Walther Price Difference

[Mozart 2]

I'm contemplating the purchase of either a PX4 Storm SC 9mm or a P99, but lately I've been thinking about the cost of the P99 and I have a question.

The Walther P22 and PK380 are fairly close in price, but the P99 is nearly twice the price of the PK380. The 9mm and the .380 are practically the same bullet but different case lengths. So why is there such a huge difference in cost between the two guns? I would have expected a bigger cost difference between the .380 and the .22 than there is between the .380 and the 9mm.

Now I'm not complaining. I'm not saying "they're ripping us off on the P99." I could be happy that the .380 is underpriced I'm simply wondering if anyone has an explanation for the apparent price disparity between the three calibers in the Walther...and is the P99 really worth $100 more than the PX4?

Thanks.

 

[tcc722]

I own a P22, PK380, and a P99. I don't know why the cost is so much different, however, I can say that the P99 feels a lot more solid. The P22 and the PK380, almost feel the same. The slide is a little grainy when you pull it back, and the overall feel of the gun is somewhat cheap. That being said, I still like the P22 and PK380. Now the P99, feels great. Smooth and accurate. It is one of my favorite guns, and I don't think you would go wrong choosing it. If you shot the PK380 and the P99, you would know why there is a price difference. (I know that's a vague answer, but hopefully you know what I mean). I haven't shot the PX4. You can pick up slightly used P99s for a decent price if you look around.

 

[bigfatdave]

The 9mm and the .380 are practically the same bullet but different case lengths. So why is there such a huge difference in cost between the two guns?

those two guns look a bit similar, the pk380 is not made of the same materials or to the same design as the P99, they aren't made in the same facility, and in a way the P99 is a real Walther gun while the pk380 and p22 are Umarex creations that happen to bear the Walther name and resemble a P99.
The P99 is striker-fired with an innovative decocker-like feature (in the AS version) while the P22 and pk380 are simple DA/SA hammer-fired guns. The P99 is steel mounted to a high-quality polymer grip with an internal steel frame, the P22 and pk380 are not quite as advanced in the metallurgical department (although I think the shouts of "oh noez, potmetal! are a bit overblown) and have grip frames that seem a bit less reinforced to me.

The politics of Walther/Umarex are complicated, the short version is that Walther was recently bought by an BB gun and airsoft toy maker, who then took the P99's looks and made the P22, more recently scaling the P22 up to make the pk380.

I own a P22, it is an OK plinker gun. I own a Walther PPS and carry it frequently as well as shooting it regularly. I've been wanting a P99 for a while, I keep holding out for a P99C with an AS trigger at the right price. I have no use for a .380 as big as a 9x19 gun, I like my mouseguns to be teeny-tiny and chambered in .32, the pk380 is too big to be a mousegun and is chambered in a cartridge I don't want or need, even though it DOES fit my hand superbly (someone at Walther R&D has my hands, I'm sure of it ... and the pk380 got the right shape when they copied the P99).

 

[dec41971]

I have the P22, PPS and PX4. I'd say PPS is one solid gun for sure and is probably the sturdiest among them then the PX4 and the P22 is just El cheapo pistola. The PK380 is just a bigger P22 IMO. The PX4 is very different and soft shooting due to rotating barrel. Go shoot all of them you will understand why the prices are different. Not sure it is twice as good, but I paid more than twice for mine.

 

[Fargazer]

Several factors:

• The Walther P99 is a significantly higher quality pistol than the PK380, both in materials as well in fit and finish.
  • An individual PK380 can be hit or miss on build quality, while the P99 is pretty consistent. I would have no problems buying a new P99 over the internet, but I'd want to purchase a PK380 directly from a local dealer so I could return it easier if there were problems with the individual gun.
• The P99 is designed for and used in law enforcement (particularly in Europe), while the PK380 is more of a consumer oriented gun.