Why is the PPK unpopular?

[Girodin]

Those saying Bond no longer uses the PPK need to brush up on the newest bond films here he is in Quantum of Solace with a PPK

Of course some times Bond wants a little more gun as seen here using a couple of sigs

And as we all know pistols are for fighting your way to a long gun, even when you're bond. Here he is with a UMP

 

[Maia007]

I have owned two Walthers since the early 70's, one in .380 and one in .22, both German made. I have run many thousands of rounds thru each.

I carried the .380 for years as I could always shoot quite well with it and the size and weight and the recoil and the concealability were just right. And that is still true. The .22 was simply fun to shoot and served as an understudy to the .380.

I now favor the Kahr MK9 for carry as the size/weight is similar, and the handling and the recoil, even in the more robust 9mm, is just about as good for me as the Walther is in .380.

But there is no way I would EVER sell my Walthers. For smallish autos, the Walther PPK is the standard to which I judge all other comers.

 

[cpirtle]

Is there such a thing?
I thought Interarms took over the ones in the U.S. and were manufactured in Gadston, Al. by Ranger. (and made very fine pistols)
German ones were actually made in France by Manurhin, and sent to Germany to be stamped and shipped. (these have become stupid expensive)

Now, there are two different versions of Interarms. On the older one the word "Interarms" is over a starburst. The newer, Interarms is above "Alexandria, Va" (which is the home of Interarms, but not the manufacturing point.)

Yeah, I'm no PPKS Buff but the more I read the more I learn. I've always just wanted a nice older one and stumbled on a great one at the right price.

I have the stupid expensive French made, German Stamped Interarms PPKs. My favorite haunt is a local chain store that begins with a G and an M and I've pulled a lot of bargains out of there. This one isn't even close to the best deal but I got it 3 weeks ago in the box, 95% for $339..

 

[Gator06]

I, too, was lured into purchasing a ppk/s some years ago as I loved the lines and thought it would make a great gun to carry concealed. I found it too big for pocket carry - a ppk might have fared better, but it was too small for my hands - and as much as I loved to hold and look at it I found I didn't like shooting it.

As mentioned here by numerous people - the double action trigger pull was the worst I ever felt....I would estimate it somewhere close to 24 pounds (all joking aside it was ridiculous). You could start pulling it on Monday and it would finally break in time for the weekend. I never suffered slide bite, but the extended tang that S&W added sure put a hurting on the web between my thumb and trigger finger. I also thought the sights were lacking....too small and nondescipt.

New, the gun was extremely tight and I found that after a range session my fingers were raw from handling the gun - lots of sharp edges. Mine jammed quite a few times during the first 200 rounds and the manual of arms is different without a slide stop. During those jams I had to drop the magazine if I had any hopes of clearing the malfunction. I sold it with a fairly low round count so I'm sure as it wore in more it would be easier to manipulate. Also, I think my hands were too big for it. I never had a comfortable grip and when I fired it the gun would shift around.....it was just kind of awkward.

Bottom line - I wanted to love the gun. I loved the idea of the gun more than the gun itself. It was a sad day when I sold it, but the Kahr CW9 I replaced it with fits my hands much better......and I can see the sights.

 

[Rico567]

Size is relative. Maybe because I'm a big guy, I don't find a Walther-sized gun to be all that big. A better alternative for me than Walther is my Makarov. It's a Walther PP, but simpler, cheaper. It's dead-nuts accurate and has never missed a lick with the half-dozen types of ammo I've had through it....including Hornady HPs.

I will admit that I have more of an issue with the .380 (or 9 x 18) chambering as a defensive round.....but I have doubts about the 9 x 19 in that capacity, too.

 

[buttrap]

News to me that they are not popular. I have had one for years in the S version.

 

[PRM]

Nice P38 buttrap ~ I see yours has all the upgrades (Hex Bolt and Fat Slide.)

Hope yours shoots as well as mine.

PPK/S is also sweet. I've got a PP and a PPK/S in .32. I carried the Manurhin PP for several years, but recently the PPK/S replaced it as my daily carry gun.

