I'm going to be purchasing my first handgun in the next few days and have decided on the Walther P99 AS. I wanted to purchase the .40 cal version but I've read alot of posts that say the gun is much better in 9mm. Can someone that owns or has shot a .40 cal P99 tell me how it shot and why it isn't as good as the 9mm version?
Walther P99 .40 cal vs 9mm
- Thread starter J-Dog
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Autolycus
Member
I have heard that the Walther shines in 9mm. I have heard that it is decent in .40 but I dont know. I think Shipwreck can tell you about the Walther as it seems he is a Walther guru.
modifiedbrowning
Member
I don't have a .40 P99 but I do have three 9mms. First off great choice and welcome to the Walther club.
The complaints I have read about the .40 version are that it has pretty snappy recoil (quite a bit of muzzle flip). Also, the early versions had some problems with bad magazine baseplates that would break easily, but this seems to no longer be a problem.
For your first handgun I would recommend getting the 9mm version as it has less recoil to avoid flinching problems and 9mm is much cheaper to buy than .40.
Hope this helps, Modified.
The complaints I have read about the .40 version are that it has pretty snappy recoil (quite a bit of muzzle flip). Also, the early versions had some problems with bad magazine baseplates that would break easily, but this seems to no longer be a problem.
For your first handgun I would recommend getting the 9mm version as it has less recoil to avoid flinching problems and 9mm is much cheaper to buy than .40.
Hope this helps, Modified.
10-Ring
Member
I'm not a 40 fan so....I'd recommend the 9mm -- 9mm is less expensive to purchase & should result in more trigger time long term, recoil is more tame & easier to master and I find it more fun to shoot all things considered.
ZAT
Member
I never fired the 9mm, but did own the 40 for a few months. As far as the gun goes, its a great gun. Feels good in the hand, trigger is good, but the transition from DA tp SA took some time to master. In my unit there was a VERY big difference between the 2 trigger pulls. Nothing that cant be mastered, but you have to be very careful your first few times out to not have any ND's. The thing to look for in the 40 cal, if you go that route, is to make sure you have an all german version. Some of the first 40's had slide assemblies made by S&W and had issues. Look for the Eagle proof marks on the frame, slide and barrel to make sure you have a German unit. Also the mags should have blue followers. I eventually ended up trading it in, but that decision was based not on the gun, but caliber. I am not a fan of the 40 as for me it was not a fun round to shoot.
You mentioned that this will be your first handgun. Based on that statement I woudl recommend the 9mm simply cause it is a much more pleasent round to shoot. Its accurate, cheap and easy to handle making for mor practice time and such.
Hope this helps.
You mentioned that this will be your first handgun. Based on that statement I woudl recommend the 9mm simply cause it is a much more pleasent round to shoot. Its accurate, cheap and easy to handle making for mor practice time and such.
Hope this helps.
Personally I'd get a 9mm just because its cheaper to shoot and you'll be able to practice more.
Past there here's some p99 owners talking about their experiences, it seems to go both ways http://www.waltherforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5276
Past there here's some p99 owners talking about their experiences, it seems to go both ways http://www.waltherforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5276
I love my 9mms. I have 2 P99s and a SW99 - all of the A/S variety.
Yes, do not go with the 40 - there are some fans, but with the design of the pistol and the bore axis, I don't think it's a great choice for 40 cal. There is just too much recoil compared to other guns.
That being said - there is no other gun I want than a 9mm A/S P99. That's whta the gun was originally designed for too.
I shot a 40 cal P99 this past weekend. If I had started with that, I don't think I would have liked the gun that much.
I'm also seeing people who buy the 40 version complain about it quite a bit online on the various forums. Stick with the 9mm
Yes, do not go with the 40 - there are some fans, but with the design of the pistol and the bore axis, I don't think it's a great choice for 40 cal. There is just too much recoil compared to other guns.
That being said - there is no other gun I want than a 9mm A/S P99. That's whta the gun was originally designed for too.
I shot a 40 cal P99 this past weekend. If I had started with that, I don't think I would have liked the gun that much.
I'm also seeing people who buy the 40 version complain about it quite a bit online on the various forums. Stick with the 9mm
ozarkhillbilly
Member
I really screwed up last week I bought a P99 and a FNP both in 9mm, after taking them both to the range the other day, I love the P99 its a great handgun I rank it right up there with my sigs maybe a little higher. However after shooting the P99 the FNP9 was a let down, I mean it is a ok gun it just does not compare to the Walther, of course the price did not either.
Mr Kablammo
Member
In general, I would recommend the 9mm over the .40 for the same reasons above. The ammo is less costly, time back on target will be a big quicker, capacity is higher, mags are more available. But the .40 is now the police round of choice. If you get the 0.40, don't fight the recoil, let the gun recoil into the web of the hand and use the support hand to get back on target.
If you want the .40 because of stopping power issues do it. In any event, be sure to practice IDPA or IPSC with your new self-defense tool. Visit the Competition Forum here and do a 'net search' on IDPA, IPSC, AASA, and Steel Challenge. A first handgun can be a big change in mindset. These are good venues to practice and meet experienced pistoleros. The P99 will become such a boringly accurate shooting experience that if you are not doing action shooting you will be like the Maytag repair man.
