I know its not specifically a S&W, but they are distributed in the states by S&W so hopefully I won't be shunned from the forum for this inquiry. I am in the market for a good, highly concealable double action pistol and ran across the Walther PPS. I will be attending law school most likely in downtown Atlanta and will probably be carrying some protection. I like the slim profile of this handgun and the safety features that it incorporates (basically the same system as a glock). Just wanted to get some feedback on whether or not yall would recommend it or something else. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. I have a S&W combat magnum with a six inch barrel, but Im pretty sure the ol hogleg would be obvious and uncomfortable to lug around all day
Walther PPS
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kscardsfan
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Glock model 19 would be a great choice. The M&Pc is taking off in spades, and while I haven't shot one live yet I have handled them and they feel amazing. Finally, I feel you can't go wrong with a J frame .357 loaded with .38 spl +P loads for up close encounters of the meth addicted kind. Just my .02
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I would bet someone in Forum-land has already tried out a PPS, but I haven't. There are many guns of this type on the market now; the one I have experience with is the Kahr P40, which I think has a good balance of power, size and control. If you have slightly bigger hands a double-stack magazine gun like the Glock would work well. If there is a local range that does rentals, try several out and see which one works for you. Good luck in your search.
cshoff
Member
I got to shoot a PPS a bit just this past weekend. No doubt it's easily concealed and it's flat profile helps make it comfortable to carry.
A couple of things I noticed in my limited time using it; one, the mag release that's built into the bottom of the trigger guard (it's ambidextrous), is just plain awkward to me. I tried a number of times to learn a smooth transition from "fire" to "mag eject", and I just couldn't find a good way to do it. Perhaps with more time, it's something I could master. I don't know.
Secondly, with the grip being so short, you have to be very careful as you "tap" a new magazine home during reloads. It is all too easy to find a bit of your finger "riding the gap" between the bottom of the grip and the lip on the magazine. It's a painful reminder when you slam the new mag home and pinch your dang finger in there.
Other than that, I helped the owner of the little gun run through just over 200 rounds without so much as a hiccup. It seemed plenty accurate and up to the task at hand. Overall, it's a bit smaller than I prefer, but it seems as though it would warrant consideration if you are in the market for a firearm of that size in that price range.
A couple of things I noticed in my limited time using it; one, the mag release that's built into the bottom of the trigger guard (it's ambidextrous), is just plain awkward to me. I tried a number of times to learn a smooth transition from "fire" to "mag eject", and I just couldn't find a good way to do it. Perhaps with more time, it's something I could master. I don't know.
Secondly, with the grip being so short, you have to be very careful as you "tap" a new magazine home during reloads. It is all too easy to find a bit of your finger "riding the gap" between the bottom of the grip and the lip on the magazine. It's a painful reminder when you slam the new mag home and pinch your dang finger in there.
Other than that, I helped the owner of the little gun run through just over 200 rounds without so much as a hiccup. It seemed plenty accurate and up to the task at hand. Overall, it's a bit smaller than I prefer, but it seems as though it would warrant consideration if you are in the market for a firearm of that size in that price range.
plinkerneil
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I looked at the PPS when it was fairly new, and gave it a pass because so many people had problems with it. Perhaps that's been worked out now, but I would still avoid +P loads in it no matter what the manual says.
You'd ought to take a look at the CS9. There is a conspicuous lack of complaints about their functionality, although it's probably a bit heavier. Plus, the magazine release is in its proper place.
You'd ought to take a look at the CS9. There is a conspicuous lack of complaints about their functionality, although it's probably a bit heavier. Plus, the magazine release is in its proper place.
Firespec35
Member
I held one in our search for my wifes gun. Personally I didn't like the feel. The weight distribution was just off for me. It felt like a brick on a stick. If you can do DS mags try the M&P if you need single stack try the CS9, 3913, or :gasp: taurus 709
I bought a 9mm (the are also available in .40 S&W) Walther PPS a couple months ago and I'm really happy with it. It is easy to carry thanks to it's light weight and slim profile. The magazine release (located under the trigger guard) is a little awkward compared to those located behind the trigger guard, but it won't get pushed inadvertently either.
