[borodin]

I am a serial gun trader....if there is such a thing. I buy a gun and love it for a while then trade it for something else. Right now I am down to one pistol which is a G36. This is a practical carry gun for me and I really think I will hang on to it for a while.

I am getting the itch, though, for something extra and I am thinking about a PPK/S. I have owned a Bersa and it was ok. I know a lot of you love them, but I just didnt like it all that well. I do like the frame type that all those are patterned after. I just have a feeling I would like the "original" thing. I have also looked at the Sig version but it didnt strike me all that well either. ALL are good guns, I know.....just wanted some feedback in the direction of the PPK/S.

[treeprof]

My wife had one (Interarms) a few yrs back. Very accurate, but a piece of garbage. Broke after abt 250 rd and S&W were crappy about fixing it (they took over PPK/S repairs when they began their partnership w/Walther). The newer ones made by S&W look a little better, but I wouldn't trade a bad groin rash for another one.

[keederdag]

I own one; and have owned another. Both interarms guns. I dont think they are worth the money, the quality just isnt there. I would go with a sig p-232, for quality reasons.

[TonyB]

I tried one at local shop a few weeks ago.....DA sucked...it must've had like 14lb trigger.......I like the look and feel of them,but wish they had a 9mm version.....w/ a decent trigger....:cool:

[WhoKnowsWho]

Just go rent one at the range or from a friend if you are just going to trade it off again. :neener:

My wife has a new one, I like how it looks and the longer beavertail makes it look safer for the hand. Haven't fired it yet. DA kinda tough.

[FPrice]

I have a Manurhin PPK/S and it is a good little gun. The DA is very heavy but the single action is nice and crisp. Had a Walther PPK/S many tears ago and IIRC it was about the same. I have not been impressed by the new S&W models I have seen.

[Cableman]

I sold my Stainless PPKS about a year ago, and don't miss it a bit.

It was an Interarms version and would cut the web of my hand everytime I shot it...I sold it for $450 and went and bought a Kahr PM9. I am very happy with the PM9, it is a lot better carry weapon than that PPKS.

[kimbernut]

To each his own but if I had to have a .380 backup it would be a Colt.

[RUT]

>>I am a serial gun trader....if there is such a thing. I buy a gun and love it for a while then trade it for something else<<

I've been accused of that myself. Glad to see I'm not the only one!!:)

[Steve in PA]

I have a Walther PPK/S and find it to be quite accurate.....very accurate actually. Reliability is also good. I put a new recoil spring in it and it functions fine.

With the Walthers......its usually 50/50.......as far as being good. Apparently I've got a good one.

[gbelleh]

I recently acquired a PPK/S that was originally bought in the early 70s. I've only fired a couple magazines through it, but it seems like a nice gun. There are many better carry guns out there, but I collect guns of all types and I'm glad I have mine.

[bad_dad_brad]

Make sure you check out the Kahr MK9 or PM9 before you buy a PPK/S. The Kahrs are a 9mm+P rated pistol, the same apx. size, with a sweet smooth DAO trigger.

Now, if you just want to be "James Bond" cool, I don't blame you, but maybe one of those Walther PPK imported by Crosman CO2 pellet pistols will satisfy that craving.

I think, as far as new guns are concerned, the .380 is an obsolete round. Modern .32s almost come as close to a .380 regarding power,

in far smaller and lighter guns, and you can get a full powered 9mm, heck, even a .40S&W in the same sized package as your typical .380.

In addition, the typical .380 uses a blowback system, which often has more felt recoil than the Browning lock up systems of 9mm and modern (like the Kel Tec P32) .32 pistols.

And, the PPK/S is just too darned much money.

[SouthpawShootr]

I've posted on my Interarms PPK/s before. Pretty gun. Love the looks. Haven't shot it in about 5 years because it aggrevates the daylights out of me. It jams like nobody's business (with 3 different factory mags, I might add). It has bitten me badly on several occasions (scars look a little like a snakebite). The factory grips have a tendency to develop cracks around the grip screws. Lot's of sharp edges.

[AngryBassets]

I've got an Interarms stainless PPK.

NO malfunctions with the two factory mags I have for it. This is after the prior owner sent it back (I don't know where) because it WAS jamming at least once through every mag.

