Walther PPK Accuracy and Reliability

[fractal7]

I'll just throw in my personal experience. I picked up a stainless ppk in Jan 09 and it jammed with every type of ammo every few rounds. I even went through this process with several boxes of ammo to break it in as they recommend. After it still never started working I called S&W who sent me an overnight mailing label free of charge and polished and smoothed out the feed ramp.

Now that being said, since then it has been a fantastic gun, very accurate with the exception of a particularly long DA trigger pull for your first shot being a bit rough.

So most likely I just ended up with a one that slipped QC, and S&W did make it right free of charge.

 

[918v]

A PPK is a pretty big, heavy gun.

For a three-year-old child, maybe.

 

[dogngun]

I have an old FEG, a sort of Hungarian police version of the PP...

They were made with aluminum/titanium frames , and mine is a .32 ACP. It has always been reliable, and is more accurate then uyou would expect from a pistol with such tiny sights. It is a great summer carry gun. I think the steel frame would be much better if you went with a .380 - it would be pretty unpleasant to shoot in a really light gun.

They have been made since the 1930's, used in wars and by police for decades - they are solid and very easy to conceal. The PP's longer barrel than the PPK gives you a bit more velocity and better sight picture, IMO.

mark

 

[SirLingPing]

The 23 is 31.03oz. with 14 180gr. cartridges.

The Glock's slide is only 1". The PPK is .80" and the M1911 is .92"

REAPER4206969, don't let the Glock slide thickness of 1.08" throw you off. Remember the grip width too. Glocks, generally are thick guns and in the CCW world 0.1-0.2" shows up a lot. Here is a G26 compared to a Walther PPS. If that doesn't look like a brick ...

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Yes

Like some of the others who have posted previously, I recommend an imported PPK only as I do not think of the S&W versions as being Walthers.

There are several reasons that the PPK got it's good reputation.

1. Reliability. These pistols work. However, keep in mind that like most autoloaders, it requires a firm grip to function at its best.

2. Durability. Keep it reasonably clean and it will outlive you.

3. Lack of quality competition i.e. timing. Colt and S&W simply did not see the market for concealable autos as being viable after the war and did not get re-involved until after they were already behind.

4. Accuracy. Within the last year or so, there was an article in the NRA's 'Rifleman' doing a side by side accuracy comparison of various pocket pistols on the market. I do not remember the brands, but what I do remember were the charts showing group sizes at less than 25yds. I was suprised at the large groups all the pistols showed.

My .380 PPK has always shot 3" or less benched 25yd. groups with my reloads. I shoot 4.2grs. of Herco with Hornaday's 100 gr. hollow base FMJ. Since that bullet was discontinued I use their 100 gr. encapsulated FMJ. The load and pistol are absolutely reliable.

Recoil in a .380 PPK is stout enough that Walther never released an alloy version in .380. IMO, considerably more than a .380 PP. I think that is the reason you rarely see a .32 postwar PPK go for less than 1000 and the alloy version of the same for even more. The .32 is much more comfortable to shoot. The .380 versions go for less, but still are not an economy pistol.

I have never tried any of the newer - Kahr, Kel-tec, Ruger and other pocket .380s. There many threads covering those guns already. I have seen enough of them being shot however to conclude I don't want one. The heavy, old fashioned PPK fits the bill for me.

Maybe there is an indoor range in your area where you could try some of them side by side to make your choice?

My take, JT

 

[willow]

I have a Walther ppk made in Germany after Interarms closed. My Walther missfired I swear. I had a round in the chamber and I was loading it fired w/o squeezing the trigger. This one was not in the recall batch.

 

[420Stainless]

I've had an Interarms .380 version for about 12 years now. Quite accurate and very reliable. One of my favorite handguns.

 

[Jackal1]

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.

The Kel-Tec PF-9 and the Kahr PM9 each weigh less than the PPK and yet use a more powerful 9mm round. Recoil will of course be more harsh.

Weight
PF-9: 12.7 oz
PM9: 14.9 oz
PPK: 20+ oz

Reliability
Early PF-9's had some growing pains when they first came out but all problems have been fixed now. PM9's are reliable.

Accuracy
PF-9: approximately 5-7" @ 25 yards.
PM9: approximately 6.5" at 25 yards.

Cost
PF-9: $250
PM9: $625

 

[45Fan]

Jackal1 beat me to it, the Kel-Tec pf-9, and other pistols of similar size and caliber should fill that nich the OP stated quite well, and have a more powerful cartrige to boot.
Another thing that would make the 9mm a bit more appealing, that ammo should be a bit easier to find. If you are set on the .380, the lcp and the other pistols of different manufacture are about the best thing you can find. Steel pistol frames in hot weather in a concealed capacity tend to get sweatty, and the less steel there is, the less rust you will be dealing with.

 

[Cemo]

For me, my mid size 1911 conceals as easy as my Glock 26 and is more comfortable than the Glock. Would never buy one of Rev. Moon's guns as I saw too many peoples lives ruined by him and his followers. Getting back to the PPK, I've had a S&W/Walther PPK/s for six years. I've never had one jam and it is very accurate. It is usually one of the first grabbed when my daughters and I get together on our back yard range.

 

[Jackal1]

Yep, I don't care much for the family behind Kahr - I (personally) would go for a different manufacturer... but they do make compact firearms so I mentioned them...