Sig P238 or Walther PPK or PPK/S

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rugmar

rugmar

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I'm considering purchasing one of the three pistols above. Some concealed carry but not all the time. I see MSRP is within 50 to 125 dollars of each other depending on exact model. So, up front the Walther is less expensive but, I don't like making decisions based solely on price. What is most important to me is safety and reliability. I read some reviews on each and mostly heard good things about each. I'm leaning a little toward the Sig but only because I have a P225 that I like alot.

Can you guys give your opinions of these three? Actually, I think the PPK and PPK/S only differ slightly in exterior dimension because of the extra round that the PPK/S model will hold. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, if you have one of these and carry it, I'd be interested to hear the condition you carry it in.

Thanks for your time and I appreciate your responses.
 
I have fired both P238 and the PPK/S. The P238 is lighter and more concealable. Not a bad trigger, but SAO [which isn't a huge issue]. Groupings weren't tight, but it was my first time shooting it.

The PPK/S is heavier and a bit thicker in the handle. Does have an extra round. The trigger on the one I shot was really nice. I printed some pretty good groups with it.

That is my input.
 
I have a P238 and a PPK. My observations are about the same as Orion8472.

Recent events have soured me on cocked and locked carry so I bought the PPK. But the double action trigger is kind of stinko. Single action is nice and the heavier pistol is a little easier to control than the lighter P238.

I've recently ordered some rubber Hogue grips for the P238. I am hoping they will make it easier to hold on the the pistol. The aluminum grips allow the pistol to mave around alot in my hands.

So, whatever your preferences are.

The PPK/S has a longer grip frame than the PPK. Otherwise they are the same. The PPK/S was introduced to meet the Gun Control Act of 1968 so that it could be imported. The current PPK is manufactured by S&W in the US and therefore gets around the law.

I understand, originally, the PPK/S was made by putting the PPK slide on the PP frame. But, I've slept since then.
 
I would avoid any S & W made Walther and look for:

#1) Walther PP or PPK 9mm kurtz [.380] made in Germany and imported by Interarms. A 90% blue will cost in the $600 range.

#2) Walther PPK or PPK/S .380 made in USA by Ranger for Interarms. Stainless PPK/S can be found for around $550.
 
Looked at both and opted for P238 due to sights and feel. Great gun to have. Have no issues with quality or reliability, but mine has newer serial number series and is thus far recall and issue free. I also own another Sig and Walther so I am partial to both brands.
 
The sig is a Colt Mustang. Sig bought all of the equipment from Colt. They changed the look slightly, but if you hold a Mustang and a P238 they are the same gun, with some minor cosmetic differences. The sig is a great gun, no doubt, but the DAO is huge as stated above, and I bought the S&W PPK/S recently, (have not shot it yet). Feel is similiar in size, ppks seemed heavier and heavier trigger pull. If I need a gun quickly, the ppk/s was for me due to DAO. Both great guns, buy one of each...then decide!
 
Walther PPK is DA/SA, a little heavy but great for first shot capability. The Sig has a SA trigger which requires a safety to be disengaged to shoot. I recommend the PPK or a 9 oz. Ruger LCP.
 
srfalke said:
The sig is a Colt Mustang. Sig bought all of the equipment from Colt. They changed the look slightly, but if you hold a Mustang and a P238 they are the same gun, with some minor cosmetic differences. The sig is a great gun, no doubt, but the DAO is huge as stated above, and I bought the S&W PPK/S recently, (have not shot it yet). Feel is similiar in size, ppks seemed heavier and heavier trigger pull. If I need a gun quickly, the ppk/s was for me due to DAO. Both great guns, buy one of each...then decide!
Click to expand...

There are more than cosmetic differences between the Colt Mustang and the Sig P238. For one, the barrel on the Sig cams down farther than the Mustang's.

Since Colt is re-introducing the Mustang, announced at the Shot Show, I wonder who built/is building new tooling.
 
I have a 238 and love it.
I want a PPK but only because of James Bond, and I'm only considering the Interarms version. Compared to the Sig the PPK is much heavier, and somewhat larger, and known for "biting" the web of your hand with the slide. The PPK is a blowback design, and therefore has more recoil than the Sig will, although the larger mass should negate some of that. I think the Sig is the softest shooting gun I own.
The PPK/S was created to qualify for some archaic import laws where the firearm had to weigh a certain amount, so they added one round and made the grip longer. For some reason, these don't have any appeal to me.

So, Buy the Sig first, look for a nice used PPK (Interarms) and forget the PPK/S.
 
I have had bad experiences with the Smith version of the PPK and PPK/s. I would avoid them.
 
What is so bad with the PPK/S? The one owned by my parents is a great gun. Quite accurate. What up? :scrutiny:
 
I haven't shot either of the Walther's but I own a P238. If you do an advanced search here, or on other forums, for P238 in the thread title, you'll get a bunch of hits. They all seem to run the same way.

