Walther PPQ discontinued

wow. I was planning on buying one. Weird time to discontinue a pistol. I would of assumed they couldn't ship them out the door fast enough right now.

Damn I've been wanting a PPQ for a while. I wanted one with that Walther/HK style mag release, always thought that was nice.

Parts will be avilable as the only mechanical change that I have heard of so far is the magazine release system. The paddle release is the same as that on the P99 which is still made.

Magazines will also continue to be available since they are the same magazines as used in the Walther P99 series that is still very popular, especially in Europe.

A positive side effect is that I expect that the orginal Walther PPQ will carry a premium on the used market where it may very well be worth more than what most payed for them new. New Walther PPQs are currently selling for as much as $1025 on Gunbroker!!

I just finished looking at the manual for the M2, and other than it's magazine release, the pistol itself is the same as the old one. I did note a few drawbacks, though. The new magazine release is ambidextrous, but has to be reversed before using it left-handed, the old PPQ and P99 don't need to be reconfigured to be used left-handed. Also, the magazine is different in the M2, it looks similar to the old magazine, but whereas the old magazine has one catch notch on the right hand side of the body, the new one has two notches on both the left and right hand side to accommodate the new release. What was great about the old PPQ is you could interchange magazines with the P99, they were identical in design, you can't do that with this new one.

Don't let that sway you from getting one if you're still interested in it, the trigger is probably one of the best I've ever felt in a striker-fired pistol, and the grip almost melts into your hand.

Edit: looks like I got beaten to the punch, I need to type faster .

The second gen P99 mags and PPQ mags are the same part. They are made by Mecgar, who supplies an identical part for a Magnum Research clone of the P99.

The part number for the MR branded mag is:
Magfa915

They cost about half what the Walther branded mags run.

I always looked at the PPQ as a serious downgrade from the P99 in terms of functionality. As well as getting way to close to copying Glock's playbook and designs. The only thing I liked about the PPQ was it has more slots in the rail compared to the P99. Seems after S&W merged with Walther everything started going downhill.

Seems after S&W merged with Walther everything started going downhill.

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I don't think S&W merged with Walther. They're just the US distributor. A lot of foreign companies like Glock, CZ, Beretta, etc setup US subsidiaries to import their products but Walther chose to partner with S&W.

Anyways, I never had really looked into the PPQ, but the PPX is looking potentially very interesting from a price perspective. $449 MSRP should translate to around $349 or so street price.

S&W *was* importing Walthers for them. Walther is doing it directly, as of this month.

As for the PPQ being a step down from the P99, many of us disagree. The reliability is the same, and the only real difference is the trigger mechanism. As it happens, that trigger is brilliantly executed. The P99 AS has a great trigger in its own right, but these are different, rather than better or worse. For my money, I prefer the PPQ trigger.

The true Walthers, as opposed to Umarex pistols, are fantastic. P99, PPQ, PPK, PPS... all quality. I expect the PPX to be a great pistol, as well. The PK380 and P22 are Umarex, and are simply not in the same league.

The mag release did not work for me. It felt awkward to use my trigger finger to drop a mag when my thumb is already right above the mag release on a normal pistol. I tried using my thumb to work the PPQ mag release but it did not reach. Other than that, it was a very comfortable gun to hold. Never got a chance to shoot one.

sleepyone said:

The mag release did not work for me. It felt awkward to use my trigger finger to drop a mag when my thumb is already right above the mag release on a normal pistol. I tried using my thumb to work the PPQ mag release but it did not reach. Other than that, it was a very comfortable gun to hold. Never got a chance to shoot one.

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Sounds like you'll really like the new PPQ M2 then with its button style mag release.

Me? I prefer the paddle mag release. Really disappointed by this news, but after acquiring a PPS and liking the trigger on that, I think I might try to find a P99 QA for my next gun instead of the PPQ like I had planned.

