gutterman
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What can you all tell me about the Walther PK380? I'm in the market for a good 380 to round out my "carry" guns, but don't know anything about the Walther brand. I know they have been around for years-but I need feedback.
Walther PK380
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harmon rabb
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If you want a carry 380, I don't know why you wouldn't go with a pocket 380, because the PK380 is larger than some 9mm's (pf-9, pm9, pt709, etc).
That said, here goes. I own one, and bought it mostly for my wife, but I love it as a plinker. Ergonomics are great. It feels fantastic in the hand, points naturally, and even my wife's tiny ass hands can grip it properly. Sights are good. Trigger in SA is decent enough, although it's pretty heavy in DA. The slide is super easy to rack, far easier than any semi-auto I've ever fired. There is no slide release, although it does lock back after the last round is fired. The mag release is the goofy H&K style, which I'm not a big fan of. Oh, and it requires a small plastic tool to field strip. I foresee losing that tool.
At the range, it's a joy. Very little recoil, and pretty accurate if you do your part. I love to plink with it because it still feels like a "real" gun, yet is very soft shooting, and I'm a pretty good shot with it. Mine has functioned flawlessly since day 1, but I recommended one to a friend for his gf, and they had so many problems (even after repair), that they got rid of it.
Don't know what else I can say. It's a very nice "full size" 380. But my taurus 709 is smaller in every dimension and is a 9mm. So, yeah. I don't carry the PK380, and wouldn't. (er, if i had nothing else, i'd carry it every day. i just mean that i have better carry choices)
S&W owns Walther, iirc, so if you have issues with the gun, you're dealing with S&W's customer service. That's a good thing, and should give you the confidence to buy one if you want one.
That said, here goes. I own one, and bought it mostly for my wife, but I love it as a plinker. Ergonomics are great. It feels fantastic in the hand, points naturally, and even my wife's tiny ass hands can grip it properly. Sights are good. Trigger in SA is decent enough, although it's pretty heavy in DA. The slide is super easy to rack, far easier than any semi-auto I've ever fired. There is no slide release, although it does lock back after the last round is fired. The mag release is the goofy H&K style, which I'm not a big fan of. Oh, and it requires a small plastic tool to field strip. I foresee losing that tool.
At the range, it's a joy. Very little recoil, and pretty accurate if you do your part. I love to plink with it because it still feels like a "real" gun, yet is very soft shooting, and I'm a pretty good shot with it. Mine has functioned flawlessly since day 1, but I recommended one to a friend for his gf, and they had so many problems (even after repair), that they got rid of it.
Don't know what else I can say. It's a very nice "full size" 380. But my taurus 709 is smaller in every dimension and is a 9mm. So, yeah. I don't carry the PK380, and wouldn't. (er, if i had nothing else, i'd carry it every day. i just mean that i have better carry choices)
S&W owns Walther, iirc, so if you have issues with the gun, you're dealing with S&W's customer service. That's a good thing, and should give you the confidence to buy one if you want one.
hawkeye10
Member
I would get a Kahr P380. Very high quality and a smoooth trigger which you don't get on most 380's. The gun is accurate and easy to shoot. Also it will fit in your pocket. Donsearcher451
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Take a trip over to the Walther Forums and carefully check out the PK380 discussions there. In but a handful of threads, you'll get both the highs and lows of this Imarex product and will have a far better idea of whether you you'd want to invest your $350 on this handgun.
www.waltherforums.com
Good luck.
www.waltherforums.com
Good luck.
I got one, decent enough pistol, no problems anyway.
As mentioned it's a great little plinker very soft shooting and easy to rack the slide on, pretty good accuracy too.
Great gun for women or the elderly who don't have a lot of arm strength or can't take the punishment of a micro 9mm or blowback type .380.
Honestly though I wouldn't recommend it as a "carry" gun if you can use something in a more powerful caliber or can deal with the recoil of a small blowback .380.
They're a really tacti-cool looking little pistol but there are better choices for a carry weapon.
As mentioned it's a great little plinker very soft shooting and easy to rack the slide on, pretty good accuracy too.
Great gun for women or the elderly who don't have a lot of arm strength or can't take the punishment of a micro 9mm or blowback type .380.
Honestly though I wouldn't recommend it as a "carry" gun if you can use something in a more powerful caliber or can deal with the recoil of a small blowback .380.
