Is a Walther PPKs worth it?

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As a small defensive carry firearm, absolutely not! Way to many other better selections.

My choice is the Sig 938 in 9mm. Smaller, lighter, better caliber and reliable. Plenty of other superior choices for serious carry. If defensive self protection is not the goal then buy one.
 
Good experience with walther pp & ppk

All,

I have had good experience with a WALTHER PPK (pre-war) and WALTHER PP. The PPK has the better trigger, but that may just be that it was polished from use.
The PP had a usable trigger which was heavier than the PPK and felt noticeably heavier than my SIG 232, which has a lighter feeling (maybe the wider trigger) and much smoother pull.

As a house gun, holster gun or car gun, I would choose a SIG 232 over the WATHER PP. The SIG has better trigger, sights and grip.

For a carry gun, the lightweight aluminum framed SIG 232 was a little too bulky. As tall as the PP and almost as long. I choose the PPK for pocket carry over the SIG. It was easier to conceal.

The sights on both are small, but acceptable. Both were reliable feeders except for FEDERAL Hydra Shok and WINCHESTER White Box fmj. I carried COR BON Powerball in both with a Hydra Shok in the chamber. I also had good results with FIOCCHI XTP hollowpoints and WINCHESTER Silver Tip hollowpoints.

I carried the PPK for over a year as my off duty carry until I found the perfect pocket gun for me, a GLOCK 42 in .380ACP.

Would I carry the PPK again? Without hesitation if I could not carry the GLOCK 42.
Would I choose the PP for a house or car gun. No, not unless the recoil of a .380ACP became too much.

NOTE: The quality of the gun varies by who made it. I bought the .32ACP PPK instead of a .380ACP PPK/S because the INTERARMS model that I examined had a very gritty trigger. It would have needed a trip to the gunsmith before I considered it acceptable. A SMITH & WESSON made PPK/S had a smooth and perfectly acceptable trigger and a longer tang to protect the shooters hand. I never was bitten by the PPK, so the tang was a non issue to me, but for the extra $200.00 wanted by the gun dealer for the S&W, I could have bought (and did) a SIG 232 with night sights. No problem making that choice.


Jim
 
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Apples to oranges

DJAY,

You cannot really compare a 9m.m. SIG 938 to a .380ACP PPK. The user may find the recoil unacceptable and the SIG is a single action gun, while the PPK has a double action trigger.

I shot a RUGER LC9 and after 2 magazines of 9m.m., I determined, I would never shoot it again.
It has made the owner quite happy and he carries it often, but recoil is an individual limit that gun size, ergonomics and the shooter's tolerance determine.

Also, I will not carry a single action pistol as a defensive weapon. It must be either a double action or a GLOCK like safe action.
For me, simple is better and the agencies that I have worked for, would not allow any single action guns to begin with.
In fact, the U.S. I&NS forbid guns with manual safety's when I worked there. You could carry a SIG or GLOCK, but not a BERETTA because of the manual safety's.

Jim
 
I hardly think Walther will take over the Mfg. of the PPK/s it will stay being made by S&W. S&W might have had problems at first,but they got things fixed and there seems to be a lot of PPK buyers who are happy.

One item I might offer to anyone new to the PPK. If you have a round in battery meaning a round chambered. Do not try racking the slide with a fully loaded Mag. installed.
First drop the Mag. then rack the slide to remove the round.
Forget to remove the fully loaded Mag. get ready for a locked up PPK needing a trick thumb to frame grip or three extera hands to get the Mag. dropped.
 
Like sirgilligan, my S&W made PPK/S works flawlessly. Shoots better than my Sig P238. My PPK/S is the only point & shoot gun I own. It just instinctively finds the target. Mine will never be for sale.
 
My S&W made PPKS has likewise been perfect so far and is extremely accurate. I like it well enough I bought a blued one when I saw it for sale. It has, so far, likewise been perfect and, if anything ,more accurate than the original. I'm quite happy with both.
 