 

[IMTHDUKE]

There is a difference in the German PPKs and the others.

 

[TomTerrific]

Why is the Walther PPK particularly unpopular as a 380 choice?

I'll let you know as soon as I receive my PPK/S back from S&W. It's been there two months now.

I had all kinds of trouble with it. The decocking lever was swinging loosely. The extractor fell off. It was shooting two rounds with one trigger pull.

If it works pretty well when I get it back, I intend to sell it right off.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If you want to LOVE a PPK, get a blued, post WWII German made gun in .32. This was the gun that Fleming put into Bond's hand, and after owning all sorts of Walthers, and other guns in .380, .32, etc, the Walther PPK in .32 has become one of the most accurate, comfortable, and easy to shoot of the "pocket" autos of the era TO ME. It is not as hostile in the hand as the .380 version, appears to be more accurate AND reliable, and just feels right. True, the .32 isn't a .380, isn't a 9mm, etc, but being able to do head shots at 25 yards (should you be able to get the bad guy to stand still ) with the little PPK will make you a believer!

 

[rscalzo]

It is a 1930s design that has been eclipsed by modern pistols

You mean like the 1911?????

I carried one in the 70's as a bu during the summer months. $76 brand new... But the advent of smaller and lighter 9mm models made it's uniqueness less of an issue when I could find larger caliber handguns in almost the same size and weigh. It was repalced with a S&W 3913.

 

[SIGLBER]

It's not unpopular from what I've seen. But it does have some honest problems. The guns have been made in different countries by different makers. Interarms PPK's are real hit or miss as far as reliablity. They imported them for awhile and later made them here. The guns have pretty heavy recoil for a .380 being that it is a straight blowback design. DA trigger pull is very heavy. Older guns often bite their owners to the point of blood. The new S&W version has extended the tang to stop this. The pro's?
Very flat profile, usually very accurate, and a real beauty of a looker. The two I had jammed constantly. Had better luck with the Bersa at half the price. A friend bought one fo his wife. She sold it after one range session. Got a small 9mm. Less recoil, more reliable, more powerful cartridge.

 

[benderx4]

Yes, it's a sexy looking gun. But:

1. It's got one of the highest felt recoil of any handgun I've ever shot.
2. The slide will give you one heck of a bite in your hand, and
3. For its size, it shoots a relatively "weak" caliber round

 

[KurtC]

BINGO, we have a winner. ^^^^^^^^^ Nice summation.

 

[bannockburn]

My experiences with the Walther PPK family pretty much mirror that of Gator06 and benderX4. The straight blowblack design generated quite a bit of felt recoil, even in a .32 caliber PP I once owned. Hammer and slide bite were a recurring problem along with an extremely heavy DA pull, miniscule sights, and frequent jams. On my stainless PPKs, there were far too many sharp edges and unfinished parts, combined with the magazine falling out of the gun at any given time, to make me want to depend on these guns for concealed carry. I eventually replaced them with a Colt Mustang and a KelTec P3AT.

 

[Ole Coot]

I never knew the PPK/S was unpopular. I have had one for many years, never any problems and as to size & weight my regular carry is a Beretta Cougar in 45cal and I like the solid feel of the little 380. I have no problems with accuracy out to 25yds, I would carry it more often if I was fond of the 380 for defense.

 

[Joe Demko]

The ones I've handled and shot were acceptably accurate, given the tiny sights. They didn't have any problems with reliability, either, but I will stipulate that we were using ammo chosen by the owner on each outing; I can't vouch for the pieces being reliable with a variety of ammunition. Recoil was a bit brisk for such a small round, but the same could be said about lots of blowback centerfire pieces.
Now the main reason I won't own one: The awkward size. The gun is too big to be considered a real pocket pistol. If I'm going to have to wear a belt and holster, then I want a gun using a better cartridge, with better sights, and (maybe) higher ammo capacity.
I bow to no one in my love of James Bond, though I am a far greater fan of Ian Flemming's stories than I am of the pastiches done by other authors or any of the films. James Bond is a poor reason to choose a gun, though. Flemming wasn't really a gun guy and it shows. He, clearly, knew more about quality food, drink, and smokes than he did about guns. Celebrate Bond with a nice martini and choose your (using) guns based on real world factors.