They're a really tacti-cool looking little pistol but there are better choices for a carry weapon.
harmon rabb
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Well, on the topic of a PK380 vs. a pocket .380 (most of which are NOT blowback, by the way. it's usually the "full size" .380's that are blowback), I think just about anyone alive will be a better shot with the PK380 than a pocket .380. I'd feel infinitely better going into a situation where I might have to defend myself armed with a PK380 than a pocket .380. Where the pocket .380's win is concealability.
harmon rabb said:
Well that's true I can't argue with that, the PK380 is a very easy to shoot pistol and will be much easier to keep on target and make follow-ups shots with.
I can't think of any situation where I wouldn't want the largest easiest to shoot pistol in a given caliber but will I carry it.
A full-size 1911 or Glock 20 would be even better than the PK380 but the larger the pistol the less likely people are to carry it.
I honestly think that Walther/Umarex were going after the women's market with this pistol. The PK380 would be the ideal pistol for putting in a purse or small carry bag.
Personally I like a more powerful caliber and alternate carry between my Kel-Tec P11 and Ruger SP101 .357 magnum but I know these aren't the ideal for everyone. My wife and daughter hate to shoot either one and are much more comfortable and enjoy shooting with the PK380 or my Colt 1903.
harmon rabb
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Weevil, I agree with you 100%. The PK380 was designed as a "chick" gun, and in that role, I think it's great. It also happens to be fun as hell as a plinker.
As I said, I don't carry mine. I switch between my taurus 709, cz-82, lcp, or sp101 for the most part. Today I think I'll carry my makarov for the hell of it, oh and because it's reliable and I can shoot it well.
As I said, I don't carry mine. I switch between my taurus 709, cz-82, lcp, or sp101 for the most part. Today I think I'll carry my makarov for the hell of it, oh and because it's reliable and I can shoot it well.
TexasBill
Member
I like my PK380 and I have had one of the First Editions since they came out about a year ago. Great to shoot (a lot more fun than the pocket pistols), easy to carry, nice price. My PK380 is one of my EDCs. With nine Remington Golden Sabers on hand, plus a spare magazine with eight more, I feel adequately armed.
As for any concerns about the takendown tool/key, I just requested an extra from S&W and they sent one at no charge.
As for any concerns about the takendown tool/key, I just requested an extra from S&W and they sent one at no charge.
Walther should have designed this gun with a higher capacity magazine in the 13-15 round range. They would sell a lot better.
I will probably pick one of these up in the near future. Shot placement and comfort takes more of a priority over caliber and size for defense purposes as long as the gun can still be concealed fairly comfortably. Seems like all carry methods except mable ankle holster would work well with the PK380.
I will probably pick one of these up in the near future. Shot placement and comfort takes more of a priority over caliber and size for defense purposes as long as the gun can still be concealed fairly comfortably. Seems like all carry methods except mable ankle holster would work well with the PK380.
denfoote
Member
I honestly have no interest in this gun.
I've owned a tried and true classic PPK/S for years!!
But, being a Walther, it's probably good.
My experience with "modern" Walther pistols extends only to the P99AS, which has been excellent!!
I've owned a tried and true classic PPK/S for years!!
But, being a Walther, it's probably good.
My experience with "modern" Walther pistols extends only to the P99AS, which has been excellent!!
Thats why they missed the boat on the hi-cap. this could have been a nice Mini-p99. Kind of like Beretta 92s and 84s. Instead they went with a beefed up p22 concept. In the end it will probably not be as successful as it could have been. 15 rouns of 380acp is not undergunned for carry purposes.
TexasBill
Member
With a spare magazine, it's easy to carry 17 rounds of .380. I have a Beretta 84FS Cheetah that is one of my favorite pistols, but the Walther gets lots more carry time because it is lighter and more compact. The single-stack magazine allows for a slimmer grip that is easier to conceal.
In reality, loading up tons of ammo is great if you're a soldier in a combat zone or a police officer but kind of a waste of time otherwise. In the event a civilian needed even one magazine to end a lethal force confrontation, they were either in a situation that boded no good for their side (too many adversaries) or they were in a place where they could leave. Fire a few shots to keep their heads down and get the heck out of Dodge.
