Thinking of getting a PPK/S

[borodin]

I am a serial gun trader....if there is such a thing. I buy a gun and love it for a while then trade it for something else. Right now I am down to one pistol which is a G36. This is a practical carry gun for me and I really think I will hang on to it for a while.

I am getting the itch, though, for something extra and I am thinking about a PPK/S. I have owned a Bersa and it was ok. I know a lot of you love them, but I just didnt like it all that well. I do like the frame type that all those are patterned after. I just have a feeling I would like the "original" thing. I have also looked at the Sig version but it didnt strike me all that well either. ALL are good guns, I know.....just wanted some feedback in the direction of the PPK/S.

 

[treeprof]

My wife had one (Interarms) a few yrs back. Very accurate, but a piece of garbage. Broke after abt 250 rd and S&W were crappy about fixing it (they took over PPK/S repairs when they began their partnership w/Walther). The newer ones made by S&W look a little better, but I wouldn't trade a bad groin rash for another one.

 

[keederdag]

I own one; and have owned another. Both interarms guns. I dont think they are worth the money, the quality just isnt there. I would go with a sig p-232, for quality reasons.

 

[TonyB]

I tried one at local shop a few weeks ago.....DA sucked...it must've had like 14lb trigger.......I like the look and feel of them,but wish they had a 9mm version.....w/ a decent trigger....

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Just go rent one at the range or from a friend if you are just going to trade it off again.

My wife has a new one, I like how it looks and the longer beavertail makes it look safer for the hand. Haven't fired it yet. DA kinda tough.

 

[FPrice]

I have a Manurhin PPK/S and it is a good little gun. The DA is very heavy but the single action is nice and crisp. Had a Walther PPK/S many tears ago and IIRC it was about the same. I have not been impressed by the new S&W models I have seen.

 

[Cableman]

I sold my Stainless PPKS about a year ago, and don't miss it a bit.

It was an Interarms version and would cut the web of my hand everytime I shot it...I sold it for $450 and went and bought a Kahr PM9. I am very happy with the PM9, it is a lot better carry weapon than that PPKS.

 

[kimbernut]

PPK/S

To each his own but if I had to have a .380 backup it would be a Colt.

 

[RUT]

>>I am a serial gun trader....if there is such a thing. I buy a gun and love it for a while then trade it for something else<<

I've been accused of that myself. Glad to see I'm not the only one!!

 

[Steve in PA]

I have a Walther PPK/S and find it to be quite accurate.....very accurate actually. Reliability is also good. I put a new recoil spring in it and it functions fine.

With the Walthers......its usually 50/50.......as far as being good. Apparently I've got a good one.

 

[gbelleh]

I recently acquired a PPK/S that was originally bought in the early 70s. I've only fired a couple magazines through it, but it seems like a nice gun. There are many better carry guns out there, but I collect guns of all types and I'm glad I have mine.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Make sure you check out the Kahr MK9 or PM9 before you buy a PPK/S. The Kahrs are a 9mm+P rated pistol, the same apx. size, with a sweet smooth DAO trigger.

Now, if you just want to be "James Bond" cool, I don't blame you, but maybe one of those Walther PPK imported by Crosman CO2 pellet pistols will satisfy that craving.

I think, as far as new guns are concerned, the .380 is an obsolete round. Modern .32s almost come as close to a .380 regarding power,

in far smaller and lighter guns, and you can get a full powered 9mm, heck, even a .40S&W in the same sized package as your typical .380.

In addition, the typical .380 uses a blowback system, which often has more felt recoil than the Browning lock up systems of 9mm and modern (like the Kel Tec P32) .32 pistols.

And, the PPK/S is just too darned much money.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I've posted on my Interarms PPK/s before. Pretty gun. Love the looks. Haven't shot it in about 5 years because it aggrevates the daylights out of me. It jams like nobody's business (with 3 different factory mags, I might add). It has bitten me badly on several occasions (scars look a little like a snakebite). The factory grips have a tendency to develop cracks around the grip screws. Lot's of sharp edges.

 

[AngryBassets]

I've got an Interarms stainless PPK.

NO malfunctions with the two factory mags I have for it. This is after the prior owner sent it back (I don't know where) because it WAS jamming at least once through every mag.

It probably has somewhere between 500-1000 rounds through it, total.

I carry it now and then when I'm in the mood for something different.


I feel the .380 will do it's job if you do yours. It's likely an individual will become distracted from the task of hurting me or my family after catching a 90 gr Hydra-Shock in the face.

 

[JPM70535]

I must be among the few wo like the PPK-S. The one I own was made by Interarms and since I bought it new I know there have been no modifications done to it. Out of the box it has a long heavy trigger pull that takes a little getting used to. If memory serves me correctly, the Walthers
(PP-K-S) were derived from the PP which was a military officers issue pistol. It was designed to be a defensive weapon used at fairly close range. Despite the trigger pull, I have never had a problem placing a seven round magazine load of 95 gr JHPs in the 10 ring at 7 yards, and I think that is just fine. The PPK-S is small, easy to conceal, has enough weight to make recoil negligible, and from my personal experience has been totally reliable.

