Dangerman009
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That's the way I was leaning. Does the PPK recoil softer because of the wrap around grip?
S&W PPK(/S) in my future
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Dangerman009
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Anyone?
Are the edges on the blued guns as sharp as on the stainless guns?
Are the edges on the blued guns as sharp as on the stainless guns?
JJE
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I have a stainless S&W PPK/S that I've put about 1100 rounds through - I shot it last weekend.
I can't think of any reason that the blued or stainless guns would be any sharper. Having said that, S&W extended the tang compared to previous versions and almost everyone that has shot an S&W model indicates that slide bite is no longer an issue. If you have very large, meaty hands, this may still be an issue; if your hands are average or even just large, you probably will not get bit.
As you know .380 ammo is unavailable unless you buy premium SD ammo, then it's just very, very expensive. I haven't looked for .32 since I don't shoot it, but I have not noticed any .32 sitting on shelves - it appears to be as unavailable as .380.
I have shot 400 rounds of Win White Box, a couple dozen premium SD rounds, and the rest have been handloads that are slightly lighter than typical factory ammo. At this point I am pretty familiar with the gun and I will have to say that while I think it looks and feels great, I can't say that it's a fun gun to shoot. It doesn't hurt, but it is challenging to maintain a good 2-handed grip under this gun's recoil. Part of the problem may be that I put smooth Hogue wood grips on it. They look much better than the stock plastic (to me), but I have to grip the gun especially hard to keep it from shifting in my hands under recoil. The checkered wood may have been a better choice. Also, the sights look good on the gun but after 1100 shots, I really wish they were more visible. My only other gripe has to do with the fact that the trigger reset is completely vague - there's no sound or sensation to tell you that the trigger has reset. If you shoot the gun a lot, you learn how far you have to release the trigger, but it bothers me to not have a positive reset signal.
Shooting the PPK/S has probably made me a better shooter just because I have to work especially hard to shoot it decently - it makes every other gun I have seem easy to shoot. If I were going to get a .380 again (and I probably wouldn't), I'd get one of the .380 Berettas - they look even better than the PPK variants and, while they are big for .380s, I don't remember anyone saying anything bad about them.
I can't think of any reason that the blued or stainless guns would be any sharper. Having said that, S&W extended the tang compared to previous versions and almost everyone that has shot an S&W model indicates that slide bite is no longer an issue. If you have very large, meaty hands, this may still be an issue; if your hands are average or even just large, you probably will not get bit.
As you know .380 ammo is unavailable unless you buy premium SD ammo, then it's just very, very expensive. I haven't looked for .32 since I don't shoot it, but I have not noticed any .32 sitting on shelves - it appears to be as unavailable as .380.
I have shot 400 rounds of Win White Box, a couple dozen premium SD rounds, and the rest have been handloads that are slightly lighter than typical factory ammo. At this point I am pretty familiar with the gun and I will have to say that while I think it looks and feels great, I can't say that it's a fun gun to shoot. It doesn't hurt, but it is challenging to maintain a good 2-handed grip under this gun's recoil. Part of the problem may be that I put smooth Hogue wood grips on it. They look much better than the stock plastic (to me), but I have to grip the gun especially hard to keep it from shifting in my hands under recoil. The checkered wood may have been a better choice. Also, the sights look good on the gun but after 1100 shots, I really wish they were more visible. My only other gripe has to do with the fact that the trigger reset is completely vague - there's no sound or sensation to tell you that the trigger has reset. If you shoot the gun a lot, you learn how far you have to release the trigger, but it bothers me to not have a positive reset signal.
Shooting the PPK/S has probably made me a better shooter just because I have to work especially hard to shoot it decently - it makes every other gun I have seem easy to shoot. If I were going to get a .380 again (and I probably wouldn't), I'd get one of the .380 Berettas - they look even better than the PPK variants and, while they are big for .380s, I don't remember anyone saying anything bad about them.
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HisSoldier
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Well it was for me, two red tracks running along the top of my shooting hand between my thumb and first finger. I learned to hold the gun a tad higher. That was the S&W, I also have an Interarms PPK but haven't shot it yet.
There is a lot of bad being said about the S&W model, I don't see the Interarms one as being that much better. Just my opinion.
I absolutely HATED my S&W PPK/s. It was probably the worst POS I have ever bought.
- the recoil even for a blowback design was excessively painful. I am not sure if it is poor ergonomics or what. But I could barely stand to fire the darn thing and I am used to firing subcompact .45s and .380 mouse guns.
- lots of sharp edges all over the pistol. For the price I paid, you would think they could have at least dealt with that.