 

[Paladin7]

I like the PPK, its a solid design and the good ones are very reliable. The Bond thing is also neat. As to why most folks don't carry them...I think there are better choices today then there were back in the day. Simple as that.

Every few years I get a hankering for one, until I start thinking rationally about it...the PPK is a blowback pistol that is manageable but has more recoil than is necessary, the slide tends to bite and need stoning of the sharp edges, limited mag capacity, size/power, small sights and a non-captive extractor (blow out a case and the extractor might go with it...leaving you with a single shot pistol vs say a Makarov), etc. and I eventually come to my senses...

Btw, my irrational self still likes them a lot and one day I may end up owning one but don't think I would carry it given other better options...

 

[straightshooter9]

As for the PPK/S I gave my brother, I never had a problem until now, S&W is sending a mailer to get it repaired.

What's the deal with the "bite"? I never had it bite me and I'm 6'3" so my hands are not small......but this a NOVICE speaking, so I'm not "on-board" with other alternatives, I am learning quickly, though.

As far as "stopping" power, I was trained in the military and was of the mind set to "un-load" on somebody if they were close enough to grab me.......I promise you,
I can kill a person with that PPK and wouldn't break a sweat!

Having said that, obviously a larger caliber "works" quicker.
Just my thoughts, of course...........

 

[aliasneo07]

I bought a S&W Made PPK/S. It was a jam-o-matic and a pos. (MINE WAS, I realize some have perfectly fine S&W PPKs) I sent it back to S&W, got it back, it still was a jam-o-matic. I ALWAYS wanted a PPK because I love its appearance, design, and yes, the fact that it was Bonds gun is pretty cool too . If I could find a NIB Interarms PPK or a good condition german one, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. But I think one reason for the PPKs decline as a CCW pistol is because a lot of people hate the S&W ones. Even the guys at waltherforums.

EDIT: I feel like the PPK(/s) is getting smashed on here, so let me say that it does have a couple advantages over the current polymer 380s (yes I have a ruger LCP and love it.) It has USABLE sights, and I think the accuracy beats out the LCP, P3AT, Kahr, etc.

 

[cpirtle]

I haven't been counting but I think it's holding its own on this thread. Lot's of objective opinions on both sides of the debate with a few bashers throwing in their one-line shots.

Straightshooter9, slide bite is where the web of your hand wraps up over the tang and as the slide comes back the points on the bottom drag and tear their way across/through that area. I personally have not had that happen with my pre-S&W Walther and I have large meaty hands and wear a size 15.5 ring. Maybe I just naturally grip lower on the gun.

I was checking out one of the new mini desert eagles and that thing came in contact with about 1/4" of meat, would have been a painful shot.

 

[straightshooter9]

That's what I thought....mine is also a "pre S&W"......hence no bite!

 

[PRM]

Yea, mine must be a fluke ~ it just don't miss-behave on the range.

I am so put out with it, I added the ivory grips just so I could easily spot it.

Oh well, guess I will just be forced to keep it. Their so unpopular it probably would not bring a decent price.

 

[Paladin7]

I think if you have your heart set on the PPK...then go for it...you could do far worse.

On the other hand, the comments on this thread, far from bashing the pistol, have provided some excellent food for thought on why there are better options available for CCW...

Your choice...

 

[cpirtle]

Paladin7, I agree with you 100%.

Only thing I would change is that the OP's original question is why isn't it popular as a 380. Most of us assumed that he's asking about it as a concealed carry piece but he didn't say that specifically. The thread has naturally digressed into primarily a discussion about its merit as a concealed carry gun.

I think if nothing else it has established that the PPK line is still very popular. Let's face it, popularity can be measured as being good or bad. Michael Vick was pretty popular after he was busted for running dog fights in his back yard