Pros and cons of a PPK

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I bought my first PP-series pistol in ~1976 and have since had an example of each of the 3. I still have a PPK that I purchased in ~1988. All were 9x17.

IMO ...

NOT much of a range gun, but a nice little SD gun. I still have the excellent Roy's Leather Goods pancake holster that I bought in the '70s for my first one (PPK/s) and it rides very comfortably in the 4-5 position under a sport/suit coat.

By paying attention to their grip, most folks can avoid slide and/or hammer bite.

Newer, lighter SD pistols have eclipsed the PP-series pistols.

I preferred my PP & PPK/s for shooting/accuracy but the PPK is the best of the three for carry.

So the PPK is a bit snappy <shrug> it is a small SD pistol. :)

Since I acquired my KelTec P3AT in ~2005 I haven't carried my PPK.
 
I have an old PPK but would take one of my locked breech 380 auto guns before that gun, any day. Get the new Glock 42, I did and it is a wonderful gun compared to a PPK. It is lighter, less recoil, better trigger, and shoots anything I put in it. I carry it in a pancake holster at 4 o'clock and it is very comfortable and I hardly know it is there.
 
I was after a PPK too but after reading about all the MIM parts in the current models, I went old school and bought a Sig PPK-clone...the P230 SL (made in W. Germany in 1984).

54E9C19C-E489-4371-9DFE-347DC4229973.jpg
 
I own an Interarms era PPK 380 ss and I am VERY fond of it. There I do not consider it an ideal CC piece , rather I like it for the styling and sheer classic looks. Rosewood on polished stainless , along with timeless styling. I never get bit by slide or hammer. I carry it occasionally , but prefer my SW 60. The only time the PPK jams is when I hand it off to someone else , and they either rack the slide tentatively , or lag on the trigger. The PPK likes to be managed in a "brisk" fashion , as stated in the manual.

If I were to carry a 380 it would be a Bersa Thunder - by all accounts very reliable and great on price.

I do not care for the Smith PPK as there are too many changes in tooling and style. To me it just is not a PPK anymore. (Don't want to start a fight here...)

On the historical side of the equation - not only is there the (fictional) Bond connection , but also the fact that Hitler finished himself with a PPK , in 7.65 I believe.


To me the PPK is too cool for words. If you are strictly looking for a practical carry there are many better options. 'Ski
 
I agree that, both, it is a pretty gun - with a long manufacturing history behind it, and, that purchasing " a movie guy's spy gun", might not be the kind of cash expenditure/return of joyful use balance you expect.

I have only them on my laptop screen, but "whatever-number-Sig-that-looks-like-a-mini-1911" is what I have heard in .380ACP.

The Walther is one of those types of pistols, where the barrel is part of the frame, not a part of the slide. Also, if you have experience with any larger semi auto's, you might have noticed that pistols with slide mounted safeties, move opposite to engage, than other large frame semi-suto's. Something to consider too, in a haste.
 
Vodoun da Vinci, I have over several years worked my way up to the biggest bullet I could tolerate shooting and control and be consistently accurate with. All with the goal in mind of getting to the absolute lightest platform I could find.

I owned (and sold) my PPK over 15 years ago.

I like a Glock 27 or an XDs in .45ACP. Either one of which is a tad heavier loaded but much more pleasant to shoot.

Still, the PPK has an allure that makes it one worth having owned at one time.
 
WestKentucky said:
Correction M1key...pros it's the same size as a glock 42, also it isn't made by glock. I hate polymer for some reason, and I'm one of the guys who thinks a glock is about as comfortable to hold as a flaming charcoal briquette.

I don't think it's as much the bond connection as it is just a desire to own four of everything and it's one of the iconic guns I have never had.
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So buy one and get it out of your system already. LOL

Steel is so 70's. Owned enough Walters over the years to know they ain't in the same league. Get your hands on a 42 and shoot it before you dismiss them. It has changed plenty of minds.

Good luck

M
 
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Coltdriver said:
I like a Glock 27 or an XDs in .45ACP. Either one of which is a tad heavier loaded but much more pleasant to shoot.
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That got me wondering ... so I retrieved my 9x17 PPK (Interarms S/S version from the late '80s) from the gunsafe and weighed it.

