Walther ppk/s by S&W recall

[Voyager28]

Wouldn't trade mine for anything.

I own both a S&W PPK (stainless) and an older Interarms PPK. Both have always performed flawlessly. It is true that the trigger on the Interarms is stiff but the S&W is really clean and sweet.

I take the S&W PPK to the range regularly and shoot everything from "wad cutters" to Hornady Critical Defense ammo. Never has it failed to function. After several hundred, maybe a thousand, rounds it is a very smooth and solid shooter and is my daily carry weapon of choice. Honestly, I know of no other carry weapon I would trade it for.

Bob

 

[Deputy]

I recently inherited a PPK/S-1, and the serial number falls in the recall range. My father was aware of the issue, as it was very clearly marked on his inventory list. He had five real Walther PP's and PPK's, so it wasn't very high on his "to do" list. Now it's my "to do" list. Does anyone have an idea what the turnaround time is for the recall repair?

I sent mine in to S&W and turnaround was very quick. I think it was less than 2 weeks. Gun came back in the same condition I sent it in as and functioned flawlessly after the recall work was done. Of course, it was also flawless BEFORE the work too.

 

[Harkrader]

In my opinion, don't worry about buying one subject to the recall. I have one. S&W paid postage both ways and the turnaround was quick. No expense to me.
Like others have said here, it takes a while to break one in. I have owned or used quite a few Walthers, PPK and PP, since 1965. All were very tight unless the previous owner broke them in. That always meant putting about 100 rounds through one before it operated reliably. Another note: Ones made before S&W became involved have an inadequate tang to protect the web of your hand. If you don't grip it a tad low, and tightly, the slide will carve tracks in your hand. I also found that a strong grip is important to accuracy, more than for many other autos. I suppose that may be due to its small size and short barrel. I can shoot a Bersa Thunder with greater accuracy.
In 1972 I went shooting with some other recently-returned Vietnam vet USAF pilots, on a friend's ranch SE of Colorado Springs. I had a PPK and had set up a one-meter-square box at about 8 meters (25-feet-ish) and was shooting at rings I drew around a common soup can. One of my friends, thinking he was a close relative of James Bond, held it at about waist level and blazed away. He missed. With every round! I wish I'd had a video of how much the gun jumped in his hand. He also had a fine set of bloody railroad tracks on the web of his hand.

 

[Deputy]

Actually, if you can find a PPK in .32 auto, you won't have any problems with the gun biting you or having to hold it real tight. Plus it will be a lot more fun to shoot. The .380 doesn't really give all that much more lethality than a .32 auto (both are pretty weak compared to other calibers) and the extra recoil just isn't justified. Unfortunately, Walther discontinued the .32 auto version. That's a shame. It's a really neat gun.

 

[armenius]

A good while back I had an opportunity to buy a "like new" Interarms PPKS 380 .I was told to take it and try it.It went full auto the first or second shot!It got my attention!I never had anything climb like that.I took it back and said fix it and I'll buy it.He said just keep it.A quick trip to S&W solved it,and it cost little or nothing.It is one of the most accurate small pistols I know of,except for a .32 Mauser HSC.It is a hand biter however.I came out real good!