I have been tempted to trade it away on several occasions, but cooler heads have always prevailed. JMO but I would rather have it than any other 380 I can think of.

 

[Bren]

We have one in stock and that thing has a terrible trigger,,, I almost broke my finger!

I just don't get why people go gaga over them, theres better guns to chose from for the price, size, and caliber. Bren

 

[denfoote]

I have one of those gull darned S&W PPK/S's!!

I'll be damned if the thing doesn't actually work!!!

It works rather well, I'll have you know... as long as I use Walther bannered mags. Try to use aftermarket mags and the thing morphs into a God awful jam-o-matic!!!!

It's actually quite accurate as well!!

 

[bubbygator]

My experience mirrors that of JPM. Former owner complained of hammer-bite because he used two-hand hold with left thumb crossed over... a guaranteed hammer smash & he couldn't correct his hold for this gun. The slide has a very sharp left-back corner that sliced me once - but I own a dremel; I'll correct it.

My eyes are bad & I usually shoot with a CT lasergrip. But I checked this one out without the laser & like JPM reported it points naturally and is very accurate at close ranges. I cock the hammer for the 1st shot to avoid the DA trigger - the SA trigger is very sweet... very easy for double taps.

But I agree with others that there is no "utility" reason for owning this gun when compared to something like the Kahr. It's just a gun-owners kind of thing - it looks purty & shoots straight.

 

[borodin]

thanks guys

I would agree with you all that there is no real good reason to own a PPK or any .380, but then again, there is no real good reason to have more than ONE pistol either. So with that in mind I will probably get a PPK. Actually the original post was about the PPK/S...but I am thinking that I would like the shorter frame better. Any thoughts on that???

As for the Kahrs...I know they are outstanding guns...however, I have a G36 and the Kahr would be similar in its shape and size. Yes I know, they are as different as night and day, but you get the point. My first Autos were .380's and I got a Bersa first and I guess I just like the look of that style.

Any more Walther thoughts, Gentlemen?

 

[willyjixx]

that was my first .380 also! the Bersa. will the mags swap out between em?

 

[Blackhawk]

I've had both a PPK and a PPK/S, both SS, both InterArms, and both made about 20 years ago.

There's a world of difference between them. The PPK had a 20# DA trigger and a 12# SA trigger. The PPK/S was MUCH, MUCH better on both. I changed the springs in the PPK, which made it about the same as the PPK/S.

The main problem with them is the slide biting tendency, but you can learn to hold the gun to avoid that.

They're both beautiful guns, but there are much better carry choices, IMO. I can understand why you'd want one, and I'd say it might be similar to my yen for a Luger toggle top. I don't need one, and wouldn't carry it, but I still want one....

 

[Copperhead]

I have the Smith & Wesson PPK/S-1 and like it. My gun has had zero FTF or malfunctions. It feeds FMJ and JHP with no issues. The gun is very accurate and shoots to point of aim with Cor-Bon JHP and Fiocchi FMJ (I alternate JHP and FMJ ammo.).The new longer beavertail has taken care of slide bite. The fit and finish on my gun are excellent and the gun came with a high polish feed ramp. I think you will find that the Smith & Wesson S-1 is better than most InterArms models.

I often carry the PPK/S-1 as a primary gun and feel very comfortable with 8 rounds that I can quickly fire and control out to 25 yards and beyound.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My stainless interarms ppk/s is the only gun in the last 25 years I just dumped on a dealer and was very happy to get ANYTHING for it. I ended up with a P22 and frankly even with ITS problems, it is better then the PPK/S. I went through 3 of them in a row. The first 2 were dealer exchanged because of broken extractors, the 3rd on they sent back to S&W for the same problem. After 2 passes to S&W and at least 4 new extractors, when I broke my last spare. I packed the gun up. Took it to the dealer, explained the problem (different dealer, first dealer would not even touch it any more) and he said fine and we traded.

Frankly the PPK/S Stainless is the worst piece of junk I have ever seen. You could not GIVE me one!

 

[otomik]

borodin, if your interest in the PPK is all about it's design aesthetics then i don't think there's much people can say here to dissuade you. i mean what are we going to do? make fun of you and your gun when we see you at the range? it doesn't sound like you care that for the most part they're painfully uncomfortable, unreliable and overpriced. perhaps on some level you'll enjoy the weight, hammer-bite, frustrating malfunctions as part of the weapon's authenticity.

I just have a feeling I would like the "original" thing.

if you still have that feeling after owning a Bersa then maybe it is just about having "the original". go for it.

 

[borodin]

Have you actually owned one Otomik? Or speaking in general terms?