Well worth it to me. I have an Interarms bought about 17 yrs. ago that has worked very well and is easy to shoot accurately. Very well made and a solid design - not to mention easy on the eyes. It is heavy in the pocket for sure, but I've avoided buying a lighter .380 simply because I don't find the weight differential to be enough benefit when the PPK/s is better in almost every other way for me. If I was buying new I might consider a Pico or something else smaller and lighter, but since I'm very happy with the PPK/s that probably won't happen. A cheap Uncle Mike's pocket holster distributes the weight nicely, fills up the pocket nicely to keep it from shifting, and has worked flawlessly for me.
 
I have a PPK/s. I did knock the edges from the bottom of the slide to stop it from biting my hand. It's a favorite carry piece of mine.
 
To me? Yes. My PPK/S is one heck of a fine pistol and way more accurate than it has a right to be!
PPKSmarscals2_zps56ecc19b.gif TuellerfrontPPKS_zps882ecd2c.gif
 
A "German PPK"? Most of the post-war PPKs which state "Made In W. Germany" were manufactured in France, and this lasted until '86. A limited number were assembled in Ulm, but the majority were proofed/tested/roll-stamped there near the Danube (Donau).

Hours of reading at "Walther Forums" and elsewhere indicated that the French Manurhin (Manu...Rhine [River]) company produced these guns for decades because the Walther staff in Ulm an der Donau were very satisfied with the results.

This is why my only objective was to find a really good example in .380 which says "Made In W. Germany", but an Interarms would have been fine.
The S&W PPK has much less appeal, and my first PPK with the shorter 'beavertail' caused No "slide bite" with twenty rounds. 5'11", slender hands: the same grip on the Sig 232, (WW2) Mauser Hsc.

Woodchuck Assassin: Even though the .380 PPK's recoil is a bit less than the Polish P-64 beast, it is a bit stronger than my Sig 232. The PPK's DA pull is also a good bit less than the P-64, for what it's worth. Having a shorter carry gun for summer which is a product of excellent French/German quality seems an acceptable compromise to many of us.
 
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I say yes it's worth it. I like an all-steel gun, especially one that's slim enough to still carry in my waistband while I continue to get fatter and fatter. My PPK is plenty accurate and feeds hollowpoints. And the scars from the slide cutting my hand make for a good story.
IMG_20150221_171629148.jpg
 
I am in the camp that believes it is worth it if you want an example in your collection and to play James Bond with. However, I wouldn't even consider one as a CCW piece.

There is a whole crop of guns that make more sense if you are after what a PPK would bring to the table. I for example would much rather have a PPS than a PPK as a carry gun.

The PPS is basically the same size and a little lighter.

Dimensions

Height: PPK 4.3" PPS 4.4"
OAL: PPK 6.1" PPS 6.3"
Width: PPK 1" PPS 0.9"
Weight: PPK 1.5Lbs PPS 1.3 lbs

The PPS is available in 9x19 versus 9x17 (It of course comes in a .40 but my preference would be the 9x19). Given the blow back action of the PPK versus the PPS locked breach the step up to 9x19 is not as much of concern when it comes to comparing felt recoil.

I personally prefer striker fired guns to DA/SA.

The PPS has better controls and better sight options.

It is sum is a more capable pistol that is the same size.

The PPK is the much sexier gun. Which matters for showing off to friends and enjoying a toy. However, it really doesn't matter to much when it comes to actually using the thing.

In 380 there are a number guns that make more sense to me.

Even if one wanted what the PPK offers then one would need to address the question of whether it made sense to buy a PPK or the significantly cheaper Bersa copy (and then just accept that can't play James Bond).

Again it is probably worth it if you are buying it because you like the design and want a classic pistol. If you want a defensive piece or a range gun I honestly don't think it makes too much sense to chose one today.
 
PPK? A fine gun, but not worth the price IMO.
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Pretty much. For a carry piece in .32 ACP or .380 ACP, there is crapload of better, smaller, cheaper, options circa Q1 2015.

