Walther P99, some questions...

[BoneDigger]

I looked at a new Walther P99 today, in the "Military" OD green. It's a nice looking and good feeling gun. I think this one comes with the DAO trigger, maybe called a QD or QS or something like that. I could find no external safeties of any kind.

My questions:

1) How reliable are these guns?
2) How good/bad is the trigger?
3) Anybody had issues after the warranty expired? I'm wondering if Walther/S&W would fix for free after the 1 year?
4) How well do these carry for CCW.

Todd

 

[Riktoven]

1) How reliable are these guns?

I stopped counting after 25,000 rounds with no failures of any kind.

2) How good/bad is the trigger?

There are 3 trigger options:

AS (Anti-Stress also known as Traditional DA/SA) is amazing. Roughly an 8lb. DA pull with ~4.5 lb short crisp SA.

QA (Pre-cocked striker similar to Glock) I've only dry-fired one, but personally I prefer the Glock trigger.

DAO (true Double Action Only) like firing a DA revolver on every round. I will never understand why this was invented. If your officers can't be trusted with a "good" trigger, should they really have a job that requires a gun?

3) Anybody had issues after the warranty expired? I'm wondering if Walther/S&W would fix for free after the 1 year?

Never had any issues, so I can't comment here.

4) How well do these carry for CCW.

Outstanding. At 23oz. the G19 is the only comparable gun that is lighter (by 1 oz.) and the slide countours make it hide about the same. I generally carry IWB in a Tucker "The Answer", though ocasionally I carry in an Alessi shoulder rig if it's going to be a long drive. If you want a good trigger on a polymer gun with double digit magazine capacity, there can be only one! The P99!

 

[Shipwreck]

Go here for more info:

http://www.waltherforums.com/vb/

 

[MDW GUNS]

The AS trigger is OK, the QA is plain terrible!
Otherwise it's a good gun for CCW and range gun!

 

[357SIG]

Carries like any other mid-sized semi, but hides a little better than the Glock 19/23/32. I've had no problems with mine at all.

 

[scubie02]

well, I used to own a P99 in 40 S&W--it was one of the "all german" ones they used to make a big deal about making sure you got when they first came out. Let's see...

1) How reliable are these guns?

Mine was totally reliable with any kind of ammo I tried--never a failure of any kind that I recall

2) How good/bad is the trigger?

meh, the trigger was about on par with most service type handguns

3) Anybody had issues after the warranty expired? I'm wondering if Walther/S&W would fix for free after the 1 year?

I'd look at the walther forum and see if people there have made claims after the warranty period and if they paid. I guess it would be at their discretion. I have to say that a one year warranty is not super impressive given the number of manufacturers who offer lifetime warranties. But I wouldn't really expect any more problems with the P99 than any other similar pistol. Stuff happens and things fail, though, and with many other manufacturers you'd betaken care of.

4) How well do these carry for CCW.

about the same as any other pistol of it's type, by which I would mean Sig Pro, Glock, XD, etc


There is nothing wrong with the P99--decent ergonomics, weight, easy takedown, very reliable in my experience (though he accuracy of mine was nothing to write home about). From my point of view though there is little reason to get one when an XD is cheaper, mine have all been more accurate than the P99 I had (this is a sample of one, though, for P99's--others report theirs as being super accurate so some must be), just as reliable, just as easy to take down, similar size, weight, profile for carry, and I assume Springer's lifetime warranty? Never specifically checked that but they have a lifetime warranty on everything else I think and are known for excellent customer service. If you've got the P99 itch, though, may as well scratch it It's not like you're likely to get a BAD gun.

 

[BoneDigger]

I appreciate the replies. I am basically trying to narrow down my choices for a CCW at this point. I already have a XD 9 Service, so I might go ahead and get the XD subcompact instead of the P99. I like the ergonomics of the P99, but with my local Gander Mountain selling them at $800, I doubt I'll got hat route. I could order from Budsgunshop, but I'm juist not sure yet.

Todd

 

[TX1911fan]

I like the trigger of my XD much better than the P99 I had. The AS was ok, but not great.

 

[scubie02]

yeah, that's just it, the price on the P99's is somewhat hard to swallow when you can get an XD for hundreds less that will do as good or better in every regard, at least in my experience. But at the same time, sometimes a certain gun just calls to you and you need to get it out of your system so I would totally understand that as well.

 

[Shipwreck]

Gander Mountain is ridiculously over priced! $800! That's over the MSRP!

Hell, I bought a Five Seven from buds for $779. My local Gander had it for $1099. I went back this Sun. It is now marked at $1299!!!

$500 more! Good god, that's ridiculous.

