The Walther PPQ: What's Next?

T

TunnelRat

New member
Hi all,
So I found myself thinking about this during the week while hovering my mouse pointer over the buy option on a Walther PPQ to take advantage of the rebate. The PPQ came out in 2011. That's a fair amount of time ago. Now I fully agree that it has excellent ergos, probably the best stock trigger on the market, and is quite reliable. But it's an evolution of the P99 that came out in 1996. Both FN and S&W have given their products a refresh in that time as has Glock (even though with Glock those are just minor changes).

Despite the lack of cosmetic changes that may or may not have any benefit, there is also no PPQc despite the P99ASc being out there. Yes there is the PPS M2, but no real subcompact and it seems weird that Walther hasn't made the effort to do a subcompact PPQ. There are longslide versions of the PPQ and extended magazines, but these are all add ons that don't affect the original frame.

When you consider how long the P99 has been out I start to wonder when or if we'll see the next design from Walther. And again I like the PPQ and I'm not saying it needs an update per se, but I'm left wondering what is next from Walther.

Thoughts?
 
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I'm struggling to find something to say needs improvement. For those that like it, it checks the boxes really well.

It is surprising that with all of the focus on CC lately that there hasn't been a smaller double stack released. That would probably spur up some sales.

I enjoyed my PPQ so much that I took advantage of the rebate and picked up a M2 Navy. I actually find the Navy balances better for me. A bit more weight at the nose with the bit longer barrel on it. I looked at the M&P 2.0, Glocks, XD line, CZ polymers & probably some that I've forgotten, but none of them felt special enough to pull me away from another Walther. So I guess Walther just got it right, at least for me they did.

The ROI for the frame on the PPQ must be fanstatic thiugh. 1 frame supports the standard PPQ, the Navy, the Long Slide & the Q5. Were there frame changes for the .40 or the .45?
 
I think we will see a compact PPQ because of the VP9SK.

I do not think we will see anything new after the CCP and M2 PPS.

The PPQ was out before 2011. The P99 RAD in 2008. So the design is much older than stated.
 
The PPQ was out before 2011. The P99 RAD in 2008. So the design is much older than stated.
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I'm aware of that but I meant the commercial release in the US. You're right about the RAD, but you could go back even further than that if you just consider the P99 itself.
 
I think people say the P99QA was what the PPQ came from, but I think the P99AS single action is where the trigger came from...so really, in my mind, the PPQ is as old as the 1990s P99. This means Walther really is slower than we all think to bringing "new" guns out.

I personally don't see the PPQ changing more than a few variants (M3 that is coming, M2 5" Standard, etc). Compact? Yes. I bet we see a compact.

Whole new pistol? I don't think Walther will have even an update like the P99 to the PPQ.

I do bet the P99 gets an update.
 
I do bet the P99 gets an update.
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You think? Idk I always got the impression that the P99, despite being a good gun, was never overly popular. DA/SA seems to be less in favor these days too so I'm not sure about that but anything's possible.

I was thinking about it this week from a standpoint as a number of folks were talking about the lack of innovation with Glock and the Gen 5. I don't completely disagree but often people bring up the PPQ in terms of its improvements with the trigger and ergonomics. Like I said I agree, but it seems to me that Walther hasn't really had a new design in some time either, though to be fair that's true for a number of companies. It does seem like Walther doesn't do as many refreshes as other companies though I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
 
I kinda do. With Walther USA, there may eventually be a push to sell their products-something not seen before under the S&W import.

Jazz up the P99 with a PPQ grip, push button, and reintroduce as new. So few know of the P99 it would be treated as an amazing system.
 
I doubt Walther is going to do anything with the P99. It is fairly popular in Europe as a police pistol and not sure Walther would want to mess with a proven design.

It seems not very many SF pistol fans like DA/AS/SA trigger on the P99 AS. Not sure if it is too confusing or lack of desire for a longer/heavier first pull. I originally wanted to buy a P99 AS 9MM but none were to be found at the time so I bought the PPQ shorty after it came out and the price dropped to $489. Kind of mad at myself for not picking one up earlier last year when they are going for about $435 at certain vendors.

The PPQ45 surprised a lot of us Walther fans so who knows what they are coming up with next. I suspect we may see a PPQ sub compact sooner than later.

