Are any LEO using the Walther P99/SW99?

B

bobby_lori

New member
I am thinking about buying a Walther P99 or the SW-99 .40. I am not going to get in the debate about which one is better. I have read war stories on both and both have had problems and both have had great write ups. I know about the NJSP deal and I have gotten a copy of the report. But on the flip side, spoke with a PD in MA who issues the SW-99 to their officers and SWAT and they love them. I have to stick with the .40. My question is: are there any law enforcement officers/security guards who are using the Walther P99/S&W SW-99 on Duty. If so, why did you ick it? I have heard some reports that there is more felt recoil in these guns than similar sized and polymer frame guns. Is there any truth to it? Big question: What kind of holster are you carrying it in? Thanks for your imput. Have a Merry Christmas.
 
I would like to take the opportunity to address one part of your post in hopes that it may be of interest to you.

I have heard some reports that there is more felt recoil in these guns than similar sized and polymer frame guns. Is there any truth to it?
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I shot my Walther P99 side by side with my G23 with a couple of different rounds, comparing the felt recoil. The P99 had less felt recoil than the Glock with all rounds fired.

BTW, please don't type WaltherP99/SW99 like that. It indicates that they are the same. There couldn't be anything further from the truth. The S&W is a POS compared to the Walther. :D

Given the choice between the two pistols, I would choose the Walther P99. I have two and intend to buy another shortely. ;)
 
I have heard some reports that there is more felt recoil in these guns than similar sized and polymer frame guns.
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Between the Walther P99, Glock 17, Glock 19, Sig P228.
The Glock 17 has the least felt recoil and muzzle flip.
Followed by the Walther P99, then the Glock 19, then the Sig P228. The Sig has about the same felt recoil as the others, but more muzzle flip due to the higher bore-axis.
The difference between the P99 and the G17 is minimal, you have to shoot them side-by-side to tell the difference.
BTW.....the P99 is great......the SW99 is a POS. :D
 
Gentlemen,
In reagards to the above views of the SW99 being a "POS". I understand that you have your views. However, you have to look at it like this, any thing that is man made is going to screw up. I read a thread somebody posted on here and Glock Talk about the two guns. The reviews were pretty much split. Both guns had problems and both had good things. I have a buddy who has a P99 and it has been sent back twice with FTF. So, anyone can have a "lemon". As an example, officer had a Glock 17. Would not feed anything but 115 gr ammo. If you tried 124 or 147 gr, it would not feed. His opinion: Glocks are POS. So, you are going to get good ones and bad ones.
I use to work in a gun store for 5 long years. I saw Glocks, H&K, Smith, Beretta, Rugers, etc. all come in for repair. Like I said above, anything man made is going to screw up. It is not if it breaks, because it will sooner or later, It is: how long does it take to get it fixed. On sending guns back for repair or getting service on the phone:
Glock: Slow
H&K: Forget about getting them on the phone
Beretta: I have had some heated discussions with them
S&W: Excellent service
Ruger: Not bad actually
So, it comes down to service after the sell. I am sure now that Wlather is in the Smith plant, service should be good. I have not decided which one I am going to buy yet. I am looking for imput of who has them and why they like them. Not "let's trash the other".
Thanks
Have a Merry Christmas.
Bobby
 
Sgt,
You must of read my mind. I have been trying to get info on the SW99. I like how the P99 feels in my hand but I cannot use it as a duty gun because Walther is not approved. So I have been wondering on springing for the SW99.
 
Gentlemen,
In reagards to the above views of the SW99 being a "POS". I understand that you have your views. However, you have to look at it like this, any thing that is man made is going to screw up.
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And lately S&W has been screwing up more than most of the other "Big name" manufacturers. Have you looked at a SW99, up close and personal? The machine work on the slide looks like "third-world" sweat shop work. I have personally seen blemishes that would make a Lorcin quality control person freak out. If they let cosmetic blemishes like that thru, then what can I expect from close tolerance areas? Sure all the manufacturers spit out a lemon once in a while, the difference is the frequency of lemons. Its too bad that S&W has fallen into the "second tier" of firearms manufacturers, but they have. Most of their "Performance Center" firearms are excellent weapons, but their consumer line of firearms currently blows. Its like Colt, i'm sorry but since the mid-eighties their products have, for the most part been POS too, its just here lately that they have made a bit of a comeback. I hope that you find a good S&W pistol for your duty weapon, at least you are willing to do some research.
 
Ok, let's not pick on the SW99 specifically. :rolleyes:

Here's another S&W LE weapon horror story for you. ;)

A major, state level LE agency in NJ, ordered 15 S&W tactical, full size 9mm guns for their tactical team. I don't recall the model number and quite honestly I haven't kept up with the new numbering system that S&W uses. But, they were of the Tactical line of guns.

To make a long story real short, they could not get 15 guns out of 45 (3 shipments of 15) to work 100% even with ball ammo.
S&W was actually using parts in the guns that they gave notice in writing not to use in that model. When asked about that they replied, "we know but they will work". They didn't! :eek:

They scrapped the idea of using the S&W's and went on to test the Glock 19.

Sgt. 830,

You say you have a copy of the NJSP report on the SW99's. I'll bet it doesn't mention in your copy where a NJ Trooper, while on the firing line at Sea Girt (State Police Academy), told the S&W rep when asked about the SW99 that he felt it was like having an Acura Accord instead of a Mercedes Benz when compared to his older, well worn, HK P7M8. The rep was there to document the number of malfunctions with the SW99's. They must be bad when S&W has to send a rep to the range to count the number of screw ups with the guns.

