankle holster with my .45 on my belt.

I have gone to other carry guns now, but I would grab the Walther and feel comfortable with it as my CCW.
Click to expand...

Accurate?, agree 100%.
 
The Walther PP series has been around for a long time. Introduced during the 1930's, saw considerable military use during WW2, manufactured in France (Manhurin) after WW2 before the Walther works came back into operation. PP= Pistole Poleizi (Police Pistol), PPK= Pistole Poleizi Kurtz (Police Pistol, Short), and PPK/S = the PPK upper mounted on the PP lower to comply with US import restrictions during the 1970's, various calibers including 9X17 (.380ACP), 7.65mm (.32ACP), and .22LR. At one time a target version was marketed in .22LR with extended barrel and adjustable sights. German Walthers and the French Manhurin pistols were shipped with the factory test targets, at least some indication of each pistol's potential performance.

Generally considered to be an excellent design, known for reliability and good accuracy, fairly simple to operate and maintain. Moderately heavy when compared to alloy and polymer framed guns so common these days, but not overly so. These pistols operate on the blowback principle (recoil operated, fixed barrel) so recoil can be quite sharp, especially in .380, which some find surprising at the first experience. Double action trigger pulls are typically rather heavy, but usually smooth and controllable with a bit of experience. Single action pulls are usually fairly crisp, but with a fair amount of take-up and overtravel. In short, there is a learning curve that requires training and practice.

I've owned several over the years. One thing sticks out in my mind; as a 1911 shooter I am accustomed to taking a high grip on the pistol. With the PP-series pistols this can result in the slide cutting the flesh of the hand as it cycles. I recall having to consciously overcome my tendency to grip the pistol as I would a 1911, Browning Hi Power, etc.
 
LoboGunLeather said:
The Walther PP series has been around for a long time. Introduced during the 1930's, saw considerable military use during WW2, manufactured in France (Manhurin) after WW2 before the Walther works came back into operation. PP= Pistole Poleizi (Police Pistol), PPK= Pistole Poleizi Kurtz (Police Pistol, Short), and PPK/S = the PPK upper mounted on the PP lower to comply with US import restrictions during the 1970's, various calibers including 9X17 (.380ACP), 7.65mm (.32ACP), and .22LR. At one time a target version was marketed in .22LR with extended barrel and adjustable sights. German Walthers and the French Manhurin pistols were shipped with the factory test targets, at least some indication of each pistol's potential performance.

Generally considered to be an excellent design, known for reliability and good accuracy, fairly simple to operate and maintain. Moderately heavy when compared to alloy and polymer framed guns so common these days, but not overly so. These pistols operate on the blowback principle (recoil operated, fixed barrel) so recoil can be quite sharp, especially in .380, which some find surprising at the first experience. Double action trigger pulls are typically rather heavy, but usually smooth and controllable with a bit of experience. Single action pulls are usually fairly crisp, but with a fair amount of take-up and overtravel. In short, there is a learning curve that requires training and practice.

I've owned several over the years. One thing sticks out in my mind; as a 1911 shooter I am accustomed to taking a high grip on the pistol. With the PP-series pistols this can result in the slide cutting the flesh of the hand as it cycles. I recall having to consciously overcome my tendency to grip the pistol as I would a 1911, Browning Hi Power, etc.
Click to expand...

Very good post.:cool:

I too was a serious .45 person and as a rather big framed person have hands that have been described as generous, sausage fingers ETC. With that said I have not had any biting problems with my Walthers or its Indian arms clone.
That included speed work from a concealed holster when I was practicing drawing and shooting when I was carrying the Walther or Indian
.
Hopefully with this said it does not come back to bite me in the a--, er better make that hand.:D
 
Very accurate and beautiful handgun. I owned an Interarms/Walther PPK in stainless steel. It shot all factory FMJ rounds, "round nosed" HP rounds and all of my Berry's and hard cast rounds.

I planned to keep it forever until I had a chance to trade into a Colt, pre 70 series .38 super. I got over it but, would consider owning another.
 
I own 2 .380 PPKs (Interarms one blue and one stainless) and 1 .32 PPK/S.......carried one from about 1987-98 as my "suit gun"....mine had the feed ramp polished for hollowpoints; action job and I had a beavertail added to deal with hammer bite..........great gun for the day in a Sparks summer special w/ a suit. Still my "Tux gun" LOL replaced by a 3913 in about 93 as my every day carry.

Lobo....gave a good overview......of my guns one of these would be the last I would hand my wife.....you don't have to be James Bond to use one but it is not a good gun for a novice.

I'm old-school ...I'd trade it on a 2.5- 3inch K frame or as a second choice a 3 or 2 inch steel J frame.
 
Like any other handgun,,you try it out and see how it goes.
May get bit by them, many don't however and it's never an issue.
Some don't like the weight of the PPK. There are alot of lighter pistols around for sure. Depends on what is comfortable for you. The 380cal PPK does recoil quite sharply IMO.
I've kept one from all that I had,, a pre-War PPk in 32.
The one that got a way that I wished I had kept was a pre War PPk in 25acp. Just because of the rarity,not that the thing made the 25acp into anything more than it is,,or isn't.
 
A typically over-engineered piece of German beauty.

The markings on the new ones look like ****. Too heavy for me to carry. I have never been bit nor known anyone that has. But then I've never had M1 thumb either.

If she wants a carry gun I agree that something lighter and more modern is the way to go. With a Shield or XD-s she can carry 9mm with less weight and bulk.

I have read that the Soviets liberally borrowed from the PPK to come up with the Makarov, with 43 fewer parts.
 
I suspect that many women will have trouble cyclling the slide on a blowback operated auto.

Slide bite probably affects only fleshy hands. I had a prewar Model PP and it never bit me.
 
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