Walther P99's

[geophysicishooter]

Looking to upgrade in the .40 cal department. The Walther P99 series of pistolas has caught my attention. Particularly the QA version//

Who has one? How do you like it? What can you tell about it that could help decide for or against it?

 

[Deanimator]

A friend has one. It seems like a very decent gun. I'm not a big fan of actual double-action in a semi-auto, but it seems as well done in the Walther as has ever been done.

 

[geophysicishooter]

the double action only aspect of my current 40 is what has me shopping around

 

[MarcusWendt]

I own a Walther P99 .40 S&W and I love it. It fits my hand like a glove. POint well. I might recommend that you look at the A/S trigger instead of th QA. The A/S seems to be far and away the most popular.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Q: what is "anti-stress mode"?

 

[Autolycus]

It is a DA/SA gun rather than a DAO.

 

[CPshooter]

Q: what is "anti-stress mode"?

Like already mentioned it is basically a DA/SA gun. Walther also adds another stage to the SA trigger pull only after the first racking of the slide to chamber the first round. After you chamber the first round, there will be a little pre-travel to the triggerpull, but still a very lightweight pull. This pre-travel is added to lengthen the pull for a less chance of a ND. After you pull the trigger slightly, the trigger will basically set in the normal SA position and it will stay in this shooting position for the rest of the rounds in your mag.

The SA is actually very very nice and crisp, breaking somewhere between 4-5lbs. The reset is very little too. A decocker mounted on top of the slide (actually pretty cool IMO) allows you to decock the gun to the DA mode which is around a 12lbs. pull.

So basically "anti-stress" is a safer first SA shot once the pistol first goes into battery.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Ok, getting a better idea of what's goin on here.

So what are the advantages and/or disadvantages of the AS over the QA vis-a-vis the trigger action/feel/operation. From what Ive read on their website the QA is essentially the same operation except for the lack of "anti-stress" mode and the trigger pull is the same for every round.

Another question: does the "anti-stress" mechanism re-engage upon the slide locking back, loading a new mag and chambering the next round.. It sounds like the gun wouldn't have any way of knowing that the mag ran empty and a new one inserted.. Is that right? The gun would keep on operating in SA mode after the new mag?

 

[NGIB]

Only if the gun is decocked does it function in DA mode. While I don't have any Walthers, I have a pair of S&W 99s in .40 and .45 and they're among my favorites. Very comfortable and controllable grip, accurate, and well built. I'm considering getting a 9mm to complete my set...

 

[geophysicishooter]

looks like the exact same pistol. smith continues to do a good job of "borrowing" other company's designs, it seems.

 

[Soybomb]

looks like the exact same pistol. smith continues to do a good job of "borrowing" other company's designs, it seems.

They partnered with walther to make the gun and to import the walther's into the US. Walther makes the frames and s&w makes the slide for the sw99.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Yeah, I guess I was just being harsh. It is hard to overlook the similarities between their websites..

 

[Soybomb]

carl-walther.de is walther's home page
"walther of america" is smith and wesson.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Ok, next question:

Looks like all the p99's have Springfield Mass markings on them while walther actually only shows 9mm versions on their site. Does this mean that unless I buy a German made model, I'm getting a SW99/P99 one way or the other?

Oops, check that. They do make a .40, but still the question remains, Odds are I'm buying a smith made slide assembly on a walther-made frame, right?

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Odds are I'm buying a smith made slide assembly on a walther-made frame, right?

Nope, all Walther P99s are 100% made by Walther in Germany. Only the SW99had a SW made slide and barrel.

 

[geophysicishooter]

really? because I see on more than one P99 that there are Springfield Mass stampings on the ejection port side of the slide..

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=91394030

 

[nalioth]

Smith and Wesson is the importer of Walther stuff at this time.

Those are importer markings.

 

[geophysicishooter]

ah, I see. sometimes it's hard to separate signal from noise.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

personally, i don't like the P99. we had one, we brought home, we shot it, then we sold it. yeah, it looks cool and ergonomics are nice, but i couldn't deal with the trigger pulls.

 

[usp9]

I have a P99c with the QA trigger. I compare it favorably to the best pistol made, the HK P2000(sk). The P99 has great ergonomics, points naturally, is very, very reliable and is simple to maintain. I shoot it as well as the HK. The QA trigger is akin to the Sig DAK and the HK LEM. These are ultra smooth, consistent/ constant pull triggers that are the same each time. That's the whole point. The QA runs at about 8 lbs, resets fast and has a short stroke, hense the name Quick Action. I definitely like the trigger.

My only problm with the pistol has been a few premature slide lock-back occurances that I believe were Thumbs forward grip caused. The quality is high enough for a duty sidearm, the accuracy is good enough for qualifications, the magazine large enough, the grip is adjustable...what's not to like. I suggest you try all three triggers if available to you.

I suggest you eyeball the HK P2000 too, both excellent pistols.

 

[geophysicishooter]

Well, I just got back from the good ol' gun shop where I put my hands on the weapons in question. The shop clerk just happens to have the 40 cal P99AS as his carry peice. "Coincidence?" I thought to my self. So he showed me around the gun and I looked at and felt the differences between the QA and th AS type triggers. I do like the features and feel of the 99AS. The QA felt more like the traditional DAO trigger. i would like to take one out for a test drive before I take the plunge.

 

[Shipwreck]

Come to college station and U can try mine

Course, that is a pretty good drive

 

[lt1aggie]

Come to college station and U can try mine

Course, that is a pretty good drive

You don't happen to have a pps laying around do you?

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

I have a P99QA in 9mm. I have several thousand rounds through her and nary a hiccup.

I shoot local IDPA matches with her, and she keeps on going. I am AWEFUL about cleaning her, but it doesn't matter, she goes "bang" each and every time.

 

[Zebraranger]

I have a couple thousand rounds thru my 1st Generation P99 .40 with the AS trigger also. Never had any issues with it other than replacing the orange followers in the mags with the blue ones. No issues with the old followers either, I just replaced them because they were free from Walthers and there had been reported issues with the original orange followers with some owners.
Here's a photo. As far as the trigger pull, Its like butter, smoother than any of my other handguns.