Walther SSP - My match

[TMan]

Well guys, I think I've met my match with this gun. I haven't a clue how it works. It took me 15 minutes reading the "English" portion of the manual in order to figure out how to release the slide (it was open when I opened the box). For awhile I thought that there was a part missing.

A little history: Walther had two pistols: the OSP, which was 22S and the GSP, which is 22LR. If you've bought any 22S or 22L lately, you know it is a bit on the expensive side, which is why I've hesitated to get the OSP. I don't know the reason, but Walther discontinued the OSP and came out with the SSP as a replacement except it shoots 22LR vs 22S.

It is a 5 shot semi-auto and comes with two magazines, which load from the top when the slide is locked open. The slide does not lock open after the last round because it would give the shooter a different feeling on the last round (according to the manual). I've actually noticed this difference with other pistols, you can feel the difference when the slide locks open.

I won't go into all the different adjustments that there are for the trigger, and internal mechanisms because I don't understand them (the CZ-83 is child's play compared to this). I do understand the sights: the front side is a triangle and each side of the triangle has a different widths (4.0/4.5/5.0) so you can select the width that you can see best. The rear sight has the normal adjustments, but also the ability to change the width of the rear notch and its depth.

This is a striker-fired pistol so there are no torquing or twisting internal motions that you would get from a hammer-fired pistol. What don't striker-fired pistols have bad triggers? Not this one. Its trigger is 2.2lbs, two-stage trigger, and is crisp. It is also adjustable with a whole bunch of adjustments, but they don't recommend doing it.

It is a good trigger, about the same as the Sig 226 X-Five, but it isn't as adjustable for pound pull as the X-Five. The trigger is nothing like the trigger on a Free Pistol. I have a digital trigger pull gage and it doesn't register properly trying to read the pull on the TOZ-35M.

It comes with a sample target of 10 rnds at 25meters. Interesting that the group wasn't as tight as the one on the Sig Trailside that I bought a few years ago.

Here is the manufacturer's picture of the pistol:

["DoubleAction"]

I should have already bought me a rapid fire match pistol. I like the Walther, Hammerli, and The Pardini Fiochi.

[MLB]

The magazine loading from the top is a new idea to me (on a handgun anyway). I also like the straight back trigger pull (ala 1911) as opposed to the pivoting trigger on most handguns.

[TMan]

mlb said:

...I also like the straight back trigger pull (ala 1911) as opposed to the pivoting trigger on most handguns.

Funny, but I didn't even notice that. I'm not sure how much value the straight-back pull adds to accuracy. The H&K Expert is a DA pistol with a long take-up in SA mode. However, once it stops, there is very little movement before the sear is disengaged, and I doubt if anyone with their eyes closed could tell the difference. (I always close my eyes just before the gun goes off. ;D )

At the range today I was shooting it with one hand, but my buddy used two hands, and you could really see the difference. His comment was that it was the best shooting gun that he ever shot.

My favorite RO was there today, and as we were leaving he came over and I showed him the pistol. He dry-fired it and shook his head positively. He is very critical of triggers and the fact that he liked the factory trigger on this thing was impressive.

[MLB]

I suppose it shouldn't, but it surprises me that you can dry fire this .22 without damaging the pin or breech face.

As far as the pivoting trigger; it seems to me that since you're pulling straight back, that would be the better trigger arrangement. Since the trigger is actually rotating around a pin in most handguns, you'd think that the center of the pressure on your finger would vary from beginning to end.

Perhaps it's overanalyzing (especially for my 11lb ppk/s trigger), but on finely tuned triggers it may feel different. Maybe on a heavier trigger is would be more noticable though now that I think about it.

[TMan]

MLB, I never, never, never dry-fire a rim-fire without having one of those little red snap-caps in it. I understand that it isn't a problem with Rugers, but I don't take a chance. I wasn't so religious about it until I bought the Trailside and stamped on every other page in big letters was Do Not Dry-Fire this pistol.

The other thing I never do is dry-fire my air rifle because of warnings in the manual. I think it has to do with a lack of resistance to the air being released.

My other no-no is to let the slide go flying home without having a round in the magazine. However, with guns like this, and the STI LS9 that don't have a lock open after last round capability it happens after the last round.

I agree with you about the rotation on the pin at the top of the trigger. However, you have a lot of distance to travel with your finger during the take-up or first stage. Then the sear is engaged. At this point there is resistance felt, but very little movement before it is released, and providing there isn't a lot of over-travel, there is very little rotation at this point.

It is a different story with some pistols like the Kahr where there is no staging. It is this long double-action pull and you feel nothing before it suddenly goes bang. I don't know what the deal is with my Kahr, but I get my moneys worth on targets with the Kahr - there are holes everywhere. Maybe it is this rotation of the trigger.

Ed's comments in the car on the way home were interesting. He shoots a lot more rounds that I do, but his comment that he never shot that well with a pistol made us ponder a bit. If we both shoot better with this gun, could our lack of performance in the past just be the pistol and not us? I usually just figure that I stink, but now I'm wondering if it has been equipment all along.

I think I have a new bench-mark to compare the pistols to vs. the S&W 41.

[MLB]

Watch out. You know it's serious when he pulls out the S&W M41.