It probably has somewhere between 500-1000 rounds through it, total.

I carry it now and then when I'm in the mood for something different.


I feel the .380 will do it's job if you do yours. It's likely an individual will become distracted from the task of hurting me or my family after catching a 90 gr Hydra-Shock in the face.

[JPM70535]

I must be among the few wo like the PPK-S. The one I own was made by Interarms and since I bought it new I know there have been no modifications done to it. Out of the box it has a long heavy trigger pull that takes a little getting used to. If memory serves me correctly, the Walthers
(PP-K-S) were derived from the PP which was a military officers issue pistol. It was designed to be a defensive weapon used at fairly close range. Despite the trigger pull, I have never had a problem placing a seven round magazine load of 95 gr JHPs in the 10 ring at 7 yards, and I think that is just fine. The PPK-S is small, easy to conceal, has enough weight to make recoil negligible, and from my personal experience has been totally reliable.

I have been tempted to trade it away on several occasions, but cooler heads have always prevailed. JMO but I would rather have it than any other 380 I can think of.

[Bren]

We have one in stock and that thing has a terrible trigger,,, I almost broke my finger! :o

I just don't get why people go gaga over them, theres better guns to chose from for the price, size, and caliber. Bren

[denfoote]

I have one of those gull darned S&W PPK/S's!! :)

I'll be damned if the thing doesn't actually work!!! :what:

It works rather well, I'll have you know... as long as I use Walther bannered mags. Try to use aftermarket mags and the thing morphs into a God awful jam-o-matic!!!! :eek:

It's actually quite accurate as well!! :evil:

[bubbygator]

My experience mirrors that of JPM. Former owner complained of hammer-bite because he used two-hand hold with left thumb crossed over... a guaranteed hammer smash & he couldn't correct his hold for this gun. The slide has a very sharp left-back corner that sliced me once - but I own a dremel; I'll correct it.

My eyes are bad & I usually shoot with a CT lasergrip. But I checked this one out without the laser & like JPM reported it points naturally and is very accurate at close ranges. I cock the hammer for the 1st shot to avoid the DA trigger - the SA trigger is very sweet... very easy for double taps.

But I agree with others that there is no "utility" reason for owning this gun when compared to something like the Kahr. It's just a gun-owners kind of thing - it looks purty & shoots straight.

[borodin]

I would agree with you all that there is no real good reason to own a PPK or any .380, but then again, there is no real good reason to have more than ONE pistol either. So with that in mind I will probably get a PPK. Actually the original post was about the PPK/S...but I am thinking that I would like the shorter frame better. Any thoughts on that???

As for the Kahrs...I know they are outstanding guns...however, I have a G36 and the Kahr would be similar in its shape and size. Yes I know, they are as different as night and day, but you get the point. My first Autos were .380's and I got a Bersa first and I guess I just like the look of that style.

Any more Walther thoughts, Gentlemen?

[willyjixx]

that was my first .380 also! the Bersa. will the mags swap out between em?

[Blackhawk]

I've had both a PPK and a PPK/S, both SS, both InterArms, and both made about 20 years ago.

There's a world of difference between them. The PPK had a 20# DA trigger and a 12# SA trigger. The PPK/S was MUCH, MUCH better on both. I changed the springs in the PPK, which made it about the same as the PPK/S.

The main problem with them is the slide biting tendency, but you can learn to hold the gun to avoid that.

They're both beautiful guns, but there are much better carry choices, IMO. I can understand why you'd want one, and I'd say it might be similar to my yen for a Luger toggle top. I don't need one, and wouldn't carry it, but I still want one.... :D

[Copperhead]

I have the Smith & Wesson PPK/S-1 and like it. My gun has had zero FTF or malfunctions. It feeds FMJ and JHP with no issues. The gun is very accurate and shoots to point of aim with Cor-Bon JHP and Fiocchi FMJ (I alternate JHP and FMJ ammo.).The new longer beavertail has taken care of slide bite. The fit and finish on my gun are excellent and the gun came with a high polish feed ramp. I think you will find that the Smith & Wesson S-1 is better than most InterArms models.

