Walther PPQ .40 FTF - pistol, caliber.. or me?

[qcsmitty]

I'm concerned about my .40 cal PPQ. I went for my second range trip yesterday and had two FTF (round stopped at bottom of the feed ramp) out of 100 rounds of Fed 180g Champion FMJ. 2% failure rate is totally unacceptable. This appears to be a reocurring theme for this pistol. This has happened with this round as well as my SD round; the Fed HST 180g JHP.

What's the deal with this gun? Is this accepted by the Walther owners as normal? I have never has an issue with "limp-wristing". I find it difficult to buy into that notion.

Does this .40 S&W cal have inherent issues?

Somebody talk me off the ledge!

 

[HOOfan_1]

This appears to be a reocurring theme for this pistol. !

By that do you mean your own pistol, or you have seen it happen to other .40 PPQs? Contact S&W or Walther or whoever deals with their service in the US

 

[hammerklavier]

One possibility is that, under recoil, you are bumping the mag release lever with either your thumb or trigger finger. Does a tap to the bottom of the mag generally resolve the jam? If so, this doesn't prove that's the problem for certain, but it's worth looking into.

 

[balance 740]

What's the deal with this gun? Is this accepted by the Walther owners as normal? I have never has an issue with "limp-wristing". I find it difficult to buy into that notion.

No, it isn't accepted as normal, and it shouldn't be. You should also post this on the Walther forum and ask the PPQ owners there if they are having issues with their .40 models as well if you are concerned about this being a design issue. With as similar as the PPQ is to the P99, I'd expect it to be as reliable as the .40 P99 has been for over a decade.

How many rounds are through the pistol? Did you clean it before taking it out to the range? Did you clean the mags? What is your prior shooting experience?

If there is an issue with the pistol, it will more than likely get fixed with a call to CS.

 

[NDanforth]

I've only had FTF's with SWC's. Hollow points and FMJ FP's have all fed reliably. It sure doesn't like the 155gr swc though...

 

[wally]

I've only had FTF's with SWC's.

SWC's are pretty much a 1911 thing. I love the nice clean round holes they punch in cardboard targets but I quit buying them after I'd quit shooting IPSC matches as they are trouble in a lot of 9mm guns that as you report are fine with JHP.

The basic SWC shape (so-called H&G 68) was designed to hit the feed ramp of a 1911 same as ball does when loaded to the correct OAL, but this causes issues in a great many other pistols.

Scaling them to minor calibers didn't seem to help, but I understand the attraction as their nice clean hole can be the difference between an A or B hit when near the line.

My PPQ did what the OP reports when two new shooters tried it, but ran fine for me same mags and ammo. I think the PPQ needs a firmer grip than most, especially in .40S&W.

 

[NDanforth]

Thanks for the further input on the swc's...I really do like the clean holes they punch, fell in love after I was pasting another competitors swc holes at my first IDPA match and started using them for my 1911. Thought I'd reap the benefits in my new PPQ but I had a 10% failure with them. I was going to try to experiment with a shorter OAL but with what you are saying and the fact that I was already at recommended minimum oal I think I'll just go to a more proven bullet profile for the .40s&w.

To the OP, hope you get your issues sorted out. I really like my PPQ but she sure can be a handful sometimes.