S&W-made PPK/S

[EddieCoyle]

I used to have an Interarms PPK. I loved the way it looked, and the way it felt in my hand, but not the way it performed. The slide used to bite me, and it was picky about which ammo I fed it. Some ammo would fail to extract, some would fail to feed, and the slide didn't always return to battery. The overall fit and finish of the gun was barely acceptable. I finally sold it, but I half regretted doing so.

Well...the "Bond to carry the PPK again" thread got me thinking about how much I missed the little auto so I went out yesterday and picked up a brand spankin' new S&W-made stainless steel PPK/S. The two words that best describe the difference between the S&W and the Interarms are "Night and Day".

The fit and finish are superb - probably the best I've seen on an autoloader. I took it to the range this morning and fired a box each of Independence, WWB, and S&B and was not bitten by the slide (S&W made the beavertail larger) and didn't have any failures at all.

Maybe I'm imagining this, but the S&W PPK seemed to be a whole lot more accurate than my old one and definitely more accurate than any other .380 that I have (BDA and 1908). I'm sure that part of it is the better sights on the PPK.

If you haven't tried a PPK in a while, you should check out the S&W.

 

[Working Man]

I pick-up one (PPKS) not that long ago myself. FMJ (Winchester White Box)
and HP (Remington Express & Corbon +P) ran just fine through it.

My groupings were ok (not use to such a small gun) but they were a little to
the left so I have to adjust my grip a bit. It's a great little gun... a little odd
to take apart but it does have class.

 

[bulbboy]

I have loved mine! I bought the S & W version this last summer - and it has shoot great - no bite marks here!!

 

[David S]

I have a 1964 "german" made PPK, its sooo nice, and I have long since assumed the new smith made ones were Junk.
Nice to hear they are getting some good reviews.....

 

[Ad Astra]

Hoo-rah for the PP/PPK/s.

They feel great in the hand.

I put 200 rnds thru a Manurhin PP last Sunday, with 0 misfires and jams. Heard they were good.

The American ones like you have take a different grip, for some reason. I was shopping for custom grips and found a size difference.

Went with the zebrawood.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/walther1.html

 

[Great Scot]

I had much the same experiences with PPKs. I bought and traded 3 Walthers. Each time I bought the gun because I liked the way it felt in the hand, how it pointed and easy it was to clean and maintain. Then I shot it, got bit by the slide, and started to think about possible trades. Also, I never owned a Walther that was reliable, even with FMJs. That said, I only owned the Interarms models. It seems like the german made Walthers are vastly superior in finish and reliability.

Recently, I took a chance and bought a blued Smith Walther PPK. The gun looks great, the slide bite is gone because of the extended tang, and it has been reliable through 250 rounds of mixed FMJ's and hollowpoints. I think Smith got it right this time.

 

[sgt127]

Having the pleasure of owning several Walthers...I rate the reliabilty as follows:
German PP in .32 10
German PPK in .32 10
German PPK/S in .380 9
German PPK/S in .22 8 (Very picky as far as ammo..Good ammo-9)
Interarms PPK/S in .380 7
Interarms PPK in .380 7
Interarms TPH in .22 4

I swear, they were originally designed for the .32 and they run their best in that caliber. I really want to try out a S&W PPK. I hope they make it in .22.
I've also found the .32's have better triggers. I think part of the locking system is the main spring holding the slide shut, therefore, heavier spring in the .380's.

 

[EddieCoyle]

sgt127,

The recoil spring has an affect on the trigger pull? The trigger is the only thing about the S&W that could use improvement. It's still better than the Interarms that I had though.

The double action pull is "gritty" and very very heavy. I've been dry firing it (DA) as much as possible. It feels like the kind of gritty that smooths out in time (but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part). I'll find out: A co-worker bought one after firing mine (his is blued) that has a similar trigger pull. Since he doesn't shoot as much, and doesn't plan on dry firing it, I'll use his as a benchmark to see if mine smooths out with use.

The SA pull is heavier than I'd like but not too bad. Has anyone had good results doing a trigger job on a PPK/S?

 

[1 old 0311]

Had a Interarms. It was OK. Bought a Tiger Edition S&W PPK/S and it is GREAT. It is so reliable that it actually gets boring at the range. I have mixed mags, limp wrist, and shot left handed. It just keeps going.

Kevin

 

[neil minor]

That "gritty feel should go away after a while.

 

[loadedround]

S&W made PPK

I had a Smith made PPK and I was very pleased with this pistol. However I sold it to purchase a Seecamp SWS-32. The PPk was much too heavy for its caliber size. There are 9mm's out small and lighter than the PPK. JMHO

 

[MICHAEL T]

I don't get slide bite and my Interarms has been flawless fom many a year. I never seen anything wrong with fit and finish and a trigger job has done wonder for trigger. Guess I keep my interarms. Check the edges of you slide and front edge of frame On S&W Ive looked at you can shave with them..

 

[shield20]

I had a great Interarms too way back when. Never had a single problem with it. Nice gun - I sold it after a few years when i started getting into collectible WW2 stuff. Probably would pass today cause of the DA/SA functionality.

 

[sgt127]

sgt127,

The recoil spring has an affect on the trigger pull? The trigger is the only thing about the S&W that could use improvement. It's still better than the Interarms that I had though.

I think it does matter. Not the recoil spring, the main spring that powers the hammer. Since they are straight blow back guns, I think the mainspring is a little heavier on the .380's than on the .32's. I know if you try and lighten the mainspring to get a better trigger, it will often lead to cycling problems. But, maybe its just my misconception based on all the .32's being older guns....

 

[HammerBite]

Had one in my hand . . .

I was sitting here wiping down my Interarms PPK/s when I came upon this thread. That surprised me a bit.

I only owned the Interarms models. It seems like the german made Walthers are vastly superior in finish and reliability

My Interarms PPK/s was made in Ulm, West Germany. Did I get a special one?

It is a fun gun to shoot. I've put over 1000 rounds through mine with no problems, ever. The SA and DA trigger pulls are excellent.

I can see where someone with bigger hands than mine could get bitten by the slide.

 

[Alan Fud]

I had a Smith made PPK and I was very pleased with this pistol. However I sold it to purchase a Seecamp SWS-32. The PPk was much too heavy for its caliber size. There are 9mm's out small and lighter than the PPK.

This is true. There are 9mm's out there smaller and lighter than the PPK ...

... but the gun is such a classic that I just had to get one and the S&W model is a much better gun than the ones from Interarms, IMHO ...

 

[David S]

yeh, but it says SMITH AND WESSON!
eak!
could those rollmarks be removed?

 

[denfoote]

I use my PPK/S to excercise my trigger finger!!!