- worst DA trigger I have ever seen. The DA was so heavy that I had a hard time actually getting it to even fire. God forbid I have to use it to defend myself with. It was the kind of trigger that I actually do have nightmares about, the kind where it feels like you are trying to a 2 ton truck.
-ammo finicky, it was a used gun and I still had a FTF every mag.
I am sure I am going to get dogpiled for this, but I just thought it was a horribly overpriced for what I was actually getting. I felt as though I was paying $400 more then it was worth merely for it's namesake. So no thank you, I will stick with my CZ-82 which is leagues ahead of the S&W.
- the recoil even for a blowback design was excessively painful. I am not sure if it is poor ergonomics or what. But I could barely stand to fire the darn thing and I am used to firing subcompact .45s and .380 mouse guns.
- lots of sharp edges all over the pistol. For the price I paid, you would think they could have at least dealt with that.
- worst DA trigger I have ever seen. The DA was so heavy that I had a hard time actually getting it to even fire. God forbid I have to use it to defend myself with. It was the kind of trigger that I actually do have nightmares about, the kind where it feels like you are trying to a 2 ton truck.
-ammo finicky, it was a used gun and I still had a FTF every mag.
I am sure I am going to get dogpiled for this, but I just thought it was a horribly overpriced for what I was actually getting. I felt as though I was paying $400 more then it was worth merely for it's namesake. So no thank you, I will stick with my CZ-82 which is leagues ahead of the S&W.
Dangerman, I saw a few PPK/s and PPKs on gun broker several days ago. Very good prices for them too. If I was on the market for one, I'd definitly go that route. Also, several were used and others were NIB. So there's plenty to choose from out there.
Also, I think I agree with one of the previous posters about there being no difference in the edges between blued and stainless. I think you'll feel more difference in the version PPK vs PPK/s. The PPK will probably be easier on the hand out of the box because of the smoother wrap around grips. I've owned both and I was surpised how it didn't feel as sharp as the PPK/s was.
Also, the trigger pull is heavy (especially in DA) but that's a very quick and inexpensive fix with a $2 wolff lighter weight hammer spring. Not too hard to fix that one.
That being said, I still prefer my PPK/s since I got the frame recountoured to feel buttery smooth.
Also, I think I agree with one of the previous posters about there being no difference in the edges between blued and stainless. I think you'll feel more difference in the version PPK vs PPK/s. The PPK will probably be easier on the hand out of the box because of the smoother wrap around grips. I've owned both and I was surpised how it didn't feel as sharp as the PPK/s was.
Also, the trigger pull is heavy (especially in DA) but that's a very quick and inexpensive fix with a $2 wolff lighter weight hammer spring. Not too hard to fix that one.
That being said, I still prefer my PPK/s since I got the frame recountoured to feel buttery smooth.
Dangerman009
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For some reason I didn't get a notification of the new posts.
Since my last post I've considered several other guns: S&W 908S, SW99, Walther P5, etc. My exploring 9mms is for economy of shooting. Although I'm waffling back and forth, not knowing for sure what I want, I'm still interested in a PPK.
I'd like to handle and examine one before I commit to buying it. Plus, I need to 'unload' one of my current guns before I do anything.
I realize that it is the tradition with the PPK(/S) for consumers to dislike the version that is available at the current time. When they were made in Germany and France, people complained. When they were made by Interarms, people then praised the German and French guns and complained about the Interarms guns. Now that they're made by S&W, just about everyone praises the German, French and Interarms guns and complains about the S&W guns. God help whoever manufactures it next!
So, taking this into account, I'm willing to give S&W a chance. I just have to decide for sure that a PPK (regardless of manufacturer) is the way I want to go.
Would anyone consider a PPK to be a fun range gun? What about in .32? For me right now, carry would be secondary to having a gun that's fun to shoot and looks good.
Does anyone have any good stories about their PPK?
Since my last post I've considered several other guns: S&W 908S, SW99, Walther P5, etc. My exploring 9mms is for economy of shooting. Although I'm waffling back and forth, not knowing for sure what I want, I'm still interested in a PPK.
I'd like to handle and examine one before I commit to buying it. Plus, I need to 'unload' one of my current guns before I do anything.
I realize that it is the tradition with the PPK(/S) for consumers to dislike the version that is available at the current time. When they were made in Germany and France, people complained. When they were made by Interarms, people then praised the German and French guns and complained about the Interarms guns. Now that they're made by S&W, just about everyone praises the German, French and Interarms guns and complains about the S&W guns. God help whoever manufactures it next!
So, taking this into account, I'm willing to give S&W a chance. I just have to decide for sure that a PPK (regardless of manufacturer) is the way I want to go.
