Why is the PPK unpopular?

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I owned a German made PPK back in the late 70's. It had problems with FTF's and a trip to the Walther service place made little difference, and I sold it after letting them work on it twice. I bought a couple clones, which weren't all that much better, and I sold them too. Eventually, I bought what I consider the best .380 of all time, both in looks and function, the Browning BDA .380/Beretta 84 "twins". I've had 4 of them, one BDA and 3 84's, bought new and used over the last 30 years and they were all flawless. They are big for a .380, but I would, and did trust them completely. I only sold them due to needing cash. I got a nice older one, with the rounded triggerguard recently on Gunbroker for less than $300.
 
The only negatives for me: Double action trigger pull is way too high. The pistol, although beautifully compact, weighs down a pocket noticeably. Due to the weight I no longer carry mine except around the yard, but in all other respects I consider it to be a wonderful design. Mine will be passed down to my son some day.
 
I have a pair of the stainless american, pre-S&W .380's. I love the pistol but it bites me whenever it can and will only function reliably with fmj or corbon powerball. Trigger is rough in da but I shot the State Police combat course with a german-made .32 version and actually qualified, (barely). I love the walther but I currently carry a sig 232 that I rather like, the best .380 that I ever owned is a gov't model colt. I would carry the colt more but I can't get ready for cocked and locked carry without a grip safety as backup. If they would bring the ppk out in the alloy frame version that was made in europe; perhaps in the .32 NAA for better functioning, I think I'd have to switch back.
 
Unfortunately I think the more modern produced PPK(/s) are giving the older ones a bad name.

I'll put the DA trigger pull of my German manufactured Interarms PPKS up against a Sig or Beretta any day, it's as good as most and better than many.

I think the PPK line has a similar following to the 1911. Sure the argument can be made that there are better designs, lower prices, higher capacities, lighter materials, better triggers, more powerful loads etc etc but those are not the only reasons people own a gun.

For what it's worth I sold off all of my DA/SA pistols in favor of Single Actions and Striker Fired pistols, but there's always been a place in my heart for the PPK. When I found the one I have I took it out to function fire with plans to sell it, I liked it so much I made a holster for it last week and plan to give it some carry time.

The Sig P238 is my go to pocket pistol but there's always room for a spare "smallish" gun.
 
Oh, Yea.......

My brother was so impressed with the PPK he talked me into giving it to him....
now I'm PISSED because I loved that gun! :mad:

The PPK is sorta like a "VETTE".........
looks really COOL........but it's for the JAMES BOND crowd.....:cool:

I'm thinking about buying another! (PPK, that is..) :p
 
I carry a S&W PPK/S constantly.The gun is flawless in functioning.I use a close holster or just put in my pocket. Have no trouble with it biting. My wife prefers a PP in 32ACP. They work. What more can I say. Byron
 
OK, I feel I need to respond one more time.........

I'm guessing I fired my PPK/s at least 500 rounds.......
absolutely NO issues, matter of fact, I carried it for a while and found it to be VERY comfortable, even had it in my jeans pocket, front and rear pockets.......:)

I'm impressed with this little gun, and I loved the look of it.....
Of course now I really look close every time JAMES BOND whips it out.............:eek:
I picture myself as a "Secret Agent"! HA! :cool:
 
The German and French made PPK's were banned from importation by the Gun Control Act of 1968, so those are becoming collectors items. At the beginning of 2019 (8+ years), all of them will become Curios & Relics. I have a couple of these pre GCA PPK's. Beautifully made, but heavy, and they have snappy recoil due to their straight blowback action.

The U.S. made PPK's have been hit or miss for many. Some work great, others not so great. S&W's PPK had a recall. So some might say quality control on the domestically produced PPK's has been suspect.

With smaller and lighter .380's like the Kahr P380, the Ruger LCP, and SIG P238, to name a few, being produced, the popularity of the PPK has waned in the self defense pistol market. One .380 that I think would do really well if it were ever re-produced is the Colt .380 Government/Mustang series. My Mustang Pocketlite is my favorite small .380 due to it's low recoil (Browning style recoil mechanism). I've heard the P238 is as close as you can get to the Colt, but it's reliabililty has been suspect for many people.
 
Why?

While James Bond is a still a cool dude, he is no longer carrying a PPK.
Add...
All the hot babes in today's flicks, are carrying something else, besides PPK.
I think, not sure, as I am not afraid to admit I am paying attention to the hot babes, instead of what gun, knife and whatever else they are using.

