Thoughts on Walthers?

[Red Leader]

So... I don't know anything about these pistols (P99, PPS, etc).

I was on an HK forum looking at posts and was reading a little bit about the Walther P99.

I've not really seen many Walthers around where I live (maybe I just wasn't looking) and they seem a little uncommon in general. However, I the feedback I saw about them was awesome. People really seem to like the way they fit in the hand and their reliability.

Also, it sounds like there is a new one coming out, the PPQ. Haven't heard anything about it. Surprised I haven't heard about it here.


So, Walthers...how are they?

[Joe in PNG]

Yaknow, I'm kind of wondering that myself, especially in regards to the PPS 9mm. And, as there's a few PPS owners around here...

-How's the reliability?

-What about the recoil? How does it compare to, say, a Glock 26? Glock 27 (oww)? Kel-tec PF-9 (OOOOWWWWW)?

[BigT]

Some of units of our local police have P99's they report reliability and parts breakage issues. I don't know though whether this can be traced to the manual safety that had to be squeezed on there. They are also very hard on gear.

[F-Trooper05]

They're very popular with European LEA's. The PPS is supposed to be a damn good single stack subcompact, although I've never fired one. I have fired a P99AS, and it was sort of weird. It had a VERY nice SA pull, but the DA pull ruined for me. I don't really understand why they even have a DA/SA feature on the P99. Isn't the whole point of a striker fired gun to have a smooth, consistent trigger press?

[MTechnik]

The PPS in 9mm is a great little gun - as long as yours is reliable. And I hear that is a "either it is or it isn't" kind of proposition. Mine is going back to S&W again (they do US service for Walther). The trigger is a bit heavy, but consistent. Liking the trigger pushed me to get a Glock - which is definitely lighter in the trigger.

Recoil isn't bad, the aggressive grip texture keeps the pistol stable.

It is a subcompact you can take to the range and fire 100 rounds and not be punished for it.

[JDM]

I have a first Gen P99 that I like very much. I cannot speak to it's long term reliability as I've only maybe shot it 1000 times over the last year, but those few rounds were flawless, and the ergonomics are spectacular. I bet it would be a fantastic carry gun.

I bought it as a novelty, although I would carry it and trust it after a little more training. It's well made and has the paddle mag release that I adore.

[TheNewbie]

I rented one at a range once. As said, the SA is fine, but the DA is very spongy to me. Plus the trigger system seems a bit complicated to me.

[LittleLebowski]

The PPS is an outstanding single stack. I owned one and am tempted to get another.

[JodyH]

I ran a 1st gen P99 for about two years and 15k rounds.
I had zero malfunctions and the gun ran like a Swiss clock.
I've never been able to come close to the split times I was shooting with the P99's ultra short trigger reset. .11-.15 A zone splits at 7 yards were no problem.
The biggest issue is finding holsters, spare magazines and good sights.

[Rappahannock]

I have owned at various times a P99, P99C, and the Smith and Wesson branded version of the compact pistol. All have been flawless and accurate and I wish I still had them. What I do own and will always is the PPS, having bought one of the first ones in the area, the "First Edition" set in a case with spare magazines.

This is an astonishingly accurate pistol and you can see a thoughtful video review of it here: http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pps/15895-hickok45-pps-review.html

I highly recommend the PPS as being reliable, flat, dependable, and accurate. I have strayed at times to other pistols, but always return to that highly concealable design. I have found Walther products in general to be of high quality and first-rate.

[Pistol Shooter]

I've had a 9mm PPS for about 18 months and have been very, very pleased with it. :D

It's a real tack driver and has about 1,600 rds. of assorted fmj and jhp ammo through it with zero failures at this point.

The ergonomics are good (for me) and it's a pleasure to shoot at the range.

The PPS is very thin and easy to conceal.

[Kyle Reese]

I've owned two Walther P99's, German made, in 9mm in the past 10 years.

I think that what hurt them the most was the relatively high price when introduced on the US market, the lack standard cap mags (2001/2002 timeframe for me) and the general timeframe (mid AWB) of their commercial introduction on the American market.

That said, mine were very reliable and accurate handguns. I don't really like the DA/SA configuration of the P99 AS trigger, either.