Would anyone consider a PPK to be a fun range gun? What about in .32? For me right now, carry would be secondary to having a gun that's fun to shoot and looks good.
Does anyone have any good stories about their PPK?
makarovnik
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+1 on the Bersa.
I had to decide between a Kel-Tec P32 and a P3AT a few months ago. I chose the .32 because ammo was more available, one extra round in the mag and less recoil.
You may also want to consider a Sig 232 if you like classic lines.
I had to decide between a Kel-Tec P32 and a P3AT a few months ago. I chose the .32 because ammo was more available, one extra round in the mag and less recoil.
You may also want to consider a Sig 232 if you like classic lines.
HisSoldier
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I bought a PPK Interarms stainless to see what the differences were between the Interarms and the S&W. As far as fit and finish, as a machinist and a manufacturer of industrial parts, I don't see any glaringly large differences.
It turns out that the rumors I'd heard about changes to the safety design in the S&W were true, though, and they are substantial. The recall of S&W PPK/S's is because of those changes. I don't know if post recall PPK/S's are being delivered yet or not. I would not buy one until I was sure it was built post recall, as there are many stories of people getting their guns back in poor condition, damaged by S&W people who are charged with fixing the bad parts in the safety.
Scratches that weren't there before, all kinds of stories like that, plus a few reports that S&W actually sent new grips because the owner sent cracked grips, or they reset the sights that were off, that sort of thing.
Go to The Walther forum and read about these things in greater detail.
http://www.waltherforums.com/showthread.php?t=10989
Other than the recall problems, some folks complain about the serial number being laser burned down in a slot, where Interarms used the normal method of stamping the ser.#. The Interarms doesn't have the lasered etching of the Walther logo, etc. To me these are not big deals.
The PPK has, as you mentioned, wrap around grips, I personally like the two sided PPK/S grips better, I haven't found nearly as many aftermarket grips for the PPK, and I hate the black plastic originals.
After all the talk about how rotten S&W PPK/S's are, and buying an Interarms PPK, I still like my S&W. Now I guess I'm on some people's "S" list for saying that.
Oh well.
It turns out that the rumors I'd heard about changes to the safety design in the S&W were true, though, and they are substantial. The recall of S&W PPK/S's is because of those changes. I don't know if post recall PPK/S's are being delivered yet or not. I would not buy one until I was sure it was built post recall, as there are many stories of people getting their guns back in poor condition, damaged by S&W people who are charged with fixing the bad parts in the safety.
Scratches that weren't there before, all kinds of stories like that, plus a few reports that S&W actually sent new grips because the owner sent cracked grips, or they reset the sights that were off, that sort of thing.
Go to The Walther forum and read about these things in greater detail.
http://www.waltherforums.com/showthread.php?t=10989
Other than the recall problems, some folks complain about the serial number being laser burned down in a slot, where Interarms used the normal method of stamping the ser.#. The Interarms doesn't have the lasered etching of the Walther logo, etc. To me these are not big deals.
The PPK has, as you mentioned, wrap around grips, I personally like the two sided PPK/S grips better, I haven't found nearly as many aftermarket grips for the PPK, and I hate the black plastic originals.
After all the talk about how rotten S&W PPK/S's are, and buying an Interarms PPK, I still like my S&W. Now I guess I'm on some people's "S" list for saying that.
Oh well.
Dangerman009
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HisSoldier, it's good to hear that the S&W PPK/S hasn't fallen out of favor with you. I'm on the Walther forum too and had read some of that post before.
A couple weeks ago I spoke very briefly with a lady at S&W and asked her if the PPK(/S) was in production again. She said she 'thought' so and they should be shipping soon. I think I'm going to call again and send an email.
I think it would make more sense to get a post recall manufactured gun. I saw one gunbroker, but the curves at the back of the slide don't look right. Maybe it's just the angle.
Please don't be shy about photos. I don't know if I could get tired of looking at these right now.
Does anyone here have one of the blued guns? How does the finish hold up. I know, I know, "Get stainless steel." is the battle cry from just about everyone. The problem is, I really like the looks of the blued guns better than the stainless. Does anyone have any photos of these?
Thanks
A couple weeks ago I spoke very briefly with a lady at S&W and asked her if the PPK(/S) was in production again. She said she 'thought' so and they should be shipping soon. I think I'm going to call again and send an email.
I think it would make more sense to get a post recall manufactured gun. I saw one gunbroker, but the curves at the back of the slide don't look right. Maybe it's just the angle.
Please don't be shy about photos. I don't know if I could get tired of looking at these right now.
Does anyone here have one of the blued guns? How does the finish hold up. I know, I know, "Get stainless steel." is the battle cry from just about everyone. The problem is, I really like the looks of the blued guns better than the stainless. Does anyone have any photos of these?