 

[HorseSoldier]

1) How reliable are these guns?
2) How good/bad is the trigger?
3) Anybody had issues after the warranty expired? I'm wondering if Walther/S&W would fix for free after the 1 year?
4) How well do these carry for CCW.

1) Never has a stoppage on my P99AS 9mm.

2) I don't know about the DAO version, but the AS trigger is probably the best trigger you'll find on a striker fired, polymer framed handgun. In single-action mode, it makes a Glock or XD feel like you're squeezing on a marshmallow.

3) Never had any issues with mine whatsoever.

4) I think they carry pretty well, as double-stack, full-size 9mms go.

 

[usp9]

I have a P99c QA. This is a very, very nice CCW. Not sure why people pan the QA trigger. I find it to be better than Glock, very smooth and, well quick. But...that's why we have choices I guess.

This gun shoots good tight groups, offers quick follow up shots, recoil is mild, ergonomics are excellent. The mag release works better than those on my HK guns...hmmmm. I've yet to have a problem of any sort. I bought mine on a whim because the price was too tempting and I am glad I did. An excellent gun both for defense and range use.

 

[TL1234]

0 issues with mine whatsoever. The best gun I own. I have the AS version. I like the mag release and slide stop on it better than any other guns I own or have tried, and the ergonomics are amazing. Not worth what Gander is asking for it though, you would be better off getting one from gunbroker or some other online dealer. I don't think there is a better gun in 9mm out there.

 

[FieroCDSP]

Can't vouch as I don't own one, but I know it feels as good as the M&P's and it looks a lot better than a Glock. I've been craving one for almost a year. The only thing I've heard bad about them was from a guy who seemed to know his Walthers while at the range. He suggested getting an older German slide on the newer frame, though that would seem to be prohibitively expensive in my mind, and the newer guns seem to do just fine. He never really said why he liked his that way, so I'll simply say that I've heard no one complain about them.

BTW, the going price I've been finding is about $550.

 

[Jimmy Newman]

I have a P99 that's the old style, when there was just the DA/SA pistol an no oddly named variants . Mine is a .40S&W in OD green. It has never had any malfs while I have been behind the trigger. One of my friends has had two malfs with my P99 (slide lockback on a partial mag) which are related to a known issue with the orange follower magazines that came with my gun (these were the original mag design and haven't been sold with new guns for years). It is my understanding that Walther will replace these mags for free, I just haven't gotten around to doing it. It is a mag-related problem that applies only to the .40S&W version and the affected mags are easy to identify (orange follower - the newer ones are blue). The problem relates from the fatter .40S&W rounds being able to shift around and hit the slide stop. They added a dimple in the mag tube which prevents this.

The trigger is very good, especially in SA.

It is very accurate for the type of pistol that it is - mine came with a 25m test target with a group around 2.5", shot offhand. I can do 4"ish groups with it on a good day, I'm just not that good a shot yet .

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I have three 9mm P99s and have never had a malf with one of them. The AS single action trigger is very nice. The P99 is the best polymer pistol on the market in my not so biased opinion.

 

[David S]

concured.....
love mine.....
getting a p99c AS soon

 

[PX15]

Fantastic pistol..

J. Pomeroy

 

[MontanaBighorn]

see http://p99sw99.com for a forum dedicated specifically to these beautiful pistols.

 

[BoneDigger]

Howdy guys and thanks for the input. I found a SW99 9mm in the shop today for $550, NIB. Is this the going rate for one of these?

Also, how does the SW compare to the walther?

Todd

 

[PX15]

JMOFO:

For practical purposes I think the SW99 and the P99 are equal. My buddy has the SW99 and loves it.

On the upside, if you buy a new SW99 you get a lifetime warranty from S&W. The Walther would only be one year.

On the downside it's not a Walther.

I think a new P99/AS, or P99c/AS would only run you $40-50 more... You pays your money and takes your choice.

Either pistol will serve you well.. IF you buy a Walther I do recommend you get the AS version, and it is my understanding that the SW99 IS basically the same trigger/striker mode as the "AS", or traditional da/sa model.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

 

[Jupiter]

 

[Anna's Dad]

I bought the DAO version and sold it. I would undoubtedly still have it if I had gone with the AS as I liked everything except for the trigger!

 

[JAB]

I have a p99 as and love it, shoots great, ergos are perfect. Only complaint is I got the titanium coated slide and it is showing what appears to be corrosion or something. I dont baby it, maybe I should have cleaned it more, not sure. I do wish I had gotten all black, my black guns finish seem to hold up better than this one. Maybe it can be cleaned of, not sure. I am looking to get a p99c or h&k for next carry piece.