Walther PPK & clones question

http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?Keywords=manurhin

Just looking around. You can get a French PP (in the proper caliber:) ) starting around $399.

I've had several, still have one. They are great guns. Most were West German Police guns. It's interesting that the German Polizie issued French guns....even though most of the Walthers of that period were actually French guns anyway...

If you can go PP instead of PPK, that's what I would get.
 
Interarms

I'm not hearing good things about the Interarms mfg'd ones.
Click to expand...

I have owned two of the Interarms PPK's, and never had an issue with either one. In fact, my latest one (made in 86) is my daily concealed carry piece. Not a single FTF or FTE in the 6 years I have owned it - FMJ and HP. What it IS, however, is absolutely the most accurate 380 I have ever shot. It outshoots several of my full size autos from the 7 and 15 yard ranges.

J
 
SpareMag said:
Oh, last time I checked, Walther was going to build the PPK again in the US, along with some other models.
Click to expand...
AFAIK there has been no indication from a reputable and independently verifiable source (i.e. NOT a 'Net forum post or the manager at your LGS) that Walther is ending the S&W licensed production arrangement.

Furthermore, AFAIK the S&W plant in Houlton, ME is the world's only currently extant and operational production line for the centerfire PPK and PPK/S. There's not a whole lot of demand for these pistols outside of the American commercial market.
jaughtman said:
I have owned two of the Interarms PPK's, and never had an issue with either one.
Click to expand...
You're one of the lucky ones. :)

The issue with the Interarms pistols from Gadsden, AL is that some individual guns are finicky- not all of them, but a significant percentage. This seems to be the case with S&W production as well, but with these guns, at least one can potentially get factory service. OTOH S&W and Walther Arms reportedly will not service Gadsden, Ulm, Haut-Rhin, or Zella-Mehlis pistols.
 
The fit and finish on my two Smith and Wesson guns is every bit equal to German craftsmanship.
Click to expand...

While i was working part time at a dealer. Had a couple S&W we couldn't ever remove the slide on. Also You think that crappy laser printing is the quality of good roll mark .:rolleyes: German craftsman would be run out of the factory If they turned out the S&W pistol. My Ranger Interarms is Rated #2 behind the German/French made. S&W is a almost out of sight distance 3rd.

S&W as I remember made over 20 engineering changes to the original design These were made because a PPK is a labor intense pistol to build. These changes saved time and money . But no $ savings was passed on to the customer.

This design worked well from 1929 till S&W got their hand on it. That all firearms recall was only Recalled in the history of the PPK PPK/S

Smith didn't care They have their own line of pistols to push Would GM worry if they were building a good Challenger. When their selling their own Camaro's .
 
While i was working part time at a dealer. Had a couple S&W we couldn't ever remove the slide on. Also You think that crappy laser printing is the quality of good roll mark . German craftsman would be run out of the factory If they turned out the S&W pistol. My Ranger Interarms is Rated #2 behind the German/French made. S&W is a almost out of sight distance 3rd.
Click to expand...

Now that you have vented, I hope you feel better.

Mine don't jam and I have NO problem with laser etching.

IMO Smith and Wesson is building a good gun and one that is reliable.

I would not have bought the second Smith and Wesson gun if the first one had problems. . .nor would I have given that gun to my daughter whose husband likes it so much HE bought one just like it. His and hers PPKs. Gotta love it.
 
I own both Interarms and S&W PPK and PPKs, and I see no dramatic quality differences between them other than the fact that Ranger, who made the Interarms guns, used investment castings for the small parts while S&W used MIM. Both production methods are far below what I consider to be heritage gun quality manufacturing methods.

Having said that I'll mention that even with the extended beavertail on the S&W it still cuts my hand, and the earlier type is far more hemorrhagic. :p

Forced to choose only one I'd choose S&W. The changes made are mostly positive other than the introduction of landfill quality small parts material.
 
For what it might be worth, I only tried a rental Bersa Thunder .380 once at the range in Bartlett TN. Maybe two years ago.

The gun's DA/SA trigger feel, handling, reliability and everything else impressed me. The present market price seems very low compared to the quality.
If it said "Made In Germany", imagine today's price for a brand-new Bersa.

As for my fairly new stainless Sig 232, it is an excellent gun. A local shop last fall had a four-gun set of 230s and 232s. Nobody else was looking at them.
Mine had very limited wear, despite its $450 price, and came in the original box with two mags and the trigger lock.
Decent Sig (.380) deals can be out there, with Glock 9mm Luger and .40 all the rage right now...
 