*age-has-its-perks*
 
I believe you are right about PPK no longer carried by JAMES BOND........although I'm not sure which pistol he carries now.:uhoh:

The cool thing about QUANTUM OF SOLICE (latest movie)
is a lot of it was filmed in Panama City, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA,
and I was there at the time.........very cool operation making a movie of that caliber.........:cool:

Does anybody know what JAMES BOND carries now???? :confused:
Nice "plug" for whatever manufacturer it is. ;)
 
HisSoldier said:
There is a huge difference. The Bersa has an aluminum frame, some of us like all steel. Steel wears twice as long as aluminum alloys easily, maybe many times longer.
Click to expand...

I've had a Bersa 95 in .380 for 10 years or so. I've shot thousands of rounds through it. Wear really doesn't matter that much since the barrel is fixed in the frame.

Clutch
 
I think the PPK is pretty. Svelte. Whatever you want to call it. Recoil is much greater than I thought (.380). But the gun's been reliable, it's a good size, and I really like it at this time. It was a few c-notes more than the PK380 in the same display case, but I opted for the PPK. There's also a rich variety of spare parts, magazines, and holsters for the PPK, which is always nice.

It's not the best practical choice - it's more expensive, heavier, larger, and of a lower caliber than many of the alternatives. But I liked it more, so I shelled out the extra cash to get it, instead of the 325 PD S&W that was about the same price.
 
bg226 said:
Why is the Walther PPK particularly unpopular as a 380 choice?
Click to expand...
Unpopular?

Could be the 20 lb DA trigger pull. Or the slide tends to cut peoples hands. Or maybe the tiny sights. Or maybe the cost of the gun and magazines.

Might also be the price .vs. a Bersa .380 (which has a good trigger pull and does not bite the hand that feeds it.)

Deaf
 
Only problems I see with the PPK are price and that I can never find one. Also the only one I'd be interested in is the one in 9x19, and I've long given up hope of ever seeing one in person.
 
Very expensive jam-O-matic. Buy a German Makarov and sleep better with money left in your pocket.
Click to expand...

I have a Mak, nice gun, but heavy, and the lines are not to be compared to a PPK or PPK/s, in comparison the Mak is ugly. My S&W PPK/s is very reliable, so that part of your statement doesn't work either. My Makarov is just slightly heavier than my PPK/s, and 2 tenths of a pound heavier than my PPK.

Finally, the Mak has that abominable heel mag latch. So, no comparison to my way of thinking for a lot of reasons.
 
I've had a Bersa 95 in .380 for 10 years or so. I've shot thousands of rounds through it. Wear really doesn't matter that much since the barrel is fixed in the frame.
Click to expand...

Wear occurs anywhere the aluminum either slides or has parts rotate in a hole, but you're right, probably no normal usage shooter would notice the difference. As someone who does repair work on industrial machines I just don't consider aluminum to be a contender in the wear department, weight, yes, but plasticrap is even lighter.:)

The PPK and PPK/s are a totally different class of guns to me than your Bersa or my KelTec, the PPK and PPK/s are treasures, valuable examples of gunmakers art, simply put, keepers .

Aluminum and plastic guns are bic pens.
 
The PPK and PPK/S were "the" concealable small auto to have up until recently, and it is still a great little gun.

I have a PP and it bites my hand, but shoots very well. It is very accurate and always reliable. It is a bit heavy, and bigger than many more recent 9x19 guns.

I was not aware that popularity had dropped off. They were always a more expensive choice and not exactly common.

Cool factor is still high.
 
Very expensive jam-O-matic. Buy a German Makarov and sleep better with money left in your pocket.
Click to expand...

I've owned a dozen or more, from all of the four manufacturers (Walther, Manurhin, Interarms, S&W), and have never had one that was a jam-o-matic, or close to a jam-o-matic, or even a problem child. If you clean them regularly, including the mags, the PP/PPK models are wonderfully reliable and fun pistols to shoot, IMO and IME.
 
my German manufactured Interarms PPKS
Click to expand...
Is there such a thing?
I thought Interarms took over the ones in the U.S. and were manufactured in Gadston, Al. by Ranger. (and made very fine pistols)
German ones were actually made in France by Manurhin, and sent to Germany to be stamped and shipped. (these have become stupid expensive)

Now, there are two different versions of Interarms. On the older one the word "Interarms" is over a starburst. The newer, Interarms is above "Alexandria, Va" (which is the home of Interarms, but not the manufacturing point.)

Meanwhile I still want a pristine Interarms version.
 
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