Fully loaded weights:
PPK w/6rdPinkyExMag & Hogue HandAll: 23+oz
XDs45 w/5rdPinkyExMag & Pachmayr wrap: 26+oz

Interesting! Only ~3oz between them.
 
I'm a big PPK & PPKS fan. My hands are small and they fit me as if they used my hand as a mold for the grip. From .22LR, .32acp to the .380acp, they all shoot fine for me. Recoil is snappy, yes, but I've never been much bothered by recoil and I'm only 5'4". Obviously slide bite is not a issue for me, either. They are my preferred carry guns. Mine range from prewar to about 1982 and they are accurate, reliable and easy to shoot - except for that first long, heavy trigger pull which is mostly manageable.
 
I have a 1969 model PPK/S .22 LR a German made Pistol. I didn't get the box or cleaning rod with it but I did get both magazines with it .It was so nice and kept well , I had to have it. I bought it about 10 yrs ago in exc. cond. For a short barrel, it's an accurate shooting pistol. I like how it comes apart and re-assembles. I even like the Sig clones, the older ones .I probably should go to the Walther section but,, Does anyone know about the French stamp on these German made 1969 PPK/S .22LR pistols?
 
Pro: same size as a Glock 42

Another Pro: It's not a Glock 42... :neener:

Buy one of the "German" ones (see below) of one of the Interarms ones (not a S&W) and you'll have a very fine handgun.



"Anyone have an opinion on the Manurhin produced Walther PP's? Are they generally OK or less quality wise than the others?"

Dirty secret: All of the so-called "German" ones made postwar were assembled in Germany from parts made in France. The Manhurin's are absolutely identical to the "German" ones save for the markings.


Willie

.
 
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I once had a PPK (7.65 Browning) and a PPK/S (9mm Kurz). Neither impressed me with their quality. Both did their damndest to amputate my thumb.

I greatly prefer my ČZ vz.70 (7.65 Browning) or my Radom P-64 CZAK (9mm Makarov).
 
Careful, now. Indiana and Kentucky is a family matter. We don't want to do our laundry in front of strangers! :D
 
PPk's are just pretty guns, if they weren't they wouldn't be half as popular. Rarelly do you get lines like that. One can't help being drawn to them, It's just that their time has passed. Other than a collector or range gun. Too many small 9mm and 40's that handle better, may not be as pretty.
 
Hurryin' Hoosier said:
I once had a PPK (7.65 Browning) and a PPK/S (9mm Kurz). Neither impressed me with their quality. Both did their damndest to amputate my thumb.

I greatly prefer my ČZ vz.70 (7.65 Browning) or my Radom P-64 CZAK (9mm Makarov).
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All I can say is, I had the opposite experience- I found my Walthers finer made and much smoother in action than my CZ70.

I hear non-fans complain about the double action trigger and the opposite direction safety almost every time the subject comes up. To me this is a non-issue. The action can be smoothed and lightened by using a lighter hammer spring as well, to a point, because the reason the DA is heavy is that it is intended to be carried safety off- thus negating the safety direction issue. And what is usually left out in the discussion is that the single-action of all subsequent shots has a light weight, a short, smooth pull, and little overtravel.

Slide bite will vary by the individual. I get some after 4 magazines. If you actually go through this many in SD, you have bigger problems than slide bite. Anyway, the S&W ones have an enlarged beavertail if it's an issue.

Now, there are some downsides. Weight I will grant is one area that modern designs have really minimized. If you want true pocket carry and not a belt holster you probably want alloy or modern plastic. If you want a German PPK, you will have to pay a premium as well. They have been illegal to import since the GCA of 68.

I have all three variants- the cheapest to get to see if you like the design is a PP. You can still find Police surplus PPs in 32 for $400 with a little luck (very occasionally less if really lucky). These are very pleasant to shoot, and with the fixed barrel, have quite good accuracy

One caveat- IMO, all models are improved in shootability by switching to checkered wooden grips instead of the factory plastic. Wood is more grippy, and makes the gun just a little thicker in the hand as well.

If you find a Manurhin, it's exactly the same as all post-war German Walther's, just stamped and finished in France. All the parts were made in the same French factory no matter what country it said on the gun. It will, however, cost less than one stamped "Made in Germany."

