Your input/experience on the Walther PPK and/or PPK/S

[PUCKER]

Thinking about buying a Walther PPK or PPK/S .380ACP for concealed carry. Other carry guns that I currently have are: Glock 17 9mm, Kimber Compact Aluminum .45ACP, and a NAA .22 Magnum. The Walther would be a nice, smaller gun (well, not as small as the NAA). I haven't shot one, but I know some folks who carry them (one who has used his to terminate the intruder).

Your input on this gun as a concealed carry piece is appreciated. Also - if you've got good pricing input for the DFW area that would be great too! Almost bought one at the Ft. Worth show yesterday, but when I went back by the booth it was gone. It was a PPK/S for $485. I see that there is a $50 rebate for new PPK and PPK/S pistols purchased before January 7, 2009:

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/ ... tent=57802" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[PUCKER]

Thank you Andy - great suggestion. I'm kicking around the idea of a .357 Mag revolver too...but they aren't "slim" and neither am I!

[txflyer]

If you want something with more kick than the 380, Walther's PPS is small, slim and available in both 9mm and .40 S&W.

I carry the 40 when my 1911s are too big.

[Chemist45]

See if you can rent or borrow one before you buy and put a magazine or two through it.
I have a PPK in .380 and love/hate the gun.
I love the small size, the way it fits my hand and the fact that it (was) James Bond's gun.
I hate the recoil.
I do not have fleshy hands so I am in no danger of being cut, but it is a straight blowback gun and, even in .380, it hurts to shoot.
This is not a problem for a carry gun, but I like to shoot my guns. A lot.
As always, YMMV.

[GrayHawk]

Purchased my PPKS in 1973. Still carry and shoot it today. Have had to change recoil spring once, other than that no problems whatsoever.

[JohnHenry]

I have a PPKS now, my second one, though I sold the first one 20 years ago. The guns are reasonably well designed and shoot extremely well. Mine has been super accurate, particularly rapid fire, more so than any other pistol I have fired (which isn't all that many). My first one fed any kind of ammo, but this one is a little bit fussier, and has had a few FTF with the wrong ammo. I've heard that about these guns.

AndyC is right about the slide, though I'm an average guy with large hands and have never had a problem with it. If you try one and it's biting you, check out the Bersa Thunder 380. My wife shoots one and it sits a little higher than the Walther, so you have more room on the slide.

I like my PPKS and don't plan to get rid of it anytime soon.

[Mike1951]

If you have fleshy hands, the lower rear edges of the slide can nip you - hold it in your hand and cycle the slide a few times. Fine pistol apart from that, though - I still regret the .380 PPK/s I sold about 15 years ago.

While true of the Interarms and earlier models, those produced by S&W have an extended tang that eliminates 'slide bite'.

[PUCKER]

Excellent feedback y'all, thank you. A buddy of mine is Dallas SWAT, he was telling me that the PPK is one of his DPD-approved secondary guns.

[Oldgringo]

If you run across a Sig P-230 or 232 while you're looking for your Walther, you might want to fondle the Sig a little.

[Barron76]

I had nothing but problems with mine, had to send it back twice & finally just got my money back. It seems like the older "Interarms" marked ones are amazing & the newer ones that S&W imports have some issues. I would personally spend a little extra and buy a Kahr over them any day or even a SIG P232. I have two other friends who also had to send theirs back several times before they would function properly.

[HankB]

Guy I knew had one in .380 - it kept blowing the extractor out. (Factory ammo.)

The main reason for the pistol's popularity is Ian Fleming's James Bond novels.

Walther also seems to have issues with post-sale support . . .

[cskwared]

I did a search and found this thread, I was going out to buy a PPKS today after checking them out at the gun show yesterday. That's for the help!

[Medino]

I have the S&W version of the PPK and it still bites me but i never notice while i am shooting. Wonderful conceal gun will work in either a pocket or holster. For its size it is heavy but consider the only plastic on it is part of the hand grip. It is built solidly and has not given me any problems. The small amount of recoil means you have plenty of time to aim instead of trying to get it back an level again like a .45.