The PPS comes with two backstraps but only one magazine. Three different length magazines are available (9mm=6,7,8 round mags; .40 S&W=5,6,7 round mags). The only real downside is the cost and available of spare magazines, as they go for $45-50 each, but if you buy a PPS before May 31st they'll send you another one for free: Walther PPS Pistol Promotion - Walther America
The PPS comes with two backstraps but only one magazine. Three different length magazines are available (9mm=6,7,8 round mags; .40 S&W=5,6,7 round mags). The only real downside is the cost and available of spare magazines, as they go for $45-50 each, but if you buy a PPS before May 31st they'll send you another one for free: Walther PPS Pistol Promotion - Walther America
ryleez , If your gonna be living / schooling around Ga Tech or Ga State , better keep the Combat. Lots of armed robberies around there because the Gubment won't let you carry on campus. On Ga Packing there is lots of info on whats been going on . Kahr makes some good stuff , as stated before.
When rumblings started about Glock doing injection molding of frames here in the states (about four to five years ago), I lobbied Glock to start development of a single-stack/slim-profile version of their G-26 Subcompact (basically something akin to the relationship between the G-30 and G-36, but in the smaller-framed 9mm line-up). I was told there was no market...
Then, two years later, I had the pleasure of walking Glock's US VP (head of Glock No. America) over to the S&W booth at the NRA Annual Meeting in St Louis, and showing him the PPS. Told him that apparently Walther had tapped my phone lines, and that he (Glock's VP) made a very bad call, especially in light of all the CCW legislation that has been passing all of the US in the last 10 years or so.
As it turned out, someone from Ruger apparently overheard that conversation, because the LCP came out a year and half after that...
To be honest, I love Walthers, but I was not overly impressed with the ergonomics and appearance of the PPS. It's size is excellent, but the shape just didn't fit me, both in my hand and by eye. (Definitely doesn't mean it wouldn't fit you. If you get a chance to test one at the range, it would be best, but just handling it in the gunshop will tell you if it's OK or not.)
I went the route of the Ruger LCP with Hornady Critical Defense ammo. It's the size of a 25ACP (O.K., at least as small as a 32ACP), and it has almost the wallop of a 9mm (light-bullet, non-+P for sure) with the Hornady CD ammo. (When I say that I'm merely looking at diameter and penetration, not energy.)
I find the LCP to be not too bad to control shooting, fairly accurate (considering the near-absence of sights), and VERY concealable. I work in LE, and no one at work noticed I had it in my pocket until I showed it to them, and I didn't show it to anyone there until I'd been carrying it for three months...
I've read other's here recommending obviously bigger and heavier pistols. I take it from your question (and I might be wrong), that concealment and being inconspicuous are bigger factors than firepower. Therefore, I recommend you look at the LCP.
Then, two years later, I had the pleasure of walking Glock's US VP (head of Glock No. America) over to the S&W booth at the NRA Annual Meeting in St Louis, and showing him the PPS. Told him that apparently Walther had tapped my phone lines, and that he (Glock's VP) made a very bad call, especially in light of all the CCW legislation that has been passing all of the US in the last 10 years or so.
As it turned out, someone from Ruger apparently overheard that conversation, because the LCP came out a year and half after that...
To be honest, I love Walthers, but I was not overly impressed with the ergonomics and appearance of the PPS. It's size is excellent, but the shape just didn't fit me, both in my hand and by eye. (Definitely doesn't mean it wouldn't fit you. If you get a chance to test one at the range, it would be best, but just handling it in the gunshop will tell you if it's OK or not.)
I went the route of the Ruger LCP with Hornady Critical Defense ammo. It's the size of a 25ACP (O.K., at least as small as a 32ACP), and it has almost the wallop of a 9mm (light-bullet, non-+P for sure) with the Hornady CD ammo. (When I say that I'm merely looking at diameter and penetration, not energy.)
I find the LCP to be not too bad to control shooting, fairly accurate (considering the near-absence of sights), and VERY concealable. I work in LE, and no one at work noticed I had it in my pocket until I showed it to them, and I didn't show it to anyone there until I'd been carrying it for three months...
I've read other's here recommending obviously bigger and heavier pistols. I take it from your question (and I might be wrong), that concealment and being inconspicuous are bigger factors than firepower. Therefore, I recommend you look at the LCP.
