Walther PPK Jamming issue

[stogiegila]

Well finally took my new Walther PPK to the range. I went through 50 rounds (that is all I had ) of Speer Lawman 95gr FMJ.

I was surprised at how well the Walther shot. From what I read I was expecting a pretty strong recoil, however it was very controllable and didn't kick hard at all. Far nicer than say a Keltec 9mm. The sharp edged tang did irritate the web of my hand a bit, but no blistering or cuts, just red. No problems with slide bite, or the decocker.

The Walther shot fairly tight groups, albeit slightly higher than were I thought I was aiming. The DA trigger pull is extremely hard, similar to a S&W revolver. Much harder than say any Sig i've used. However, SA shots were extremely light Overall I really enjoyed this little gun, except for the jamming issue.

I ran into several jams and am wondering what the probable cause would be and wether or not this is something that will go away with further break in.

The top round would partially feed into the ramp and then the next round in the magazine will also push into the feed ramp causing what I would consider a catastrophic jam.

The time it took to get the magazine out and remove the jammed rounds was too great for this to be an easy fix. This happened about 4 or 5 times and occurred with both magazines (the regular flush mag and the extended pinky mag).



I needed to jiggle the weapon ejection port side down in order to get the top round out, which then allowed me to remove the mag and reset the partially fed round.

Any ideas as to the cause of this type of jam and if it is something that will go away in time.

Thanks

 

[The Teacher]

My PPK/S is a jam-o-matic if I limp-wrist it. Solid grip and solid wrist and she goes bang every time.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Moved from General...

 

[stogiegila]

well I never thought I was a limp wrister, but anything is possible. I will need to pay more attention to it next time out.

I do love this little gun

 

[cocojo]

I would check the magazines first. Make sure that the magazines are for the caliber of your gun. Then if they are correct change the magazine with the other one and see if this continues. First is your gun a S&W model? Is the gun new or used? Next what caliber is the gun? Make sure the ammo is correct but my first indicator is the next round comes out of the magazine, that flags either wrong ammo or wrong magazine or bent lips on the mag itself. remember the magazine is the heart of the gun with bad mags the whole gun has a problem. Now if all these check out I would look to the extractor or the little pin located above the firing pin hole. Make sure it is free to move up and down. Let us know how you make out.

 

[tarosean]

were you letting the slide release slowly with your hand? I know I jammed mine up pretty good doing that once.

 

[stogiegila]

The gun is a new S&W model. Gun and both mags are stamped .380 acp and the ammo used was also .380.

The jams didn't occur on the first round but usually after the 1st or 2nd round fired. The loaded indicator seems to flow freely.

Rounds eject fine so I don't think it is an extractor issue. The jamming is not consistent but sporadic, so I'm wondering if it is a limp writing issue.

If the mag lips were bent, wouldn't this occur on a regular basis?

Thanks

 

[Backpacker33]

Got my first Walther PPK in '65, 7.65mm. Hated it from the first shot, as it cut railroad tracks on the web of my hand. Didn't know a thing about it, didn't know anyone who could teach me. So why'd I buy it? Obviously, because James Bond used one. When I got my orders to Vietnam I asked a US Marine friend to teach me about handguns and, of course, brought the Walther. when I held it out to him, he reached for it with the tips of his forefinger and thumb, as though I had handed him a turd. He then pulled out his personal Colt Government Model (no one said "1911" in those days, and they were all "Colts," even if someone else made them) and taught me the manual of arms.
Fast Forward to my final return from SEA, and I found a pair offered to me at fire sale price; a PPK and PP in 9mm Kurz. Memory is short, so I bought them. Same railroad tracks. I learned that to make them reliable I had to grip them as though I was choking a bull. No one used the term "limp wrist" in those days. I didn't "limp wrist," but the Walthers demanded more. I carried them as backup for about 3 years. In the early '80s I had them in close body contact for almost a month in tropical climate, and the PPK rusted shut. After battering it appart and thoroughly scrubbing both, I buried them in my safe. When I saw the S&W version with that fantail, I bought one. Have had NO issues since, of any kind. Other shooters, including our professional military son, and the LEO, like it too, and I had to buy one, and then one more when our sons kept stealing mine.
It's still not my favorite. I have a Sig 239/357Sig and if I need to really conceal one, that's it. Even the latests 9mm Kurz ammo is WAY behind 9mm NATO, defensive or LEO ammo.

