Author Topic: Walther PPK/s carry pistol? (Read 1707 times)

superdown · « **on:** March 05, 2007, 07:13:43 AM »

hi everyone i have always thought these little pistols were neat and have been thinking about getting something smaller to carry around town than my kimber full size 1911. any experience you can share would be apriciated. thanx, superdown

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** March 05, 2007, 07:37:39 AM »

superdown: they are an excellent choice for a carry piece. They are an extremely well made handgun and are built to be shot. Too many people buy one, rarely shoot it and complain about it. Each PPK/s, PP, or PPK I have owned have been great handguns.

My next one will be made by S&W because I like the enhancements they made and I will do the same with this one as I have with others: get a bunch of extra magazines with the piece, stock up on a boatload full of ball ammo (which is what it was originally designed for actually although I think the S&W versions fully function with other stuff) and shoot the snot outta it until I'm happy with it. HTH. Mikey.

williamlayton · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2007, 11:47:09 AM »

Let's see here, 1975 comes to mind, That's when I got my second.
It takes or took mine about 500/600 rounds to get it to function with HP's.
I have carried one, a stainless PPK, in my pocket for all these years now.
Even in the tight pants days.
I like em.
Blessings

superdown · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2007, 12:03:09 PM »

thanx for the responses everyone what is the realistic level of acuracy i can expect at lets say 50 feet ?

drdougrx · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2007, 01:19:27 PM »

Hi Super,

I too carried one and occasionally still do. I find the PPK/S to be the better of the two IMHO because of the longer grip which makes no difference unless you carry in a pants pocket or deep uder the belt....pushed below the belt line in an in the pant holster. groups....I'd say 3" at 50 feet on a good day. I've had a ramp and polish done though so both of mine shoot really well.

superdown · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2007, 03:31:00 PM »

that sounds like pretty good accuracy from such a small pistol . what are some of the preferd ammunition for the ppk/s ?

IOWA DON · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2007, 04:27:50 PM »

I got one through a custom shop (Slide & Cylinder, Freemont, Nebraska) and had about as much done to it as possible. They recommended and got one made by Interarms. They said the S&W design was not as good because they could not get the trigger as smooth or light. They radiused the edges, did a trigger job, extended the tang, added buffalo horn grips, strippled the back of the grip, bead blasted it, and put on a Trijicon front sight. It never jams with Remington 90 (or 88) grain hollow points. It is a small gun but fits my large hands very well. It is easy to cock or un-cock with one hand, or to shoot the first shot double-action. It seems the sights are almost unnecessary as it just naturaly points where one wants to shoot, even when I have not practiced with it for several months. A number of people have commented that they are nice guns, but too bad they are in such a puny caliber. Maybe so, but I think that being able to hit well with a gun is more important than more power. I doubt if I will ever buy another defense pistol.

rockbilly · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2007, 05:47:12 AM »

I picked up a pair of them in Germany many years ago. They are great little pistols, but let me recommend one that I think is even better, and fits the bill for the type of carry you want the PPK for.

Take a look at a Polish P-64, it is a 9x18 Makorov, slightly more power than the .380, but not quite to the level of the 9mm. It is a very close copy of the PPK, has a seven round capicity (6 in mag, one in chamber), it will also produce some tight groups at fifty feet. I am not wild about the sights, but they are acceptable. Practice ammo is fairly cheap, and they can be purchased for about $150. I bough a pair of them at a show in Dallas several years ago, gave one to my son, who also loves it.

I have a fairly good collection of pistols, but I often find myself slipping the P-64 in my jeans pocket when I go out. It is small, hides well, and should do the job if needed.

It is worth taking a look at.

superdown · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2007, 06:19:35 AM »

Iwowa don would love to see some pics of that pistol of yours sounds realy nice. what caliber is it 32 or 380?

boomerdog · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:13:15 PM »

Just be aware that these guns are NOT drop safe unless the manual safety is engaged.
Yes, I have tested this and they WILL fire if smacked on the hammer.

257 roberts · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2007, 05:28:25 PM »

I carry a PPK in a Galco pocket holster.

superdown · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2007, 07:22:07 PM »

; 8)Iowa don that shur is purdy, great pistol !

boomerdog if you dont mind me asking what were the conditions of that test sounds interesting.
257 Roberts is that a clip in type?

boomerdog · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2007, 05:00:32 PM »

superdown - no problem. I carried mine for years with the safety off, on the assumption that it's designed to be carried that way.Then I saw an article by Ayoob where he mentions that they are NOT drop safe. Went back and re-read the owners manual and there are numerous warnings not to carry with the manual safety off. Anyway - the test is real simple - primed case in the chamber, hammer down, safety off, whack the hammer spur with a little plastic hammer = BANG. Tried it three times and it fired all three. I'm convinced.