Thanks
I think my ppk/s is fun to shoot. I do have to put a band-aid over the web of my shooting hand as the walther will rub the skin off the web. I've never been bitten.
The pistol is indeed beautiful and is deadly accurate if you do your part. I've got about a thousand rounds through mine and have had only 1 misfeed.
There are no sharp edges on mine (it's an S&W) and was new when i got it.
As for the 380 shortage - i just keep in on order from cabelas (various brands) and have never run out of ammo this past year.
The pistol is indeed beautiful and is deadly accurate if you do your part. I've got about a thousand rounds through mine and have had only 1 misfeed.
There are no sharp edges on mine (it's an S&W) and was new when i got it.
As for the 380 shortage - i just keep in on order from cabelas (various brands) and have never run out of ammo this past year.
Dangerman009
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I've seen several post recall manufactured PPKs on gunbroker, and at least one of them has sold!
I guess they didn't get the memo. I spotted a nice German (I think) PPK on gunbroker too, but the seller hasn't responded to my messages yet. If I had the cash in hand, I'd probably use the buy now feature. As it is, I need to wait until I can sell a gun that I have.
I guess they didn't get the memo. I spotted a nice German (I think) PPK on gunbroker too, but the seller hasn't responded to my messages yet. If I had the cash in hand, I'd probably use the buy now feature. As it is, I need to wait until I can sell a gun that I have.Dangerman009
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By the way, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
ppk vs ppk/s
I prefer ppk to ppk/s the ppk/s can bite into palm with metal grip frame...
(remedy is pachmayr grip)... a ppk may need some prep...
throat barrel and polish ramp...this and that to refine it a bit..
and test it out at range, but overall think you will find it to be the classic arm
that has survived as long as it has...it is not at its age for no good reason.
I like mine and recommend one to you...just get it tuned to your liking...
and be happy. (cylinder and slide does great work with these pistols)
I prefer ppk to ppk/s the ppk/s can bite into palm with metal grip frame...
(remedy is pachmayr grip)... a ppk may need some prep...
throat barrel and polish ramp...this and that to refine it a bit..
and test it out at range, but overall think you will find it to be the classic arm
that has survived as long as it has...it is not at its age for no good reason.
I like mine and recommend one to you...just get it tuned to your liking...
and be happy. (cylinder and slide does great work with these pistols)
mm6, does Dirk Pitt know it was you that stole his watch?
Dangerman,
We own a fairly large cross section of pistols. My wife's S&W PPK/S is her favorite carry, and she shoots it as well as anything else we have. No problem with recoil, or function. It has been 100% reliable. We did send it in for the recall, but it made it back in perfect shape, and continues to be one of her favorites. I would think that blued or stainless would have the same dimensions/edges. .380 is making a comeback in this area also, we picked up a couple more boxes yesterday. Good luck in your search!
Dangerman,
We own a fairly large cross section of pistols. My wife's S&W PPK/S is her favorite carry, and she shoots it as well as anything else we have. No problem with recoil, or function. It has been 100% reliable. We did send it in for the recall, but it made it back in perfect shape, and continues to be one of her favorites. I would think that blued or stainless would have the same dimensions/edges. .380 is making a comeback in this area also, we picked up a couple more boxes yesterday. Good luck in your search!
Dangerman009
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Good catch!
I spoke on the phone to one of my local dealers yesterday and he said they have a used S&W PPK/S in .380 (just back from the recall) for $449. I think I'd rather get a post recall manufactured gun though.
FIVETWOSEVEN
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmo6DenNVGo
this is what worries me about the new production PPK.
this is what worries me about the new production PPK.
searcher451
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That's also what the recall is designed to correct.
Dangerman009
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That looks treacherous alright. I'm glad they've addressed it.
searcher451
Member
Keep in mind that the German-made PPKs (Walther), the French-made PPKs (Manurhin), and the original USA-made PPKs (Interarms/Ranger) do not have this issue. S&W, when it took over production, introduced a new hammer block/safety system, thus the recall. If you want the real deal, you still can't go wrong with originals.
Mike OTDP
Member
If you look around, you should be able to find a .22 PPK/S for around $600. Marvelous. Not a full-house match gun (like a GSP), but surprisingly accurate.
Extra-nice with a suppressor.
Extra-nice with a suppressor.
Dangerman009
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The .22 caliber PPK/Ss I've found on gunbroker are unreasonably priced (I think). The usual bidding starts at $900 and the 'buy now' price on some is $1,200. I realize there weren't as many .22s made as the .32 and .380, but c'mon.
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