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Post by MLB on Apr 12, 2004 22:37:11 GMT -5
I've been looking at Walther's PPK & PPK/S for quite a while now. Despite rational arguements for others, this is just one of those handguns that strikes me right. So while waiting for the local tire shop to kindly remove a screw from a tire, I head across the street to browse the local gun shop. He's got a stainless PPK/S for $460, $40 less than anyone else in the area. I decided that the shorter grip of the PPK would be too small for my mitts. Toss in a free $10 box of .380 and that was all the incentive that I needed. Took it to the range to break it in and brought along a friend with a SIG 230 to compare it with. Both were enjoyable to shoot. I had no problems with the infamous Walther bite. The DA trigger is very heavy, SA is predictable and consistent, but with a bit of unwelcome take up. The sig seemed to me to have a bit less apparent recoil due to the wider grips that cover the backstrap. The Walther is very narrow, and the grips (black plastic) do not come flush to the backstrap. I see new wood grips in the near future. Is there a quality alternative to Hogue? I need more range time to tighten up my groups with this little cannon. After an abysmal start, at the end of my 100 rounds for the evening, I had it down to 4" at 7yds (I tend to pull them low and to the left for some reason). It's all me though. The guy I was shooting with is a much better shot and put 7 inside of 2" with it first time. I'll have it down there in no time... |
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Post by TBT on Apr 12, 2004 23:04:33 GMT -5
Nice weapon man! Something about that gun regardless of it being practical or not ... I have to have one.
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Post by Callahan on Apr 13, 2004 12:31:16 GMT -5
Really nice looking pistol, MLB!
(By the way, DA trigger on the Walther is 14; Bersa is 10.5. Of course, the Bersa ain't nearly as purty! ;D )
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Post by XavierBreath on Apr 13, 2004 13:38:13 GMT -5
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Post by "DoubleAction" on Apr 13, 2004 17:06:08 GMT -5
MLB; I've been wanting one of those, ever since T-Branch issued one to 007 in Dr. No, I just cannot find anyone who makes the small shoulder holster with the blue pouch. All kidding aside; I'm serious, I once had a Walther catalog on the PPK/S, with all the various finishes and grips available for the pistol, it is a beauty. As a kid, I had a reproduction, full size replica of the PPK, I still might, one day, run up on a deal involving one of those pistols.
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Post by MLB on Apr 14, 2004 12:45:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments & links. I like the semi-checkered wood grips from Hogue , but the Excalibur ones XB linked to seem to cover the frame better at the backstrap.
Grips are one of those things that are difficult to by over the internet. I'd like to get them in my hand first...
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Post by TMan on Apr 15, 2004 8:55:59 GMT -5
MLB, I really like the looks of the stainless. I have the PPK/s chambered in .22LR. At first I hated it. It jammed several times per magazine. Also, the slide got me (didn't need stiches though). Then I bought gloves, and someone on this forum, to whom I'll always be indebted to, told be to use CCI Mini Mags. Wow, I can now put 200 rounds through this thing without any failures and it is fun to shoot. I had to smile when you mentioned shooting low to the left. I always do that with a new gun. It is sort of a flinch. I also do it with a gun that I haven't shot in a long time. Guess I need to find a good shrink.  |
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Post by garumn on Apr 17, 2004 4:48:05 GMT -5
I love that gun but I went the cheaper route and got the bersa.
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Post by MLB on Apr 17, 2004 14:26:47 GMT -5
The Bersa is probably the better practical choice. No need to be rational all of the time though...
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Post by michael t on Jun 17, 2004 0:26:58 GMT -5
MLB : like you said the PPK/S just feels right . When I got mine I retired my Colt Mustang. Now here what you do . You don t want to wear out your PPK/S so install the lighter trigger spring, then as fast as you can go buy a Bersa for your practice pistol. I don t know if your married but my wife didnt really buy the practice gun story. ;D I can t post pics. However mine has ivory grips and they are slighty yellowed which to me is the finishing touch Can t tell what make as not a ID mark of any kind on them.They were on the pistol when I picked it up.