When I first picked up an M&P, I looked at my friend and said "this is kinda P99-esque".

[beltjones]

I got to fondle the PPQ at SHOT show and I liked it. The trigger was nice, although I'm not used to the paddle mag release at all. Time will tell if it's reliable, but I'd give one a try.

[jetfire]

I did get to shoot the new Walther P30...er I mean the Walther PPQ at S&W's media event at SHOT. 20 rounds isn't a lot, but my initial impression was "this seems nice". The problem of course is that mags, holsters, and good replacement sights are probably going to be difficult to source.

[Xhado]

I have a P99 that I've taken through a class and I use to have a P99c as well. Never did I ever experience an issue with them.

I see some complaints about its DA mode but its intended to be carried in AS mode (long SA pull). The DA is there just in case so your trigger goes bang all the time.

[F-Trooper05]

The DA is there just in case so your trigger goes bang all the time.

I guess I don't understand what you mean by that?

[JodyH]

I'm guessing he means he carries his P99 in the AS mode which is almost like a "set trigger" and he considers the DA to be more of a "second strike" capability for FTFire.

I preferred to carry my P99 in DA/SA mode and skipped the whole AS mode. I also run a immediate action, tap-rack-bang for malfunctions instead of "second striking" them.
:cool:

[hoodoo_operator]

DA/SA with a striker is a pretty unusual combo, although I guess the "anti stress" trigger isn't a true SA, but still...


BTW, in "Casino Royal" when Bond goes to bet his P99 from his car, he inserts a mag, racks the slide, and then hits the decocker with his thumb before sticking it in his pants. I don't know if it's meant to be carried decocked, but that's how James Bond carries it.

[gtmtnbiker98]

DA/SA with a striker is a pretty unusual combo, although I guess the "anti stress" trigger isn't a true SA, but still...


BTW, in "Casino Royal" when Bond goes to bet his P99 from his car, he inserts a mag, racks the slide, and then hits the decocker with his thumb before sticking it in his pants. I don't know if it's meant to be carried decocked, but that's how James Bond carries it.
James Bond, really? Big difference between real life and Hollywood.

[hoodoo_operator]

don't be so serious all the time

[TCinVA]

I owned a P99 for several years. It was even my primary carry gun for a good chunk of that time. It was a reliable and very accurate pistol. Very easy to shoot in single action mode. As an example, I used the gun to break a machine thrown clay in front of a group of stunned witnesses. Emphasis on "a" because I holstered the weapon and didn't fire another shot that day.

I bought one of the early model Walthers and had some gripes with the ergonomics of it. The grip was too slippery, the proprietary rail was just a bad idea, and whoever decided to put that hump in the middle of the trigger guard deserved to be beaten in the face with a brick. The magazines were another sore point, costing $80.00 a piece during the bad old days of the Clinton ban.

Other than that, I really liked the pistol and thought it was the premier Glock alternative until the M&P came along. Walther has made some changes to the P99 since I owned my pistol that look to be welcome improvements. They're still probably very good pistols with limited aftermarket support.

[Red Leader]

Some of units of our local police have P99's they report reliability and parts breakage issues. I don't know though whether this can be traced to the manual safety that had to be squeezed on there. They are also very hard on gear.

Do you happen to know what parts breakage was happening? I've heard that the magazine floorplates can be damaged easily. Any info on the reliability issues?

[Xhado]

I guess I don't understand what you mean by that?

The P99 AS is intended to be carried in AS mode with the striker cocked. The extra length of pull is there to add the extra buffer for the first shot for the same reasons traditional DA/SA pistols are carried in DA.

The decocker switch, which releases the striker and puts the gun in DA mode is more intended for disassembly rather than part of the loading procedure.

DA mode was maintained in the design in case the guns striker was not cocked because of operator error; your gun would still fire. Precautions like this are not needed in other striker fired systems such as Glocks because you cannot have a loaded chamber and drop the striker without discharging the weapon.\

The double strike option is there as well, but you might as well TRB at that point.

[BigT]

Do you happen to know what parts breakage was happening? I've heard that the magazine floorplates can be damaged easily. Any info on the reliability issues?



I will see what I can find. Most likely as I said a result of the Heath Robinson safety setup and the fact the preventative maintenance isn't a familiar concept to most here.