Walther KSP 200

[dam8]

question: why did Walther stop making these? Baikal is still making their 35, and selling lots of em. Why did'nt the Walther become more popular? now all you can get is the plinker P-22 or the top end 1500.00 GSP.

 

[Sactown]

my guess is that people weren't willing to pay more for a refined IZH35M. I have my IZH35M on order and never even considered the extra $$$ for the Walther.

 

[MoNsTeR]

I've never even heard of it. The companies that make Olympic/Bullseye-grade target pistols don't market them at all. Which is a shame really, as some of them aren't that expensive.

 

[DougCxx]

question: why did Walther stop making these?

Because everybody found out it was an IZH with somewhat-better grips and a couple other arguable improvements, but cost $300 more. I have seen a lot of people asking about better grips for the IZH, but nobody has asked how to convert to a push-button slide lock, and I haven't heard of any other details that are different. And the Walther grips are contoured better but not even ideal, as they are a one-piece that requires you to change the IZH to a heel-mag release (a' la DJ Precision) but the main problem with a one-piece grip like this is that it cannot be tightened well! --because the hole has to be larger than the gun's metal grip, so you always have a little wiggle room with such a grip.
Which is not good.
A "split" type grip is better, and there's a few custom grip makers who can cut you a set for around or not much more than what the Morini grips cost that the Walther used (around $150 retail).

The companies that make Olympic/Bullseye-grade target pistols don't market them at all. Which is a shame really, as some of them aren't that expensive....

-Ummmm what? --now really, which ones aren't expensive? Previous to the Walther/IZH, you had to spend $800-$900 on up, and that was for an older design not considered top-level. $1400 is about right for current picks. There is NOT a real big market for such guns, so general advertising is pretty much a waste of money.
~

 

[dam8]

I have found a Walther for 500. I have been looking at the IZH for a while now . Someone told me that there are some different parts that are not interchangable to the IZH? The pcture of the Walther I am interested in has a screw on the side panel of the grip, so that would say to me that it has a 2 piece grip maybe?. I have a Steyr LP1 Match pistol that has a one piece grip and it is firm and not the least bit loose.

 

[DougCxx]

I've never seen a Walther so I don't have any idea.
Try the Pilkguns forum:
http://www.midcoast.com/~pilkguns/bbs/wwwboard.html
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[edit]-nevermind, we see you already have.
~

 

[MoNsTeR]

Well the SIG Trailside Competition, which I know is not quite at the same level, is about $650. And I've seen a few Benelli MP95E's for around $5-600.

You're right there's not a "big market" for these guns. There's not a big market for Volquartsen's $1000+ MkII conversions either, but far more people know about them. Better yet, if you wanted one, it's obvious how to order one. I scarcely know where to start if I wanted to get a Hammerli or whatnot. Simple websites with ordering information would increase sales more than they expect.

 

[DougCxx]

...You're right there's not a "big market" for these guns. There's not a big market for Volquartsen's $1000+ MkII conversions either, but far more people know about them. Better yet, if you wanted one, it's obvious how to order one. I scarcely know where to start if I wanted to get a Hammerli or whatnot. Simple websites with ordering information would increase sales more than they expect...

-Well think of it this way: A Volquartsen is a cheap gun with expensive parts added on, often one at a time. That makes it easy for people to get into it cheaply, and then spend more bit by bit, at their convenience. There is also the customization attraction of having it "your own way", of choosing only the add-on parts you want.
- Also, people tend to stick with what they are familiar with, even if it's not really the best choice. Most people are familiar with names Ruger, S&W, Browning, ect.
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As to where to get them, often the Euro guns only have one US-dealer handling their entire US business, and the dealers change now and then. If you cannot find out, the Pilkguns forum is one great place to ask--someone there will probably know. In fact by greasing the right wheels now, you can probably get your mitts on almost any target gun you wanted, from nearly any country in the world (-tho I admit I have no idea what the Chinese are shooting these days).
---->But don't ask this time, because I already know: in the USA, Hammerli guns are now available through http://www.larrysguns.com/
-And Benellis as well.
The American importer of Benelli shotguns doesn't carry the target pistols at all.
~

 

[dam8]

I frequently visit target talk, it is a wealth of information. My first choice for target would be a Pardini SP, but the price is a bit steep for my buget. The IZH 35 for 22 is the best deal hands down in the bullseye market. the Walther is an IZH35 with atuning job done by the Walther factory.