Tell Me About Walther's P99/S&W's SW99

[nero45acp]

I've been aware of the existence of the P99/SW99 for a few years, but I've never had the opportunity to handle one until yesterday while at a local gunshow. To my pleasant surprise the SW99 9mm I handled fit my hand like it was fitted for me.

Can someone here please provide some info/opinions/personal experiences concerning Walther's P99 & S&W's SW99. Is there any quality or feature differences between the Walther and S&W versions of this pistol? What trigger configurations are available for this pistol? How does this pistol stack-up in quality of construction, reliability, durability, and accuracy? Also, how difficult is this pistol to field-strip and clean? Finally, are these pistols still in current production by Walther and/or S&W? Thank you.


nero

 

[Riktoven]

Oh man, where to start.

First off, both the P99 and SW99 are amazingly accurate, egonomic, easy to shoot fast, and easy to care for.

The P99 has a tennifer treated carbon steel slide like Glocks, whereas the SW99 has a melonite (basically the same as tennifer, slightly different waste chemicals left over from the process) treated stainless steel slide. Both are pretty much imperveous to rust unless you take them swimming.

In 9mm, both are available with 16 round mags. I've read on the net that some people have reliability problems when loading the mags to 16rnds, but I have over 25k rounds through my gun and none of my 6 16 round mags (or my 2 10 rounders) have ever had a problem.

Both are available in a variety of trigger configurations.

P99-AS trigger- DA/SA trigger type with third AS (long SA pull) available if you like it. Most people I know carry them decocked and don't really use the AS option. The SW99 is identical.

P99-QA trigger- Glock like trigger that leaves the striker partially cocked and offers a consistent trigger pull. It's about a 7-8lb pull that is shorter than the stock glock trigger pull. The SW99-OL is the S&W equivalent here. Not as popular as the AS trigger style, but still a sweet shooter.

Both guns are available in DAO, but honestly, why?

Quality on the Walther is top notch. At least as good as HK's polymer offerings, better IMO. I've not actually fired the SW99 before, but they seemed well built handling them. I've studied drawings of the two side by side and they are pretty much identical aside from the exterior cosmetics. I can't imagine the SW99 being inferior in any way based on those drawings. If the assembly quality is the same, and the internal components are the same, the SW99 should be every bit as amazing as the Walther. Shipwreck can offer more insight on the side by side comparison though.

S&W is discontinuing the SW99 now that they have released the M&P series. Walther is making all trigger styles still, but Walthers always make it to the US in smaller quantities than other manufactureres so you may have to look hard in some areas for your preferred trigger style.

Takedown of both can be done blindfolded in about 2 seconds. Putting them back together takes about 5 or 6 seconds. The gun breaks down just like a Glock, but you don't have to pull the trigger to get the slide off. Field stripping takes the gun down to 4 components: slide, frame, barrel, and recoil rod/spring. The gun likes to be run with minimal oil just like a Glock.

I can't say enough good things about this gun, but I'm sure a couple of dozen others will be along shortly to make up for my lack of praise in this post.

P99 is simply the finest combat handgun available today. I love it for CCW, and if I could use hollowpoints, I'd take it over anything else in a combat enviornment.

 

[OH25shooter]

To me the Walther P99 is the sleeper of all finely manufactured duty size automatics. It doesn't get the press or marketing like Glock and many others for some unknown reason. My guess is it is more popular in the European market. My 9mm has been 100% reliable. It came with 10 round magazines. Personally, if I had to choose something I'd change, it would be the magazine release lever. I like a button release. However, one can adjust quickly to the lever. Breakdown as stated is smooth, as well as reassembling. I'm not sure, but I think their are some minor differences between the P99 and SW99. Hopefully someone can address that for you. You asked about accuracy. This is the best I can do with my P99. I think the gun is very accurate.

 

[wally]

Use the search, this was discussed in great detail recently.

I went with the SW99 because S&W makes it in .45ACP Walther doesn't

--wally.

 

[James NM]

I have one of each and like them equally well. I have a Walther P99 compact in 9MM, and a SW99 in .40. Both are the AS trigger, very accurate, and 100% reliable. You couldn't go wrong with either one. For me personally, the AS is the only way to go. I just don't like "Glock like" triggers.

Three things to consider: 1).The Walther comes with a one year warranty, and the Smith comes with a lifetime warranty. 2).The Walther is usually more expensive. 3).The SW99 is discontinued and hard to find.

Some Walther "purists" prefer the Walther, but they are both excellent guns.

 

[Stachie]

Go with the Walther.

 

[CPshooter]

I love mine. I also agree it is probably the biggest "sleeper" of all the handguns out there. It is just a fine gun from top to bottom. My .40 has been 100% reliable too. The AS trigger is sweet. My doubletaps are so fast.. even with it being a .40 cal. Ergos and accuracy are also top-notch.

I really don't have any complaints about this gun, except I couldn't get ahold of the 9mm version which is what i really wanted. The .40 is great and i like both calibers equally on any other platform, but for the P99/SW99 I'd go with the 9mm if you have the option. The slide is actually different between the 9mm and .40 cal. The 9mm isn't as beefed up towards the front of the slide as the 40 is. If you look at a pic of the 9mm then the 40 you will notice right away what im talking about. The gun is just so much fun to shoot and double tap, so having 16+1 shots of 9mm would make it that much more enjoyable. I'd only go with the .40 if a more potent chambering is required for defense purposes.

I still think the coolest P99 of all of them is the P99c(compact) w/ the AS trigger in 9mm. I still want to get one of those

 

[nero45acp]

Thanks to all for the helpful/informative replies. One more question, is the Walther P99 9mm AS available with the OD green frame? Again, thanks.


nero

 

[PX15]

CP Shooter:

You mean a P99c/AS like this one?


Here's what I like best about it.


Which sorta made me go out and buy its big brother.


I use my P99c/AS w/10+1 for cc, and my larger P99/AS w/15+1 for home defense..

Works for me..

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

 

[TonyT]

I shoot both the S&W Model 99 and Walther P99QA. Love them both. Utterly reliable, great ergonomics, and surprisingly accurate especially considering the short barrel length. I also have grown to appreciate their mag release which does not require me to mopve either my thumb or trigger finger.

 

[fastbolt]

S&W discontinued the SW99 (TDA) in favor of the SW990L (QA-type w/o decocker button), although they were still producing the SW99's for LE agency sales.

S&W recently quit waffling and made the decision to discontinue the SW990L in favor of promoting their own M&P pistol series. Parts and service support will remain available under their excellent Customer Service program.

I'm going to keep my personally owned pair of SW99's. I happen to prefer the Walther traditional double action trigger design used in them.

I'm admittedly biased in that regard, however, since I prefer a decent TDA trigger over almost all DAO-type triggers.