Walther P99c AS

[TMan]

I was curious as to how different the P99C is to the PPS. It is an interesting gun and quite different from the PPS, although they both share the magazine release on the trigger guard.

For those of you that haven't gotten an opportunity to handle one before, it is an interesting handgun. It is striker-fired, and has a DA/SA trigger, which feels like a 3-stage trigger.

After the slide is racked and the gun is in battery a painted red pin protrudes from the rear of the slide. If you then wish to decock it, you press down on the bar on the top of the slide that is just in front of the rear sight.

I would describe the trigger as a 3 stage: 1) With the gun cocked, you pull back on the trigger until you hear a click. If you then remove your finger, the trigger remains in this partially activated position. 2) You pull against spring tension until you feel the trigger stop (this would be considered "take-up" on most pistols 3) Continuing to press on the trigger and after a little creep the firing pin will go forward.

One thing I noticed was the difference between pressing the decocker with the trigger all the way forward vs when it was pulled back past the first stage. When pulled back, it is much louder because the trigger is moving forward too.

It is kind of a neat little gun, but I don't think it is as nice as the PPS. Incidentally, my shooting buddy shot the PPS yesterday and was very impressed with the accuracy.

I understand that there is another configuration, called the QA, for the P99 that changes the way the trigger feels. However, they didn't have any there that I could try.

[MLB]

The P99c is a very different handgun than the PPS. Sounds like you tried an "AS"version of the P99c, the same version as my full size P99. The trigger takes a little getting used to. It's a variation on a traditional SA/DA. I don't particularly like it, but I am used to it. They also make a more "glock like" pre cocked striker version called the "QA". It's a lot like the PPS you tried and has the same trigger pull each time.

One of the big complaints of the PPS from Walther aficionados is that it gives you very little advantage over the P99c. It is quite a bit slimmer, but with much less magazine capacity, and only a fraction of an inch shorter. Walther likely could have made it much shorter (vertically), but they must make it a certain height in order to be able to import it to the USA thanks to the GCA.

[TMan]

mlb said:

... Sounds like you tried an "AS"version of the P99c, ...

Ya think that might be why I made the subject "Walther P99c AS" ;D ;D ;D

Thanks, I needed a laugh first thing in this morning; especially since the Advil hasn't kicked in yet.

Seriously, I think that the AS version is like what they advertised the Taurus 24/7 OSS trigger to be like. I had no way of testing it, but I think that if you pulled the trigger and had a light-strike, you could then just pull the trigger again without having to rack the slide.

I was comparing the trigger on the P99c to that of the H&K P30. The take-up on the P99c was a lot more than that of the H&K, but both have a take-up then essentially a two stage trigger feel. (I have no idea how they work internally.)

Although I did look at the owner's manual for the P30, I didn't at the Walther one, so I'm guessing at how it works. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one from what I saw.

It appears to be a little pricey. A Glock G26 from the same dealer is $478 vs. $560 for the Walther P99c. The length of the G26 is 6.29" vs 6.6" for the P99c. Width is 1.18" on the G26 vs. 1.3" on the P99c and 4.17" vs. 4.3", which makes the Glock the size winner (smaller is better - someone please tell my wife - she wants big diamonds). However, the P99c is the weight winner being 1oz less.

So, I guess if it was me, I'd buy the Glock vs the Walther. What am I saying? Is the coffee ready yet? I'm clearly not awake.

[MLB]

tman said:

Ya think that might be why I made the subject "Walther P99c AS" ;D ;D ;D

Thanks, I needed a laugh first thing in this morning; especially since the Advil hasn't kicked in yet.

Oops, well, I read 11 of the 13 letters of your title anyway.

The "AS" part is short for Anti-Stress. I like it better than a DAO, but would prefer it if they stuck with a more traditional DA/SA arrangement. 3 different trigger pulls is a bit much in one handgun.

From the initial "anti-stress" (trigger forward, light pull) position, I typically get on target, pull the trigger back until it clicks into the normal (trigger back, light pull) position, and then get serious about accuracy.

[TMan]

Am I reading their specs correctly? After the initial shot, it sounds like the trigger doesn't go forward all the way to the furthermost position?

[MLB]

See? Told you it was a bit odd.

OK, it goes like this: Cleared handgun, insert mag, chamber a round (or close slide if open.) Right now you have the "AS" trigger. That is, a long light trigger. This is really a two-stage trigger (maybe threee.) If you slowly pull the trigger back, it will click back to the SA position. I get a bit of take up from here, then a reasonably clean break. Following shots are from the SA position.

Decocking the firearm at any point takes you to a traditional DA trigger. About 7-8 lb pull, stacking at the end and break. Back to SA.

From decock, a 1/4" pull on the slide will cock the striker and take you back to AS.

I carry in DA (decocked, one in the pipe). Similar to a revolver. No one I've heard of carries SA, one crazy bastage I've read carries with the AS trigger. Long, but too light for me without a manual safety.

[TBT]

Sounds like a really neat trigger on those things. I've always flirted with getting one. They feel real good in the hand.

[MLB]

No arguement there, it does fit the hand well. The three backstraps help too. It is a bit topheavy (as are all polymer framed handguns), but that's offset a bit when a full magazine is inserted.