If you like the PPK, though, it is a fine piece and more power to anyone who acquires one. They make a dandy carry piece too, should it be used for such.
 
Great information.

I'll admit that my attempt at walking the line between "functionality" and "mystique" has gotten me into quite a dilemma. I recently held/dry-fired the Bersa 380, and was impressed. It has, overall, similar lines and design to the PPKs, but the PPKs has that metal-gun feel that you just can't get from the nickel Bersa, and certainly can't get from any plastic-fantastic.

As it stands, I have no real reason for a PPK. I have a J-frame and an old AMT Backup (yes, yes I know they're 50/50 on quality, but I have myself a good one!) for CC, and a handful of other larger pistols for taking a walk in the woods.

This D@MN Walther is a monkey on my back, and I fear I might have to give into temptation. It won't be the first, and if I were to guess, I'd bet the farm that it won't be my last.

Keep the pictures coming! The more I see, the more I want to join the "Thumb Scar Club" ;)
 
HOPPING HANDGUNS BATMAN! You've got the whole frickin' barrel of monkeys on your back!

You make me feel better about my addiction. Excellent collection. How many of those do you shoot?
 
All of them, except the engraved one, I've shot.

The stainless .32 PPK quite a bit. (That was a tough one to find...im betting they made 50 .380's for every .32)

The blue .22 PPK/s I've shot alot (it's at 6:00 on the wheel, you can see it has a scalloped slide to lighten it)

I had the Nazi Police PPK with me once at the range (11:00 on the wheel) on the way back another Officer yelled for help fighting a couple guys. (My duty gun was in the holster and unloaded, I was running by the station to clean it. I just stuffed the little Walther in my waistband. What are the odds of getting into something, right?) I was close so I bailed out and held him at gunpoint with that gun until help got there. Then I thought about a German/Polish cop shooting someone with a Nazi gun....it lives in the safe now.

The PP in .32 was my wife's home gun for years. (It's at 7:00)

They are all .32 (except the .22). I've owned .380's in the past. I just prefer them in the original chambering.

In a .380, I really prefer the Sig P232.
 
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All I'll ever consider are the Interarms made/imported pp series. No S+W for this member, they changed some internals and they are no longer a pp pistol, per se.

I've owned several Interarms and they've all been ultra reliable with ball of some HP's [ gotta find out which it likes just any other semi auto ]. One of the most accurate firearms I've ever fired [ due to the fixed barrel ].

Presently have a ppk s/s Interarms that's carried occasionally/

I've also got a ppk 22lr that's flawless in function that's had a pp barrel replacement then threaded and it sports a can presently. Ultra quiet with Russian subsonic loads
 
Soooo, 19 of 'em would be...uhmmm, King Kong?
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Oh no doubt. I'm a lightweight compared to some!!

My "collection" is too diverse to specialize in any one thing. (Collector-accumulator).
I do have a soft spot for the PP series though. I have more of those than any one other model of anything.

Now, if I started selling stuff off and JUST buying Walthers....

But....I like other stuff!
 
sgt127 said:
Oh no doubt. I'm a lightweight compared to some!!

My "collection" is too diverse to specialize in any one thing. (Collector-accumulator).
I do have a soft spot for the PP series though. I have more of those than any one other model of anything.

Now, if I started selling stuff off and JUST buying Walthers....

But....I like other stuff!
Click to expand...

That was intended as a lighthearted comment my friend, it wasn't meant as a one-up challenge...any more than your gorilla v. monkey comparison...

As far as the comments:
1. I too am a "lightweight compared to others".
2. My personal accumulation is extremely diverse.
3. I do not specialize exclusively in "any one thing" either.
4. I too have a soft spot for the Walthers.
5. I do not though have more Walthers than "other stuff".
6. I have not sold off "other stuff" in order to buy Walthers.
7. I have never "JUST" bought Walthers, in fact I have not bought one in years.
8. I like "other stuff" immensely, some "stuff" immensely more than the Walthers.

AND, you did notice my final: "VERY nice Sgt127 :D" comment right? ;):D.....
 
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