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Post by 9mm on Jun 17, 2004 9:35:32 GMT -5
I was just reading on another forum of the need to keep the safety selector in the "safe" position to enable the firing pin safety on these guns.
An off duty police officer dropped his on the ground and even though the hammer was down the safety was on the "fire" position and the gun discharged, killing him.
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Post by Oregunner on Jun 17, 2004 10:16:25 GMT -5
9mm, do you remember what forum you saw that in?
I'd like to read that article myself.
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Post by MLB on Jun 17, 2004 12:23:34 GMT -5
My practice is to keep the safety on and one chambered, so I should be in good shape. I believe that the pin is fixed in this condition, and I know it to be blocked from the hammer.
I do know that even with the safety off, the hammer itself is blocked until the trigger is pulled back, so a blow to the hammer should not cause an AD.
The remaining possibility is that the firing pin could strike the primer due to inertia if it is not restricted in some way. I've found that the best way to find out is to take a look for yourself. I'll do that tonight and let you know what I find out.
From what I remember, there is no mechanism to fix the firing pin when the safety is off. Even so, I can't imagine that the small amount of firing pin mass would be enough to overcome the firing pin spring force and detonate the primer. I've been wrong before though...
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Post by Callahan on Jun 18, 2004 2:23:58 GMT -5
Well, if it's unsafe to carry a PPK with the safety off then Combat Handguns made a bad mistake in their May 2003 review of a custom Walther that was worked on by Cylinder and Slide.
On page 36 they said, "You can carry the pistol with the safety down or up, if it's down the hammer can't be cocked, and if it's up the trigger will work the hammer either cocked or uncocked."
If that was bad advice I would have expected to see a retraction by now...
Xavierbreath?
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Post by MLB on Jun 19, 2004 9:35:48 GMT -5
Well, I examined my S&W version of the PPK/s and confirmed my post above. With the safety on, the firing pin is both blocked from the hammer, and restricted from striking the primer.
With the safety off, the hammer is blocked until the trigger is mostly back, but the firing pin is unrestricted in it's travel.
So, it comes down to a question of impact force. You have to impart enough energy to overcome the firing pin spring tesnion and hit the primer with enough force to ignite it.
Striking it while in the holster isn't likely to cause an AD I'd think, dropping it muzzle first sounds like a possibility, and giving it a good rap with a hammer on the muzzle just might do the trick.
So, don't beat your walther with a hammer while the safety is off. ;D
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Post by michael t on Jun 23, 2004 11:48:40 GMT -5
MLB now that you had your PPK/S for a while Tell us what you think , do you still enjoy it ;Dor now is it just another pistol in the safe. I carry mine everywere . You have inspired me to try makeing a set of grips for mine. What type of ammo are you useing Ive settled on two. The CorBon HP and Rem.GS102gr. I think the Rem will be my jacket weather round. The heavy round might go a little deeper than the CorBon. and at this point Iam not interested in the power ball think 70 gr to light.
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Post by MLB on Jun 29, 2004 13:56:16 GMT -5
Silver, Sorry for the late reply, I've been away for a week. (Fishing in Northern Canada. It is beautiful up there.) Better to explain later than broadcast it in advance in this medium I think. The PPK/S is my primary carry gun. With a Mitch Rosen tuckable IWB holster it is invisible to the uninitiated, my movement is nearly unrestricted, and my mind is not distracted on ensuring that someone might see it and raise a fuss. My only other practical option is the P99 which is more comfortable to carry in the very well made Galco Fletch OWB, but requires a cover garment, and is much more likely to print. I'm pretty much restricted to winter months if I'd like to carry that one. My selection of ammo is more based on other's research as opposed to my own. I use the Federal Hydra-Shok loads for carry, and Winchester WB for practice (The Win-Clean is indeed clean by the way, I've tried that too). Both of these feed well and seem well suited for their intended purpose. Bullet selection may be more critical for some, but I feel that it is greatly outweighed by practice and bullet placement. I'm sure you've heard a dozen times something to the effect that a target round placed center of mass is much more effective than a hollowpoint in the leg.  You should try the grip thing. I found it to be very relaxing and satisfying in the end, especially since I'm no Bob Vila, and didn't expect it to look very good when I was finished. ;D |
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