Walther P99 or PPQ

[CCantu357]

Having recently watched a James Bond marathon on Encore over the holiday weekend, I have caught a craving for a Walther. I noticed on the Walther website, the PPK and P99 series are still catalogued, but most dealers seem to only have the PPQ in stock. For you Walther owners out there, is the PPQ that much better or different than the P99? I figured since they catalog them both they have not stopped making the P99.

 

[JayFramer]

The P99 is a double/single action. PPQ is striker fired.

I have a P99 and it is a good gun. Gritty, spongy double action pull is rather lame but single action is good. I love the controls. The decocker is excellent and the magazine release is cool and effective. Feels great in the hand. Reliable as a Glock. About the same size and weight as a Glock 19. The factory sights are horrible fragile plastic affairs and should be immediately replaced.

Honestly though... I would skip it and head straight to the PPQ. The P99 has a weird double action system called the “anti stress” trigger and frankly it’s a stupid gimmick, they’re the only company in the industry with a trigger like it and it basically introduces a THIRD trigger pull sensation into the mix and you can research it if you want.

The PPQ has a simple always-the-same excellent and light trigger. Many consider the PPQ to have the best trigger of any striker fired polymer 9mm on the market. There are also more holsters and accesories for the PPQ over the P99. Walther doesn’t market their pistols to nearly the same degree as Glock, but they are well thought of and both the P99 and PPQ are popular in Europe as police sidearms.

I’d go with a PPQ M1, which is the original European variant with paddle magazine release. Awesome gun, if you ask me it’s a WAY better gun than the Glock, it’s just not as popular due to Glock’s massive control of the market and huge advertising campaigns.

 

[CCantu357]

Thanks. I thought the P99 was striker fired as well but I know it does have a decocker.

 

[ShivasIrons]

We have a PPQ and it is my wife's favorite due to the trigger pull. The trigger seems scary light to me after years of shooting Glocks with NY1 trigger springs. The PPQ seems big to me as well,but there is no denying it is a wonderful shooter.

 

[CCantu357]

I would most likely go with a PPQ M1 or a P99 due to the paddle mag release. I have it on my USP 40 and love it. I do not understand why the M2 is considered improved by having that push button mag release. In my experience, the paddles are much faster and more user friendly.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Thanks. I thought the P99 was striker fired as well but I know it does have a decocker.

Yes, the 99 is striker as well. The only de-cocking striker I've seen.

If your looking to carry, and don't want to carry a full-framed pistol, then the 99C compact is the one, since PPQ does not have a compact.

The PPQ has a 5.5 pound trigger and no safety. De-cocked, the P99 in DA has a first trigger pull of 9 pounds.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

If your looking to carry, and don't want to carry a full-framed pistol, then the 99C compact is the one, since PPQ does not have a compact.

.

Correction; Walther does make the smaller PPQ SC:
PPQ M2 Walther Arms

 

[junglefighter]

If you are looking at the PPQ,I would suggest an HK VP9. 007 used one in Spectre,taken from a BG. I think it is a superior weapon over the PPQ. As with the Walther,both have either paddles or button mag. release.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

I own both the P99 and PPQ. There are several versions of the P99, but all have phenomenal triggers. Mine's the P99AS (Anti-Stress) which has the decocker on the slide that allows for single/double action. First shot in DA is at around 8 lb. and SA measures in at 4.5 lb.

The PPQ is essentially an upgraded P99 with a trigger safety. Almost identical internals. When first released it had Walther's traditional mag paddle release. You can now find it with a push-button release (M2) if that's something you prefer, a feature not found on the P99. PPQ trigger measures at 5.5 lb.

To answer your question, "Is the PPQ that much better or different than the P99?" I would say yes, and no. I'm partial to my P99 but I think it's because I have owned it longer. Both guns have such similar ergonomics (I have Talon grips on both) that when I shoot them side by side it almost feels like I am shooting the exact same gun. I would take the P99 SA trigger over the PPQ, but honestly both feel great. I do like the slide serrations more on the PPQ and the larger slide stop is also nice to have. I guess it's sort of like comparing an M&P with M&P 2.0.

You can't go wrong with either.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Correction; Walther does make the smaller PPQ SC:
PPQ M2 Walther Arms

Dang, they snuck it in the lineup since the last Walther we bought. Thanks for the update.

 

[LVSteve]

It's a great shame that Walther got rid of their innovative trigger guard mag release on most of their pistols. It was ideal on the PPS it being a carry guns. Trouble is the US market is funny about things it sees as "wrong", when all they are is different.

 

[CCantu357]

If you are looking at the PPQ,I would suggest an HK VP9. 007 used one in Spectre,taken from a BG. I think it is a superior weapon over the PPQ. As with the Walther,both have either paddles or button mag. release.

I recently had the opportunity to handle a VP40, which I liked. It reminded me more of a Walther or M&P rather than the usual HK - completely different feel than my USP.