Looking into getting a PPK

[epic4444]

Im looking into a walther PPK and was wondering from those of you who have them if there worth it? Ive heard that they are always getting jammed but is this true or do people just bitch to much? overall is it a go or not? thank epic4444

 

[denfoote]

Well, for what it's worth, I have an early Smith PPK/S that has been quite reliable over the years, with one caveat: Smith changed the beavertail to eliminate the slide bite. When they did that, they also "tweaked" the dimensions of the grip. This, in turn necessitated a change in the mag. Point is, aftermarket mags made for the Interarms and German guns will not work!!
I found this out only after purchasing four Mec-Gar mags!! As long as I use the mags provided by Smith, the gun works like a charm!!

This leads me to believe that some of th jamming tales of woe heard are because people don't realize this and try to use aftermarket mags. I suspect that even the "new factory" mags from Earl's will not function in a Smith gun!!

 

[jwh2]

Go For It!

I have a new PPK/S with about 4oo rounds through it with no failures. It is a fine gun with great potential. I have been able to shoot very accurately with it out to about twenty five yards. It is comfortable to carry in a pocket holster.

 

[field70]

I have a stainless Interarms PPK that has never jammed...Will never sell it. Bought new in 1994 or 95 for 439.00, polished the feeed ramp a litttle..never a failure...Love it.

 

[obiwan1]

My old PPK (bought new in 1967)used to stovepipe like crazy with standard pressure loads. Since reloading and using hot loads for carry I've had no probs. If you're looking for a carry gun I'd go with the Kahrs. My K40 is just a LITTLE bigger than the PPK, but is much more effective! My PPK is a safe queen now and comes out for nostalgia purposes. I carried that little gun almost daily for about 20 years, but it was time to upgrade and modernize.

 

[Larryect]

I had an early S&W Walther PPK build just after they took over from Interarms. It's very nice looking, great carrying. However mine was a POS. The safety would intermittantly engage while firing after 4 - 5 shots. Sent it back twice for that little problem. Got it back the 2nd time and was cleaning it to test fire when I saw what looked like a crack in the barrell near the muzzle. Sent it back again for the third time. When I got it back, I did not even fire it, I sold it for a loss on consignment. Couldn't trust it anymore.

It also cut my hand everytime I fired it. But I sold it due to the problems. One thing I like about S&W though is they pay shipping in both directions.

 

[MICHAEL T]

My Interarms is 20+ yrs old Has never been a problem I shoot good ammo (hotter the better ) I don't like the S&W guns I have never been bit by slide and don't like the tang or the lasor printing on gun. I won't buy one.German or Interarms for me. Use only factory mags

 

[camper]

Have an Interarms PPK circa 1996 that handles any ammo and never fails.

 

[cookekdjr]

Before I bought a ppk I'd look at the Bersa Thunder 380, the smc 380 and (on the high end) a SIG p230 or p232. I've owned both SIGS; they were awesome. I've heard good things about the Bersa and SMC.
-David

 

[shooter503]

I know it's not the question you asked but I agree with Cooke. A Sig P23X is a better pistol. If you want a small as possible 380 the PPKS is very slightly smaller. I carry my old PPKS under a suit jacket. For general use I prefer the Sig 230 stainless. Better decocker, better grip, easier to handle.

 

[sfmittels]

I've owned three PPK's: two stainless Interarms and one old German-made blued model. All three were 100% with everything I ever fed them. I don't find them particularly pleasurable to shoot. Maybe I just don't like blowback actions, because I'm not recoil-sensitive.

There's a certain mystique to the PPK, probably because of Ian Fleming. Yes, there are better guns on the market for the same or less money, and there are more powerful guns that are the same size but lighter weight (Kahr PM9). But nothing feels like a PPK - it's owning a piece of history.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I had a "real" late 50s dated Walther PPK - stovepiped constantly, failure to feed atleast 10 rds per 100.....generally unreliable crap.

I bought a new Smith import PPK/S - failures to feed then the gun started disassembling itself......shot the loading round indicator out at me....then the magazine.

The only good Walther I own is my Walther P22 - crazy huh?

 

[rdaines]

I have a fairly new ppk/s and there was a learning curve in shooting it, mainly how to hold it to avoid slide bite and the hammer whacking the heck out of the base of my thumb. You gotta hold it squarely in the web area. Anyway, shooting a clean gun I generally don't have jams but as the gun dirties through a box of 50 it start getting jams. A quick ramp clean help for a while but does not replace a good chemical clean. Do I carry it? Yes, occasionally and I would trust my life to a clean gun and, honestly, are you going to be in a gun fight that would require 50 or more rounds? If I had to take one gun would it be the Walther? No. My BHP in 40 S&W would be that pick. If you want a .380 gun then the Walther ppk/s is a great choice.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I agree with some of the other options listed.

I own both the Sig P232 and the Bersa Thunder .380 - in my opinion they are both better weapons.

The Sig is better then the Bersa.....but not as much as the price would suggest. That Bersa is a damn good buy.

 

[Ridgeway]

I have 1.1k rounds through my S&W ppk/s. Was reliable for the first 800 or so, now it consistently jams once it gets dirty after ~3 mags, and does so nearly every round.

So when it works I'd say they are fine options. But mine is now relegated to very occassional range duty and it's VM2 sits empty on the shelf. Havn't been able to fix the problem in spite of several suggestions.

I'd probally go with a Sig p232 instead if I had it to do over.

 

[Texas Colt]

+1 for the Interams PPK. I have a stainless PPK that was made in 1989. It has never jammed with factory FMJ or JHPs. It also works flawlessly with hot and soft reloads.

 

[blackcharlie]

its a great carry sized gun i carried one for years but when my wife got her ccw i gave it to her as the 380 was to her likeing

 

[DWARREN123]

I looked at a couple before buying a Bersa Thunder .380. The slides were not as tight as the Bersa, they did not feel as good in my hand as the Bersa.
Some like them and some don't. The newer ones seem to be less than great.

 

[cyborgzerozeronine]

I have two PPK's, a US made Interarms and a pre-68 German.

I shoot both obscenely accurately considering their size (2 inch groups at 25 yards SA; the DA pull definitely degrades accuracy). No jamming except with one brand of ammo that is no longer made (the mouth of the JHP was just too wide).

PPK's also have sharpish recoil that can be painful to shoot after a while if you do not use shooting gloves.

My take on PPK's is as follows: they are fabulous guns for people WITH SMALL hands. My glove size is an 8.5; I think if I were I 9 I would hate the gun.
If your glove size is bigger than a men's 8.5, I would go for the SIG P230/232 (I have the former in stainless steel). It is bigger than the PPK, so accommodates large hands much better.

If you go for the PPK, I recommend buying one of the Interarms models. Plenty floating around, and most speciments are terrific shooters. I can't speak for the S&W, but the tales of woe in the posts above are hardly surprising.

 

[HerrWolfe]

Had jams until I started working the action properly the first time, then have not had a problem since. Accuracy ok for that kind of pistol but do not like sharpness of the recoil; .45 much better.