Walther PP

[Isaac's Grandpa]

I have a Walther PP made in West Germany I am trying to date with no luck. It has a lanyard ring on the bottom of the grip. It is a sweet shooter and very accurate for fixed sights.
Also, any tips on where to get spare magazines would be greatly appreciated.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I also have a Walther PP. I got my magazines from Brownells. They are .32 ACP mags with the pinky rest. I believe they're made by Mec-Gar. That pistol is tremendously accurate and wasn't a bad steal at $325 shipped.

 

[usp9]

Link to Walther PP serial numbers. Is the date stamped right on the top of the chamber, visible at the ejection port? Some are.
http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pp-tp-series/18519-walther-pp-serial-numbers.html

 

[sgt127]

Where, specifically, was it made? Zella Mehlis or Ulm? Should be stamped on the slide. Post a picture?

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

Made in Ulm. Photo once I figure out where I put my camera.

 

[sgt127]

Ok. Post war.

.32 or .380?

Lanyard ring makes me think old German Police duty gun if its .32.

 

[BLB68]

When I was in Berlin, around 89 or so, there were a bunch of police trade ins at the Rod and Gun Club. I picked up three of them, all made in the early 60s. So, at least at some point, they did put a bunch into the civilian market.

 

[usp9]

Here's one of the police trades from that era, an NDS cartouche in this case. It was manufactured in 1970. Serial Number 396xxx.

 

[PRM]

Midway has magazines for the PP & PPK/s (same Mag). They are Mec Gar mags and are high quality. I use them in my PP and PPK/S and also have that brand of mag for my Browning HP.

They run around $20 +- Their are two styles, flat base as well as the finger extension.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/64...lat-base-walther-pp-32-acp-8-round-steel-blue

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...flat-base-walther-ppk-s-380-acp-7-round-steel

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

USP 9, that looks exactly like mine. Serial number is in the 4xxxxx range. One of the sweetest shooters I have. I know .32 caliber isn't looked on very highly, but I wouldn't care much to be hit by one.
I had one person try to tell me it was a WWII souvenir, even with the made in West Germany stamped on the gun.

 

[sgt127]

I think the PP series shines in .32. All of mine, except on .22 are in that caliber.

 

[lsudave]

How is the recoil on the .32? I've seen some FEG pistols in that chambering recently, and it has me intrigued. I own a FEG in 9 makarov... the gun is very comfortable to hold/point, but that 9 mak recoil is a bear with the small gun. Everything is channeled right into the base of my thumb

 

[Jim K]

The PP and PPK were designed around the 7.65mm Browning (aka .32 ACP); the .380 was never common until the GCA '68 forced it on Americans, and never was as reliable as the .32.

Recoil on all those small .32 pocket pistols is very mild and makes them fun to shoot (though expensive unless you cast and reload). They are very accurate, with small but good sights, and most have good trigger pulls.

Jim

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

Going by the date chart on the Walther site, mine was made between 1973 and 1975. I checked Midway and Brownells for magazines,but both are on backorder. Thanks for all the leads on this.

 

[Onmilo]

Try here for genuine Walther magazines.
http://www.carlwalther.com/page2.htm
from 1947 to 1989 ALL Walther PP/PPK/PPK-S pistols were made in France at the Manurhin plant regardless of what the markings on the pistol say.

 

[Schlegel]

FYI, mecgar is the OEM for Walther mags. I get mine from Greg Cote. Reasonable prices, and he never gouged on anything during the panic.

 

[cfullgraf]

I checked Midway and Brownells for magazines,but both are on backorder. Thanks for all the leads on this.

Magazines for the PP, PPK/s and PPK seem to about as difficult to get as hen's teeth.

I got some PP 32 ACP magazines from Midway last year using the "Wish List" system on Midway. Now that the uber panic is mostly over, you do not have to be instantly on the spot to buy something when it comes in. But, I would not wait once you learn they are back in stock.

Yes, the Mec-Gar magazines work well.

 

[bannockburn]

I had a Walther PP which was a West German police gun (and apparently used very little in that role as the gun was in pristine condition), and a French made Manurhin PP; both in .32 ACP. The two guns were great shooters; well made, very reliable, and quite accurate.

 

[PRM]

I just looked on ebay, there are multiple listings for the Mec Gar in both calibers

 

[Schlegel]

Greg Cote has them now. Under 25$, seriously, he's the most reasonable and consistently in stock dealer I've found for them.

 

[Onmilo]

FYI, mecgar is the OEM for Walther mags. I get mine from Greg Cote. Reasonable prices, and he never gouged on anything during the panic.

Mec-Gar was founded in 1965 and may have been making replacement magazines for Walther pistols but they are NOT an OEM supplier.
At least not until recently for more modern Walthers.
http://shop.mec-gar.com/ABOUT-US
I have no problem with Mec-Gar mags other than they fit and function better in newer made PPs than they do in older PPs and try finding a Mec-Gar PP magazine in .22 long rifle or .25 acp...

 

[Schlegel]

I did not say they made all of them through history, they are the OEM now, and been for years. If you buy a new Walther stamped PPK or PP mag, it's made by Mecgar. 25 and 22 are irrelevant, as Walther hasn't made them in a long time. The current 22 is really Umarex-made, and as far as I know, no parts, mag or gun, interchange with the old one.

 

[Candyman87]

I run Mec-Gar mags in my 1973 Manurhin PP in 7.65/.32 ACP. No problems at all. They feed better than my factory Manurhin magazines.

That being said, great score. I love my PPK in .380 but there's something about shooting the PP in its original caliber that excites me. Has that classic sound too!