Buying a Walther PPK

B

Bullrock

New member
I have my sights set on a Walther PPX Sorry not K, 9mm.:( I've not even held one, let alone shoot one. I would like some input as to, whether or not, I'm making the right decision. I'm an old experienced gunman, and currently own a PX4 Compact for carry & Range. The PPK would be for HD & Range. I live in a rural area with a lack of handgun (rentals) ranges...

I'm concerned I might be overlooking something that will serve me better, because I've not been active with guns for the last 5 years...:o
 
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There are no PPKs in 9mm. It's more likely a .380 acp. I don't know why you would be looking for a compact low capacity pistol for home defense and range use. Better to just use the PX4 although I would be looking for a full sized, double stack, all steel gun for either HD or range use. Beretta 92 would be good though I am partial to CZs. Another great choice would be a 1911. .45 is a good HD round and single action generally has the best trigger for range use. If you're set on 9mil they make 1911s in that cal also.
 
I expected you to want one because it was James Bond's gun, haha, not because it wanted a HD/range gun. I'm my opinion there are much better options for that...

(I can completely understand wanting one because it's James Bond's gun, btw. :D)
 
For your intended use - HD and range - there's really not much reason to use an underpowered (.380 ACP), low-capacity, and heavy (for its size) gun like the PPK. I think you'd be better off with a full-size PX4 than the PPK - since size and weight aren't a factor, you may as well go for the same manual of arms with more capacity, longer sight radius, and interchangeable magazines compared to your compact. Heck, if you really want to up-gun yourself, you even have the option of the CX4 Carbine (which uses the same PX4 mags).
 
The Walther PPK is available in 9mm Kurz which is one of the European designations for the .380ACP. It's also sometimes called 9mm Browning in Europe, so the confusion is perfectly understandable.

I have a Walther PPK and it's a very neat little pistol but it wouldn't be my first choice as a home defense/range use pistol. Mine is what I carry when I can't dress to conceal my normal carry pistol.

I definitely recommend shooting the PPK if at all possible before buying--at the very least handle one first. It's small, has a pretty stiff recoil spring and some folks have trouble working the slide. If you get one of the original designs (as opposed to the newer variants made by S&W) slide bite can also be an issue.
 
Take a serious look at a pistol called a CANIK 55 in 9mm. It is a Turkish copy of the Cz-75 compact (CANIK is apparently the domestic manufacturer of NATO-spec small arms for Turkey).

It is not as small as a PPK, but it is on the smaller end of the 9x19mm spectrum. It is more powerful than a PPK, but easier to shoot well. Cz-75 magazines interchange with the 2 provided, without issues. I've owned one for 15 months and have run every imaginable factory round and reload through it, and it won't do anything but shoot and shoot and shoot and... Well, you get the idea.

Mine cost $356 from my local ACADEMY sporting goods. This is the best value in sidearms I've found in quite a long time. I encourage you to research this pistol a bit. I think you'll like what you see.
 
^^^^^^^^^^ What John said.

The pistols built by Smith and Wesson are very good. They are a little heavy but they shoot well albeit magazine capacity is not a strong point. My gun has never choked. It is so reliable, I gave it to my daughter. I missed it so much, I bought another. It is also boringly reliable. The gun just "Feels" right. Old design and good engineering and quality manufacturing and you have it in a PPK.

I carry mine sometimes when it is cool out just in a pocket. I do not have a holster for it. My other CC guns are Sig P320C, sig P938 and a Glock G19.
 
Bullrock, I recently bought a PPK, it's the Interarms version as opposed to the S&W version. I really like it. It feels great in my hand, I like the heft of steel and the recoil is just "snappy" for me. The gun is very accurate due to the fact that it's the blowback design with a fixed barrel. I will carry it for self defense. Are there lighter guns...yes, guns with larger calibers....yes, guns with higher capacity...yes, etc, etc, etc, But the PPK just feels right to me. Even if you don't carry it regularly, it's a fun gun to own and shoot. And, the lines are just beautiful. Good luck.
 
I like the PPK's, but as mentioned I think there are better choices for HD. A small .380 designed for CC many years back could work given practice, but if concealment is not an issue, I would look elsewhere. If you are more interested in the "it" factor however, go for it. PPK's are great firearms.

The DA pull is heavy (like a revolver), but I was able to shoot it nearly as well as a larger handgun after 50-100 rounds. I read many stories of terrible recoil, and a slide that is hard to manipulate. The slide part is true with its' stiff recoil spring, but recoil was more than manageable with the added weight. Accuracy was great, which threw me for a loop given how small it actually is (maybe not by current standards with LCP/P380/etc.).

Too bad you can't try before you buy as I would say this is one gun that is not for everyone. I read awhile back that newer ones will be coming our way around Jan of next year, but I no longer remember where I read that. Not sure if they will go back to the older design with S&W no longer making them, or if they will keep some of the newer features. For what it's worth, I shot around 150 rounds out of a S&W Model without any issues or pain... I can see how the beavertail would help tame the slide bite though.
 
Just throwing it out there but you may want to consider one of the many Bersa Thunder models. These are good quality Argentine made PPK clones at about half the price.
 
If you intend to buy used be aware many of the Interams PPK's had serious functioning problems, the S&W was better but it too had a lot of returns to repair issues. A used pistol would be a prime candidate for test fire before investing your cash. My 1932 PPK is a fun pistol to shoot but for every day carry i prefer a Sig P 238, G 42 or Kimber Micro...all in .380, very concealable pistols and much softer shooting than the PPK.
 
