Your experiences with Walther/S&W PPKS-.380

[mec]

Wondering about your experiences with function and break-in.

I just took a guy through the Texas CHL course. As usual, I had a tested 1911 and ammunition along just in case and,as frequently happens, It was a good thing.
He had just bough a ppks from the current Walther/S&W production and it was producing a number of failures to feed with two types of quality ammunition. The problem seems to be difficulty in feeding the rim under the extractor. We fired 50-100 rounds and the situation seemed to be improving but never fully resolved itself. By the end of the day, those malfs that did occur could usually be solved by simpling giving the slide a light push to chamber the round. Some required slightly retracting the slide and letting it snap forward.

The gun was thoroughtly de-greased, cleaned and lubricated before shooting. Is this a fairly common-new gun-pre-break in situation? I don't recall it with PPK/PPKs es I've owned.

 

[Mizzle187]

Ive never had any problemds with my PPk or PPKs. I would definitly send it back for warranty after I made sure he or the gun shop didnt take it apart and put it back together incorrectly,etc... If it is a brand new gun it defintly should not be doing that. If you dont mind me asking what were you shooting?

 

[mec]

"If you dont mind me asking what were you shooting?"

In the way of .380 Ammunition, he had bought some UMC Lead Free ball and I had some Corbon JHP. In the past I have found the corbon just as functional as ball in the pre -S&W ppks americans.

He went through the proficiency demo with my Colt SXE and Ball ammo.

 

[1 old 0311]

My S&W PPK/S did the same thing for 150-200 rounds. It now works with EVERYTHING. Are you keeping the slide lubed? Walthers love lube.

Kevin

 

[mec]

Everything well lubricated. I believe the owner of the pistol will have basically the same experience you have had with yours breaking in and functioning well. Earlier Walthers/ PPK-USA and european ones have functioned from the onset for me but I am never surprised by some initial glitches in a self loader.

It might be nice if the factories would actually function test them before letting them out the door but if a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his butt.

 

[Murphster]

I have a new model PPK. Happily, it's been 100% since day one. I've read some threads on this forum that hinted that the PPK/S models have been a bit more troublesome than the PPK. Hope it was just a break-in thing.