If you want the .40 because of stopping power issues do it. In any event, be sure to practice IDPA or IPSC with your new self-defense tool. Visit the Competition Forum here and do a 'net search' on IDPA, IPSC, AASA, and Steel Challenge. A first handgun can be a big change in mindset. These are good venues to practice and meet experienced pistoleros. The P99 will become such a boringly accurate shooting experience that if you are not doing action shooting you will be like the Maytag repair man.
I agree with what everyone else has said.
from my short experiance with handguns, since i am only 23 and have only had 5 of my own, i first purchased a taurus .357 with a inch barrel for carry, i got it because i was stupid and it just looked badass, if i pulled it on you you would leave, it was that badass. After shooting a few rounds, being totally un accurate more then 1 or 2 rounds out of 5 i purchased my walther p99QA titanium in 9mm. at the time i had shot .40 but not the walther. i went with the walther because the interchangable backstrap made the gun fit my hand perfectly, and went with 9mm for price of rounds and ability to practice more often. it's always upto you, but if would buy another one in a minute.
from my short experiance with handguns, since i am only 23 and have only had 5 of my own, i first purchased a taurus .357 with a inch barrel for carry, i got it because i was stupid and it just looked badass, if i pulled it on you you would leave, it was that badass. After shooting a few rounds, being totally un accurate more then 1 or 2 rounds out of 5 i purchased my walther p99QA titanium in 9mm. at the time i had shot .40 but not the walther. i went with the walther because the interchangable backstrap made the gun fit my hand perfectly, and went with 9mm for price of rounds and ability to practice more often. it's always upto you, but if would buy another one in a minute.
possum
Member
i would say go the 9mm route, cheaper ammo to practice and train, and there are some great sd/hd loads out there that will do the trick. i recomend 115gr +p jhp's myself!
PX15
Member
Get the 9mm..
Get the 9mm P99c/AS
Get the 9mm P99/AS after you fall in love with the compact.
And, you will fall in love with it.
Potential accuracy that is wayyy beyond what most shooters have the physical ability to make use of....
Another reason for the 9mm over the 40 cal...
Nine mm is the most popular round in the world. It is available everyplace, and priced reasonably. (You can afford to practice, practice, practice).
If you can't stop someone with 10+1, or better yet 15+1 (or 16+1) 9mm CorBon's you wouldn't be able to with a 40cal.
Just my old fart opinion, but I'm right on this one!
Best Wishes,
J. Pomeroy
Get the 9mm P99c/AS
Get the 9mm P99/AS after you fall in love with the compact.
And, you will fall in love with it.
Potential accuracy that is wayyy beyond what most shooters have the physical ability to make use of....
Another reason for the 9mm over the 40 cal...
Nine mm is the most popular round in the world. It is available everyplace, and priced reasonably. (You can afford to practice, practice, practice).
If you can't stop someone with 10+1, or better yet 15+1 (or 16+1) 9mm CorBon's you wouldn't be able to with a 40cal.
Just my old fart opinion, but I'm right on this one!
Best Wishes,
J. Pomeroy
I own a Walther P99 (all German) in .40. I like the gun one heck of a lot. Yes, .40 is more to handle, but this is my primary home self defense gun so I'll live with a bit more kick. I do not find the extra recoil, muzzle flip, or the commonly and accurately used adjective, "snappiness", to be objectionable. I think that if you go into owing a gun in .40 understanding that and accepting that to be the case, you will end up better off. But, as a first gun I'd recommend the 9mm only because it is easier to handle. On the other hand, if a .40 is all that you know, and you train with it, you will more than likely get used to it as it will be what you know.
That said, I plan to acquire a P99 Compact and it will be a 9mm. I think that 9mm will be much better for a compact and it will round out my collection with the .40 and my .45 Smith SW99. If either Walther or Smith ever came out with a .45 compact I'd be one happy camper, but Smith is done with the whole line and Walther has no interest in the .45. Too bad.
That said, I plan to acquire a P99 Compact and it will be a 9mm. I think that 9mm will be much better for a compact and it will round out my collection with the .40 and my .45 Smith SW99. If either Walther or Smith ever came out with a .45 compact I'd be one happy camper, but Smith is done with the whole line and Walther has no interest in the .45. Too bad.
banddr2
Member
I had a P99 in 40 and shot it alot, ended up getting surgery on the tendon sleeve of my trigger finger, no lie. I can't really blame the gun, I may have just had another problem. The recoil is stout, it depends on how strong and beefy your hands are, I have very skinny fingers. Also had the same problem with a Glock 23, which is similar in size and weight. I don't have trouble with steel guns in 40. Most experts say 9mm to 45 doesn't matter as much as shot placement as long as you are using good quality hollow points.
I own both the S&W 99 and Walther P99QA. Emjoy shooting both of them. The S&W has the advantage of "second strike" capability in case the first hit on the primer does not ignite. I do like the QA trigger, a very light, uniform DA trigger which I can shoot almost as well as a SA trigger.
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