Regarding the Walther PP/PPK

[Tallball]

I have a couple of Hungarian FEG clones, and a couple of pistols obviously "inspired by" the PP and/or PPK.

All of mine are reliable. The DA triggers are kind of stiff, but not terrible. I don't find the recoil to be offensive, though handgun recoil rarely bothers me.

I think there are much better options for CC and SD in general, but I would certainly not feel unarmed if I was holding one.

The aluminum-framed PP in 32acp balances and points the best of the lot. It's fun to shoot. The 380's are snappier, but not terribly so. For me now they are just range toys, but I used to carry the Russian Makarov in 380 sometimes when I was a young man.

FEG AP9 32acp

• Tallball
• Dec 28, 2017

FEG SMC 380acp

• Tallball
• May 15, 2018

Sig P230

• Tallball
• Jan 23, 2018

Makarov380

• Tallball
• Jan 23, 2018

 

[jdh]

Remind me please, didn't Colt re-issue the 1903/08 ?

Sorta, kinda: "Colt 1903 Pistols are a Colt Licensed Product manufactured by US Armament Corp."
https://www.colt.com/detail-page/us...pistol-acp-375-81-walnut-grip-gray-parkerized

 

[JERRY]

Monetary value - maybe not ... coolness value - definitely YES!!
Mine is Bavaria Police, 1965.

I looked mine up again sn# 39xxxx, 1968-1969.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

In regards to the Colt 1903 re-issue... nevermind. It was a limited run. I wish Colt would re-issue some of their old automatics, perhaps in stainless, etc. The 1908 Vest Pocket, Colt Junior, Mustang. I'd love a Colt 1908 Vest Pocket in stainless.

 

[film495]

I have a CZ-70, modeled after the Walters - and the double action trigger is difficult to like to say the least, but my opinion is you don't have to like it and have it be nice and easy and comfortable, it is supposted to go bang, and honestly - outside of a little dry fire practice I have never used the double action. The single action trigger I kind of like on it. I like the design and size, and if I was a rich man I'd have a bunch of PP and PPK models and a closet full of the CZs as I find them, but alas - I have just the one.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I do like the Makarovs. They don't have the beavertail bite that the PPKs do, and I'm more forgiving of the trigger when it's an Eastern Bloc gun. I guess the bar is lowered there.

The Makarov's not a great shooter, but it just screams toughness. I swear that the steel in those Russian guns is steel-ier than Western small arms. It's the kind of pistol that you could slip into a jacket and carry throughout a long Russian winter, and you'd have zero doubts that it would still fire if you ever pulled it out.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I do like the Makarovs. They don't have the beavertail bite that the PPKs do, and I'm more forgiving of the trigger when it's an Eastern Bloc gun. I guess the bar is lowered there.

The Makarov's not a great shooter, but it just screams toughness. I swear that the steel in those Russian guns is steel-ier than Western small arms. It's the kind of pistol that you could slip into a jacket and carry throughout a long Russian winter, and you'd have zero doubts that it would still fire if you ever pulled it out.

Well... that's what it was made to do, wasn't it ?

 

[Sarge7402]

Over the past 30 years, I've owned a boat load or Walther's (and Clones) in .22, .32, .380, and 9x18. All had triggers that kids today can't handle. Those of us that grew up on Double Action Revolvers and have developed the finger trigger muscles needed have no trouble keeping the first DA round on target out to 15 or so yards. As for sights, I've worn glasses for over 60 years and have little or no difficulty keeping a magazine full in the Kill zone of a qualification target out to say 30 or so feet. After that the sights become a necessary evil and my time for a magazine full of hits slows down a bit. As for the grip, I find the PPK/s and FEG just a tad small (pinkie wraps under the butt) but then I wear 2X Hatch gloves at work.

As far as "better" guns, that is really open to debate. Well, I've shot and carried Sig's, Glock's, 1911's, Kahr's, KelTec's, Colt's, and the only two of them I still have are a KelTec P-11 (great plain clothes, light weight duty gun) and a Colt .380 Pony (which I think is the best of any of the recent .380's around).

My Walthers and their clones are not for sale and get carried frequently . Yes, I'm still a serving sworn peace officer and carry off duty religiously.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Over the past 30 years, I've owned a boat load or Walther's (and Clones) in .22, .32, .380, and 9x18. All had triggers that kids today can't handle. Those of us that grew up on Double Action Revolvers and have developed the finger trigger muscles needed have no trouble keeping the first DA round on target out to 15 or so yards. As for sights, I've worn glasses for over 60 years and have little or no difficulty keeping a magazine full in the Kill zone of a qualification target out to say 30 or so feet. After that the sights become a necessary evil and my time for a magazine full of hits slows down a bit. As for the grip, I find the PPK/s and FEG just a tad small (pinkie wraps under the butt) but then I wear 2X Hatch gloves at work.