Last edited:
I've shot the bersa a couple years ago when the lady friend rented one at the range and no complaints. But I'm really liking the Sig 230 with the slightly lighter alloy frame. Thanks for the responses.
 
I have owned two of the Interarms PPK's, and never had an issue with either one. In fact, my latest one (made in 86) is my daily concealed carry piece. Not a single FTF or FTE in the 6 years I have owned it - FMJ and HP. What it IS, however, is absolutely the most accurate 380 I have ever shot. It outshoots several of my full size autos from the 7 and 15 yard ranges.
Click to expand...

I've owned my Interarms PPK/S since 1983, and that has pretty much been my experience as well. It also digests a variety of my own handloads, including 88-gr LRN bullets, flawlessly. It's my go-to CCW when clothing and/or circumstances dictate something smaller than my Sigs.
 
Just use the safety to decock, then switch it off and it is in the same condition as the Sig....Aka double action first shot.

The Feg 9x18 is a good copy for the Walther PP and they are good quality. Magazines are starting to get sparse though. If I was in your shoes wanting a Walther style pistol in .380acp but didn't want to spend $650, the Bersa would be top of my list. The Bersa IS a good quality pistol in all regards. I do not think it is a cheap knockoff. One of my two carry pistols is my Makarov (similar to Walther PP). If I didn't already have three of them when I got my CHL, I would probably have bought a Bersa Thunder. The Sig 230/232 is a top quality pistol and is always a good choice as is the PPK/PPKs.

A possible plus with the Sig 232 is that it has a steel frame (the 230 is aluminum). The Walthers also have a steel frame.

Good luck. All the pistols you have cited will serve you well and are good guns so pick the one you like.
 
A possible plus with the Sig 232 is that it has a steel frame
Click to expand...

You can get a P232 with an alloy frame as well. Much lighter by about 6 oz. than the all stainless model.

Here's one...


Here's the FEG SMC, (this one is a .22 but the .380 looks the same).
 
Last edited:
PSP, I have never seen that Sig P232 around. If I had I would have snatched it up. Nice looking.


I have a Bersa Thunder .380, and was dis-satisfied with the sights, so I put the FireStorm .380 slide on it to get Glock sights. I am quite pleased with the combo.

I would suggest the Thunder Combat model for a carry piece over the standard Thunder or even better, IF you can find the Firestorm .380.

The only thing you lose with the Firestorm, is that the trigger guard mounted lights and lasers for the Thunder, will not fit the Firestorm.
 
Walther PPK & clones question.

The BERSA Thunder is actually about the size of a PPK/S. I would like another PPK, perhaps a used one. The Thunder shoots well, but is too large to get into a pocket.
 
Well since this got resurrected I'll give an update. I decided on the Sig 232, alloy frame, decocker only. I like it, like the way it feels and shoots, but I'm not crazy about the mag release in the heel of the grip. I shot four kinds of ammo - blazer,Winchester white box, Remington green box & herters. All shot fine. And it came with Hogue grips plus the originals. I'm happy and recommend it.
 
Excellent choice. The P230/232 is a great gun. Here's a semi rare Rainbow Titanium, blued alloy, blued alloy .32acp and a stainless. Different models and a choice of grips.

 
I have a 1941 Walther PP that's 32 cal. that's very accurate, but I don't shoot it much because of it's age.
I bought a Smith and Wesson PPK/S for my wife that also is accurate and has given us no problems whatsoever.
My LGS has a Bersa Thunder for $260.00 and after reading this thread I think I'll go and pick one up. lol :)
 
If anyone else is reading this for the first time and would like more input...

My FiL has the FEG AP in 32. It feels great in the hand. The light alloy frame is a good feature. Recoil is no problem. Short, flat-nosed US ammo jams. Round-nosed regular-length ammo is fine. It came with two magazines. They seemed to be 380 magazines. He had to make some adjustments on them. With properly sized ammo and the magazines adjusted, it is reliable and accurate. The trigger is pleasant. It is surplus and cost $199.

He also has a CZ-83 in 380. It is surplus in very good condition. It cost $265. The trigger is good. It is accurate and reliable. When it is uncocked the hammer seems too far back, but that is normal for this model.

I have a Russian Makarov in 380. I bought it brand-new over twenty years ago. It is one of my best pistols. Accuracy and reliability have been outstanding. The trigger is very good.

The alloy FEG is clearly lighter than the CZ and the Mak, which are steel. I think it is a little thinner, too.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top