Walther PPK Accuracy and Reliability

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I am interested in getting a pistol that I can comfortably and concealably carry during the summer with nothing buy shorts and a t-shirt on. However, I want the weapon to be accurate and reliable. What kind of accuracy and reliability can I expect from a Walther PPK? Would you recommend a PPK? Thanks.
 
A PPK is a pretty big, heavy gun. One of the new generation pocket .380s would be a lot more well suited to the task.

But, PPK's are very nice and reliable guns, and they have decent accuracy. They're just quite large and heavy for their caliber.
 
The PPK is a fine pistol with a proven design, and in the right hands it's quite accurate. My son, with good eyes and steady hands, can knock cans off a fence post at 25 to 35 yards all day long with his. If you are shopping for one, I would recommend a PPK/S in .380 ACP for self-defense (.32 if you just want to shoot it and have fun). In order, IMO, get a German-made Walther (more expensive but the real deal), a French-made Manurhin model (exellent craftsmanship), or the USA-made Interarms stainless version. The current models from S&W, which recently underwent a painful recall, have been redesigned (hammer block/safety mechanism and extended tang) and have had some reliability issues.
 
nothing buy shorts
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Since it's been a 100+ in the Phoenix area, I regularly carry the PPK with my shorts. However, you NEED shorts that have loops for a belt since it's heavy: all-steel-all-business.:)
 
Is there anywhere that sells new German-made Walther PPK pistols? Also, are the S&W-made PPK pistols actually less relialbe than the other makes? Finally, I have considered other .380 pistols such as those from Kel-Tec, but they seem cheaply made and people either say they work or they are cheap pieces of junk. I'm open to alternatives, but it seems to me that the Walther has withstood the test of time and is a solidly designed pistol. However, I'd like your thoughts. Thanks.
 
The current models from S&W, which recently underwent a painful recall, have been redesigned (hammer block/safety mechanism and extended tang) and have had some reliability issues.
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Comes as no surprise to me. There's something about making reliable autoloaders that has always eluded Smith & Wesson. They just can't seem to get it right, even when they take a proven design from another manufacturer and produce it.

To be fair though, I have never seen one of the Interarms ones I would trust either. I knew a couple of people who had stainless steel Interarms PPKs, and they wouldn't even feed ball very reliably. On the other hand, my Dad used to have a German made PPK/S that never malfunctioned.
 
Carried a Walther PP in .32 Auto for a lot of years with no regrets. Never had any serious issues with it, and it was a good shooter. Have handled and fired some of the European PPK's and several PPK/S versions. They have all been good guns. No experience with the S&W ade Walther's. I never had problems carrying the PP in even the lightest attire in spite of its size and weight,...being all steel. Nowdays,..I generally carry a Keltec P3AT or P-11. Different strokes fer different folks.
 
I like my PPK a lot. It's reliable, reasonably accurate, and heavy.

I like my P232 more, It's reliable, more accurate (at least for me), and weighs less.

I prefer to carry it over the PPK since it fits my hand better, but I've carried the PPK to a few black-tie events ala James Bond :).
 
Very good point RC,...Mauser Hsc isn't bad either,..if you can find one you can afford.
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I had one once. I took it to the range shortly after buying it, then logged onto the computer and put it up for sale immediately after coming back from there -- literally the first thing after I walked through the door. It wouldn't even feed ball reliably, and it bit the web of my hand worse than any other gun I've ever shot.

For my money, of all the pre-WWII vintage .32 and .380 pistols, you can't do better than a Colt M1903/M1908, or a Remington Model 51. They're single action, but you can carry them cocked & locked, and and they're slimmer than the PPK or the HSc (the Remington's much slimmer), so they conceal better as well. The M1908 and Model 51 I own have proven utterly reliable with FMJ as well, though not all of them might be, since they were never actually designed for it.
 
Being from the Phoenix area also I quit carrying my Walther for the Sig P230sl. The stainless just holds up better to sweat than the blued version of my PPK/s. I have not seen a stainless PPK/s that functioned all the time.
 
Do they still make German made PPK/S?
And is it available in the U.S.? (NIB)
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No

Carried my interarms a long time and still do now and then Pocket or IWB I have never understood the weight thing . Yes weights more than a KelTec . People today are spoiled The PPK/s or the PPK can be pocket carried . With a good holster the weight isn't a issue But then I also carry a steel frame J frame . People complain their to heavy also . Well lot less recoil with the real steel than that lite junk. People have carried steel frames for years with out a problem But into day plastic world all sudden they weigh to much. What a crock.
 