What more than a few PPQ fans would like to see is an option via simple spring changes to make the trigger pull a bit heavier kind of like HK offers for the LEM trigger. Many would like to see a PPQ single stack as the same size as the Walther CCP.
 
What do you see being different between a single stack PPQ and a PPS? Just a larger?


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I have the Q5 Match and the PPS M2. The PPS is a great little gun, but definitely not on par with the PPS for me. My dream right now would be PPQ subcompact on par with the size of the Glock 26 or VP9SK with a variety of magazines. 10 rounds to conceal under anything, 12 or 15 if clothing allows, etc. Would be a very flexible platform!
 
As a Walther fan, I'd like to see a PPQ-c roughly the same size as a Glock 26.

As far as the standard PPQ, I'm not sure there's a lot to really update and refresh to keep up with the competition. The only thing I'd suggest is for the factory to make the standard magazine release spring stiffer on the M2 models. The ones I've handled are terribly light. I might also like the option of a shorter slide stop lever, mostly because my offhand thumb occasionally rides the left side lever, preventing slide-lock on empty.

(Hey, at least it's better than a SIG where the lever is right where your right thumb goes. SIGs rarely lock back on empty for me... :( )

My particular PPQ is an M1 in 9mm. It compares very favorably with my 1911s in terms of offhand accuracy and shootability. It is actually my favorite striker fired pistol, though if Walther offered the P-99 AS with the PPQ grip texture, and utilizing PPQ magazines, I'd be mighty tempted to try it.
 
My Walther wish list?

The PPQ-c compact. An alternative the size of the Glock 26 could be a big seller for Walther.

A PPQ45 5-inch. I have been thrilled with my PPQ 5-inch, and would love to see Walther offer the same barrel length for the 45ACP.

The PPS-45 suggested by another poster is an intriguing idea.
 
TunnelRat: said:
...it seems weird that Walther hasn't made the effort to do a subcompact PPQ
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You hit the nail on the head right there, as much as like my own PPS-M2, and I like the PPQ, I'd really like to see a combination of the 2 guns, i.e., a PPS barrel length but with a slightly lower cap double stack mag / grip combination. I think Walther could sell one of these!
 
How old is the 1911?
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Pretty old I hear. But at a point some things become classic and the older appearance and design are part of the appeal. I don't think something from 2011 is quite there yet.

Not everything needs overhauled every 5 years.
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That's fair but to me in a market where every company now makes a polymer striker fired pistol there might be some use in refreshing a product line to drive sales. At the end of the day this is a consumer economy. If nobody bought anything new just because what they had currently worked many of these companies would go belly up. We're already seeing that in some parts of the industry and I don't expect that changing in the next three years. Now I don't expect Walther to go out of business but I also think maybe adding a subcompact wouldn't be bad idea and would help flush out the product line. To me when companies stop developing new designs they open themselves to future problems. And heck, it gives us something to talk about on what is after all a forum. :D
 
When you consider how long the P99 has been out I start to wonder when or if we'll see the next design from Walther. And again I like the PPQ and I'm not saying it needs an update per se, but I'm left wondering what is next from Walther.
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Are you trying to predict the release of a new Walther because you might want one instead of the PPQ? Or just curious?

I read it to be the former and to that I'd say, if you like the PPQ and can get it for a price you'd be happy with, I'd say get a fine gun for a good price that has had 6 years on the market to prove its worth...

(and, no, I haven't read the whole thread!! :o)
 
Lol, that's probably a fair guess. I did end up buying a PPQ M1 at like 10:00 last night so I could take advantage of the rebate. For $400 after rebate it just seemed silly not to (at least that's what I tell myself ;)).

Part of me does wonder though if some of these rebates we're seeing from S&W and Walther are to move product to clear the way for new models. We've seen the M&P 2.0 and I wonder if we'll see a 2.0 Shield or similar. It may honestly just be that in the US the market is so flat that they're doing whatever they think will work to drive sales.
 
Part of me does wonder though if some of these rebates we're seeing from S&W and Walther are to move product to clear the way for new models.
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If it is, (or even if it isn't) I think you've just bagged a really good pistol for a really, really good price!

Rejoice, good sir!
 
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