harmon rabb
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- Mar 14, 2009
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not really. it's like comparing a P3AT to a LCP. the clone is better than the original. more reliable, better trigger, cheaper.
how good of a concealed carry gun is a Walther PPK?
- Thread starter Skillet
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not really. it's like comparing a P3AT to a LCP. the clone is better than the original. more reliable, better trigger, cheaper.
Harvey
Member
The Walther PPK/S is clearly one of the finest pistols ever made with regard to materials fit and finish. Reliable. Inherently accurate. Crisp trigger action from DA to SA, perfect for a SD pocket pistol. A workmanship legend. Period.
It amazes me how any knowing pistoleer can throw good money at the latest gun-de-jour made of black plastic and stamped sheet metal. Disagree? Study the exploded diagram of the PPK/S. Or the venerable Colt Mustang. Then look at the popular Diamondback. Bah. Why do people spend money on such junk?
It amazes me how any knowing pistoleer can throw good money at the latest gun-de-jour made of black plastic and stamped sheet metal. Disagree? Study the exploded diagram of the PPK/S. Or the venerable Colt Mustang. Then look at the popular Diamondback. Bah. Why do people spend money on such junk?
rugerman
Member
I've had 2 of the S&W ppk's, yes they are a bit heavy but both of mine shot fine and all I ever shot in then was reloaded speer gold dot hollow points. The reason that I've had 2 is that I made the misteak of showing the first one to my wife who adopted it, so I bought me another and my son got it when he got his carry permit. But my wife found that it was a bity heavy to carry (like her sp101) so I got her a LCR with ct laser grips and she gave me back my ppk, but since then I got a keltec p3at and a pf9 and I prefer the pf9 to the ppk (more umph and better sights). So to each his own, get what you like, try it out if you don't like it there are lots more choices out there.
Gatofeo
Member
Been carrying my Interarms-made Walther PPK in .380 since 1999, when I bought it new.
I originally purchased a Colt Pony in .380. After the first two shots, the trigger failed to return forward to battery. I removed the magazine, cleared the chamber and pushed the trigger forward into place.
A few more rounds, same story.
Brought it back to the dealer, who doubted my report on the Colt's failing. Then he started working the slide back and forth, and dry-firing it each time. About the 4th time, the trigger stuck in the rearward position.
The dealer looked down and said, "I"ll be damned. He offered to send it back to Colt. Nothing doing. That Pony had an 18-pound double-action trigger pull!
And since it was double-action-only I couldn't hit a thing with it.
Applied the Colt money toward the Walther PPK and have never regretted it.
Yes, it's an older design -- that means it's proven.
Yes, it's all-steel and a little heavy -- that means longevity and the little extra weight soaks up recoil. An 80-grain jacketed hollowpoint at 1,000 fps (a maximum load crafted by me, and not one I'd divulge) generates a fair amount of recoil and blast in such a small gun.
I'll take the extra few ounces.
It has been remarkably accurate and reliable for about 2,500 rounds. I have a cousin who, impressed with my PPK, bought one for himself. He works at a major shooting on the West Coast, so he shot it a lot.
He put 8,000 rounds through his, in about two years, before he retired it. It was getting worn, but still went BANG when you pulled the trigger.
We both reload, and agree that our PPK pistols are not completely reliable with lead bullets, but with ball or jacketed hollowpoints it just gobbles them.
I don't recall that I've ever had a jacketed bullet fail to feed.
Lead bullets are reserved for target practice, so an occasional failure to feed is tolerated.
Here in Utah, I walk in and out of stores for hours with the PPK in my coat pocket or, during the summer, in my front jeans pocket. It's flat, and conceals easily.
I lubricate my PPK with Remington's Rem-DriLube: spray it on, the carrier evaporates and leaves a dry film of Teflon. The dry Teflon doesn't attract pocket crud like a moist solvent, such as gun oil, does. The PPK is reliable for months without additional treatment.
No, I've never had the slide or hammer bite me.
The double-action pull is about 8 pounds. The single action breaks cleanly at about 5 pounds.
My Interams-made PPK is reliable and accurate. It's easily maintained and breaks down into major components in seconds. It's thin, unlike so many of the newer pistols today that seem to have been inspired by a 2X4.
If the day comes that I have to defend my life, I'll hope that I've got an AR15 or 12-gauge pump in my hands. A handgun is a last-ditch defensive weapon, but far better than your fists or a knife.
The PPK may not be the answer to every defense scenario -- no handgun is.
I originally purchased a Colt Pony in .380. After the first two shots, the trigger failed to return forward to battery. I removed the magazine, cleared the chamber and pushed the trigger forward into place.
A few more rounds, same story.
