Walther P99AS c for DA/SA
- Thread starter chemcal
- Start date
Big fan of the da/sa manuals of arms and have looked hard at this gun. If you jump on the Walther forum, they seem to love it. Hard to find many who have this gun and don't love it. Only reason haven't jumped on it is with the colder weather I'm enjoying cc my 229. Once the weather get warm I may take another look at this. Heard good things about the trigger, very light and decent capacity. Seems to be one of those gems that just gets lost in the shuffle. I think you have to have an appreciation/like of da/sa to find this. All the zillion of striker fired subcompacts seem to dominate most people's attention.
I've owned the licensed S&W version for quite a few years (SW999c). Walther either made or provided everything except for the bare slide and barrel.
I picked it up as an armorer just as it was being phased out of production in favor of the SW990L's (what Walther calls the QA sear action, except the S&W version lacked a field-stripping button in the slide). I thought about ordering the P99c AS at the time, but the SW99 had a few features I preferred and it was priced just a little less than the P99 (since S&W didn't have to buy the slide and barrel from Walther for the S&W model).
I've always thought that Walther ought to have supported more advertising and promotion of their 99 series in the US when they had their Strategic Alliance with S&W, and used S&W/Walther America as their importer.
S&W did a little advertising and support of their own licensed versions, mostly for LE, as I recall.
There have been any number of revisions, refinements and improvements to the 99 series over the years, and in my opinion they're very under appreciated. They've seemed to have been real sleepers on the American market.
FWIW, my SW999c feels slimmer in the hand than my pair of G26's, and I can't use the smallest of the 2 backstrap inserts because it makes the grip feel too small (I have medium-size hands, despite what most glove makers seem to think).
The AS triggers seem to smooth out and lighten up over use. The older guns with the "ramps" inside the bottom of the trigger guards could result in some trigger finger soreness if you let you trigger finger drift too low (especially in cold weather), bumping against the ramp under recoil (in the .40's), and I always thought the backstrap inserts for the compact frames were more ergonomic and comfortable than those used on the larger standard frames. That's just personal preference, though.
I'd think it was worth taking the time to try and find one to look at and compare.
BTW, Walther used to only offer a 1 year warranty on the P99's, but a limited lifetime warranty for American owners of the then-new PPQ. I'd heard Walther was now offering a new limited lifetime warranty through their new Walther Arms company (their own US distributor) on their other guns. That would be a welcome benefit. It would be enough to make me consider making sure I was buying a gun that was covered under the new warranty. http://www.waltherarms.com/legendary-lifetime-warranty/
I picked it up as an armorer just as it was being phased out of production in favor of the SW990L's (what Walther calls the QA sear action, except the S&W version lacked a field-stripping button in the slide). I thought about ordering the P99c AS at the time, but the SW99 had a few features I preferred and it was priced just a little less than the P99 (since S&W didn't have to buy the slide and barrel from Walther for the S&W model).
I've always thought that Walther ought to have supported more advertising and promotion of their 99 series in the US when they had their Strategic Alliance with S&W, and used S&W/Walther America as their importer.
S&W did a little advertising and support of their own licensed versions, mostly for LE, as I recall.
There have been any number of revisions, refinements and improvements to the 99 series over the years, and in my opinion they're very under appreciated. They've seemed to have been real sleepers on the American market.
FWIW, my SW999c feels slimmer in the hand than my pair of G26's, and I can't use the smallest of the 2 backstrap inserts because it makes the grip feel too small (I have medium-size hands, despite what most glove makers seem to think).
The AS triggers seem to smooth out and lighten up over use. The older guns with the "ramps" inside the bottom of the trigger guards could result in some trigger finger soreness if you let you trigger finger drift too low (especially in cold weather), bumping against the ramp under recoil (in the .40's), and I always thought the backstrap inserts for the compact frames were more ergonomic and comfortable than those used on the larger standard frames. That's just personal preference, though.
I'd think it was worth taking the time to try and find one to look at and compare.
BTW, Walther used to only offer a 1 year warranty on the P99's, but a limited lifetime warranty for American owners of the then-new PPQ. I'd heard Walther was now offering a new limited lifetime warranty through their new Walther Arms company (their own US distributor) on their other guns. That would be a welcome benefit. It would be enough to make me consider making sure I was buying a gun that was covered under the new warranty. http://www.waltherarms.com/legendary-lifetime-warranty/
Independent George
New member
I really the P99 were on my radar back when I first got into shooting. I prefer DA/SA operation, and the idea of a striker gun with a true DA trigger really appeals to me.