I often carry the PPK/S-1 as a primary gun and feel very comfortable with 8 rounds that I can quickly fire and control out to 25 yards and beyound.

[Peter M. Eick]

My stainless interarms ppk/s is the only gun in the last 25 years I just dumped on a dealer and was very happy to get ANYTHING for it. I ended up with a P22 and frankly even with ITS problems, it is better then the PPK/S. I went through 3 of them in a row. The first 2 were dealer exchanged because of broken extractors, the 3rd on they sent back to S&W for the same problem. After 2 passes to S&W and at least 4 new extractors, when I broke my last spare. I packed the gun up. Took it to the dealer, explained the problem (different dealer, first dealer would not even touch it any more) and he said fine and we traded.

Frankly the PPK/S Stainless is the worst piece of junk I have ever seen. You could not GIVE me one!

[otomik]

borodin, if your interest in the PPK is all about it's design aesthetics then i don't think there's much people can say here to dissuade you. i mean what are we going to do? make fun of you and your gun when we see you at the range? it doesn't sound like you care that for the most part they're painfully uncomfortable, unreliable and overpriced. perhaps on some level you'll enjoy the weight, hammer-bite, frustrating malfunctions as part of the weapon's authenticity.

I just have a feeling I would like the "original" thing.
if you still have that feeling after owning a Bersa then maybe it is just about having "the original". go for it.

[borodin]

Have you actually owned one Otomik? Or speaking in general terms?

[Longbow]

I am getting the itch, though, for something extra and I am thinking about a PPK/S.
I'de buy a Makarov instead. It's one hell of a gun for the $$. ;)

[otomik]

Have you actually owned one Otomik? Or speaking in general terms?i'm not speaking from extensive first hand experience (unless you're talking about my Bersa Firestorm .22lr which rocks). It's just that you initiatially said you wanted general opinions and that you liked the PPK style (i do as well). But then after people start telling you all their horror stories about the PPK you add that it's not really meant to be a practical purchase. but what can we say about a gun that you appreciate as stunning example of industrial design and whose function is much less important, especially because you got a gun that already fulfills the same role much better. So if it's not meant to be a practical functioning gun then i like bad_dad_brad's idea of "why not just get a PPK/S CO2 pistol", they are made by the same company so it will look somewhat authetic and say "walther" on the side. I say buy it if it's really the looks that matter. a good looking gun is a gun that you're more likely to take good care of and practice with more. But that time and money you'll be using to practice with the PPK is time you could have been using to train with much better weapon. A PPK is a great looking paper weight compared to the G36, treat it that way and keep to the G36. The G36 works great and is 6+1 rounds of .45ACP, it's uncertain if your PPK will work well and even if it performs as well as the glock it's much less powerful with only 6+1 rounds of .380.
there is no real good reason to have more than ONE pistol either.I also think there are reasons to have more than one well-functioning gun. you would be stupid to opt to carry the PPK rather than your Glock36 but what if it's somewhere for repairs? what if it jams? what if you hear something downstairs in the middle of the night and want to go check it out with your G36 but are afraid to leave your girl alone and unarmed or poorly armed.

We need "Guns. Lots of guns."

[Hal]

Thinking of getting a PPK/S Look for a good used one for a good price then. I wanted one for a long time and finally lucked into an American made (Interarms) stainless PPK. Great looking gun, well made functioned like a champ,,,,,

chewed the living daylights outaa my hand though. I found out I didn't like it as much as I'd wanted it and sold it for five bucks more than I paid for it.

Great thing about the PPK - PPK/s - there's always another Bond fan (sucker) that *has* to have one, so they're easy to unload on someone else PLUS the used ones hold their value.

PPk/PPK/s is one of those "gotta have" type of guns.

[Longbow]

chewed the living daylights outaa my hand though :(

The S&W copy got a better beavertail design, but then again, its not the real thing.

[Hal]

its not the real thing. yup.
It's also a S&W. I've been less than thrilled with the QC on the last new S&W's I've bought. Maybe they've perked up an paid attention over the last year or so and cleaned up their act,,,,*shurg* I dunno. Complaints about QC have been going down lately.

