P99: current opinions?

R

Rovert

New member
I'm tempted to buy a Walther P99, but I am concerned about some things I've read. The problem is that much of the rants and raves have not really been too recent, so I would like to ask about CURRENT views.

My concerns are:

1) How to identify the GERMAN version with absolute certainty
2) What the 9mm reliability and accuracy is like
3) What the future of Walther is in the US, with all the changes that have occurred with Interarms/SW/Earl's, and whatnot.

TIA!
 
My P-99 (green / black) has stamped right on the frame "MADE IN GERMANY".

Since mine is a .40 I can not write on it as a 9mm. But 2 weekends ago @ 25' I put a whole mag worth of rounds in the center.

If your worried about the future of Walther in the U.S., buy 2.
Double your pleasure :D
 
Since mine is a .40 I can not write on it as a 9mm. But 2 weekends ago @ 25' I put a whole mag worth of rounds in the center.


The center of what a 12 inch bull a 4 inch bull. Your statement means nothing without clarification. I had a P99 40 like yours and on average its accuracy was not great .(about 3 to 4 inches at 25 yards) With some loads it did in the 2 inch range. The gun is ok. I sold mine because of a nasty habit of the slide to lock open prior to all the rounds in the mag being shot. I heard they fixed this problem. But mine did it even after a trip to Earls. I finally removed the slide stop when I carried it. Not a great compromise either. The walther also has much more muzzle flip than it should. Get a GLock 19 if you want a 9mm instead.
PAT
 
1. German proof marks on the slide, barrel and frame.
2. Very accurate I am as accurate or more accurate with my P99 9mm as my Sig229, Sig 239, Glock 19 and S&W 3913 all in 9mm. As far as reliability I've never had a jam or misfire with any of the above quality pistols and I shoot twice a week 200 rounds per session.
3. Who knows? If its made in Germany who cares who imports them.
 
Sorry 355. A 4" bull.

I too have experienced the slide locking open. But not so often as to make me dislike the firearm.

Muzzle flip may seem to much for some but it is no worse than the HK USP Compact .40 I had. mo.

Good firearm I think. Worth keeping.
 
I've got one in .40 and find it accurate and very comfortable. Also have the CP99 pellet pistol to practice in the garage with which is a plus. I have had the slide lock back twice, both when it was new but not since. I've probably easily shot 6-7000 rounds through it since the last time so I think it's a combination of new/limp wrist at the end of a session (both were at the end of 4-500 round endurance sessions). At the time I thought it's better that it locked back and only had to hit the slide release than have to tap or rack. Still like the triggers on my Sigs better but it's splitting hairs. Highly recommend...
 
I have the P99 Military in 9mm. I have about 1000 rds through it so far and not one malfunction. I also have found it to be more accurate than the Glock 19 which many consider the closest rival to the P99. Also, I even think the 9mm has the edge in accuracy vs the .40. Get one (the German one) and you'll be happy. Although accessories for the P99 are limited - it is because it is still fairly new. I predict that in a couple more years you will see accessories galore a la Glock.
 
One of the best looking pistols ever made. There are two things I dislike:

1. Sights. Front sight is too wide. Rear sight also too wide to accomodate front sight. Tought to be very accurate with these factory sights.

2. Trigger. Lots of "creep" before let-off...tought be be real accurate with it. Also feels very plasticky and cheap.
 
Current opinions of the P99.

I have one of the early P99's. I aquired mine in 1998. My opinion has not changed. It is one of, if not the best full size service pistols made!!! Walther USA LLC is a stable company as far as I can tell. Earl's has been around forever too. If you are concerned about getting a true Deutschen pistol, just buy it from Earl's. The only problems I have had with mine are: 1) it doesn't like Gold Dots and 2) it also dislikes Wolf. These cause the pistol to jam. Other than that, it is a very accurate reliable gun!!!
 
P99 9mm military.
Has replaced my Glock 17 and 19 as my nightstand/carry gun.
Shot an OPS Tactical Pistol course, 750 rounds over 2 days, without any cleaning. Pistol performed FLAWLESSLY. My groups were as tight as any one elses, and as good as i've ever been able to shoot with my Glocks or my Sig P228. I can't comment on the factory sights, since I replaced them with Trijicons before I ever shot the pistol. So far the pistol has had around 1500 rounds thru it without any problems at all. I like the ergonomics better than the Glocks as well. Blade-Tech makes a nice OWB holster for it.
(denfoote: my P99 LOVES Speer GoldDot 124 +P, one ragged hole at 15 yds., they feed flawlessly)
Walther is on par with Sig/Glock/H&K. :D
 
1) How to identify the GERMAN version with absolute certainty
ALL 9mm Walther P99s are German made. S&W ONLY made some .40S&W slides for Walther to help meet demands (about 4000). If it's a 9mm, it's all GERMAN made.
2) What the 9mm reliability and accuracy is like
100% on my 2 from round 1. I have one HK P7 that is more accurate, but the 2 P99s are second only to that. And it holds twice as many rounds in about the same size package :D
3) What the future of Walther is in the US, with all the changes that have occurred with Interarms/SW/Earl's, and whatnot.
Walther is not going out of business anytime soon. They may change importers (HK changed importers at least 3 times, Walther, twice, Sig had a couple of different importers before forming SigArms USA). They are as stable as HK, Sig and Glock.