As far as "better" guns, that is really open to debate. Well, I've shot and carried Sig's, Glock's, 1911's, Kahr's, KelTec's, Colt's, and the only two of them I still have are a KelTec P-11 (great plain clothes, light weight duty gun) and a Colt .380 Pony (which I think is the best of any of the recent .380's around).

My Walthers and their clones are not for sale and get carried frequently . Yes, I'm still a serving sworn peace officer and carry off duty religiously.

1. Thank you sir, for your service to your community, city, state, and country. Thank you for your service to your fellow citizens.

2. Good to see someone correlate the DA pull of a PPK with the DA pull of a wheelgun.

 

[Jimbo80]

New Walther Forum refugee here. I happen to be lucky enough to own all the PP series pistols in both 22 and 7.65 and they are pretty hard to beat so far as style and cool factor go. For a pistol designed close to 100 years ago it still ranks as one of the all time classics. A '67 PPK in 7.65 is my most carried pistol and I have never felt outgunned. Most of the problems with PPKs are with US made copies in .380 which the gun was not designed for.

 

[cfullgraf]

Remind me please, didn't Colt re-issue the 1903/08 ?

U.S. Armament built current manufacture Colt 1903's licensed from Colt. They are apparently gearing up for another run based on their web site. Also, they have parts for the 1903.

Nice pistols but a bit pricey for most folks. They also manufacture Gatling guns if you got the coin to buy one.

 

[cfullgraf]

Nah. Even the smallest locked-breech .380s are more comfortable to shoot than their heaviest straight-blowback counterparts.

A Kel-Tec P3-AT is not comfortable to shoot even if it is a locked breech. Mine is a safe queen at the moment.

I find the PPK, Beretta M84 and a Colt Mustang similar in recoil and all are manageable.

A Colt 1908 is more comfortable to shoot, but it is a larger, heavier pistol than the PPK and the Mustang.

 

[rust collector]

Does anyone have experience with recent production PPK/S 22 rimfire to share? I have had a couple P22s and although they were cute, they didn't seem made to last. I do still have a silencer adapter and wonder if it would work with the current PPK/S. Any experience with the gun would be helpful and appreciated.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Does anyone have experience with recent production PPK/S 22 rimfire to share? I have had a couple P22s and although they were cute, they didn't seem made to last. I do still have a silencer adapter and wonder if it would work with the current PPK/S. Any experience with the gun would be helpful and appreciated.

Last gun I've heard called "cute" was a Baby Browning and those idiotic NAA mini revolvers.

 

[rust collector]

Sorry, cute was a reference to diminutive size and tactical style, but the Umarex influence was strong with relatively soft material used for slide and sharp parts that didn't work well together. Seems like the current PPK/S is a sturdier option with classic design. Still, I have learned to hang onto my wallet until user feedback is received. Sooch seems to like it, but I hope to hear from others as well.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Sorry, cute was a reference to diminutive size and tactical style, but the Umarex influence was strong with relatively soft material used for slide and sharp parts that didn't work well together. Seems like the current PPK/S is a sturdier option with classic design. Still, I have learned to hang onto my wallet until user feedback is received. Sooch seems to like it, but I hope to hear from others as well.

Several reviews I've seen seem to like it. Minus one, but he's an idiot. Can't run a wheelgun, auto, nada. Absolutely incompetent.

 

[wiscoaster]

Does anyone have experience with recent production PPK/S 22 rimfire to share?

Please see my post #8 in this thread.
Yes, it does have a threaded barrel, but I never tried suppressing it.

 

[jar]

Does anyone have experience with recent production PPK/S 22 rimfire to share? I have had a couple P22s and although they were cute, they didn't seem made to last. I do still have a silencer adapter and wonder if it would work with the current PPK/S. Any experience with the gun would be helpful and appreciated.

I have a pretty recent Walther Fort Smith PPK/s 22 and so far it has been as reliable as expected and remarkably forgiving regarding ammo. Seems to feed, fire and extract any style or brand of 22LR I've tried.

 

[wiscoaster]

Boy-oh-boy, that's exactly the opposite of my experience!! Mine's a German-made stainless.

 

[rust collector]

I have heard they favor mini-mags. Those are the usual fare for my 22 pistols. I suspect that as it wears in, the gun may become more ecumenical.