Walther ppk

[coyotes72]

Does anyone know why Walther doesn't just scale up the ppk and make it in 9, 40, and 45

 

[Flatbush Harry]

The Walther PPK and PPK/s are blowback actions, satisfactory for lower pressure rounds like the .380. The larger rounds you questioned require a locking action.

Cheers,

FH

 

[mikemx5]

Since the PPK is straight blowback, it would have to be totally redesigned to use a locked breech to safely handle the larger cartridges. The end result would be more like the PPS that they currently make than a PPK.

 

[justin22885]

or it would require an abnormally heavy slide if it wasnt going to use a locking or delay action of some sort

 

[GRIZ22]

IIRC, Walther did try to make an upsized PP in 9mm P. It didn't work well and they srcapped the idea.

Added: That was in the 1930s and they went on to make the P38.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Having bought and shot a PPK/S in .380, I can say that shooting a 9mm, .40, or .45 would NOT be on the list of pleasant things I'd like to endure.

The design (barrel an integral, non-moving part of the frame) just isn't suitable with larger or more powerful rounds.

I do love the look and feel of a PPK/S, though. As well as the PPK. If they could be re-engineered internally to handle the larger, more powerful rounds, I'd probably get one.

 

[bannockburn]

Years ago one of the first semi-autos I owned was an Astra Model 600, a straight blowback 9mm. Even with all steel construction and weighing in at around 36 ounces it could still do a number on your hand after shooting 50 rounds or so through it.

So no, a 9mm. PPK would not be a good idea.

 

[coyotes72]

Ok, thanks

 

[stchman]

The Walther PPK and PPK/s are blowback actions, satisfactory for lower pressure rounds like the .380. The larger rounds you questioned require a locking action.

Cheers,

FH

Hi Points use straight blowback in 9mm 40S&W, and 45ACP in their pistols.

 

[Gary A]

Hi Points use straight blowback in 9mm 40S&W, and 45ACP in their pistols.

Very true. And the size and mass difference between the slide of a Hi-Point and a PPK tells you how they can do that.

 

[SuperNaut]

The Walther P5 is what you are looking for.

While it isn't a PPK, IMHO it is better.

 

[Combat Engineer]

"...why Walther doesn't just scale up the ppk and make it in 9, 40, and 45..." [coyotes72]

The Walther brain trust decided to go in a different direction... the PPK in 9, 40, & 45 (with gas delay) would have been a runaway best seller... but sadly that technology went to the CCP. Gotta have that new look.

As for me I still carry a PPK (built in 1933) as a BUG. Great CCW.

 

[Jim K]

"... why doesn't Walther just scale up the ppk..."

Actually, they did. The first Walther Militär Pistol (MP) was a scaled up PP, straight blowback. But it was almost as big (8" long) and heavy (33 oz) as a 1911. The German army tested them, apparently with less than satisfactory results, and very few were made. According to several sources, the blowback action, though favored by Fritz Walther, just was not up to handling the 9mm Parabellum round. I have not seen any actual test results, though it is known that the German WaffenAmt did not like blowbacks in 9mm. (Walther later used the "MP" designation for other, locked breech, pistols, leading up to the P.38.)

Jim

 

[Schlegel]

The PP Super is about as big as you can go in that format. It was essentially a modernized PP in 9mm Ultra (or 9mm Police, it's also called) 9x18. Same dia. as 9mm Nato.
It was not widely adopted, but is a good, ergonomic design. I enjoy mine, though I do have to mail order the ammo.