WALTHER PPK/S--Your Thoughts

[Comrad]

I have a PPK/S in .22 LR and it's never been a problem but it's not a carry piece but it's a lot of fun at the range. Well made, DA is stout as already mentioned but not unmanageable. I might feel differently if it was a SD carry piece. Then again in a stressful situation I would imagine adrenalin would enable you to pull that heavy DA trigger with ease.

 

[KSDeputy]

I admit it. I love stainless steel Walthers. I have four. S&W PPK & PPK/S. Interarms PPK & TPH. I carry a CS 45, but sometimes carry a PPK as a backup. No problems with any of them, but they are ammunition sensitive. I had to find the ammo each liked.

 

[ken158]

The S&W / Walther guns had issues - get a German or Interarms if you just have to have one... Old technology now and trigger pull sucks - new striker fired guns are the,way to go. Get a Shield and don't look back!

 

[Stranglehold]

I have to side with those that feel there are far superior choices for a small concealed autoloader. I carried a blued Interarms PPK/s for a time, some 25 years ago, when it was impossible to conceal a 1911. Then, there were much fewer choices and the little Walthers did have quite an aura of "coolness" surrounding them.

My example did feed Silvertips, did have an unnecessarily heavy DA pull, and did bite the (web of) the hand that fed it on occassion. Being a blowback design, recoil is a bit heavier than it is with a locked breech pistol such as a Colt Mustang.

In today's market there are quite a few better choices. For that matter, there are now many ultra compact pistols no larger than the PPK (s) chambered for the undeniably more effective 9mm.

I see no reason to handicap oneself any further than necessary in the name of concealability.

Roe

 

[cochise]

I have a Interarms PPK, stainless steel. I had a couple FTF when I first got it many years ago. I learned to hold it firmly and it feeds reliably. I shoot Remington HP, fmj, Federal HP, and blue tip Glasers. No problems at all.

I think the Walther is an old classic, not obsolete by any means. It fits in my pocket very nicely when I am dressed up. My Sig, 1911 or even a j frame is not as compact.

 

[hoosierone]

Bought a PPK/S years ago. When I told the dealer I wanted one, he also showed me a SIG P 232 for comparison. Wish I bought the SIG instead of the Walther. I couldn't fire it without the slide chewing up my hand so I got rid of it and took a real bath on trading it in.

 

[sodacan]

They are really nice guns from a nostalgic standpoint, but there are many better choices in size and caliber for your intended purpose.

 

[CATI1835]

I have the Interarms PPK in 7.65 (.32ACP). Hard to find in that caliber. I really like it. It is in my EDC rotation. That said, there are some who do not care for the S&W versions of the PP, PPK, PPK/s. They feel they are not up to the old Walther standards. If you really want more info on them, go to the Walther forum. I am a member there too. You will find some VERY opinionated views on this very subject there.

 

[Wyo]

I have a S&W PPK in .380 that has been 100% reliable through about 1000 rounds. Feeds and functions fine with ball, hollow points of various types, Critical Defense, Hydra Shok, you name it. Accuracy is more than good enough. No complaints, no problems, and I carry it often.

 

[jj2am44]

I stopped in a Field and Stream today to see what they had and all the had was a PPK/S in .22. Which-by the way- was stamped Walther Arms-Ft. Smith, AR. You all have got me thinking (especially hoosierone) about getting the Sig 232. I have a 226 and sometimes it's easier to just drop a gun in a jacket pocket instead of a holster. Thanks to all.

 

[Irn-Bru]

I stopped in a Field and Stream today to see what they had and all the had was a PPK/S in .22. Which-by the way- was stamped Walther Arms-Ft. Smith, AR. You all have got me thinking (especially hoosierone) about getting the Sig 232. I have a 226 and sometimes it's easier to just drop a gun in a jacket pocket instead of a holster. Thanks to all.

The one you saw today was the new models that are being produced by Walther. So far they have only produced the .22 version. The .380 should be available later this year I believe. S&W stopped manufacturing these a couple of years ago.

 

[Ed Fowler]

My favorite carry pistol is a West German PPK/S 22 made in West Germany 1970, have carried it for over 15 years. I have tried others, but always go back to this one, she is accurate, deadly and proven reliable with CCI Mini Mags.

 

[Horn]

No Longer Made

I stopped in a Field and Stream today to see what they had and all the had was a PPK/S in .22. Which-by the way- was stamped Walther Arms-Ft. Smith, AR. You all have got me thinking (especially hoosierone) about getting the Sig 232. I have a 226 and sometimes it's easier to just drop a gun in a jacket pocket instead of a holster. Thanks to all.

