Let's hear from the Walther P99 owners......
- Thread starter MIL-DOT
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I bought a used SW99 with the Quick Action Trigger in a 9mm a few years ago. The barrel must have been trashed or something because it shot like a shotgun pattern at 25ft. Didn't bother to monkey around with it, just traded it back in for an M&P9. the ergonomics were nice but it felt top heavy almost like some of the Springfield's do.
First gun, won it at a raffle and chose it based on looks and feel. Turned out to be a great pick, I shoot it well, and my "gun guy" friends that have tried it are unanimously envious. I actually like the paddle magazine release better than a button, not sure how this will affect future purchases!
You will miss it on other handguns. The Walther/HK paddle release truly is a superior system.
-It is 100% ambidextrous.
-It allows people of all hand sizes and finger lengths to operate the release without shifting their grip (by using either the thumb or forefinger/index finger - whichever works best for the user).
-It doesn't require the user to loosen his/her grip the way "push-through" designs like the Glock does. For example, if I maintain a tight grip on my Glock 19, I can't release a mag, since my hand blocks movement of the release on the opposite side.
-It is impossible to accidentally release a mag when holstered. This is a MAJOR benefit to the design. Accidentally (and unknowingly) depressing a push-button mag release on a holstered pistol can leave you with a single-shot pistol (or a non-firing pistol if it has a mag disconnect) when you need it most.
Combat Engineer
Member
"I'd really like to hear from other P99 owners with their anecdotes, impressions, problems, warnings, recomendations, etc.etc." [MIL-DOT]
Got a P99 for CCW duty... my experience as follows:
THE GOOD- Good looking, incredibly comfortable hold, light-weight.
THE BAD- I prefer shoulder carry, and the 2 holsters I tried both have a flat horse-shoe spring that can and does pinch the gun so that at times it will pull the slide out of battery... not good. IWB/OWB carry only for me. The gun would jam with hot SD ammo. And I just could not shoot it accurately on a consistent basis. Two out three shots were out of the bulls-eye, scattergun spread. After 300 rounds I gave up, sold it, the guy who bought it said he loves it.
THE UGLY- Has a trigger guard mag release, which seems to work for other folks but not for me, if I was ever in an emergency, God help me but there is no way I could change a mag as quickly as on a 1911 or a Sig. Couple of years after selling the P99 (I missed that comfy hand-in-glove feel) I picked up a SW99 (cheap) in 9mm and it is a reasonably accurate gun and just as ergonomic as the P99. Go figure. Then got a SW99 in 45 ACP and it is even more accurate, still has the trigger guard mag release, but its a shorter release lever and works better for me. Also have a PPS which is a tack-driver, but has a longer mag release which I hate. Its not a deal breaker because I rarely carry extra mags, usually just New York reloads.
Glad to see the newer Walthers have returned to the classic push button mag release... lets face it, the trigger guard mag release was a solution in search of a problem, Walther designed a mag release button back in 1929, and like the wheel, it cannot be improved upon. I see the new Walther CCP has a push button mag release...smart.
Got a P99 for CCW duty... my experience as follows:
THE GOOD- Good looking, incredibly comfortable hold, light-weight.
THE BAD- I prefer shoulder carry, and the 2 holsters I tried both have a flat horse-shoe spring that can and does pinch the gun so that at times it will pull the slide out of battery... not good. IWB/OWB carry only for me. The gun would jam with hot SD ammo. And I just could not shoot it accurately on a consistent basis. Two out three shots were out of the bulls-eye, scattergun spread. After 300 rounds I gave up, sold it, the guy who bought it said he loves it.
THE UGLY- Has a trigger guard mag release, which seems to work for other folks but not for me, if I was ever in an emergency, God help me but there is no way I could change a mag as quickly as on a 1911 or a Sig. Couple of years after selling the P99 (I missed that comfy hand-in-glove feel) I picked up a SW99 (cheap) in 9mm and it is a reasonably accurate gun and just as ergonomic as the P99. Go figure. Then got a SW99 in 45 ACP and it is even more accurate, still has the trigger guard mag release, but its a shorter release lever and works better for me. Also have a PPS which is a tack-driver, but has a longer mag release which I hate. Its not a deal breaker because I rarely carry extra mags, usually just New York reloads.
Glad to see the newer Walthers have returned to the classic push button mag release... lets face it, the trigger guard mag release was a solution in search of a problem, Walther designed a mag release button back in 1929, and like the wheel, it cannot be improved upon. I see the new Walther CCP has a push button mag release...smart.
This is why I have zero interest in the PPQ M2. It is a notable step backwards versus previous Walther designs (and unlike the PPQ M1, it is incompatible with easily-found and (now) inexpensive P99 mags). The paddle mag release is an advancement in almost every respect over the push button design (see my previous post for the clear advantages).
Not hardly. The ability, even with a quality holster, to unknowingly depress a button release is a significant problem that the paddle release solved.
The only perceived "advantage" the push-button has is that it's more familiar to many folks. But that's just a training issue, and not an objective benefit. No doubt many folks still preferred heel releases at one point in time as well.