The Walther P99AS c has one of the best trigger systems ever devised for a defensive pistol. Frankly, I feel it is a much safer striker-fired option than the Glock-style trigger, and has a better trigger feel to boot.
The pistol itself is very light and close in size to the Glock 26. Dimensionally, it is ever-so-slightly larger, but conceals better due to the contours of the slide and shape of the grip.
The compact P99 is uber-reliable, just like all the other P99/PPQ-series pistols.
The pistol itself is very light and close in size to the Glock 26. Dimensionally, it is ever-so-slightly larger, but conceals better due to the contours of the slide and shape of the grip.
The compact P99 is uber-reliable, just like all the other P99/PPQ-series pistols.
runningbear
New member
The P99 was my first Walther and i still have it, it's a great shooting 9mm the DA/SA works very well. what i really like is my other Walther PPQ M1 the paddle Mag drop system uses the same Mags as my P99.
I voted with my wallet
Just sold my PPQ and replaced it with a P99AS Compact. I like that trigger design and I like the long paddle lever mag release. In my opinion, the decocking striker design is a safer, better trigger system than those of the PPQ or the H&K VP9.
Those last two designs seem too much like somebody carrying a cocked and unlocked 1911 pistol. Just not a good idea for real world service and self-defense usage.
But for a competition gun, that light short trigger pull may be a good thing. That is why Walther has just come out with a 5-inch PPQ version.
And, as in the other Walther thread going on right now, they have come out with a PPS M2 which has the nice ergo grip of the PPQ. That one excites me. I may have to get get a second PPS.
Bart Noir
Just sold my PPQ and replaced it with a P99AS Compact. I like that trigger design and I like the long paddle lever mag release. In my opinion, the decocking striker design is a safer, better trigger system than those of the PPQ or the H&K VP9.
Those last two designs seem too much like somebody carrying a cocked and unlocked 1911 pistol. Just not a good idea for real world service and self-defense usage.
But for a competition gun, that light short trigger pull may be a good thing. That is why Walther has just come out with a 5-inch PPQ version.
And, as in the other Walther thread going on right now, they have come out with a PPS M2 which has the nice ergo grip of the PPQ. That one excites me. I may have to get get a second PPS.
Bart Noir
Cosmodragoon
New member
I'm only familiar with the full-size version but I only have praise for it. It's a great gun and as others have said, a very underrated gun. In my experience, the P99 has been totally reliable with a variety of ammo. I love the ergos and I think it was one of the earlier guns to go that route. I like the idea of a striker-fired DA/SA. It may feel strange not having a hammer in DA/SA but having it smooth back there only adds to the ergos for concealed carry.
The paddle release is certainly controversial. (You can see it being discussed in the thread on the new PPS.) I happen to like it. Scratch that, I love it. You have to get used to it but once you do, you might find it easier to operate. I find it easier since I just use my trigger finger and don't really have to change my grip like I do with most buttons. As others have pointed out, it is at least theoretically harder to operate accidentally.
The paddle release is certainly controversial. (You can see it being discussed in the thread on the new PPS.) I happen to like it. Scratch that, I love it. You have to get used to it but once you do, you might find it easier to operate. I find it easier since I just use my trigger finger and don't really have to change my grip like I do with most buttons. As others have pointed out, it is at least theoretically harder to operate accidentally.
I like the Walther paddle mag release.
I have been using traditional button releases since President Ford was tripping in front of cameras.
And I have a fair number of pistols using one method or the other.
I guess, being the superior warrior that I aspire to become,
I should practice a technique of pressing both kinds of releases at the same time.
But then I'd be totally screwed using a European heel style release.
Bart Noir
Who also likes the paddle-pressed-with-thumb method on the USP Compact.
I have been using traditional button releases since President Ford was tripping in front of cameras.
And I have a fair number of pistols using one method or the other.
I guess, being the superior warrior that I aspire to become,
I should practice a technique of pressing both kinds of releases at the same time.But then I'd be totally screwed using a European heel style release.
Bart Noir
Who also likes the paddle-pressed-with-thumb method on the USP Compact.