I own a blued German proofed PPK/S .380 and have had no feed issues with it. It is inherently accurate with its fixed barrel and I don't find it hard to carry, or conceal. It is a beautiful piece of work. I don't carry it as often as I used to since purchasing a Kahr PM9. Less weight, more compact and a larger pill to push down the pipe. That said I wouldn't feel under gunned carrying the PPK/S.
 
Wlather PP Series

My experiences with the Walther PP series pistols go back over 30 years and has been positive. I have owned over that time five Walthers. Two were .380s and three have been .32 ACP. All of mine have been either the Interarms or Manurhin Walthers.

Can't comment on the S&Ws. But they do have some features that would be a positive for shooters with larger hands. This being the extended tang. S&W does have a great customer service - that being said I would not rule out owning one of their guns.

Of the Walthers I have owned both the Interarms and Manurhins have all been extremely accurate. I can get a 2 inch group at 30 feet.

I no longer have the .380s. One got sold when I was in college and the other shortly thereafter. Both of my .380s would have an occasional hiccup ~ but not often enough to be a worry. I would get a FTE about every 150 - 200 rounds.

Now the .32s. I have had two of the Manurhin PPs (still own one) and I have an Interarms PPK/S, SS, in .32 ACP. My Manurhin PP and my PPK/S have went through Federal Hydra Shocks, Fiocchi FMJ, Patri Partizan FMJ, and Remington FMJ with no problems. The .32 has an 8+1 (9 shot capability) with the PPK/S. Recoil is light and comfortable to shoot, follow up shots are fast.

Given both guns ~ I personally like the .32 better.[/SIZE]
 
The Walther PPK is a bit large compared to current offering for concealed carry. It may have been considered a pocket pistol in pre WWII days but it is easilly outclassed in that department.

I carried a Glock 36 but more recently have opted for the Kahr PM-9.
 
People have carried steel frames for years with out a problem But into day plastic world all sudden they weigh to much.
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The PPK weighs 22oz. A Glock 23 weighs only 21oz. and it's a 14 shot .40.
 
Well, the PPK itself varies pretty wildly in quality and reliability. I personally would instead recommend a more standardized gun based on the PPK, such as the Polish P-64. With a quick spring job, it can be a very fine carry gun. It is extremely accurate and, being a military pistol, is very reliable and cheap. It's the same size and weight as the PPK. I wear mine everywhere I go. There's also a few other Soviet military pistols that would fit the bill. It's up to you, but I'm placing my trust in a tried and true military pistol that hasn't been bastardized and compromised by ill-advised changes and shoddy manufacturing.
 
I REALLY wanted a PPK. So I bought one. A stainless S&W manufactured one. It was by far the worst autoloader I've ever owned as far as reliability. Its a great looking gun, and the thing is ACCURATE. Yeah, true, you can find lighter and smaller 380s nowadays but you wont find one as sexy or accurate. Just PLEASE dont buy a S&W made one. I heard left and right "dont buy s&w ones, they are jam-o-matics" but I figured I should evaluate that for myself. Sure enough, everyone was right.

When I get some money I'll probably buy a used german one.
 
The PPK weighs 22oz. A Glock 23 weighs only 21oz. and it's a 14 shot .40.
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Those are empty weights.
Load them and see how the Glock compares.

Not to mention the Glock slide being comparable to stuffing a brick in your pants.

I can carry one of my 1911 Colts in my waistband easier then my Glock 23!
There would be no comparison to a PPK or SIG P232 at all.

rc
 
Load them and see how the Glock compares.
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The 23 is 31.03oz. with 14 180gr. cartridges.
Not to mention the Glock slide being comparable to stuffing a brick in your pants.
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The Glock's slide is only 1". The PPK is .80" and the M1911 is .92"
 
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No stay away, i carried a pre 74 German model as my secondary carry in the 70-80's. When it ran right it was a great gun, but suffered from to many problems to list here. There isn't a reason to carry a 23 oz 380, anymore, we did it because we had to it was that or a model 60 smith. You can get the sig if you are stuck on that particular design, or a 9mm that weighs less and holds more. Maybe a glock 26, or a keltek or a new walther compact 9, they weigh 19 ozs and hold about the same amount of rounds in 9mm, And shoot. It's a pretty gun, but I would pass on it with the info you have.
 
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