Walther P99

[newguy123]

A year or so ago I had a pellet gun that was almost exactly like the P99 and that turned me on to the gun. Since that time I have shot other guns but haven't shot the p99 yet as I haven't found a range with one in. I'm just wondering if I should go for the gun as a first even though I haven't fired one? I hear lots of good things but I still can't make my mind up. I like the look and feel of them but don't really know about the trigger feel with the double and single action. I'm also wondering about the decocker as it is much different than others I have seen? Can anyone give me some advice or first hand experience to help me make my mind up? Thanks.

newguy

 

[355sigfan]

Mine had problems with its slide locking open prematurely it took years to find the problem and get it fixed. The accuracy is only so so and it has a bit of muzzle flip in 40sw. I would say forget it and get a Glock.
Pat

 

[nordaim]

I have had mine for a little over a year and have put more than 1000 rounds through mine at the range.

Accuracy for pistol ranges is good, in my case, but by no means match grade. From the test target I got with the pistol, at 25 meters it was shoot ~3" moa. My own shooting skills are not so good, but 2" at 10 yards at slow fire are normal.

The slide lock problem was fixed with new magazines. You can tell by the colour of the followers in the magazine. If they are black or orange, they are the old style magazines. If they are light or dark blue, they are the new magazines that correct the slide lock issue.

If you happen to pick one up used and you have the old magazines, you can send them to Walther USA to have them replaced with new mags for free.

The trigger pull in double action is *long*... A little too long in my opinion.
As for single action, it is short, crisp, and to the point. This was a bit disturbing at first because it would break before I though it would. This came from having shot Glocks primarily before picking up the P99, which have a slightly longer trigger pull in SA.

Just weighing in with another opinion, hope it helps.

I would certainly look at trying one before buying though. Ask around to anyone you know who shoots and try to pick one up. I wound up being happy with my purchase and the price, but would have been a bit ticked if I spent that kind of money for something that didn't perform as the P99 does.

 

[45R]

The P99s are pretty good guns. For a first gun it will serve you well. It will keep going and going. I never had any failures or jams of any sort. The slide always locked back and it was accurate to boot. The DA/SA transition is great. The gun is light and will accept full capacity and neutered magazines. Great gun, I highly recommend it!

 

[Penforhire]

Another hearty recommendation here. Seems like a "soft-shooting" gun to me (above and beyond the whole '9 mm shoots soft anyway' arguments). More accurate than I am and has been stone reliable for 2000+ rounds (I recall two stovepipes with crappy ammo).

 

[Amish_Bill]

I'm very, very fond of mine.

If you're anywhere around Atlanta give me a ring. You can check out mine.

If you're around Nashville I'll be in the area for short bits every now & again.

ps.. regarding the Buy a Grock comment - I usually refer to my P99 as everything Glock did right and nothing they did wrong.

 

[wanderinwalker]

When I hit 21 I plan on making my first pistol purchase either the P-99 or an H&K USP-9c. (Or maybe the H&K in .40, haven't decided).

After handling and shooting both the P-99 and various Glocks, the P-99 is equally easy to learn to make fast hits with and possesses plenty of accuracy. Get one, preferably in 9mm as these seem to have the fewest problems reported. Enjoy. And don't worry, it will last as long as a Glock while being slimmer in profile with steel magazines.

 

[355sigfan]

ps.. regarding the Buy a Grock comment - I usually refer to my P99 as everything Glock did right and nothing they did wrong.
END

Well actually I feel its got the worst features of a da sa auto with some good glock features. It has that blasted da sa trigger or a long trigger dao. Not a short and nice pull from start to finish like the glock. It has also had its share of reliability problems. First with the premature slide lock backs that took the company over a year to fix. 2nd with the 9mm versions having a difficult time running on 115 grain ammo. Sorry skip the P99 and get a Glock. Thats the best advice I could follow. If you want a DA SA and don't like Glocks get a Sig or a Beretta.
Pat

 

[slh02]

The P99 in 9mm was my first handgun. It has been 100% in almost 2k rounds fired. My P99 has had none of the problems with 115 grain ammo that others have reported. All of my range ammo is 115 grain and that is what 90 percent of the ammo gone through the gun has been.

In my opinion, the P99 is a great gun with something truly different (a DA/SA striker mechanism). It's a great balance of looks, capacity (17 rounds of 9mm), function, and reliability.

Also, I know no one has brought it up but not having a safety is a good thing to have on a first gun IMO. It really taught me to be careful and observe the 4 rules without a false sense of the mechanical safety.

All in all, I would recommend the P99 everytime to someone looking for a first gun or just a new one to add to an existing collection.

 

[Wildalaska]

Superb pistols.

WildigotoneAlaska

 

[gvass]

I tried 3 examples of standard P99 (9 mm Luger), all of them were reliable (one is well after 4000+ rounds).

They have better ergonomics (excellent grip) than the Glock, and their fit and finish is IMHO a little better. Their external design is unique, but I am sure, that it is not for everyone.

If you bother with the DA/SA, they are available with DAO (no decocker) or Glock-type Safe-Action (small decocker) trigger.