The Trooper is also a firearms instructor for NJSP and also calls the SW99 a POS! :barf:

He told me that if they, NJSP, had gone with the Walther P99 from the beginning, they would not have had all the problems that they did with the S&W's.

They now have SIG228's and all seems to be going fine with them.

I am thinking about buying a Walther P99 or the SW-99 .40.
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Seeing as how you have the choice, do yourself a favor and get the Walther.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but NJSP had the guns modified against Smith's advice, which led to problems and a bad reputation.
 
hey sgt, please refer to a number of the different posts on the p99. there were a number of them that were made that were not proofed by the german proof houses, these were produced with parts made here by s&w. these had all sorts of issues, i have not heard of any of the true german made p99s having such issues. having had the chance to handle a sw99 <police issued> in .40cal and compare just the feel between it and my p99 in 9mm, there is no comparason. the sw99 felt cheap and chintzy. i shook it and it rattled. it just didn't seem to be built to the old exacting standards that were associated with s&w. maybe i'm just biased, but i also look for quality of manufacture and that i got with my authentic german made walther p99. question for you, why buy a knock off copy when you can get the real thing?? if you have the ability to go and shoot them, do so. afterall, all we can do is give our opinions.


Adept
 
Due to our policy, Walther is not aproved. I purchased the SW99 One reason being that the M5 light that fits our TSW models also fit the SW99. The Walther light looks gaudy and no one makes carriers for it. I spoke with a firearms instructor of a police department in MA about the SW99. Their department issues the SW99 to the officers. The SWAT teams is also issued the SW99. No problems, very reliable and accurate. This is a big department with top of the line training.

As in my earlier post, everyone has an opinion. However, none of us are qualified to say what is good or what is bad. We all have our opinions and it may be right and it may be wrong. I have had a bad experience with Para Ordnance. I have had 3 POs, and everyone of them has had problems. But have a brother officer who swears by them. Got an officer with my department who shoots a S&W Sigma. He is good with it and has never had any problems with it. But if you ask people on the street (and on here) about the Sigma, you would get that he is shooting a POS. His scores reflect that he is comfortable with it and is good with it.

In this day and time, I hate to see people give statements like "POS, I would not buy it, it's is garbage." We have toremember that the people in law enforcement today are diffrent than years ago. Some of the ones today, come in with no firearms training. Some have never seen a gun before. We should try to encourage them to find the gun that fits them not what is vogue at the time. A Glock may not fit the hands of a certain person. Do we talk them into it because everyone is using them right now or do we find them a gun that fits their hand. I would rather have a backup officer with a EAA Witness that can shoot it properly and effective, than an officer with a Glock (that was purchased because everyone has one) and cannot shoot it to the level of his ability.

There is a PD close to me that the officers buy what is vogue. In the 80's, everyone had to have Berettas. Then the nickel Sigs came out and everyone had to have one. Then the stainless Berettas are out and they switched. USPs came out and the switch again. Now Glocks are vogue and guess what, everyone has to have one.

I think that we are missing the real reason of shooting and proper deployment of a firearm. We use what works for us. That is what saves lives. We should encourage people to finds what works for them, because it is their life that is on the line. I am the firearms trainer for our department. When a new perosn comes in and starts looking for a duty weapon, I don't tell them to get Brand X, but find what fits them. We can work on the fundementals of shooting. But if the gun doesn't fit their hand, it will be harder to gain the level confidence that is needed.

Every gun that is man made has a problem with it. That is a fact. It will tear up sooner or later. Lets steer people toward finding what is right for them and let them enjoy the shooting sport. After all, that is what the shooting sport is all about: fun.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
 
I have the SW99, and like it. It shoots well, and does not give me any problems. Only issue I ever had was failure to feed when shooting some Fiocchi ammo. Changed ammo (same session) and problem solved.

IMO, both are good weapons. I chose the SW 99 for reasons other than cost or logo worship. It is sufficient testimony to me that if your gen-yoo-wine Walther needs warranty work, it will be done in Springfield, MA.

Bottom line is - research your question, then make an informed decision based upon what works for you.
 
OK now i'm confused. :confused:
Here are some of your statements and questions.

I am thinking about buying a Walther P99 or the SW-99 .40.
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and then later.........

Due to our policy, Walther is not aproved. I purchased the SW99
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So why were you even asking about the Walther P99? Sounds to me like you had already bought the SW99, and wanted us to all agree that its the best thing since sliced bread, and when we disagree and say its a POS you get offended.
Amazing things happen on bulletin boards.........you ask for opinions.........and people give you THEIR opinion........and it does not always jibe with YOUR opinion.
..........
Hope your happy with your SW99.
Hope you got a good one, we gotta take care of our LEO's.
 
I had not made the choice when I made the original post. However, I went and checked and found out that the Wlather would not fall into our policy. Asked about getting it approved, and found out the policy couldn't be changed. So, that kind of made my decision for me. I don't care if you like the SW99 or not, I was just looking for pros/cons on both to help me on my decision. And in the end, the decision was made for me.
Thanks
 
Our agency tested the SW99 last summer as a possible duty gun choice. It did very well - accurate, comfortable and reliable. It was in the top running as the changeable grip was really preferred to most others, but it was rejected for liability concerns over the way the trigger is manipulated to set the action to single...

So, even though the point is moot, enjoy your gun - it should be a good one.
 
You can forget any semblance of objectivity on Smith and Wesson here. I can tell you the best thing to do is go to a range, rent one and see for yourself.

I like Smith products and their service and warranty is second to none.
 
Sgt. 830,

Best of luck w/your SW99. I hope it serves you well for many years. Honestly. ;)

Coming from 25 years in LE, I know about policy restrictions. :rolleyes: They do not always favor the right or best choice, especially in regard to firearms.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all...:D
 
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