Walther PPQ

[HKGuns]

I had some Cabela's points built up and a couple gift cards and such, so I went to Cabela's itching for a new pistol. I looked at the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm and Beretta Nano. Neither of them felt very comfortable and the ergonomics weren't right for me. I still haven't figured out how you release the slide on the Nano, but that is another topic.

So, I picked up a Walther PPQ in 9mm and it felt "almost" as good as my P-30, so it followed me home for roughly $200 out of pocket once all was said and done. Kind of reminds me of a striker fired, poor mans P-30 in a couple of ways. I prefer the wider HK style magazine release and the option to change the side-straps as well.

This guy feels like it is going to be a keeper, but will have to get it out to the range first before I say much more.

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[balance 740]

Very nice pics.

I used to own a P30, and I believe it is a good pistol, but I prefer the PPQ. I don't see any Walther products as a poor man's anything, and if your first range trip goes as well as the majority of new PPQ owner's, I'm pretty sure you will feel the same way.

I'm interested in hearing your impressions after you fire it, and feel free to come over to the Walther forum for some pretty good information on holsters and sights.

 

[HKGuns]

What do you prefer about the PPQ? I wasn't trying to knock the PPQ in any way, after all, I did buy one! I just like the small things on the P-30 a bit better. I far in away prefer the German style magazine releases to the button releases, I just find the HK style a bit more comfortable to reach. I'm sure I'll get used to the Walther release. I have the light LEM on my P30 so the trigger pull should be pretty much equal, perhaps the reset will be different between the two.

Field stripping reveals something I don't think I like about the Walther, the recoil spring appears to have some plastic in it, (on the end near where it locks up to the barrel.) or perhaps it is very thin, colored steel. Anyhow, the HK recoil spring feels much sturdier in comparison. I do like the takedown, very similar to the HK and blows most others out of the water. The M&P isn't hard, but isn't nearly as easy as these two.

I can't wait to get it to the range. (Actually, I don't really "shoot" my guns, I just take pictures of them! )

 

[balance 740]

What do you prefer about the PPQ?

The things that come to mind that make me favor the PPQ are the trigger, the price, and the overall shootability of it in my hands. The P30 does seem to handle recoil better though, as it is a softer shooter. Both are made by companies with a good reputation for making innovative and good quality products.

The PPQ will not shoot bullets facing backwards in the mags like an H&K will, though coming from someone who appreciates H&K pistols, I take the 3rd & 4th pics as a sign of respect.

If you prefer a metal guide rod, you can get one from BT, though the factory guide rod should last you to the 5k round interval where it is recommended that you replace the spring. For what its worth, I'd prefer metal as well:

http://btguiderods.com/category/walther/

I'll be looking forward to your range report HKGuns. Most people who shoot a PPQ either like it, or love it.

 

[smitty704]

I am in love with that pistol!!!!! Ever since I dry fired it at a LGS a cant stop fantasizing about it! Such a sweet, light weight trigger pull, with such a short and pronounced reset. Great pistol.

Thanks for posting,I love the pics.

 

[StamfordCT-CCWL]

balance 740: Went to btguiderods. They don't appear to sell a PPQ specific rod, but perhaps their P99 rod works?

 

[StamfordCT-CCWL]

HKGuns: I bought the PPQ end of November last year on the basis of Nutnfancy's rave review. I shot it a few days later, and then went back to the range (30 miles away) 2 more times that week. YES, that's how much fun the PPQ is to shoot!

I have never shot a better pistol in my life. Its as close to a point and shoot gun as one can hope to get (yeah, I know shutterbugs consider such a thing anathema, but believe me, point and shoot in the gun arena is not the same as P&S in the camera world. I shoot the Nikon D700 myself and LOVE it). Anyway, the PPQ has superb accuracy, a superb trigger and re-set and superb ergonomics. I'm convinced that Walther really knocked the ball out of the park with this pistol and may have SIG and H&K scrambling to match it.

 

[lexjj]

Love mine.

If it catches on and gets more aftermarket support...watch out.

 

[sigarms228]

Congrats on the new PPQ. I have one and it is already one of my top favorite pistols!! Outstanding photos also.

I will be very interested to hear how you like it compated to your HK P30 with the light LEM trigger.

I want to get a HK some day. I tried a couple different P30s but did not really like the DA/SA trigger compared to my SIGs including my SP2022. Same for the P2000.

However I want to try a HK45C some time. My local range does not have one to try. I understand if one gets a HK45C in DA/SA it can be converted to light LEM pretty easily with a $80parts kit. I already have 3 poly 9MMs but none in .45.

 

[HKGuns]

Sig,

Thanks.

Most of the HK versions are easily converted with a couple of exceptions. Going from anything to LEM is pretty easy as is most of the stuff in between. If you buy an LEM like I did because the frames don't have all the holes in the right places it is difficult to go to a DA/SA configuration.

I'd just buy the light LEM, if that is what you're after and not even bother converting. They are pretty widely available, or can be ordered in the LEM configuration. I go back and forth as to which configuration I like better. I'm still a DA/SA person at heart I think.

 

[raze]

Ive been looking at getting a ppq but i have not found one local. Also the last round is in backwards. didnt see someone else mentioned that

 

[lexjj]

Ive been looking at getting a ppq but i have not found one local. Also the last round is in backwards. didnt see someone else mentioned that

It is an homage to a famous HK advertisement.