 

[Bowlcut]

i dont have a p99 but a sw99 so basicly same thing just looks different and different metal

I love it. great controls, easy to learn, and i am spoiled by the trigger. yea there are smoother triggers, but i love the short pull when it locks the trigger back. not like spanky's usp where you still have a long pull if you release the trigger on that second round. i dont like the way his hammer on that usp40 seems to kinda flail the fireing pin, just looks like its rubber when you pull the trigger. the 99 series is well built and well thought out. you get a service pistol that will hit what you point it at, and rugged enough to take any beating. i havent had 1 failure of any kind since i bought the gun in febuary, and have put probaly 1500~ish rounds though it now. the 40's have a very snappy recoil but thats the nature of the round. the ability to custom fit the gun to your hand...beautiful. it really has spoiled me for what you get in one package, its hard to find all those features in one gun that works.

if i had it to do over again, id get a walther p99 in od green frame 9x19. those are just pretty guns

 

[HankB]

The P99 is the only 9mm pistol I've tried that has "pointability" that's at least as good as my BHP. But I haven't bought one.

Friend has one in 9mm - he found it was only good for a couple of hundred rounds between cleanings before it started malfunctioning. (FTF, FTE, and trigger problems.)

The Walther people told him he needed to adjust the recoil spring to the particular load he was using - apparently Walther makes two different springs for this pistol. So he swapped recoil springs, with no difference in results.

FWIW, I've stopped seeing P99's at local IDPA matches . . . SSP seems populated with Beretta, S&W (no Sigmas or SW99s), SIG, and the occasional Ruger or CZ.

 

[lunde]

The Walther P99 is a great pistol. I prefer it in 9mm.

 

[WonderNine]

Walther P99, probably the only guns uglier than a Glock or XD.

 

[Beav]

I love my P99QA even though I think I should have bought the DA/SA version.

 

[spenny]

i love my P99. it's accurate and fits my hand perfectly. i dont know how many rounds are thru it, (somehwere between 1000-2000) but i have yet to have a stovepipe, misfeed or any other kind of error.

it eats whaterver i feed it.
lots of wally-world whitebox (its on the way to the range) S&B, some of the better stuff, and a bunch of old crappy chinese made and other odd-lot old ammo my bro-in-law gave me after he realised he no longer had a 9mm to fire it out of.

i think some people are fixating on early problem that have been long fixed.
i mean they've never revised the glock mfg. process or engineering, right?

spenny

 

[NMGlocker]

P99 9mm Military
20k+ rounds thru mine with zero malfunctions.
Replaced recoil spring 3 times, and slide stop spring at 10k rounds.
Eats 115gr. Value-pack ammo by the case with no problems.
Been thru 4 different 2 day firearms courses, no cleaning during the course, courses were from 600-1500 rounds over the two days. No malfunctions at all. No problems shooting one handed, or from odd positions. Functioned in the rain at Dallas, the sandstorm in Colorado, and the red clay powder of Abilene, I'm completely satisfied with my P99.

 

[HadEmAll]

P99 in .40 here - I'm delighted with mine. I carry it, and that means it's been perfect, or I wouldn't. Right around 600 rounds of 155 and 165 grain FMJ and JHP with no malfunctions at all. You can carry it with the long, smooth first double-action trigger pull, or you can carry it in single-action mode. Best of both worlds I think. I like the decocker, and think the mag release is light years ahead of anybody else's. Nice little low-profile adjustable-for-windage rear sight. The most ergonomic grip I've ever held (my opinion only of course).

 

[learnedmonkey]

I recently had an opportunity to shoot a bunch of .40's. The P99 was the only one I liked out of the bunch. I don't remember if the range had a glock to compare it to, but everything about the way the gun felt as it fired impressed me. It was my first time doing handgun target practice, so I can't really talk about accuracy, as I was all over the map with everything but the revolvers.

The range I was at has a reputation for not taking good care of their rental guns. The glock they had that I did fire had all sorts of problems with the slide mechansim (it was either a 9 or a .40), whereas the P99 was smooth as a fine scotch. Just one subjective opinion; it's entirely possible the P99 had just recently been cleaned after its maintenance issues had become a problem.

Shoot with all the ones you're interested in, and pick the one that you like best. If you decide later that you aren't happy with your decision, you can always sell it and buy a different one.

 

[WonderNine]

I recently had an opportunity to shoot a bunch of .40's. The P99 was the only one I liked out of the bunch.

A blistering indictment for .40 S&W guns.....

 

[Andrew]

I don't post a lot (ok i just about naver post anymore) but on this i have to...
I have a P99 in 9mm and it is one of the oldest US ones, from back when Interarms still imported them. This was my frist handgun and i have just loved it, i'am over 1k rounds thru it with zero malfunctions, and great accuracy.
So if you are thinking of buying a P99, just do it you will not be sorry.

 

[forcefed]

Love the P99. Best polymer I've had. Would choose the 9mm over the .40.

 

[killermarmot]

I shot the Smith and Wesson version of the P99 which as far as I know is exactly the same and was not impressed. The slide rattled and the accuracy did not seem the best, perhaps it was just this particular gun but I was expecting alot more out of this pistol. I've been wanting a P99 for a while but unless I shoot another that feels "better put together" this one's off my list.

 

[NMGlocker]

I shot the Smith and Wesson version of the P99 which as far as I know is exactly the same and was not impressed.

The S&W SW99 is different than a Walther P99 in a few areas.
The slide on the SW99 is stainless steel, and manufactured by S&W here in the U.S., the P99's slide is carbon steel and manufactured by Walther in Germany. The SW99 barrel is stainless steel and again mfgd. by S&W, the P99 is carbon steel, made in Germany.
It is generally accepted that S&W does not hold their slides and barrels to the same tolerances that Walther does, and the older SW99's were known for their inferior machining. The latest SW99's I've seen are much better, but the Walther is a superior pistol on a more consistant basis.