Cruiser RN
Member
I was looking for a inconspicuos pocket gun and decided upon a 1977 West German Walther PPK/S in 380.I tried out the Kel-Tec but couldn't warm up to it.I have feed it the kitchen sink and zero FTF's or FTE's.From your general description of this gun's purpose a 380 provides reasonable stopping power in a gun that doesn't advertise it's location.......MIke
davek610
Member
I own/carry a PPS 9mm. Works perfectly. I practice with Blazer brass or Winchester White box plus a couple of mags (one from the left hand, the other from the right hand) of +P Speer Gold Dot or Hornady TAP. I usually carry with the 7 round mag full of Gold Dots - I used TAP when I couldn't find Gold Dots for a while and am comfortable with either.
The mag release is different, I use it with my signalling finger rather than trigger finger. Now that I'm used to it I find the traditional button releases much harder to do - so much so that I got a Walther P99 QA to go with the PPS since they work identically.
There's also a dedicated Walther site, WaltherForums - Powered by vBulletin, the site is pretty quiet and could use more members.
I haven't had any problems with mine (well, the mags are kinda expensive but they work perfectly) and the small size means I have no excuse for not carrying it.
I also think of it as the little single stack 9mm Glock that isn't a Glock.
The mag release is different, I use it with my signalling finger rather than trigger finger. Now that I'm used to it I find the traditional button releases much harder to do - so much so that I got a Walther P99 QA to go with the PPS since they work identically.
There's also a dedicated Walther site, WaltherForums - Powered by vBulletin, the site is pretty quiet and could use more members.
I haven't had any problems with mine (well, the mags are kinda expensive but they work perfectly) and the small size means I have no excuse for not carrying it.
I also think of it as the little single stack 9mm Glock that isn't a Glock.
Malysh
Member
Next January will be 2 years since I bought my 9mm PPS. I carry it often and have shot over 700 rds. through it with zero malfunctions.
They are excellent concealment pistols.
Not only are they very accurate but for some reason they are one of the mildest recoiling 9mm pistols I've ever shot, even with a 3.2 inch barrel and a frame/slide width of just 1 inch.
My 9mm pistols are a SIG P228, a Glock 19, an early KelTec P11 9mm, and this Walther. The PPS is equal in accuracy to the heavier and larger SIG and Glock pistols. To me, my KelTec 9mm is basically an inexpensive novelty. Very concealable and very punishing to shoot with a lousy very long trigger pull. But it only cost me $225 in the first year of production. You get what you pay for!
As somebody mentioned, the PPS has 3 different capacity magazines available. 6,7,& 8 rd. The mag tubes are the same length for all 3 capacity mags, the extra capacity is taken up in the floorplates depth and length. The 6 rd. magazine makes it a flush/flat butt frame the length of a PPK with a flat magazine inserted, and the gun will disappear in your holster as far as being detected using the smallest magazine. The shape of this gun is too blocky for front pocket carry unless you want to make an issue of it. That is a small negative point,maybe. Personally I only carry J frames in front pocket carry and only in the summer anyway.
Surprisingly, even with the lowest capacity 6 rd. mag, controlling this gun is easy. The 7 round mag gives you the purchase of a finger extension but you don't really give up any concealment. The 8 rd. mag looks very ungainly and I wouldn't bother with the 1 extra capacity I'd get using this magazine.
I am a Walther guy for decades. I have 5 post WWII PPKs and I'd pick the PPS over any of these gems for concealed carry because it's a full 9x19 cal., it conceals almost as easy as a 32 or 380 PPK, it's less maintenance intensive being a plastic framed gun with a practical carry slide finish.
I have to take issue with the member who compared it to a Ruger LCP. The LCP is a nice small concealment piece, but it's a 380 and the PPS is a 9mm or a 40 cal. From what I understood of your post you were interested in something in a large caliber.
Some PPS owners had problems with the spring that engages the slide lock, jumping it's inlet and jamming the slide with some earlier PPS pistols. The spring usually wasn't breaking, but this gave some concern. They subsequently redesigned the part. I haven't seen any reports of this in the past year, though. Walther fixed all these pistols for free. Mine and the vast majority of the PPSs have had no such problem and I have an early one in the low 3,000 serial number range. I think it was a very low amount of pistols that had that problem.
There are a load of very good guns you can get for the role you forsee for your concealment needs and this pistol is among the best you can get for it.
HTH
They are excellent concealment pistols.
Not only are they very accurate but for some reason they are one of the mildest recoiling 9mm pistols I've ever shot, even with a 3.2 inch barrel and a frame/slide width of just 1 inch.
