PPS 9mm Vs. S&W J-Frame

I don't own a J-Frame S&W but I do have a PPS 9mm.

The only complaint about the PPS 9mm is the recoil. The shock from the recoil reverberates into the palm of your hand. This was too painful for my wife so I bought her a Ruger SP101 which she prefers more.

I'll try to take a picture of the Ruger SP101, PPS, and Kimber Ultra Raptor so you can see a perspective on size. I personally carry a Kimber Ultra Raptor, the size is close to the PPS but the PPS beats in weight. If I were to carry 5, 6, or 7 rounds, I'd rather carry 7 rounds of 45ACP over 7 rounds of 9mm any day.

Try it out before you buy one if you can, I own a Glock 27 that is slightly heavier than the PPS, in .40, and at first the recoil was a bit much. I stuck with it though, and pretty quickly, maybe three fifty to four hundred fifty rounds through it the recoil wasn't bad anymore. I actually find the 23 a little less pleasant to shoot now.

So I don't think a PPS in 9mm would be too much, and if you are shooting warmer .38 out of your 37, it shouldn't be any real change, maybe a slight decrease in recoil.

Every time I've read a review or range report on them the response is generally overwhelmingly positive.

I own a Glock 32 in .357 sig w/ .40S&W and 9mm conversion barrels, EAA Witness 45ACP, Sig 226 Elite .40 S&W w/ .357 sig and 9mm conversion barrels, Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum, Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded SS, and Kimber Ultra Raptor.

Trust me when I say the PPS 9mm stings when you shoot it. it's way worse then my Glock 32 in .357 sig. Try it for yourself

I would reconsider or at least as suggested above try before you buy.The Walther's are a bit touchy at times..Recoil as mentioned , many have suffered feed and ejection problems.I own a PPK/S (one of the current Smith & Wesson marked and it has been a problem since day one.The early Walther PP's are brilliant..I am not sure what has happened with the recent model?I know mine was just gone through under a recall.Personally I will stick with my S&W 649 for reliability..Just my 2 cents..

I own a PPK/S (one of the current Smith & Wesson marked and it has been a problem since day one.The early Walther PP's are brilliant.

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Completely different platform, confusion happens all the time because Walther really wanted to stick with their naming style.

I have the pps in .40 and it is quite the uncomfortable beast to shoot... I have a Taurus ultralight .38 that I've shoved +P through and an sp101 3" with fairly hot .357 and those two are still easier on my body than the PPS...

The PPS 9mm is by far easier on the hand than any alloy j-frame .38 that I've ever shot. If anyone is complaining about recoil from the PPS, it is either in reference to the .40 model or due to the choice of backstrap. I've found that the large backstrap really makes a difference in recoil (it seems to put more surface area on your palm thus distributing the force).

I'm not saying this in a rude or aggressive way, but one would have to be a bit recoil sensitive to be bothered by the PPS 9mm. I'm a pretty slim guy, and I routinely put over 200 rounds through mine in a session with no pain (it's one of my favorite shooters).

I carry either a PPS 9mm or an SP101 .357 and IMO the PPS loaded with full power SD rounds is easier on my hand than the (all steel SP101) with regular .38 sp target rounds. YMMV, but that's my experience. In fact, I consider the PPS 9mm my favorite polymer compact pistol.

I say go for it. The j-frame is a great gun, but the PPS is a gun you will enjoy shooting at the range and be able to CCW with ease.

Here's a size comparison for you from another site:

I own two of the Walthers, one in 9mm and the other in .40 S&W. Of the two, the 9mm is definitely the easier gun on the hand, though both are exceptional firearms. I'm also of the belief that both of them, the .40 included, are easier on the hand than the 5-shot Taurus .38 special I owned for about a month. But most definitely give each a try to see what serves your needs the best.

I dont consider the PPS pockatable if thats a concern.

tarrigoni, are you looking at buying the PPS then?

Funny, I'm decided to sell my PPS 9mm because I really don't have a use for it anymore. Being that we're both in Washington State (I'm in Everett), PM me if you are interested.

I have a 6-round mag, 7-round mag, and 2x 8-round mag, box and all paperwork. Shot about 150 Rounds through it and have a IWB Holster for it.

^^^ hey that doesn't happen everyday. Hope you get one. You won't regret it.