Just Bought a PPK. What do I need to know?

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DontBurnMyFlag

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Hey all,

I just bought a Walther PPK in 7.65mm (.32acp). I am just wondering what I need to know about this gun.

Ive heard rumors about jamming and such. It is a small caliber and weaker cartridge, so I expected as much. Hows the overall reliability?

I bought it because it was cheap, and a Walther! :D Its just nice to have.

Anything you Walther owners can tell me would be appreciated.
 
Some experence jamming on some HP's (Just like older Hi Powers...)

Shoot it and see.

Do a search, within the last week or so there were a couple threads on this subject.
 
The 1st time I shot a PPK it cut me wide open, so be careful when you shoot it.

Not much of a beaver tail on the gun. Make sure your hand doesn't get cut by the slide. If you get your hand too high up on the gun the slide could get you.

Sorry to be downer, but just thought I'd warn you.
 
Be careful about aftermarket mags. I have a PPK/S (9mm kurz) and purchased four Mec-Gar mags. I soon found out that all of them were useless!! They did not feed right!! Not a one!! As soon as I went back to the factory mags, the problem went away!!

Despite what Mr. Shooter says above, Smith has redesigned the beavertail to minimize the so called slide bite.
I have been shooting mine for years and have yet to get tagged!!

Incidentally, the beavertail redesign may have something to do with why aftermarket mags made for Interarms and German guns will not work!!
 
The 1st time I shot a PPK it cut me wide open, so be careful when you shoot it.
Click to expand...

Same here..I thought I was shot...Then I realized I had gripped it to high..Hasn't happened since...I shoot my PPk380 25 to 50 rounds every range trip..I love it..never a malfunction...You will like your .32.
 
Be careful about aftermarket mags. I have a PPK/S (9mm kurz) and purchased four Mec-Gar mags. I soon found out that all of them were useless!! They did not feed right!! Not a one!! As soon as I went back to the factory mags, the problem went away!![/QUOTE

Mec Gar's work fine for me in a Pre WW2 PP and a Manchurian (When they moved the factory to france) PP.
Click to expand...
 
thank you for your input.

I have rather big hands so I will be wary of the slide when I fire it.

It is a used gun from an unknown date. Is there anyway I can find out when it was manufactured?

thanks again
 
It's all in the grip

Quote:

thank you for your input.

I have rather big hands so I will be wary of the slide when I fire it.
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...

Just make sure that both your thumbs are on the same side of the grip and parallel, as my wife, with the new Sig P232 SL 380 I bought her got slide-bite by (not thinking) using a revolver grip, with her one thumb up and over the center, of the back, of the grip..

"It felt more comfy (the grip) that way" .. she said

Bites every time you grip it like a revolver..



LS
 
Personally, I think the .32's are a bit more reliable than the .380's. The round tapers a bit.

As an old world design, I would expect it to work okay with mil-spec fmj's, and maybe okay with hollowpoints, especially if it is an older model. They are pretty accurate. I like to be especially careful when decocking on a live round. It is an older design and that hammer drops with some force, though I have not heard of any problems with the ppk (have heard of them with the P38 though)

Funny, I was in Europe last week, and my euro-friend was talking about how the Walther was such an old crappy unsafe design. Me and the other damn american had to defend it. To me, it is an elegant example of old world craftsmanship, I use mine as a wedding carry piece. Need to get some fancy grips though.
 
I finally traded mine on a Glock after it sat in the safe for years, after cutting me. Sliced me like a razor blade.
Click to expand...


Just last week a guy on the range was firing his Glock, and got sliced by his slide. Glock is not a remedy if you naturally hold high. Give me a Beavertail!
 
Mine is an Interarms made SS PPK/s in .32acp. I have fired over 3,000 rounds thru it with no issues other than the "Walther Bite" which is a none issue with practice. I purchased it NIB in late 1998 and there was no noticeable break-in period. The S&W versions incorporate a design change that for all practical purposes eliminates the "Walther Bite associated with the original design, which includes Interarms manufactured PPK and PPK/s models. I purchased extra magazines from S&W several years ago and they function flawlessly in my Interarms made gun. The only mod is a set of Hogue checkered Rosewood grips. I like my PPK/s and trust it in the CCW role from time to time, especially when formal attire is required.

:evil:
 
I have a pre war ppk and the two most reliable ammo brands I have found are Norma (expensive) and CCI blazer aluminum (cheap). It runs them reliably and I have not had a feed or extraction problem. I have not tried any other ammo in 12 years.
 
It has an internal slide stop/catch , when you strip it sometimes it will come out. Don't forget to find the little spring that goes with it when you reassemble it . Turst me on that one :)
 
Hammer bite etc.

I have a really fat webspace which gets bit by BHP's and unmodified 1911's. That said, I have owned two Interarms PPK/S .380's that never touched me at all. Love Hogue grips; I think they do something for the PPK besides look pretty (enhanced feel) Though I really like how thin it is wiith factory grip.

One of them looked terrible and ran with whatever I put in it, the other was pristine and would not feed even after a throat job at C&S (promptly traded for a Commander).

That said, I carried Cor-Bon Pow-r-Ball in them just in case.
I think there is just something undefineable about a PPK; I think they are a bit heavy, but they have a macabre feel to them that is sensual, dangerous, and perfect. How'd Walther do that?

I don't like the S&W PPK'S at all.

I would own another Interarms .380 if I could shoot it first and feel OK about it. (Stoked with Pow-r-Ball, of course!)
Cheers, TF
 
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