My 9mm pistols are a SIG P228, a Glock 19, an early KelTec P11 9mm, and this Walther. The PPS is equal in accuracy to the heavier and larger SIG and Glock pistols. To me, my KelTec 9mm is basically an inexpensive novelty. Very concealable and very punishing to shoot with a lousy very long trigger pull. But it only cost me $225 in the first year of production. You get what you pay for!
As somebody mentioned, the PPS has 3 different capacity magazines available. 6,7,& 8 rd. The mag tubes are the same length for all 3 capacity mags, the extra capacity is taken up in the floorplates depth and length. The 6 rd. magazine makes it a flush/flat butt frame the length of a PPK with a flat magazine inserted, and the gun will disappear in your holster as far as being detected using the smallest magazine. The shape of this gun is too blocky for front pocket carry unless you want to make an issue of it. That is a small negative point,maybe. Personally I only carry J frames in front pocket carry and only in the summer anyway.
Surprisingly, even with the lowest capacity 6 rd. mag, controlling this gun is easy. The 7 round mag gives you the purchase of a finger extension but you don't really give up any concealment. The 8 rd. mag looks very ungainly and I wouldn't bother with the 1 extra capacity I'd get using this magazine.
I am a Walther guy for decades. I have 5 post WWII PPKs and I'd pick the PPS over any of these gems for concealed carry because it's a full 9x19 cal., it conceals almost as easy as a 32 or 380 PPK, it's less maintenance intensive being a plastic framed gun with a practical carry slide finish.
I have to take issue with the member who compared it to a Ruger LCP. The LCP is a nice small concealment piece, but it's a 380 and the PPS is a 9mm or a 40 cal. From what I understood of your post you were interested in something in a large caliber.
Some PPS owners had problems with the spring that engages the slide lock, jumping it's inlet and jamming the slide with some earlier PPS pistols. The spring usually wasn't breaking, but this gave some concern. They subsequently redesigned the part. I haven't seen any reports of this in the past year, though. Walther fixed all these pistols for free. Mine and the vast majority of the PPSs have had no such problem and I have an early one in the low 3,000 serial number range. I think it was a very low amount of pistols that had that problem.
There are a load of very good guns you can get for the role you forsee for your concealment needs and this pistol is among the best you can get for it.
HTH
depicts
US Veteran
Here in Massachusetts, the PPS comes with a 10 pound trigger connector that makes accurate shooting very difficult.
Most people here have the connector replaced with a 5 pound or 3 pound connector, and then are very happy with the gun.
I went back and forth between the PPS and a Kahr PM9, and bought the Kahr. 7 ounces lighter and a little shorter. Same ammo capability, and it comes with two mags.
They both cost about the same in free states.
While I love my Kahr, I still have trouble not dropping my S&W 640-3, .357 in my pocket. In a Mika holster, there is very little difference between carrying the Kahr, the PPS or the 640, and I like the extra power of the .357 with Gold Dot speer short barrel ammo.
In my experience with +P+ 9mm ammo, the Kahr and the PPS both seem to twist or Torque in my hands when I shoot them. I don't think I would want the PM 40 version due to inability for a clean second follow up shot.
Most people here have the connector replaced with a 5 pound or 3 pound connector, and then are very happy with the gun.
I went back and forth between the PPS and a Kahr PM9, and bought the Kahr. 7 ounces lighter and a little shorter. Same ammo capability, and it comes with two mags.
They both cost about the same in free states.
While I love my Kahr, I still have trouble not dropping my S&W 640-3, .357 in my pocket. In a Mika holster, there is very little difference between carrying the Kahr, the PPS or the 640, and I like the extra power of the .357 with Gold Dot speer short barrel ammo.
In my experience with +P+ 9mm ammo, the Kahr and the PPS both seem to twist or Torque in my hands when I shoot them. I don't think I would want the PM 40 version due to inability for a clean second follow up shot.
ptrumble1
Member
I personally carry the Beretta Tomcat in 32 ACP--if there was a better mousetrap, I would have it.
I have a number of Walthers, including the new PK380, but for a really concealable 9mm I went with the Kel-Tec PF9, less than half the Walther price, and it has been dead bang reliable. It also recoils less that the KT P3AT! With 2 extra mags the KT is so light as to be not noticeable. I have owned a large number of really small 9mms, and except for the 940 revolver, I think the KT is the way to go for a CCW weapon(or an off duty weapon for that matter). I still carry the 940 as a BUG for my larger service 9mm because I Have done so for a couple of decades, and am very used to the system-but the lighter weight of the PF9 seems to be calling to me.........