I'm glad HK has at least decided to continue with the paddle release.
Combat Engineer
Member
(The lack of a trigger guard mag release)..." is why I have zero interest in the PPQ M2." [Fishbed77]
Hey Fishbed,
The push button release is the correct design (for me), simply because it works so well, and I have never had a drop issue with a push button mag release on any such handgun. As you know the push button release is an old design which is still found on the 1911, and this handgun was designed for active use while fighting on a horse (cavalry). For me the trigger guard release is awkward, despite numerous attempts to master the fidgety technique. Must be all thumbs and crooked fingers.
A SW99 or a PPS is ergonomically awkward for me, whereas the push button is ergonomically efficient (i.e. Sig), I don't have to figure it out, it's intuitive. As for inadvertently dropping/releasing mags, the only time I have encountered this problem has been (on the rare occasion) with heel release mags.
I recognize that hand geometry (and holster design) is variable and for folks who are having problems with the push button release, the trigger guard release is likely the way to go. As for me, if I am in a fight I do not want anything, anything, to get in the way of my survival. Two tenths of a second can be the difference between life and death.
Thank you for your comments. Best to you.
Hey Fishbed,
The push button release is the correct design (for me), simply because it works so well, and I have never had a drop issue with a push button mag release on any such handgun. As you know the push button release is an old design which is still found on the 1911, and this handgun was designed for active use while fighting on a horse (cavalry). For me the trigger guard release is awkward, despite numerous attempts to master the fidgety technique. Must be all thumbs and crooked fingers.
A SW99 or a PPS is ergonomically awkward for me, whereas the push button is ergonomically efficient (i.e. Sig), I don't have to figure it out, it's intuitive. As for inadvertently dropping/releasing mags, the only time I have encountered this problem has been (on the rare occasion) with heel release mags.
I recognize that hand geometry (and holster design) is variable and for folks who are having problems with the push button release, the trigger guard release is likely the way to go. As for me, if I am in a fight I do not want anything, anything, to get in the way of my survival. Two tenths of a second can be the difference between life and death.
Thank you for your comments. Best to you.
Consider the following. The magazine release of the AR-pattern rifle is operated with the forefinger, not unlike the P99. It actually makes a lot of sense if you are used to carrying rifles.
Again, it's just a training issue.
Personally, the vast majority of the pistols I own have button releases. Currently, the P99 is the only one I have with a paddle release (I really need to pick up a VP9 when I have the cash
). Some work well for me. Some do not (Glock, I'm looking at you.) But none are as intuitive and fast as the P99.Just curious, which finger to P99 owners using to depress the tigger guard magazine release? I'm assuming its intended to be activated with your strong side index finger. With my Walter PPS, what feels most natural to me is resting my strong side index finger on the frame just blow the slide and using my strong side middle finger to depress the magazine release.
herrwalther
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Fork said:
As far as I know, I am an oddball for releasing the magazine on my P99. As Fishbed said, most do it with their trigger finger, either left or right handed. I operate the paddle magazine release with the middle finger of my shooting (right) hand. I prefer the paddle release over push button. While I have rather medium/average hands, I always have to change my grip to eject the magazine. HK and Walthers with paddle releases are far more intuitive for me, to the point where my aim is to replace my current firearms with similar styles.
MIL-DOT
member
I don't really have a dog in this particular fight, so to speak, as I'm largely content with both mag release designs, but I HAVE had magazines come loose from the button accidentally being pushed, multiple times, on a G26 while carrying in a pocket holster. In fact, I didn't even realize it till later, then had to go hunt the mag down, only to find it had slid down next to my car seat.
Obviously, that ain't a good thing.
And, as for the admited fact that the paddle release is less common and many folks might get confused between the two systems in a stress situation, I never carry a 2nd mag when toting a semi-auto,anyway. The odds of any American civilian finding himself in a running gun battle requiring multiple 15-round magazine changes are so ridiculously remote, it's not even a rational consideration, despite all the mileage these scenarios get on the internetz. IF I were carrying the Walther, and 15 rounds aren't sufficient, then in all likelyhood another magazine or ten still wouldn't help, I'd be in WAY over my head.
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MIL-DOT
member
I'll use the index finger sometimes, but I generally prefer to just use my thumb on my shooting hand. Admitedly, it's not quite as quick and fluid as most button releases, and requires a slight shifting of the hand, but that isn't really a problem, since I kinda already normally do that when I bring the weapon in closer to switch mags. I don't switch mags with my arm extended in the firing position, I bring the pistol in close, switch mags, then extend out and resume a firing grip and stance, so IMO, the difference in releases is trivial.
I have the Walther P99 AS (PS, AM, LM version); I made a review some years ago: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=589971
4 years and 3000 rounds later my opinion is the same: one of top 3 DA/SA polymer pistols on the market. The ambi version is great for lefties.
After 3000 rounds it shows virtually no wear and it is 100% reliable.
4 years and 3000 rounds later my opinion is the same: one of top 3 DA/SA polymer pistols on the market. The ambi version is great for lefties.
After 3000 rounds it shows virtually no wear and it is 100% reliable.
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