Mikey · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2007, 02:16:00 AM »

superdown - a better test would be to simply drop the pistol on its hammer when it has a primed but unloaded case in the chamber. I know this sounds like it would be rough on the gun but you have to be certain of the pistol's capabilities before you purchase one. You can spend a lot of time whacking the hammer with something until the round discharges but that may not duplicate the effect of dropping the gun squarely on its hammer.

In one of the James Bond movies Bond dropped his PPK from a roof - actually, it slid down a roof and fell off and in the movie it discharged. But, that was from a roof, not from his belt or holster. You have to determine the capability of the firearm before you purchase or carry it.

The notion of carrying a double/single action pistol, in DA mode with the safety on is the same as carrying your 1911 without a round in the chamber. It could get you or someone else killed.

BTW - Beretta says the same thing about carrying some of their smaller pocket autos in DA mode without the safety on. I have carried Berettas and Walthers chambered and in the DA mode and never had a problem.

I think one of the concerns here is for liability. If a manufacturer doesn't cover any possible contingency someone here (USA) is gonna want to sue the pants off them but to be honest I f33l the liability is on the part of the pistol owner to make sure the firearm is carried and used safely.

I like the Walther P-series pistols. I have owned PPKs, PPK/Ss and PPs. I have also owned a handful of P-38s and still have one. However, I never owned a PP-something or another for so long as to be really accurate with the first da shot except on a Police Silhouette at close range and then wondered about the utility of carrying a da pistol at all. So, I went to a Beretta M70 that I carry cocked and locked and shoot much better with that on the first shot than I ever did with any of my Walthers.

The Walther is an excellent quality pistol and always has been. They are excellent carry guns. I wonder if it is possible to contact any of the German or other european Police agencies to see what their 'manual of arms' dictates for carrying these pistols. JMTCW. Mikey.

superdown · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2007, 07:42:48 AM »

hi i carry my kimber full size 1911 with a round in the chamber cocked with the safety engaged and the holster i use was designed to have its thumb snap style strap go between the hammer and the firing pin this is the way i have always seen/ been told was the proper way to carry a 1911 if you actually had to rely on it.

boomerdog · « **Reply #15 on:** April 26, 2007, 05:44:33 PM »

Mikey - no offense, but;
1 - Didn't "spend a lot of time" whacking the hammer - one whack = one BANG.
2 - I don't watch James Bond movies.
3 - I carry my 1911 cocked and locked, but I'll carry the PPK with the safety ON until the new 642 gets here,then it's moot.
4 - I'm not concerned with liability, I'm concerned with myself or a family member catching a .380 round up the kazoo.
5 - All my guns ARE carried & used safely - haven't dropped one yet, But Mr.Murphy is always around and it doesn't seem prudent to egg him on.
6 - Not trying to bad mouth Walther,not trying to tell anyone what to do. Just trying to provide some information folks may not be aware of.

Mikey · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2007, 01:41:49 AM »

boomerdog: one whack - one bang - not good. It would appear, therefore, that carrying a PP style pistol with the slide safety engaged is the safest way to carry it. Thanks for sharing that with us. Mikey.

sui generis · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2007, 04:09:21 AM »

Quote from: boomerdog on April 24, 2007, 05:13:15 PM

Just be aware that these guns are NOT drop safe unless the manual safety is engaged.
Yes, I have tested this and they WILL fire if smacked on the hammer.

Can you describe just how hard you had to hit it?

I tried mine and chickened out before I hit it hard enough to fire it.

boomerdog · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2007, 05:23:15 PM »

Kinda hard to quantify ... Not wind-up and smash it hard. More like just a nice sharp rap, square on the hammer spur. Tried to approximate about what landing on a concrete floor from belt level would do. Used about a 6 or 8 oz. plastic hammer.

Indian Creek 1 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2007, 11:23:40 AM »

I carry my PA 63 ( which is a copy of the PPK ) with safety off and hammer down but the firing pin does not line up with the hammer untill the hammer is kocked so it is safe to carry that way.

A.J.