Walther PPK/S

[usnavymasterchief]

I have a chance to purchase a Walther PPK/S from a very good friend for a fair price. I notice that there is not much dialog about the Walther PPK/S on this forum and I have begun to wonder if I should buy it. I realize the trend today is toward concealable cannons and that the .380 is not held in high regard. I have researched RBCD, Magsafe and Cor-Bon ammo and their numbers are impressive. Inside of 15 feet, I think it could get the job done.
The PPK is a little heavy but it feels more like a "real" gun than some others I could mention and it just feels right to me. My friend and I have put quite a few rounds through it and it seems to run fine.
I would really appreciate comments both pro and con on this gun. Thanks, John

 

[dfariswheel]

You're going to hear a mix on this, with most being CON.

The later American made PPK/s as produced for InterArms seems to be the main culprit.
Many of us who had the early American-made guns have very good luck on all points. Of the ones I have personal experience with, all were accurate, reliable, and high quality in fit and finish.

Later production guns appear to be spotty on all counts, particularly on reliability.

The jury is still out on the new S&W produced guns.

Nobody ever quite managed to equal the Walther design, and I consider it to be the "1911 of pocket autos".

The only advice I can offer, is to carefully test fire the gun before buying, insure that you use GENUINE Walther-made magazines, and test fully with whatever defense ammo you intend to use, before trusting it.

If you get a good one, you will have an excellent defense auto.

 

[puppage]

I purchased a PPK .32ACP Stainless (somewhat rare, I'm told) from a co-worker for $300.00. I added Hogue Rosewood grips in a FIST IWB holster for summer carry.
I love it. Accurate, concealable. A joy to shoot, too. If the price is right, go for it. You may wanna look into it at www.waltherforum.com
Lots of good info.

Good Luck!
Pete

 

[Cableman]

I sold my Stainless Walther PPKS to a friend for $450 recently.

Everytime I shot it it would cut the web of my hand where the slide would come back. It would leave 2" - 3" paper cut style cuts and they would hurt like hell - no wonder they call this gun the slice and dice pistol.

I would fire it and see how you like it before you buy.

The newer S&W ones have a larger beavertail grip to stop this from happening, but the S&W PPKS I have seen are not as nice as the Interarms version in terms of fit and finish.

 

[denfoote]

My S&W made PPK/S is a gem!! As long as you do not use aftermarket mags!!

 

[Pilot]

Buy a Makarov instead. You will be MUCH happier.

The only reason James Bond carried one is that Ian Fleming new absolutely NOTHING about guns.

 

[gbelleh]

I just acquired a blued Walther PPK/S .380 in a trade deal last week. It's an older German PPK, but is in excellent/near mint condition. I got it mainly as a collection piece to sit in the safe. It's a little heavy and under powered compared to other guns I have, so I wouldn't use it as a defense gun, but it shoots great (DA trigger is very heavy though).

It's very nicely made. You can tell it's a finely crafted little machine.

I like mine a lot, but there are certainly more size/weight efficient guns out there these days for CCW.

 

[George Hill]

I had a PPK/S and I liked it.
The trigger was horrible but everything else was fine. I had it up until the point I had a to draw it on a Tongan. At that moment it felt very very tiny. I had to trade it for something in a bigger caliber.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I have an Interarms made Walther PPK/S and a pre-war PPK that was rendered shooter only by some moron who refinished it. The PPK is absolutely 100%. The Interarms gun can't get through one mag without choking (we're talking standard factory ball ammo here) and everytime I take it to the range, it bites me (and draws blood, I have the scars). I bought the PPK/S from my father who purchased it new in the early '90s. It looks well-made and is a very good looking gun, but that's about it. If you can get it for $250, go for it, but any more, I'd pass. There are a number of gunsmiths who specialize in de-horning and reliability on these things, but I just don't see the sense in spending even more money, when I have so many good alternatives (like a Kahr MK9 stainless) of the same (ore less size).

 

[puppage]

"Everytime I shot it it would cut the web of my hand where the slide would come back."


It wouldn't be a Walther if there wasn't a little "bite" to it. Hold a tad lower & it'll never happen again. But, to each his own.

 

[Al Thompson]

Sttrongly second Dfariswheel and Southpaw. If it's a French or German pistol, the odds are very good that it'll work. The made in USA ones range from OK to junk. Hard to tell which is which.

 

[9mmepiphany]

this is just a personal thing, but i just feel bad when thinking about buying a PPK/S...it is like buying 10 round mags

the ppk/s is the mating of the ppk slide and the pp frame to get around the '68 gun bill

the pp is a great little gun with a comfortable grip and longer sight radius

the ppk is smaller (height) and thinner with it's wrap around grips.

i prefer either to the ppk/s

 

[David4516]

"Buy a Makarov instead. You will be MUCH happier."

I agree. Twice the gun at half the price...

It has the same look and feel, but is much cheaper, and has a power advantage. 9mm Makarov (9X18 ) is 'more powerful' than .380 ACP. It's not a huge differance (9mm Mak is no 9mm Luger, thats for sure), but it is worth taking into consideration

 

[XavierBreath]

Mine is a S&W PPK/S that I originally got for the wife. That was a bad move, as she could not chamber a round due to the recoil spring. Because of the design, I don't consider the spring changeable to a lower tension. Because of this, I consider the PPK/S a experienced user's pistol, or at the very least a strong hand pistol. It does require a firm grip. Limp wristing can induce failures.

For myself, it has made an excellent bridge carry gun. I changed out the hammer spring, radiused the slide and backstrap, polished the ramp and chamber, and added stag grips. Mine is extremely accurate, and reliable. It took about 500 rounds to iron everything out, but I have had no issues since.

YRMV.

 

[FPrice]

If it is a WALTHER PPK/S I would say to get it. The Walthers do have a good reputation but the newer S&W PPK/S' seem to suffer from some quality control problems.

My PPK/S is a Manurhin (the French company that did a lot of work for Walther). It works very well with anything I put in it except Blaser ammo.

If you can test fire it and it works, do it.

 

[concerned citizen]

It sounds as if you have shot it pleanty and like it.

I would use that for the basis of my descion.

The 380acp is a good little defense round with today's high performace ammo.