Chuck R.
Member
I’ve been looking for a new CCW gun to fit in between my SIG230SL .380 and Les Baer “Stinger” (CCO) .45ACP. I’ve watched the Walther PPS since its introduction being leery of buying anything the first couple years of production. Finally broke down and ordered one from Bud’s Gun Shop for $503 delivered. It arrived on Tuesday and I shot it on WED and again yesterday, with ZERO malfunctions for 350 rounds to break it in:
WED: After field strip, cleaning and lube I shot 100 WWB 115 FMJs, 50 Speer GD 124 reloads (loaded to factory advertised 1150FPS in my SIG)
FRI: Cleaned and lubed, 100 FMJ reloads, 50 REM 147 Golden Sabers, 50 Berry Plated HP reloads.
I chronographed the 147 GS at 949 FPS 10’ from the muzzle at 34 degrees, that’s 41fps below the advertised 990 for a 4” barrel and the ammo was also at 34 degrees, surprisingly small velocity loss. With ammo at about body temp I believe the velocity loss will be even less. The recoil from the 147s was actually pleasant, felt about like the 124s. The Speer GD reload also lost 46 FPS from the advertised 1150 and my normal 4” barrel velocity.
Overall:
I’ve got to caveat this because I’m not a plastic gun guy, I currently own 14 handguns; couple of Les Baers, Python, 3 Colt SAAs, 3 SIGs, 1923 Commercial Luger etc. and this is my first polymer, striker fired pistol.
Reliability: So far so good for 350 rounds. I even loaded a couple magazines with mixed JHPs/ball and rapid fired them without a hitch. Shot it single handed, left handed and tried to limp wrist, zero issues.
Accuracy: Didn’t bother to bench it, but it will keep all its rounds in the “Zero Points Down” zone of an IDPA target during rapid fire at 7 yards, and can hit a 2/3rds IDPA steel (-1 Zone) at 70’ reliably. Overall I’d say it’s more accurate than I expected it to be based on size; it shoots like a “big gun".
Sights: Pretty good really, large white dots with enough “air” around the front sight for accuracy.
Trigger: Right at about 6-7lbs, was gritty at first, but it’s already smoothing out. It will never be a Les Bear, or Python grade, but it is very serviceable for SD. I already like better than my SIG(s) DA first pull. The pull is pretty short, and the reset is very short enabling some pretty fast strings.
Fit & Finish: See above, to me this pistol is butt ugly, but it’s a well put together “butt ugly”, and if form does follow function then it’s a knockout.
Concealment: What can I say, it’s flat and it conceals well. It is slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than my SIG230SL. I bought an MTAC Minotaur IWB holster and with the 6 round flush mags it hides very well.
That’s about it so far, I don’t know if it will replace my Baer Stinger as primary, but it is nice not to lug 38 ounces of pistol around. Replacing the SIG230SL is a no-brainer, the PPS is just more in a lighter/smaller package.
I’ve read mixed reviews on Bud’s, but this was my first transaction with them and it was flawless. Detailed updates were provided and it went off without a hitch.
Chuck
WED: After field strip, cleaning and lube I shot 100 WWB 115 FMJs, 50 Speer GD 124 reloads (loaded to factory advertised 1150FPS in my SIG)
FRI: Cleaned and lubed, 100 FMJ reloads, 50 REM 147 Golden Sabers, 50 Berry Plated HP reloads.
I chronographed the 147 GS at 949 FPS 10’ from the muzzle at 34 degrees, that’s 41fps below the advertised 990 for a 4” barrel and the ammo was also at 34 degrees, surprisingly small velocity loss. With ammo at about body temp I believe the velocity loss will be even less. The recoil from the 147s was actually pleasant, felt about like the 124s. The Speer GD reload also lost 46 FPS from the advertised 1150 and my normal 4” barrel velocity.
Overall:
I’ve got to caveat this because I’m not a plastic gun guy, I currently own 14 handguns; couple of Les Baers, Python, 3 Colt SAAs, 3 SIGs, 1923 Commercial Luger etc. and this is my first polymer, striker fired pistol.
Reliability: So far so good for 350 rounds. I even loaded a couple magazines with mixed JHPs/ball and rapid fired them without a hitch. Shot it single handed, left handed and tried to limp wrist, zero issues.
Accuracy: Didn’t bother to bench it, but it will keep all its rounds in the “Zero Points Down” zone of an IDPA target during rapid fire at 7 yards, and can hit a 2/3rds IDPA steel (-1 Zone) at 70’ reliably. Overall I’d say it’s more accurate than I expected it to be based on size; it shoots like a “big gun".
Sights: Pretty good really, large white dots with enough “air” around the front sight for accuracy.
Trigger: Right at about 6-7lbs, was gritty at first, but it’s already smoothing out. It will never be a Les Bear, or Python grade, but it is very serviceable for SD. I already like better than my SIG(s) DA first pull. The pull is pretty short, and the reset is very short enabling some pretty fast strings.
Fit & Finish: See above, to me this pistol is butt ugly, but it’s a well put together “butt ugly”, and if form does follow function then it’s a knockout.
Concealment: What can I say, it’s flat and it conceals well. It is slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than my SIG230SL. I bought an MTAC Minotaur IWB holster and with the 6 round flush mags it hides very well.
That’s about it so far, I don’t know if it will replace my Baer Stinger as primary, but it is nice not to lug 38 ounces of pistol around. Replacing the SIG230SL is a no-brainer, the PPS is just more in a lighter/smaller package.
I’ve read mixed reviews on Bud’s, but this was my first transaction with them and it was flawless. Detailed updates were provided and it went off without a hitch.
Chuck