Buy a Walther P99 in 9mm. You won't regret it. (and if you do, you can sell it to me cheap:D)

James
 
i've had mine for over a year now, and have fed over 5k rounds through it since, only time that i've had a stovepipe was when the wife limp-wristed it. other than that, eats every type of ammo i feed it and asks for more. it's also the most accurate firearm that i've used. it's still much more accurate than i am. i might have to get another one soon...first i need to get another handgun for the wife...i'm thinking ppk/s.


you can get them from Earl's. www.waltherusa.net, as others have said make sure that you check the right side of the slide and barrel for the proofmarks.


good luck and happy shooting.
 
BUY IT!!

1) How to identify the GERMAN version with absolute certainty
If you want a 9mm, you don't have to worry. All 9's are German made. There are aroung 3000 .40's with S&W slides.

2) What the 9mm reliability and accuracy is like
Everyone that I know that have the 9mm's say they are very reliable and very accurate (but not as accurate as my P88 :D )

3) What the future of Walther is in the US, with all the changes that have occurred with Interarms/SW/Earl's, and whatnot.
The future is very bright. Walther has been around since the late 1800's. The P99 is selling like gang busters and the new P22 is going to do the same. The police forces throughout the world are starting to switch to the P99. Recently the Tampa police switched to it. The P99 has also been adopted by Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, and the Notinghamshire Police force in England (Home of Robin Hood:) ).

If you really want one, you should go get one. You won't be disappointed.

P99
 
to Denfoote

Don't be upset. I have found Wolf pistol ammo to be absolute junk. I have seen many makes of 9mm pistols jam like hell with this ammo. Probably due to the steel case and the laquer that is painted on the cases.

Strangely I have had no problems with their 7.62x39 ammo. Rifle ammo is a lot more powerful and rifles are much more robust than the average pistol.W.R.
 
My own P99 is a German 9mm.

1. Excellent trigger pull, better than many name brand pistols that I own.

2. Excellent sights, adjustable for windage via a screw

3. 100 percent reliablilty

4. Extremely accurate approaching the accuracy of the World famous High Power.

5. Rough outside finish. To be expected on plastic type handguns. They are made as tools not works of art like the classic handguns of yesteryear.

6. Cheap plastic frame. No pride of ownership for sure.

7. Much safer to use and carry than the Glock unsafe action.

If you are one of those strange humans that actually likes plastic the Walther is definately one of the best if not the best tupperware pistol on today's market. It is a good tool but not a real handgun. A real handgun is a work of art besides being a usefull tool. W.R.
 
7. Much safer to use and carry than the Glock unsafe action.

Its is just as unsafe or as safe as a glock depending on the user. Both will fire if the idiot behind the gun pulls the trigger when he is not supposed to. IF the trigger is not pulled neither will fire.
PAT
 
355sigfan is 100% correct...the Glock is only unsafe to those who can't keep the finger out of the trigger guard when they don't actually want the gun to go *bang*. This is intentional. If someone needs four external safeties to compensate for lack of gun handling skills or trigger discipline, the Glock is probably not for them. None of my Glocks has ever fired when they were not asked to do so, and they get carried a lot.

WR: if you hold polymer in such low esteem, why did you blow $600 on a "cheap" plastic pistol with "rough" finish? Just curious...
 
1. The information about the proof marks is dead on so I won't rehash it.

2. Mine is 9mm. I have 700 rounds through it without a single hiccup. I did a Farnam drill today at a match. This is normally done with a dummy round inserted somewhere in the mag. I was the only one shooting 9 so there were no dummy rounds to be had. Range officer loaded my mag with a piece of spent range brass from the bucket. If fed the freakin empty casing. :eek: You can't ask for more reliability than that.

3. The future is bright indeed. They just released a .22 version of the gun. The PPK is a perennial seller. They have extricated themselves from the S&W deal, and WaltherUSA has already secured a couple of contracts to supply 40S&W versions to some PDs. Walther was around long before James Bond made them famous in the US, and they will be around long after 007 is in the old spy's home
 
I love my P99 mlt9mm. It's the only centerfire pistol i own, and if they make sweeter shooting handguns I'd like to see it. I can trim missletoe with it just as well as with my 22 rifle. I'm gonna buy a p22 just b/c it resembles the P99, that's how much i like this gun. I would strongly suggest a P99 9mm.
 
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