New here, looking for all the info I can get.

[JayCee]

Hey guys and gals.
I'm a 30 ish Native Texan, I live in DFW and plan to take a CHL class in a few weeks. I plan to carry a Walther PK380.

I decided to get a CHL in addition keeping a pistol legally in the car for a few years. I've just had one too many close calls in my life and now with a new family, I want to be able to protect them from any threats we may encounter; which in this city, are unfortunately growing numerous.

I've been around firearms my entire life and frequently hit the range for fun/practice. I've owned a couple of different guns:
S&W Model 10 .38 spec., (Great for a revolver)
Beretta 380 (light firing piece of trash)
Ruger P95 (loved it, best damn gun under $400 super accurate)
Taurus Millenium .40 (absolute trash) and a
Mossberg 500AT with several accessories for home defense.

My current pistol is a PK380 and so far I love it. Future plans will be some sort of semi-suto rifle like an M4 or AK.
I'm hear to learn some tips on carrying but also learn about peoples experiences with the law. Glad to be here!

[A-R]

Welcome aboard!

I'd love to read your review of the PK380 if you have time to write your thoughts. That gun has been intriguing me as a good option for those who have unfavorable reactions to recoil - .380 cartridge and locked breech design (as opposed to more punishing straight-blowback that most larger .380 pistols use).

[JayCee]

Welcome aboard!

I'd love to read your review of the PK380 if you have time to write your thoughts. That gun has been intriguing me as a good option for those who have unfavorable reactions to recoil - .380 cartridge and locked breech design (as opposed to more punishing straight-blowback that most larger .380 pistols use).

Thanks for the welcome. I just picked up the PK last week but didn't go to the range yet because it unfortunately came with only one magazine (which I thought was strange).

As of today I've got a mag and holster ordered and plan to take it and my fiancee to shoot this weekend (if they arrive in time). She's never shot a gun before and is scared of the recoil (I broke her in to the noise when she watched a friend and I target shooting). I've read the PK is an excellent shooter with almost no recoil so I think it will be a great gun for her first experience. I have to admit I was in the market for a .40 or .45 but this little Walther won me over with its size, balance, features and price. Once review I read, the author had a 3" grouping at 25 yards! That's amazing for such a small pistol IMO. My Taurus was barely effective at 10 yds.

[USA1]

Welcome to the forum JayCee .
You picked the best place on the computerweb to learn from.
There are some great people here who are knowledgeable and friendly.

Once in a while we even have some fun here.

[cougartex]

Welcome.

[bigred90gt]

Welcome, there is a wealth of information here, and if you pay attention to it, you can learn a bit.


As for the PK380, out of the pistols I own, it is by far the most fun. I bought it for my wife, because she hated the taurus ultralight .38 special revolver, and couldnt rack the slide on my XD40 (you can rack the slide on the PK380 with almost no effort). She still hasnt shot it, but I took it to the range for its maiden voyage, and it was a blast. It had a recoil similar to a .22, and was as accurate as you could possibly be. The first magazine I shot out of it, I chuckled a bit at how fun it was. My buddy shot it, and wants to buy one. It also feels great in the hand. I have large hands, and my wife has tiny hands, and it fits perfectly into both of our hands. I picked it up at the gun show for $305.

[JayCee]

Sweet, my new mag came in yesterday so we're heading to the range this weekend!
Any tips for a first-timer?

[couzin]

No tips - but I would like to hear if the trigger is as gritty as some of the other recent Walther tupperware guns. And also if you like the trigger guard magazine release. Had a PPS and my arthritic fingers would not make the release work for me - too hard. Liked the pistol, but traded it off.

[JayCee]

No tips - but I would like to hear if the trigger is as gritty as some of the other recent Walther tupperware guns. And also if you like the trigger guard magazine release. Had a PPS and my arthritic fingers would not make the release work for me - too hard. Liked the pistol, but traded it off.

Dry-firing the trigger feels silky smooth. Like watergun smooth. I'll report back after this weekend (Assuming I still have an account)
I wasn't crazy about the mag release but it's functional and easy to get to. I admit I dont' have arthritus but my busted and scarred up knuckles really like the feel of the gun so far.

[A-R]

So what did you think of the PK380? I fondled one at Academy last week (first one I've seen up close) and must admit I was a bit disappointed in the overall construction (feels flimsy), and also the lack of a slide lock. The safety is interesting with lack of decocker - I guess you could carry it cocked & locked like a 1911? But those two missing items make me think it's less of an option for a newer shooter who, IMHO, can really benefit from a decocker on a DA/SA type gun.

But all that aside, how did it shoot? And how is the recoil compared to other guns you've shot?

[bigred90gt]

The slide does lock back on an empty magazine, but there is no external slide release. You have to slingshot the slide when you load a new magazine. Cocked and locked is one option. With the safety on, it physically blocks the hammer from hitting the firing pin. When you engage the safety, it rolls up around the firing pin, preventing contact with the hammer. I keep my wife's in my night stand, loaded, one in the chamber, with the safety on and the hammer down. I have no concerns riding the hammer down with the safety engaged. It is a DA/SA pistol. If the hammer is down, first shot is DA, subsequent shots are SA. The trigger is very smooth, and felt recoil is almost non-existent.

The only reason we bought it is because it was the first semi-auto pistol my wife found that she could rack the slide on. She tried with my XD, but couldnt get it back. The slide on the PK380 is very easy to rack, which I assume adds to your feeling of it being flimsy. It is a very solid pistol from my experience with it. If it were a larger caliber, I wouldnt hesitate to carry it daily.