Anyhow, I'm not a fan of the PPK or the PPK/s anymore. I *had* to have one, I finally bought one. I shot it and it bit me. If I would have paid $150 (I paid $395) for it I'd have probably kept it. OR if I hadn't been able to sell it for $375 - $400 ( I sold it for $400 while standing in line to get into a gun show) I would have kept it. OR if it had been a .32 cal I'd have kept it since I don't have a .32.

As it was, I sat there looking at it one day and asked myself how much I really liked it.... I decided that I didn't like it $375's worth - and $20 was a fiar price to pay to satisfy my "be 007" for a day urge. I happened to get lucky when I turned it and didn't lose out.

Like I said though, a PPK is one of those "gotta have" types for a lot of people. I can understand that 100%. I say if if the itch is there, scratch it. Life's too short not to.

[SouthpawShootr]

Interarms imported the PPK/s blued from Germany also. You might check and see if you can find one of those. Supposedly, they were of much higher quality than the American made ones. May be less trouble. The few examples I've seen have been exceptional in workmanship and the blueing is awesome. It will cost more than the American made versions, though.

[KeysBear]

I shoot my friend's Interarms PPK/S at least once a month. He has two. One belonged to his dad. I don't care much for the trigger. It's also danged heavy for it's size. No problems with accuracy once I got used to it. I know his have never had any problems. Overall, I really don't think they're worth the money. We have more fun shooting my Makarovs any day. I have considered getting a Bersa Thunder .380 at the right price, but I know it's not a Bond gun like some people want.

Regards, Keys :cool:

[care-less]

My experience has been 180 from most of these posts! I have two of them. One of them is a Manhurin, the other is an Interarms PPK/S. Walther never did produce any PP"s or PPK's after the war. The Russians stole all of the equipment from the plant, took it home, along with the plans for the PP Super, and developed their Makarov. production was licenced to Manhurin in France; who made the guns, sold them under their own name, and also shipped them to Walther for final fit and finish, Walther put their name on them and sold them also. During the 70's I think, Interarms cut a deal with Walther to make them here in the US. They were still made by Manhurin at the same time. now S&W has the production rights here; Manhurin still makes them in France. Thats a general outline anyway. I love them both. I don't think there has ever been any pistol so nicely fitted as the PP and its cousins. Very precision made, very nice deep blueing, never had one jam on anything, accurate in the extreme. Yes, the first shot DA pull is tough; makes it safer to drop in your pocket. This one is absolutly not going to go off just because an ink pen, pocket knife, etc worked its way into the trigger guard! Was never meant to be a target gun. First shot was going to be up close and personal, and the way these things can pump out the lead, that will do. As for the 380 being obsolete; penetration, expansion wise, it is right on the heels of the 9mm. The 32 is claimed to be just as good as the 380. That claim is made by people who own a 32 and are trying to console themselves. The 32 is not a 380; anymore than the 380 is a 9mm! That said, the 380 will penetrate a considerable ammount of material; try one and see if you don't change your mind! John Browning invented the 380; I think he knew what he was doing. I shot one into an already deceased deer one time, went right thru and out the other side; and left a considerable sized hole! Pretty good sized buck, chest cavity about the same as a man. I have great respect for the round, and the gun.

[Majic]

I've only had 2 problems with them. They bite the hand that feeds them and the DA trigger is heavy (by design and can't be changed much).

[sgt127]

I've owned most every variation of the Walthers you can imagine. PP's, PPK/S's and PPK's. German, French and American. All I have left is German and French versions in .32. I have never found the 380's to work as well as the .32's. The German and French work better than the American ones in my experience. If you want a Walther because of the "cool" factor, Spend the time and money to go get a real German PPK in .32. The trigger is alot better in the .32's I've owned too. They are classic designs and well executed. There are a ton of better carry guns out there. But, for the sheer pleasure of owning them, I can justify the Walthers.

My wifes home defense gun is a French PP in .32. Alot of hits with a .32 beats alot of misses with a .45.

[borodin]

I decided against a PPK for now and decided to get a makarov instead. A lot less money and it still fulfills my want of a unique design (cool looking) and has the added pleasure of having a really good reputation. For you Makarovniks...its a Bulgarian that is supposed to be NEW! I was told that it has only been test fired at the factory.

Getting it at gunbroker.com

Thanks for slapping some sense into me.