Walther PPQ - short barrel or long

J

jec

New member
I'm thinking about getting a Walther PPQ M2. Still going back and forth between that and an H&K VP9. I see I can get the PPQ with either a 4" or 5" barrel, and the price difference is about $80. This pistol will be a recreational range gun and nothing else. My question is, if I end up going with the PPQ, which do I get? Do you think that extra 1" of barrel is worth the extra money, knowing that I'll only be punching holes in paper or shooting pine cones and pop cans when I sneak off to my mancave/cabin in the Arizona mountains?

For what it's worth, I'm just a fair to middling recreational shooter, so something like a 1/4" difference in accuracy at 25 yards or some such, would be lost on me. The cheapskate in me is all the more undecided when I see that I can get the VP9 for a price midway between the long and short barrel PPQ's. If this were a carry or home defense gun, an $80 price difference would be way down the list of factors, but this is a "fun gun", so while price isn't what matters most, it matters. Opinions and insight are most welcome, so tell me - in the context of the PPQ, how much does size matter?
 
For what you want it for I would definitely go for the 5 inch barrel PPQ. I have the M1 PPQ and it is a terrific shooter but I also CCW it too. Keep in mind that the extra length of the sight radius is beneficial for more accurate shooting especially as distance to target increases.
 
Agreed, the longer the better.

Look at it this way. Most bullet accuracy happens within a few inches. After that it's simply gaining velocity up to a point. Pistol caliber carbines (PCC) are more accurate than average handguns not because of the longer barrel, but due to the longer sight radius (and shoulder stock).
 
I am guessing 9mm? I would get the 5" barreled PPQ, as it has a longer sight radius and heavier weight, these will make follow up shots quick and ease of user accuracy good. I have a 4" PPQ M2 .40 and my brother has a VP9. I like my Walther better and shoot it better, even though it has considerable more recoil. I do not really like the VP9 mag release, or trigger or barrel rifling type, as compared to the Walther. Pick which one feels best in hand , but if you are getting the PPQ and do not plan on carrying it, get the 5". Although you could still carry the 5", it just would be easier to conceal the 4" barrel. The 5" version will not be any more accurate, but will allow you to get more accuracy out of the tool itself
 
I have to agree go with the 5" for the above reasons. I carry a 4" and also have a 5" . If you pm me I can give you a addy to a great forum. Not sure I can post it here or not.
 
Long barrel if you won't carry it. One factor people often leave out of these discussions is velocity. The longer barrel will give you similar velocities out of standard ammo as you'd get with +p in the shorter barrel.
 
Many thanks for the input. I hadn't thought about the sight radius/velocity factors commented on above. To me, that's worth $80 over the lifetime of a pistol.
 
Given that most powders used these days are fast burning in part because of the prevalence of shorter barreled pistols, I'd honestly be surprised if the velocity gain would be dramatic. You'll notice it on a chronograph, but whether that would translate to added ballistic performance is questionable imo. I'm not sure in competition how it would translate, though maybe it would mean a plate getting knocked down that wouldn't get knocked down otherwise. The added sight radius may be an advantage, but unless we're talking a pocket pistol versus a full size the difference again might not be enough to notice substantial change (the difference is nowhere as much as a pistol carbine versus a pistol).

Now you might well notice a difference and be grateful for the added length and given that you're not carrying it there isn't really a negative. I just always tend to err on the side of caution. I've often seen people advocate that full size pistols are always better, when for me personally sometimes a mid size pistol works in just the right way when it comes to balance and pointability.
 
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You'll notice it on a chronograph, but whether that would translate to added ballistic performance is questionable imo
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Agreed. It'd be about 50FPS on average with 124gr Gold Dots FWIW (which is the same as +p from a 4'' vs. standard from a 5''---I've tested this many times).

Also agreed it probably doesn't matter which is why I generally don't recommend +p ammo but LOTS of folks think they need/want it but you can get the same performance without the blast/recoil of the +p rounds.
 
Also agreed it probably doesn't matter which is why I generally don't recommend +p ammo but LOTS of folks think they need/want it but you can get the same performance without the blast/recoil of the +p rounds.
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I've seen your videos on it. Ironically around me it's damn near impossible to find standard pressure defensive ammo in 9mm, unless it's low-recoil marketed. I have to buy the standard pressure online.
 
Resurrecting my year-old thread. Just after my posts last year I got distracted - mostly by a badly broken and dislocated ankle that took better than half the year to adequately heal - and with my usual blazing efficiency, I didn't find my way back to TFL until recently. The good news is that what I also found my way to recently was an online deal on a PPQ M2 5" for $559 shipped. It's on its way to me now. Woo Hoo!!
 
Sometimes I am more accurate at the range with a 4" barrel and follow up is quicker to pick back up the sight. Let us know how it goes.
 
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Um ppl he ordered the 5" no need to tell him to get the 4 lol. Sorry to hear about your ankle Jec your going to love the ppq 5" :D
 
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