Thinking of getting a PPK/S

[Longbow]

I am getting the itch, though, for something extra and I am thinking about a PPK/S.

I'de buy a Makarov instead. It's one hell of a gun for the $$.

 

[otomik]

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

i'm not speaking from extensive first hand experience (unless you're talking about my Bersa Firestorm .22lr which rocks). It's just that you initiatially said you wanted general opinions and that you liked the PPK style (i do as well). But then after people start telling you all their horror stories about the PPK you add that it's not really meant to be a practical purchase. but what can we say about a gun that you appreciate as stunning example of industrial design and whose function is much less important, especially because you got a gun that already fulfills the same role much better. So if it's not meant to be a practical functioning gun then i like bad_dad_brad's idea of "why not just get a PPK/S CO2 pistol", they are made by the same company so it will look somewhat authetic and say "walther" on the side. I say buy it if it's really the looks that matter. a good looking gun is a gun that you're more likely to take good care of and practice with more. But that time and money you'll be using to practice with the PPK is time you could have been using to train with much better weapon. A PPK is a great looking paper weight compared to the G36, treat it that way and keep to the G36. The G36 works great and is 6+1 rounds of .45ACP, it's uncertain if your PPK will work well and even if it performs as well as the glock it's much less powerful with only 6+1 rounds of .380.

there is no real good reason to have more than ONE pistol either.

I also think there are reasons to have more than one well-functioning gun. you would be stupid to opt to carry the PPK rather than your Glock36 but what if it's somewhere for repairs? what if it jams? what if you hear something downstairs in the middle of the night and want to go check it out with your G36 but are afraid to leave your girl alone and unarmed or poorly armed.

We need "Guns. Lots of guns."

 

[Hal]

Thinking of getting a PPK/S

Look for a good used one for a good price then. I wanted one for a long time and finally lucked into an American made (Interarms) stainless PPK. Great looking gun, well made functioned like a champ,,,,,

chewed the living daylights outaa my hand though. I found out I didn't like it as much as I'd wanted it and sold it for five bucks more than I paid for it.

Great thing about the PPK - PPK/s - there's always another Bond fan (sucker) that *has* to have one, so they're easy to unload on someone else PLUS the used ones hold their value.

PPk/PPK/s is one of those "gotta have" type of guns.

 

[Longbow]

chewed the living daylights outaa my hand though

The S&W copy got a better beavertail design, but then again, its not the real thing.

 

[Hal]

its not the real thing.

yup.
It's also a S&W. I've been less than thrilled with the QC on the last new S&W's I've bought. Maybe they've perked up an paid attention over the last year or so and cleaned up their act,,,,*shurg* I dunno. Complaints about QC have been going down lately.

Anyhow, I'm not a fan of the PPK or the PPK/s anymore. I *had* to have one, I finally bought one. I shot it and it bit me. If I would have paid $150 (I paid $395) for it I'd have probably kept it. OR if I hadn't been able to sell it for $375 - $400 ( I sold it for $400 while standing in line to get into a gun show) I would have kept it. OR if it had been a .32 cal I'd have kept it since I don't have a .32.

As it was, I sat there looking at it one day and asked myself how much I really liked it.... I decided that I didn't like it $375's worth - and $20 was a fiar price to pay to satisfy my "be 007" for a day urge. I happened to get lucky when I turned it and didn't lose out.

Like I said though, a PPK is one of those "gotta have" types for a lot of people. I can understand that 100%. I say if if the itch is there, scratch it. Life's too short not to.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Interarms imported the PPK/s blued from Germany also. You might check and see if you can find one of those. Supposedly, they were of much higher quality than the American made ones. May be less trouble. The few examples I've seen have been exceptional in workmanship and the blueing is awesome. It will cost more than the American made versions, though.

 

[KeysBear]

I shoot my friend's Interarms PPK/S at least once a month. He has two. One belonged to his dad. I don't care much for the trigger. It's also danged heavy for it's size. No problems with accuracy once I got used to it. I know his have never had any problems. Overall, I really don't think they're worth the money. We have more fun shooting my Makarovs any day. I have considered getting a Bersa Thunder .380 at the right price, but I know it's not a Bond gun like some people want.

Regards, Keys

 

[care-less]

My experience has been 180 from most of these posts! I have two of them. One of them is a Manhurin, the other is an Interarms PPK/S. Walther never did produce any PP"s or PPK's after the war. The Russians stole all of the equipment from the plant, took it home, along with the plans for the PP Super, and developed their Makarov. production was licenced to Manhurin in France; who made the guns, sold them under their own name, and also shipped them to Walther for final fit and finish, Walther put their name on them and sold them also. During the 70's I think, Interarms cut a deal with Walther to make them here in the US. They were still made by Manhurin at the same time. now S&W has the production rights here; Manhurin still makes them in France. Thats a general outline anyway. I love them both. I don't think there has ever been any pistol so nicely fitted as the PP and its cousins. Very precision made, very nice deep blueing, never had one jam on anything, accurate in the extreme. Yes, the first shot DA pull is tough; makes it safer to drop in your pocket. This one is absolutly not going to go off just because an ink pen, pocket knife, etc worked its way into the trigger guard! Was never meant to be a target gun. First shot was going to be up close and personal, and the way these things can pump out the lead, that will do. As for the 380 being obsolete; penetration, expansion wise, it is right on the heels of the 9mm. The 32 is claimed to be just as good as the 380. That claim is made by people who own a 32 and are trying to console themselves. The 32 is not a 380; anymore than the 380 is a 9mm! That said, the 380 will penetrate a considerable ammount of material; try one and see if you don't change your mind! John Browning invented the 380; I think he knew what he was doing. I shot one into an already deceased deer one time, went right thru and out the other side; and left a considerable sized hole! Pretty good sized buck, chest cavity about the same as a man. I have great respect for the round, and the gun.

 

[Majic]

I've only had 2 problems with them. They bite the hand that feeds them and the DA trigger is heavy (by design and can't be changed much).

 

[sgt127]

I've owned most every variation of the Walthers you can imagine. PP's, PPK/S's and PPK's. German, French and American. All I have left is German and French versions in .32. I have never found the 380's to work as well as the .32's. The German and French work better than the American ones in my experience. If you want a Walther because of the "cool" factor, Spend the time and money to go get a real German PPK in .32. The trigger is alot better in the .32's I've owned too. They are classic designs and well executed. There are a ton of better carry guns out there. But, for the sheer pleasure of owning them, I can justify the Walthers.

My wifes home defense gun is a French PP in .32. Alot of hits with a .32 beats alot of misses with a .45.

 

[borodin]

Ok you have convinced me

I decided against a PPK for now and decided to get a makarov instead. A lot less money and it still fulfills my want of a unique design (cool looking) and has the added pleasure of having a really good reputation. For you Makarovniks...its a Bulgarian that is supposed to be NEW! I was told that it has only been test fired at the factory.

Getting it at gunbroker.com

Thanks for slapping some sense into me.