Congratulations on considering the PPK. But, as you have seen it is NOT a 9mm as we understand it. I have owned one for years and yes I carry it for CCW; along with others as the weather/style permits. BUT it was not my first firearm nor do I consider it my best. It is a little heavy. A Keltec and Ruger are so much lighter for the same "pop". It will also slice the fool off your hand between the thumb and forefinger if you a are not careful. I have a BIG fat hand and I have learned how to avoid the "bite". Living out in the woods would direct me to consider a larger caliber and higher capacity. But you will not be disappointed with an "antique" Walther. Best regards, PFB.
 
I posted this thread past my bedtime. At 80 years of age I have some dementia, and make a few writing mistakes, but I can still blow a hole in the red at 30'. The handgun I'm looking at is a PPX. Sorry for the (one letter) mistake. I realize it is important. This is the first time I've had to follow up on the posting. So I'm reading your replies.:o
 
DA/SA FAN: I don't think an all steel gun is necessary for home defense. I'm currently using my PX4 Compact, with a 15 round capacity. I have put over 200 rounds through it, and it hasn't melted yet. It shoots as well, if not better, than my former H&K. I do agree on low capacity as opposed to hi capacity for HD. I just made a typeO on the gun description. PPX...:confused:
 
Bullrock said:
I have my sights set on a Walther PPX... I currently own a PX4 Compact for carry & Range. The PP[X] would be for HD & Range.
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Bullrock said:
I don't think an all steel gun is necessary for home defense. I'm currently using my PX4 Compact, with a 15 round capacity... I do agree on low capacity as opposed to hi capacity for HD.
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If I were in your shoes, here's what I would do.
  • See if it's possible to run 17rd PX4 full-size mags in your Compact; this would be a LOT cheaper than buying a second gun. Although I'm not certain this is true of the PX4 Compact specifically, almost every commonplace modern compact handgun that's also available in a long-grip full-size version—e.g. the S&W M&P, Glock 17/19/26, Beretta 92 Compact L—will function perfectly with full-size mags. They'll project from the mag well, but this is solely a cosmetic issue, and it's often fixable with aftermarket inserts if it really bugs you.
  • Buy a PX4 full-size. Although it's pricier than a PPX, the PPX functions differently (striker-fired) and will have a learning curve, it's unlikely that holsters will interchange, and you can be certain that the magazines WON'T interchange. IOW factor purchasing accessories and adjusting the nut that pulls the trigger (;)) into your decision. This is a major plus to sticking with a common platform.
As a final note, I doubt the PPX will be as accurate and enjoyable to shoot as a PX4 full-size; I haven't fired either personally, but the PPX is a budget model designed around a low price point, and it has a stiff trigger like the competing S&W SD9 VE. I'm certainly not going to suggest that the Walther is an outright piece of crap, but let's just agree that they had to cut corners somewhere to drop the street price to ~$300, and leave it at that. :)
 
I'm certainly not going to suggest that the Walther is an outright piece of crap, but let's just agree that they had to cut corners somewhere to drop the street price to ~$300, and leave it at that.
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I can't disagree with you on anything you stated in your post, except, mildly with the above quote. The manufacturer didn't cut the price to $300, that's Bud's Gun Shop price, as of yesterday. I've owned a full size PX4 "G" model and, should have not sold it 4 years ago.

Fact is, I have the only handgun I need with the PX4 Compact. But it's not what I need, but what I want.:D:D I like the looks of a Walther. I've looked at the reviews, the video's, and likes/dislikes of PPX owners. Where I disagree with you is, the Walther pistols aren't low end. Other websites have the PPX price at over $400.
 
If one wants to buy a new PPK/s they better find one and grab it,as S&W is no longer making them. and they are getting very hard to find. It has been rumored that Walther USA will start making them again,but it's not set as a date yet.
I bought a S&W PPK/s .380 and it's been a good shooting handgun,to me it has a good feel in hand.
 
runningbear said:
If one wants to buy a new PPK/s they better find one and grab it,as S&W is no longer making them.
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Where have you heard this? They're still shown on the Walther Arms website as I write this.

http://www.waltherarms.com/handguns/ppk/ppk-ppks/

That said, it turns out the OP was actually referring to the PPX, see above. :)
Bullrock said:
The manufacturer didn't cut the price to $300, that's Bud's Gun Shop price, as of yesterday... Where I disagree with you is, the Walther pistols aren't low end. Other websites have the PPX price at over $400.
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I guarantee you that Bud's isn't giving them away below cost. :) Also, IIRC my local Academy Sports stores have offered them for $329 recently, certainly not far off the $300 mark.

My intention was NOT to write off Walthers categorically as low-end. (OTOH I think the Umarex-built Walther-rebadged PK380 in particular IS low-end, but I digress. ;)) My point is simply that the PPX is comparable to the S&W SD VE series – it's a purpose-built budget model, and thus lacks niceties and refinements offered on the gunmaker's more expensive product lines (the P99/PPQ and M&P respectively). I've defended the SD VE before, and to me, the PPX falls in the same category – functional, reliable, but a smidge crude.

If you like the PPX and it makes you happy, more power to ya. :cool: I'd rather have a PX4.
 
The PPX is a good pistol. I have seen very few bad reviews and the price is very nice as it is being discontinued.
It is NOT striker fired and it DOES have a nice smooth DAO trigger.
I say buy the Walther.
 
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