Almost everyone finds the gun very accurate, good looking, easy to shoot and have had no issues with it at all.

Some have had issues with them and it's not always the same thing. Of those that had issues, it seems many have been able to get the problem resolved with a new recoil spring, or extractor, or mag.

Some never had the problems resolved. Many lost confidence in a carry gun, some just gave up.

IMO, based on my unscientific study, the number of guns with problems is too high.

Sig has been in possession of mine longer than I have. 2nd trip to them (no expense to me), they have had it for a month, first trip was a ten day turnaround. Hopefully that's a sign that they're really fixing it good. :D

It feels good in my hand for such a small gun, and is very accurate. I'm anxious to get it back. If I could do it over with hindsight, I'd take a hard look at the Kimber Solo (I am anyway).;)
 
P238-ppk-s

Well, let your heart be still. They are all very nice. I have PPK, PPK-S, and I am now on the hunt to add to the collection a P238. To find the one I want at the price I am willing to pay is the time consuming thing. Both Walther's are from Germany, well France to Germany, to America. Some of the P238's have very nice trigger pulls, some are just down right bad to be polite. Yes I do shoot them - not as much as I would like, but there are so many miserable days out there. Before long I will have a P238 on my side. That's if I can keep it away from my wife....:D
 
Must admit

I was one of the "this is a piece of junk" when I first started my journey with a Sig P238; BUT, now the new spring is in and I received the new magazines (3 each 7 round) from Sig Sauer and put a few more rounds through it I am having very little problems and seems to be doing very well. Not to sure about the "added power" rounds but I did jump some up (during reloading) and they are perfect, so there may be something to it. Anyway the little gun is great now and goes with me everyewhere.:p
 
The P238 is a great gun. I know that there were initial issues with the early models, andI just shot 200 rounds (mixed rounds including priv-pFMJ, Remington JHP, Winchester Bonded). Only one FTF but that was ammo issue, as the cap was struck. I loaded back in after 30 seconds, an the round fired on second attempt.) Feels great shooting, and has better sights and lower recoil than my Taurus TCP (738).
 
You may want to look at the P99C in 9mm and the PPS. Would take either Walther over the Sig P238.

Va herder
 
All I can say is that the Sig is a fantastic little pistol. However, if you aren't comfortable carrying "cocked and locked", it might not be you favorite CCW. But if that is the case get it as a range toy! :)
 
There are a couple of posts here knocking on the S&W-made PPK and PPK/S.

If you google around a bit, I think you'll find that the Interarms ones were the dogs. (for slide bite, especially) The people who knocked the S&W-made ones did not bother to justify their reasoning. Is it just that they don't like the idea of S&W buying the rights to a Walther gun? I think so.

Not mentioned here is that the PPK does not have room for the pinky finger. The PPK/S is just enough larger to let the pinky cram in there. (also depends on the size of your hands) The result to me is that the PPK/S is a lot more comfortable.

No experience with the Sig, but the P232 is the more comparable one.

If you're not brand-faithful and are open-minded, you should really also consider a Bersa. Those who have shot both the PPK/S and the Bersa Thunder 380 almost always have to admit that the Bersa is a better shooter. (less felt recoil, desptie having an alloy frame) Bersas are less than $300 too, and they make a model specifically designed for CC.
 
I wanted to weigh in on Smaug's comments; I own a S&W PPK/S (manufactured post-recall) and I have had no problems whatsoever with it. I have put close to 1000 rounds through it, and while there is some ammo that it does not like, the ammo that it does like feeds smoothly and reliably, ejects cleanly, etc. It is my first pistol, and I found it to be very accurate 'out of the box' for a first-time shooter, and I feel confident carrying it as my everyday CCW. I do not have any handgun training, but I can consistantly put my shots in a 1 to 2 inch group from 10 yards out (not bragging, just saying that it's very friendly to this novice). Based on my experiences with the PPK/S, I would recommend taking a look at it, and if you have access to one at a local range, taking it for a spin and seeing if you like it.

I know there were issues with S&W PPK's, but they're not all lemons. My S&W PPK/S is a gun that I plan on carrying for a very long time, and I have no complaints at all on it's reliability. I do carry it everyday, so I am staking my life on it, so to speak.
 
I prefer the Walther PPK/S for my needs. Have owned a PP in .32 ACP, a PPK (Interarms), and two PPK/S's (Interarms). My current PPK/S is a blued model, and I feel very confident in my shooting abilities with this pistol. For me, the pistols point naturally when drawn, and fit my hand well (prefer the flat bottom magazines). I've looked at the S&W versions of the PPK and the PPK/S, and do not like the rear buildup of the frame on them (never been bitten by any of my Walthers).
 
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