Brought it back to the dealer, who doubted my report on the Colt's failing. Then he started working the slide back and forth, and dry-firing it each time. About the 4th time, the trigger stuck in the rearward position.
The dealer looked down and said, "I"ll be damned. He offered to send it back to Colt. Nothing doing. That Pony had an 18-pound double-action trigger pull!
And since it was double-action-only I couldn't hit a thing with it.
Applied the Colt money toward the Walther PPK and have never regretted it.
Yes, it's an older design -- that means it's proven.
Yes, it's all-steel and a little heavy -- that means longevity and the little extra weight soaks up recoil. An 80-grain jacketed hollowpoint at 1,000 fps (a maximum load crafted by me, and not one I'd divulge) generates a fair amount of recoil and blast in such a small gun.
I'll take the extra few ounces.
It has been remarkably accurate and reliable for about 2,500 rounds. I have a cousin who, impressed with my PPK, bought one for himself. He works at a major shooting on the West Coast, so he shot it a lot.
He put 8,000 rounds through his, in about two years, before he retired it. It was getting worn, but still went BANG when you pulled the trigger.
We both reload, and agree that our PPK pistols are not completely reliable with lead bullets, but with ball or jacketed hollowpoints it just gobbles them.
I don't recall that I've ever had a jacketed bullet fail to feed.
Lead bullets are reserved for target practice, so an occasional failure to feed is tolerated.
Here in Utah, I walk in and out of stores for hours with the PPK in my coat pocket or, during the summer, in my front jeans pocket. It's flat, and conceals easily.
I lubricate my PPK with Remington's Rem-DriLube: spray it on, the carrier evaporates and leaves a dry film of Teflon. The dry Teflon doesn't attract pocket crud like a moist solvent, such as gun oil, does. The PPK is reliable for months without additional treatment.
No, I've never had the slide or hammer bite me.
The double-action pull is about 8 pounds. The single action breaks cleanly at about 5 pounds.
My Interams-made PPK is reliable and accurate. It's easily maintained and breaks down into major components in seconds. It's thin, unlike so many of the newer pistols today that seem to have been inspired by a 2X4.
If the day comes that I have to defend my life, I'll hope that I've got an AR15 or 12-gauge pump in my hands. A handgun is a last-ditch defensive weapon, but far better than your fists or a knife.
The PPK may not be the answer to every defense scenario -- no handgun is.
RonBernert
Member
+1 on the P64. Great gun for the money, a little bigger in the bang department. I like and have owned the PPK along with the P230. I carry several different guns, with the P64 being one of my favorites.
gglass
Member
Bond never seemed to have a printing problem. 
SharpsDressedMan
member
I'm glad there are so many happy customers with Interarms stainless and S&W produced PPk and PPk/s's. I cling to my 1964 German Walther PPk in .32. It is amazingly accurate, and perfectly reliable with Dynamit Nobel, RWS, and most US factory ammo. My reloads are a little less reliable & need a taper crimp die, and I haven't got around to getting one yet. As far as concealing, here is acomparison to a Colt Government and Colt .25 auto. The PPK is right in between. If you use the flat bottom mag with the PPK, it hides even better in a pocket, on the ankle, etc. Go for it!
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Mine was a pre 74 German made gun. I owned it for 20 years, and carried it off and on during that time. After the 3d time it FTF's on me, I stopped carrying it. I feel that if I cannot rely on a gun after having it worked on by a gunsmith "who specialized in Walthers", "michael Britt", I could no longer carry it. It was very accurate, and shot it weekly with a club at the Nassau County range. I loved the way it looked and felt, but lost faith in it. Perhaps the Sig would be the way to go now, I have been told that they are very reliable. Don't forget that in the 70's-80's there weren't many small autos to chose from. Now there is no excuse to carry underpowered weapons that are finicky. I would suggest any of the newer 9mm, 40cal, H&K, Sig, Glock,Baretta and Walther, all make nice guns in 9mm that are the same size and around the same price range. I had a similar incident with Kahr 9mm when they first came out, I closed the book on that one also. I shoot my guns, and I know how to shoot them, if there is a problem that can't be fixed after 2 or 3 trips back to the gunsmith or factory, "gone" We have come a long way since the .380 being the only auto choice for a small package. Gun companies like fashion designers and car manufacturers, must change, add, or somehow modify their guns every year, or no one would feel the need to get the new model. It doesn’t mean it's better or worse. The sudden resurgence of the 380, is a gimmick, there is no real need to step back into time for a "new 380". If you really have to have one, get the newest best engineered model made. Shrinking things down always makes them more temperamental. I have nothing against 380's, they had their place and maybe still do, but there are better options for you now.
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