 

[balance 740]

Went to btguiderods. They don't appear to sell a PPQ specific rod, but perhaps their P99 rod works?

I forgot to mention, the P99 and PPQ share the same guide rod.

 

[rellascout]

What surprises me most about the PPQ is that it has been out for almost a year now and you see very little mention of it until the last month or so. Now you cannot look a major gun board and see someone, sometimes the same people over and over again, raving about it.

It seems like people started to pay attention when the price dropped to about $500. NIB.

They are nice guns and I think the trigger really ups the game when it comes to the world of poly strikers but I just am not sure why it took 11 months for people to figure it out. LOL

I have not picked one up yet but it is on the interested list.

 

[sigarms228]

It seems like people started to pay attention when the price dropped to about $500. NIB.

That happened almost to the day of the Nutnfancy Youtube review and followed shortly there after by the Hickok45 review.

IMO it was right after that when interest for the PPQ spiked off the charts.

 

[balance 740]

They are nice guns and I think the trigger really ups the game when it comes to the world of poly strikers but I just am not sure why it took 11 months for people to figure it out. LOL

There are many P99 owners out there that have been wondering the same thing for the past 15 years. The PPQ seems to have brought more interest for the P99 lately as well.

Its crazy how things work sometimes.

 

[rellascout]

That happened almost to the day of the Nutnfancy Youtube review and followed shortly there after by the Hickok45 review.

People are such sheep.... LOL

They see something on the interweb and some talking head says its the greatest new, really 11 month, old thing and then overnight they have to have it.

Honestly it just makes me wonder.

 

[wild cat mccane]

no. It is fairly new to the US market as the PPQ.

 

[sigarms228]

They see something on the interweb and some talking head says its the greatest new, really 11 month, old thing and then overnight they have to have it.

IMO that the price decrease (I got mine for $489 shipped Jet Guns) and postivie reviews motivated a lot of people to go into their local gun stores to check them out and they liked what they saw and tried - a lot. I had a PPQ on the counter next to a M&P for comparison. To me the choice was apparent after feeling the PPQ in my hand and dry firing it. The PPQ trigger was vastly superior to the M&P and any other striker fired pistol I have ever tried.

I have tried a Walther P99 AS before (my Son has one) and really liked it so the PPQ had been on my radar since day one. When the price dropped over $100 all the sudden I could no longer resist.

 

[balance 740]

IMO that the price decrease (I got mine for $489 shipped Jet Guns) and postivie reviews motivated a lot of people to go into their local gun stores to check them out and they like what they saw and tried - a lot.

I believe this is the reason as well.

Most people (11 months ago) would have never even considered a Walther as a candidate when looking for a polymer pistol. There is a severe lack of marketing by Walther in the USA, and the PPQ didn't take off until everyday people started reviewing them, and advertising them themselves.

I'd assume that most people who went out looking for a PPQ heard of this pistol from something other than an advertisement from Walther.

 

[HKGuns]

I can only speak for myself, obviously.

I never watched either of the aforementioned review videos.

I initially went in thinking I'd walk out with a Nano or a PX4 Storm full size or compact. I didn't like the feel of the Nano and the controls layout on the Storm's were just too high up on the frame for me to reach without taking my hands off the grip.

I saw this one sitting right next to the PX4 and thought it looked similar in style to my P30 so I thought why not? Price was right, controls were good and it was nearly as comfortable as my P30. It also has all of those really nice looking German proof marks, just like all my HK's, which is an added bonus!

So, it appears that I completely lucked into a sleeper of a great pistol without having shot it yet.

 

[rellascout]

What was the price at Cablelas?

 

[HKGuns]

Too much, like most of their guns, but I don't pay attention to their high prices because mine are usually free, at least that is the only time I purchase a gun from them...... $529.99 is what I paid, it is at least competitive considering their overhead and all.....

 

[ExTank]

I've been banging the Walther drum since I picked up a P99AS very reasonably priced at a gun show a year and change ago.

I (semi) jokingly call it "The Best Gun No One Is Buying."

I just wish they'd come down on their magazine prices some.

 

[rellascout]

IMO that the price decrease (I got mine for $489 shipped Jet Guns) and postivie reviews motivated a lot of people to go into their local gun stores to check them out and they liked what they saw and tried - a lot. I had a PPQ on the counter next to a M&P for comparison. To me the choice was apparent after feeling the PPQ in my hand and dry firing it. The PPQ trigger was vastly superior to the M&P and any other striker fired pistol I have ever tried.

I hear what you are saying. I held one a while back and dry fired it but did not shoot it. Trigger felt great as others have stated and reset seemed nice but without actually firing it I could not "really" judge it IMHO. I put it on the list of possible polys but at the time the $600+ price tag put it behind a Glock 19 which you can get LNIB all day long for $400.

Recently all these threads started popping up and I noticed the price drop. For me at $500 OTD it starts to become more interesting. I do not need another poly 9mm but it is now much more competitive with the M&P, Glock and XD.

I think S&W does a horrible job marketing the Walther product here in the US. Maybe this is why it is now just gaining traction. One plus in the S&W/Walther relationship is that the PPQ now comes with a lifetime warranty serviced by S&W.

The biggest downside to the pistol IMHO is the cost of the mags. At best you can get them for about $35 from CDNN. That and the limited availablity of holsters at this time.

Does anyone have a good source for high quality leather for the PPQ? If so thanks in advance because a nice holster is always part of the equation for a new gun. LOL