9mm vs .380 Walther PPK/s

L

lvalley

New member
Is the .380 cartridge a 9mm short? And a 9mm is a 9mm?
Could someone tell me the difference between a Walther PPK vs the PPK/s? Other than performance the reason I ask is the 9mm runs about $6/box and the .380 $10/box. These look like really nice weapons so before I spend time going to gun shops what is the opinion on their(ppk models) use as a CCW?
Thanks
 
The .380acp is a 9x17 whereas the 9mm is a 9x19... two totally different cartridges in totally different power brackets, they do not interchange in firearms.
The 9mm is more economical due to its abundance.
 
You may have lost me but I'll try to answer.

The .380 is also referred to as the 9mm Kurz (I think that is right) which is some kind of foreign (maybe German) word for short I think.

The 9mm is referred to as the 9mm Nato, 9mm Parabellum, 9x19, and 9mm Luger among others.

The 9mm and the .380 are completely different cartridges. The .380 is typically chambered in blowback operated guns and the 9mm is typically chambered in gas or recoil operated guns. They are the same diameter bullet, but the .380 typically uses a lighter bullet 85-100 grain. The 9mm typically uses a 115-147 grain bullet.

The Walther PPK is not chambered in the 9mm, only in the .380, .32, and maybe .22.

The PPK/S has a longer grip and holds 1 more round in the magazine but is otherwise the same.

I don't care for the Walthers. I believe their quality control is low. Their double action triggers usually break at in excess of 20 pounds. If I were to buy a .380 of this size, it would be a Sig P230.

I believe that .380 pistols today are not very size efficient due to recent shrinking of 9mm pistols. Guns like the Kahr MK9 9mm make guns like the Walther PPK and Sig P230 kind of pointless in my opinion. An exception to the size efficiency of the .380 would be the diminutive NAA Guardian.
 
Thanks.
Being a novice to handguns the cause for confusion came from the Walther German site that listed the PPK as a 9mm short and the USA site that lists, what appears to be the same PPK, as .380.
I am not too interested in the .380(have a Colt Pony) but 9mm is OK.
 
lvalley,

It looks like part of your question has been answered (the ammo part), but I'd like to add an opinion about the PPK as a concealed carry. First, the newer Walthers don't seem to have the quality of the older ones. I have a 9mm kurz PPK/s that was built in the 60's. You couldn't ask for a more reliable small auto. But, as Sundance has pointed out, there are better choices today. Take a careful look at the Springfield Micro Compact, for example. At .45 caliber, it packs a real punch and, despite its small size and weight, it is a comfortable shooter. It is now my carry gun. I vastly prefer it to a Kahr. The trigger pull of the Kahr is much too long to suit me. Another good choice for a carry gun is the S&W Model 66 in .357 w/ 2-1/2" barrel, especially an older one that you can probably find at a quite reasonable price. Hope this helps.
 
There are also some nice PPK clones that will give you the feel of a PPK (which many folks like) at a lower price, and with better quality. Check out:

-Bersa Thunder
-FEG PA-63 (this is a surplus pistol, generally available used for under $125)
-FEG SMC-380 (this is a new pistol)
-Makarov (this is a bigger pistol which shoots 9X18 ammo slightly more powerful than .380) These are also surplus pistols generally available for under $150.
 
Sundance,

Agree that new 9mm/.40 in the small frames are giving the .380's a run for the money.
My interest in the Walther was peeked only because the PPK "looks" like a gun, meaning I find the new modern pistols to be rather on the ugly side, must be my age.:).
I have a P239 2-tone, its ugly. I have a Keltec, it looks like a kindergarten kid made it from modeling clay. Kahr is ugly. And those Glock looking guns:barf:

But then again I said it must be me.
 
Kurz is german for short....For the money they want for the Walther PP/PPK/PPKS you could buy a CZ83 and an FEG..IMO
they are both better guns....You have a very valid point...9mm
and 40 guns are shrinking ALOT...Kahr etc... they almost negates the positive points of the best .380 guns. I have a CZ 83 on my hip as I type...Its in a tuckable Bladetech UHC IWB holster...has
14 rnds of Gold Dot JHP's in it and another 13 rnd mag in my left
front pocket....its light enough and carries well. Its not my everyday gun....but I will tell ya. If you ever get the chance to shoot one..thats all it will take to understand...its not just the caliber, weight, capacity......etc. Its just the gun, the way it feels and the way it shoots that will tell its own tale.

Good luck on your hunt....and Shoot well
 
Ivalley,

I have to agree on the "looks" part. The PPK is a beautiful gun, at least its lines are attractive to me. But the main reason it can have those lines is because it's a blowback design so the recoil springs, guide rod, etc., don't need to be under the barrel.

Maybe this is just me, but I wouldn't want a pistol chambered for a more potent cartridge than a .380 ACP that didn't have a locked breech design. Then again, I think a Luger with the toggle lock mechanism is one of the most attractive pistols ever made.

All that said, my Kel-Tec P11 gets better looking every time I see it because of its size, weight, capacity, and performance. If it ever fails, it might get ugly again, but ingenious design and 100% reliability are attractive as far as I'm concerned.
 
lvalley - Just to reitterate, the .380 and 9mm short are the exact same round. 9mm short is just the typical European designation for the .380. This is the same as 9mm kurtz. They're all just different terms for the same round. The 9mm short PPK on the first website is the same gun as the .380 PPK on the other.

edited - oops! Seem to be clear on this. Nevermind :D
 
Ok, I give up!!!!! :) Now the 9mm Browning is the same as a .380.

Anyone know if there is a website that would have info on cartridges?
 
My 83 has 9mm Browning on the slide....pretty cool.

Its great for people who think they know all about every gun...I tell them its a special anti aircraft round that also shoot lightning bolts every 3rd round. ( Just kidding ;) )

For info on ballistics and rounds that are commonly available....check out this site...you will find it interesting....

http://home.earthlink.net/~kvuo/text/stop80d.txt

Shoot well
 
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