 

[Fishbed77]

Dumb question, but was the new gun cleaned and lubricated prior to shooting?

Gotta get that preservative grease out.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I had a good friend that used to carry one as a backup. It functioned fine with silvertips, but was a jamomatic with ball ammo. It was a S & W.

 

[Shimitup]

It could yet be an extractor issue, possibly bouncing off the breech face, out from under the extractor and above the shoulder on the breech. Just for grins you might field strip and push one up under the extractor and see if it holds it snug. No matter what S&W ought to fix it for you.

 

[stogiegila]

Dumb question, but was the new gun cleaned and lubricated prior to shooting?

Gotta get that preservative grease out.

Yes I cleaned it up and greased the rails prior to shooting. It actually came in very wet.

I will look into the extractor again.

 

[fasttheo]

I found that this used to happen to me with my PPK/S .380 (no jams at all with the .32 after many, many rounds). For me, it was primarily a 'limp wristing' issue. After making a concentrated effort to correct my grip, I've had no problems.

The second issue I found was that some weaker rounds just didn't have enough 'oomph' to cycle the slide. In a controlled, stable situation the rounds work fine, but any slight 'limp wrist', or tilt of the gun after firing will cause the kind of jam you were experiencing. I never had a jam with the hotter European ammo, or with most JHP's, but with the cheap white/green box Remington, CCI Blazer, and Independence ammo, it was a constant struggle.

Just my .02. Good luck.

 

[blkbrd666]

Check to make sure the inside front of the mag lips don't have a sharp edge that's eating into the round as it slides out of the mag.

 

[stogiegila]

Thanks Fasttheo. I definitely think that is the issue

Blkbrd. I haven't seen any sign to indicate this but will check closer my next time out
Thanks

 

[jskibs]

The S&W I had was ammo sensitive. Worked well with HPs and flat nose WWB, hated cheap, round nosed ammo like the green/white box Remington. Did not like to be dirty. When clean and running the stuff it liked, it was a nice shooting and very accurate pistol. I only got rid of it to fund something else. The tiny sights did not work well with my aging eyes.

 

[stogiegila]

The second issue I found was that some weaker rounds just didn't have enough 'oomph' to cycle the slide. In a controlled, stable situation the rounds work fine, but any slight 'limp wrist', or tilt of the gun after firing will cause the kind of jam you were experiencing. I never had a jam with the hotter European ammo, or with most JHP's, but with the cheap white/green box Remington, CCI Blazer, and Independence ammo, it was a constant struggle.

After further testing and going through a box of Speer Gold Dot 90gr JHP with no issues. It definitely seems to be a problem with lower velocity rounds. Looks like my PPK likes them a bit hotter.

I need to find some Fiocchi when the insanity dies down and see if that would be a sufficient range round. I don't want to have to train with JHP all the time.

Thanks again.

 

[MICHAEL T]

They like hot ammo and you can't limp wrist . I carry only Corbon DPX or Corbon JHP Buffalo Bore works also.

 

[Havok7416]

I heard that gun only fires right if you are wearing a tuxedo, have a girl on your arm and speak with a Scottish accent.

 

[stogiegila]

I heard that gun only fires right if you are wearing a tuxedo, have a girl on your arm and speak with a Scottish accent.

I wish I were like that.

OK, now I need some FMJ range ammo choices. I did some online searching and found the following:

American Eagle 95gr FMJ 980 ft/sec
Fiocchi (which I always thought was hot ammo) 95gr FMJ 960 ft/sec
Fiocchi 90gr JHP 975 ft/sec
PMC 90gr FMJ 920 ft/sec
Speer Lawman 95gr FMJ 950 ft/sec
Speer Gold Dot 90gr JHP 1040 ft/sec
Federal Hydra Shock 90gr JHP 1000 ft/sec

Wow, I really don't want to have to use JHP all the time. That gets really expensive.

 

[tarosean]

but with the cheap white/green box Remington, CCI Blazer, and Independence ammo, it was a constant struggle.

odd as mine will devour all those without issue.