They are not hard to re-sell if you don't like it. Buy used, and if you sell it you'll lose shipping costs and a transfer fee, and maybe not even that.

Take a look at www.Waltherforums.com. I am a neophyte compared the enthusiasts on there.
 
I've always liked the PPK. They are a classic. But they are not for me.

I shot a friend's PPK/S, and experienced hammer bite on several shots. The DA trigger pull is also quite heavy. My friend is a woman, and has much smaller hands, so hammer bite was a non issue for her. It was her EDC gun.
 
In that movie, James Bond puts a "silencer" on his PPK which has magically turned into a Browning 1910. The prop gun folks liked the 1910 because they could put a 1922 barrel on it and have plenty of room for the fake "can". And the Brownings had removable barrels that were easy to thread, which was not the case with the Walther.

Jim
 
Vodoun da Vinci said:
Anyone have an opinion on the Manurhin produced Walther PP's? Are they generally OK or less quality wise than the others? I really want another Walther PP in .32 but they generally elude my at GB over and over again.

VooDoo
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I have a Manurhin PP 32 that is a police return. It has some holster wear, but the innards are tight and bright and in excellent condition. It's a great shooter. The Manurhins are every bit as good as their straight Walther-branded counterparts IMHO.
 
I had a German Interarms PPK/s for years.
Very Unpleasant little beast with hot loads I carried in it.
Stinging recoil and slide bite with hot loads + a DA trigger that made my finger hurt.

I sold it and bought a slightly larger SIG P-232-SL and never regretted it.
The SIG P232 is much more accurate, and way more comfortable to shoot.
And slicker in a pocket then any PPK ever was.

rc
 
I'm a huge fan of this design. Overall it is my favorite pistol design, I've owned all examples from PP to PPK from every maker, originals through Interarms through SW. I've bought knocks off from Bersa, and cheap copies chambered in makarov calibers.

Honestly, get the SW version...and check it out in person first if you can. I have large hands. SW extended the beavertail and totally prevents slide bite. My SW PPK has never jammed. It has gone back for the recall, and they really smoothed it out. if buying used, look for the dimple stamp on the tang, and you'll be getting a good gun. You also have a lot more support getting a newer one.

Recoil on all are stout, it is a blow back. Its part of the fun. My first gun was a bersa thunder 380. I mastered that within a mag or two. It made handling 40s, 45s, 357s etc a breeze. As someone pointed out, a compact 10mm will probably recoil similar to a 380 blow back in felt recoil.

The stationary barrel really keeps you on target. Something a lot of new shooters and young guys don't think about is pointability-shootability...the way we hold and shoot today is a lot different- stiff armed and such. If you try point shooting, older guns like the PP or PPK or 1911 do a lot better. They fit the hand well, they hit easily, you don't have to hold this rigid target shooters stance to hit the bullseye. Ever see those old movies where the gun is brought to play, not at eye level, but elbow cocked and the person would point shoot?

Anyway, not without its issues. The PPK style gun is a lot like the 1911 as both are old 'outdated' designs and both have had a lot of different manufacturers over the years with a varied reputation. It is my opinion that SW made some GOOD changes to the design and I like having factory support if I need it. Mileage varies but it sounds like you want to USE yours, shoot it, carry it...get yourself a new one in the caliber and finish you desire, save yourself the slide bite, and don't listen to the interwebs and believe all SW ppks are terrible, or that even most are. There is a lot of noise from PP purists but until you actually shoot them all, its just noise. To me, the sig knockoffs don't rate. I like a safety on this design, and they can have their issues as well.
 
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While the PPK is sexy, IMO there are many smaller, lighter weight, more reliable firearms out there if you want a 380. (Today, there are smaller, lighter weight 9MMs too.) Albeit, they may not look as nice or have the 007 fiction stories behind them.

:) But look how many model-29s Dirty Harry sold.

The PPK is big and heavy (by today's standards) for a 380.
Many people have problems with hammer-bite when shooting PPKs.
Damn good looking design though..


**
Didn't MI6 tell Bond told not to carry the PPK because it was prone to jamming?
Wasn't he issued a Beretta or something else?
 
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