Incidents like the Miami FBI shootout, where 145 shots were fired by the FBI agents, Miami Police and the two criminals, and the North Hollywood bank robbery, with an estimated 2,000 rounds exchanged by dozens of participants, are exceedingly rare. Most of the other high-shot-count episodes are fired on unarmed victims by mass murderers before they are either captured, killed or commit suicide. The overwhelming majority of self-defense situations where a firearm is used, the shot count wouldn't empty a Smith & Wesson J-frame. Of course, I am as guilty as anyone, on occasion; when cooler weather comes, my choice of carry piece is a full-size 9mm with either 17 or 21 rounds of ammo. On the other hand, in summer months, I often just stick the PK380 or a S&W M637 in my shorts and feel perfectly well-armed.
I have also owned other Walther pocket pistols including the PPK, PPK/S and PP. Yes, they are very nice guns, as is the SIG P232. However, the list price for a PPK or PPK/S is $626.00. For the SIG, it's $720.00. For the PK380, the list price is $393.00. With the PPK, you get 6+1, with the PPK/S, you get 7+1; with the PK380, you get 8+1. In a pistol that, compared to the PPK/S, is just 0.4" inch longer, 0.9 inch taller, 0.27 inches wider and weighs 3 ounces less. I like the way the Walther feels, I like how easy it is to shoot and rack the slide. About the only wish I have is for an M1911-style safety like the one on my Beretta Cheetah.
To answer the OP's question, I happily recommend the PK380: it's one of the best handgun values out there.
In reality, loading up tons of ammo is great if you're a soldier in a combat zone or a police officer but kind of a waste of time otherwise. In the event a civilian needed even one magazine to end a lethal force confrontation, they were either in a situation that boded no good for their side (too many adversaries) or they were in a place where they could leave. Fire a few shots to keep their heads down and get the heck out of Dodge.
Incidents like the Miami FBI shootout, where 145 shots were fired by the FBI agents, Miami Police and the two criminals, and the North Hollywood bank robbery, with an estimated 2,000 rounds exchanged by dozens of participants, are exceedingly rare. Most of the other high-shot-count episodes are fired on unarmed victims by mass murderers before they are either captured, killed or commit suicide. The overwhelming majority of self-defense situations where a firearm is used, the shot count wouldn't empty a Smith & Wesson J-frame. Of course, I am as guilty as anyone, on occasion; when cooler weather comes, my choice of carry piece is a full-size 9mm with either 17 or 21 rounds of ammo. On the other hand, in summer months, I often just stick the PK380 or a S&W M637 in my shorts and feel perfectly well-armed.
I have also owned other Walther pocket pistols including the PPK, PPK/S and PP. Yes, they are very nice guns, as is the SIG P232. However, the list price for a PPK or PPK/S is $626.00. For the SIG, it's $720.00. For the PK380, the list price is $393.00. With the PPK, you get 6+1, with the PPK/S, you get 7+1; with the PK380, you get 8+1. In a pistol that, compared to the PPK/S, is just 0.4" inch longer, 0.9 inch taller, 0.27 inches wider and weighs 3 ounces less. I like the way the Walther feels, I like how easy it is to shoot and rack the slide. About the only wish I have is for an M1911-style safety like the one on my Beretta Cheetah.
To answer the OP's question, I happily recommend the PK380: it's one of the best handgun values out there.
I agree with a lot of what you said but one of the real beauties of polymer is that you can have a double stack magazine with a very slim grip. Back in the days of steel and aluminum frames it was a different story most of the time. It is true that most shooting end ep with very few shots fired but I can appreciate being able to carry larger capacity without increased bulk. If capacity was mute issue we would all just carry derringers. Still...shot placement, efficiency, and comfort of shooting take first priority for me. Its part of the reason I wont CC a a pistol like ruger LCP. They are just too small and light to be effective in these areas. Great ankle gun (maybe a pocket gun) but thats about it IMO. Kel-tec 32s are decent.
Another aspect is from the marketing standpoint. The shooting public simpley likes large capacity weapons. A double stack 380 mini Walther p99 in the $350 range would seem to be a hit in todays market.
Anyways, thats just my opinion. I am glad your likeing the PK380 as I am thinking about picking one up. I usually give a new gun around 18 months after it hits the market to avoid recalls and design problems that seem to plauge new products (Ruger I give 2 years).
Another aspect is from the marketing standpoint. The shooting public simpley likes large capacity weapons. A double stack 380 mini Walther p99 in the $350 range would seem to be a hit in todays market.
Anyways, thats just my opinion. I am glad your likeing the PK380 as I am thinking about picking one up. I usually give a new gun around 18 months after it hits the market to avoid recalls and design problems that seem to plauge new products (Ruger I give 2 years).
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