Anyone know if a trigger job can be done to the QA trigger of the P99 to bring it down from 8 lbs to roughly 5.5 lbs? The travel/feel of the trigger is remarkably similar to Glock's stock trigger pull, except that it's slightly higher in pull weight. Supposedly 8 lbs vs. Glock's ~ 6 lbs. The PPQ trigger is stellar, but if I can get a P99 QA trigger down to around 5-6 lbs, I would be more than happy with that. Besides, I prefer the lack of front cocking serrations on the P99 and grip ergos are still very good. Not quite as contoured, but the overall shape is basically the same.

That is GREAT news. My PPQ is now worth a lot more money after such a short production run!

I think they were probably having trouble penetrating the American market because of that innovative mag release. And, when I say 'innovative,' I mean it. I really like that mag release. But, a lot of people don't want to relearn how to drop a mag.

It won't be a German pistol with that silly looking button on the side.

I far prefer the HK paddles to the thin PPQ release, but I like both better than the button you find on most other pistols.

I was at 2 LGS and at a Cabelas today in Ft. Worth, Texas. All were sold out of P99 and PPQ.

Okiegunner said:

I was at 2 LGS and at a Cabelas today in Ft. Worth, Texas. All were sold out of P99 and PPQ.

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Mine too. I nearly cried.

I wonder what my less than year old PPQ with only 200 rounds through it would bring?

Everything is for sale at a price!

Instant collectors items! I'm sure they'll command .45 Luger prices in the near future.

(well maybe if this gun ban crap continues)

It won't be a German pistol with that silly looking button on the side.

I far prefer the HK paddles to the thin PPQ release, but I like both better than the button you find on most other pistols.

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Even H&K would be willing to add a button release in order to penetrate the US market with their striker fired pistol.

http://www.hkpro.com/forum/hk-handgun-talk/131124-striker-fired-p40.html

Post #3:

Samples are in the US for HK eval but no further details beyond it looks like a P30 without a hammer and may have push button mag relases versus the typical USP-style levers - still TBD. My guess it is will be in Vegas in January at the SHOT Show.

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The reason why in post #8:

Not yet been decided. Samples have been made with both styles. The HK mag release levers have been a hard sell to some agencies who are accustomed to buttons and that alone can leave you out in the cold on bids so it is a valid consideration.

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Obviously, no progress seems to have been made with the P40, but H&K had the same idea. They're still German to me.

Though I can't say that I'm excited about this move, as I much prefer the paddle/lever mag release, I do understand their reason for making the change. It seems like a smart move to me.

They made the PPX as an entry level hammer fired DAO pistol with a push button mag release. There aren't that many German pistols available with an MSRP of $449, and that push button mag release would help them to win agency contracts as well as boost civilian sales in the US.

They gave the PPQ a push button mag release to appeal to US consumers as well. I don't see a SAO pistol like the PPQ winning any police contracts for the simple fact that it is a SAO pistol, but the push button mag release will more than likely result in it selling better in the US, due to more people being more comfortable with, or more used to, the button mag release.

I still prefer my PPQ to this PPQ M2, though the 5" model interests me.

My P99 is non-Umarex. It feels much better in my hand than similar P99s made under the Umarex name and the SW99. Judging from the SN on mine, it was one of the first 2nd Gen P99s that were made, still all German. Even the manual that came with it was in German, not that I read them.

I like the paddle on my Walther. I can reach it easily with my middle finger on my shooting hand. I like the longer DA/SA trigger on the P99. Its like having a DAO trigger length with SA trigger weight. And it can be preset to have a short SA trigger past the Anti Stress stage. I have used the PPQ. It felt like a Glock. If I wanted a Glock I would buy a Glock, not a Glock with Walthers name.

Walther & Smith & Wesson never merged, they had an import and marketing partnership that ended in 2012.
Walther now has its own channels & no further relationship with S&W.
Denis

My P99 is non-Umarex.

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All P99 pistols are "non-Umarex".

My P99 is non-Umarex. It feels much better in my hand than similar P99s made under the Umarex name and the SW99.

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All P99s and PPQs are made by Walther at the Walther factory in Ulm, Germany.

None have ever been made by Umarex.