P99 Impressions

[BK-BHP/1911]

Hi,

I purchased a P99 back in September of 2001. My first trip to the range with it left me somewhat uninspired, I found the wide notch in the rearsight not very conducive to accuracy (I was used to the Novaks in my C&S BHP). However it was very reliable even with Norinco 9mm with hard primers that the custom BHP with it's light hammer spring could not fire.

Recently I fooled around with the rear sight trying to remove it and ended up pushing it the 'wrong' way. I could then only remove the sight by taking out the screw completely!!!. I then centered the sight as best I could and waited for a range trip.

first group fired at about 7-10 yards was about 1-2" left. I ended up adjusting the sight by about 3 clicks and was surprised by a well centered group. What surprised me was that I put 5 consecutive rounds into about an inch with no flyers. My custom BHP can make slightly smaller groups but I found that the grip of the gun sometimes twisted in my hands making consistent indexing difficult at times.

I fired a few more groups and was very happy to find well centered 10 shot groups with 1-2" groups at 7-10 yards (a personal best for me, and I hadn't gone to the range for about 8 months!!!)

I then added up the math in my head. I shot better with a production gun costing 1/3 the cost of my custom BHP. The handle fit me better and with the ultra adjustable sight, even a major goofup by myself on the rear sight was easily corrected. As well replacing and sighting in a new sight could be done without costly gunsmithing!!! I could also put in a fiber optic sight without going to a smith!!! Hmmm...I wonder if replacement trijicons also are adjustable and use the screw head to index the sight on the spring loaded plunger at the right side of rear sight?
The trigger is surprisingly light and smooth after a few 100 rounds.

I am now very happy with my P99, I love the fact it is one one the few plastic pistols that can be carried in SA mode. The reliability is top notch and once I got used to the trigger and sight the accuracy is very impressive. Maintenance is also much easier than on my BHP and the tenifer finish does exactly what the extra cost Black T does on my custom gun!

I wish they had this gun available in my city before I bought my BHP...I still have a Wickmann BHP on order too. (ordered before I bought my P99) Oh well...the old lesson of shooting lots of guns to find one that suits you best sure applies here.

My current plans are to order from Walther usa some fobus holsters and mag pouches and a fiber optic front sight. That's all the customization I'll do to my P99

 

[NMGlocker]

Hmmm...I wonder if replacement trijicons also are adjustable and use the screw head to index the sight on the spring loaded plunger at the right side of rear sight?

Yes, in fact the Trijicon sights use the exact same adjustment screw, you just remove it from the stock sights. I've found the easiest way to remove the rear sight, is to use the yellow plastic punch that came with the P99, to push down on the spring loaded plunger, then use your fingers to push the sight out the opposite side from the plunger. Be carefull to not let the punch slip, because the spring loaded plunger can launch off into space, and its a little bitty sucker to find.