Boba Fett
Member
Well, I finally made my decision. http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=476638
I went with the 9mm Walther PPS.
Took it to the range last weekend and it was a blast.
Very very little recoil for such a small, light pistol. Very accurate for it's intended role.
My only complaint is a sore trigger finger and palm from putting the 250 rounds through it.
Actually the trigger is a bit of an annoyance and does rub my finger. If this were going to be a range gun / fun gun, I might not be as fond of the PPS.
But since it is for CCW and it's trips to the range and volume of rounds through it will be limited to staying practiced, I'm not worried about it and can easily tolerate the trigger.
The fresh magazine spring is a bit strong for the first 50 or so rounds. After that it loosens up nicely. I only mention it because it was noticeable compared to other new magazines I've broken in.
I picked up one of the scarce 8 round mags and plan to break it in this weekend as well. If you have medium to larger hands, I highly recommend the larger mag; feels much nicer in the hand. The smaller mags kind of dig in to my palm when I hold it. Not so much that it would be uncomfortable, but enough that the larger mag feels a lot better.
If you have small hands, especially for women, the smaller mags will probably feel fine. Of course, you will be sans one or two rounds with the smaller mags, so if you aren't trying to keep the size/height down and the larger mag feels comfortable to you, I'd go with it.
I tried out both of the back plates. The larger one was highly uncomfortable to me and I'd only recommend it for those with larger hands who need to take up the gap that you might have with the standard backplate.
So I am throughly impressed with the PPS and very satisfied with the purchase (which I made at a local gun show for about $550 before tax). I may have been able to pick it up for less, but they have been difficult to find in 9mm. The only other place that I found it at was a local gun store who I'd normally buy it from, but not when it is $100 more than the gun show price.
Final thoughts:
Uses: primarily CCW, though better than something like a Kel-Tec P3AT if you want to have fun at the range. It does conceal nicely and even though heavier than many of the other's I was looking at, it's weight isn't really noticeable when you carry it.
Price: higher than many of the others I had considered; you do pay for the Walther name. But even so, IMHO you do get $550 worth of firearm. Still...it would be nice if they threw in an extra mag.
Accessories: not many specifically for it yet, and those that there are tend to be pricey. I did find a holster that works nicely (a behind the back Galco Sig P220 Compact) even if it isn't specifically made for it. Magazines are also pricey. The front rail makes it easier to add a light or laser (or bayonet if you're into that sort thing
). The polymer frame does limit accessories at the moment. As the popularity increases, I'm hoping for things like backplate accessories...something along the line of a Crimson Trace backplate.
"Shootability": IMO, shoots like heaver mid-full sized 9mm pistols in terms of felt/perceived recoil. Many of the owner/operators at the local gun store have said the 40 S&W is the same.
Accuracy: It punches paper nicely and will punch BGs just as well. I was fairly accurate with it out of the box, a little low and to the left, but that is normal for me with a new gun. After the first few mags I was getting pretty good. Still need some more practice with it, but for self defense (it's intended purpose) it will work just fine. I wouldn't expect to win any competitions with it (though have a friend who probably could...he's scary accurate with any firearm you give him, whether he's shot it before or not).
Many thanks to all THR members who gave their input and experiences with not only the PPS, but also the other firearms I was considering. I'm still looking into getting a CZ, but I may wait and get a EAA WItness Full Size 45 and a 10mm conversion...but that's for another thread
Here are a few closing images:
I went with the 9mm Walther PPS.
Took it to the range last weekend and it was a blast.
Very very little recoil for such a small, light pistol. Very accurate for it's intended role.
My only complaint is a sore trigger finger and palm from putting the 250 rounds through it.
Actually the trigger is a bit of an annoyance and does rub my finger. If this were going to be a range gun / fun gun, I might not be as fond of the PPS.
But since it is for CCW and it's trips to the range and volume of rounds through it will be limited to staying practiced, I'm not worried about it and can easily tolerate the trigger.
The fresh magazine spring is a bit strong for the first 50 or so rounds. After that it loosens up nicely. I only mention it because it was noticeable compared to other new magazines I've broken in.
I picked up one of the scarce 8 round mags and plan to break it in this weekend as well. If you have medium to larger hands, I highly recommend the larger mag; feels much nicer in the hand. The smaller mags kind of dig in to my palm when I hold it. Not so much that it would be uncomfortable, but enough that the larger mag feels a lot better.
If you have small hands, especially for women, the smaller mags will probably feel fine. Of course, you will be sans one or two rounds with the smaller mags, so if you aren't trying to keep the size/height down and the larger mag feels comfortable to you, I'd go with it.
I tried out both of the back plates. The larger one was highly uncomfortable to me and I'd only recommend it for those with larger hands who need to take up the gap that you might have with the standard backplate.
So I am throughly impressed with the PPS and very satisfied with the purchase (which I made at a local gun show for about $550 before tax). I may have been able to pick it up for less, but they have been difficult to find in 9mm. The only other place that I found it at was a local gun store who I'd normally buy it from, but not when it is $100 more than the gun show price.
Final thoughts:
Uses: primarily CCW, though better than something like a Kel-Tec P3AT if you want to have fun at the range. It does conceal nicely and even though heavier than many of the other's I was looking at, it's weight isn't really noticeable when you carry it.
Price: higher than many of the others I had considered; you do pay for the Walther name. But even so, IMHO you do get $550 worth of firearm. Still...it would be nice if they threw in an extra mag.
Accessories: not many specifically for it yet, and those that there are tend to be pricey. I did find a holster that works nicely (a behind the back Galco Sig P220 Compact) even if it isn't specifically made for it. Magazines are also pricey. The front rail makes it easier to add a light or laser (or bayonet if you're into that sort thing
). The polymer frame does limit accessories at the moment. As the popularity increases, I'm hoping for things like backplate accessories...something along the line of a Crimson Trace backplate. "Shootability": IMO, shoots like heaver mid-full sized 9mm pistols in terms of felt/perceived recoil. Many of the owner/operators at the local gun store have said the 40 S&W is the same.
Accuracy: It punches paper nicely and will punch BGs just as well. I was fairly accurate with it out of the box, a little low and to the left, but that is normal for me with a new gun. After the first few mags I was getting pretty good. Still need some more practice with it, but for self defense (it's intended purpose) it will work just fine. I wouldn't expect to win any competitions with it (though have a friend who probably could...he's scary accurate with any firearm you give him, whether he's shot it before or not).
Many thanks to all THR members who gave their input and experiences with not only the PPS, but also the other firearms I was considering. I'm still looking into getting a CZ, but I may wait and get a EAA WItness Full Size 45 and a 10mm conversion...but that's for another thread
Here are a few closing images:
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