I have a Sig P232 Blue and it fires fine but I EDC a Shield 9. The P232 now resides in a Sticky Travel Mount (with Sticky holster) at my desk. (Lehigh Xtreme Penatrator in it) Prefer the Shield for EDC. (Or my Sig P320 Compact in the desert)
Sig no longer makes the P232 so expect to pay a lot if you find one. Most prefer the stainless one. Me? Don't like pretty guns.
Consider them tools__an essential one.
G'luck

 

[Faulkner]

I carried a Interarms Walther PPK/S as a BUG and off duty concealed carry for about 10 years. On the up side it was very accurate and (after polishing the throat) very reliable. On the down side it is not a fun gun to shoot. The double action trigger is extremely heavy and the recoil is pretty stout. It's also heavy by modern standards for a concealed carry gun.

 

[sodacan]

My favorite carry pistol is a West German PPK/S 22 made in West Germany 1970, have carried it for over 15 years. I have tried others, but always go back to this one, she is accurate, deadly and proven reliable with CCI Mini Mags.

Deadly? Duh! That's quite an epiphany. Exactly how many notches are in your gun?

 

[Ed Fowler]

No humans, town dogs in my sheep - many, crippled sheep from predators (usually town dogs) many, coyotes 2, horses put down 3, cows 1, beaver 4. Feral cats, hard to tell but very good target practice they many times make it into thick brush. That is about what my memory allows.

As an explanation to the horses, when they quit slaughtering horses for dog fool folks just turn their old horses out on open range, many make it to my place where they can live their lives out until the time comes. Takes only one well placed shot. Never consider the 22 inadequate.

 

[Guevera]

I can't speak to the PPK/s but I do have a PPK. I know, there are lighter / bigger / deadlier / more accurate / etc. pistols. Nevertheless, I feel the PPK is still a viable self-defense tool despite the age of the design.

 

[kaaskop49]

No humans, town dogs in my sheep - many, crippled sheep from predators (usually town dogs) many, coyotes 2, horses put down 3, cows 1, beaver 4. Feral cats, hard to tell but very good target practice they many times make it into thick brush. That is about what my memory allows.

As an explanation to the horses, when they quit slaughtering horses for dog fool folks just turn their old horses out on open range, many make it to my place where they can live their lives out until the time comes. Takes only one well placed shot. Never consider the 22 inadequate.

Apparently, there are still a few places where someone may use a handgun as a tool (which is what it is!) and not have the local SWAT team(s) called in and every house in the vicinity evacuated (still can't figure out this one, please don't try).

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. Great explanation, BTW.

 

[Pointblank2U]

High ratings in the cool department, less than 100% reliable and like all blow back .380s, it kicks.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

PPK/s is one of those pistols that I have always loved. Have owned 3 or 4 of them and have always sold them because they are a bear to shoot for me. I like the way they look but HATE the way they feel in my hand and handle when fired. I'm now married to a M&P380 that is perfect and will probably never buy another PPK or PPK/s. It ia a great little gun who's time has sadly passed as far as pocket carry is concerned as there are many much better choices out there.
But I still love them.

 

[Pointblank2U]

I can tell you the solution to the PP, PPK, PPK/S dilemma. If you want one because it is cool and like it's looks and feel, get one in .32 acp. It is the caliber it was designed for and it's a whole nother animal with that round. Easy to shoot and get hits. It holds more rounds too. You will probably have to find one used.

 

[Hapworth]

I have an S&W PPK that is part of my carry rotation. It is extremely accurate, soft shooting, and eats everything I feed it. I don't understand all the hate. Must be a lot of limp wristers out there.

Not nearly as limp as the mentality that responds to differences of opinion with put downs.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Not a fan of the PPKs here. Had a stainless Interarms one in .380. It was OK but felt like a brick compared to my SIG P230 .380.

I eventually sold the Walther and still have the SIG.

 

[CZU]

PPK/S?Uhh...you bet,along with the PPK & PP. The stainless PPK and the Durgarde PPK/S on the rack are in my carry rotation. They eat everything and I've never been bitten by either.

The one in the back of the front four is the PP Super in 9mm Kurz. The rest are a mixture of Walther and Manurhin marked PPK and PPK/S models with a PP in the mix. All in 22lr,9mmK, and 7.65mm.

 

[Texas Star]

PPK/S?Uhh...you bet,along with the PPK & PP. The stainless PPK and the Durgarde PPK/S on the rack are in my carry rotation. They eat everything and I've never been bitten by either.

The one in the back of the front four is the PP Super in 9mm Kurz. The rest are a mixture of Walther and Manurhin marked PPK and PPK/S models with a PP in the mix. All in 22lr,9mmK, and 7.65mm.

No issues with the stainless ones? Were they made in 7.65mm? Do you use Euro ammo in that caliber? The rims sometimes differ a little from .32 ACP.

 

[CZU]

No issues with the stainless ones? Were they made in 7.65mm? Do you use Euro ammo in that caliber? The rims sometimes differ a little from .32 ACP.

No issues in either,both are 9mmK. I use S&B for practice at the range. I also use S&B for 7.65mm,everything seems to like that brand.