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View Full Version : Handgun Review: Walther PPK



DJExile
12-27-2007, 07:45 PM
The Gun
Walther PPK DA/SA
6+1 capacity

The Ammo
100 rounds PMC Silver "eRange" 9mm kurz/.380ACP FMJ


The PPK is a great gun. I've never fired anything with the straight blowback design. Two things immediately jumped out at me.

This is snappier than I expected. Not so much that it bothered me, but it is quite noticable, and took a little getting used to. It does give you a pretty good punch in the webbing of your hand, but the beavertail kept my hand well below the slide.

This is surprisingly accurate for such a short-ass barrel. The orange sights are easy to pick up, and since there isn't exactly a ton of recoil or muzzle rise, staying on target is easy.

Grip takes a little getting used to. I have big hands and it took a little work to make sure my left thumb wasn't being caught inside the trigger guard. Before heating to the range, I picked up a Hogue Hand-All Jr. grip just in case. After a couple magazines worth of shots, I decided to slide it on. Adding the little bump of the Hand-All grip into the middle of my right palm made things very comfortable.

The trigger has a very heavy pull in DA, but it's subtantially shorter than my Skyy, and perhaps a little shorter than my Sig P6. In single action, it's a dream; extremely crisp and not much creep at all.

The gun came with two magazines. One with a pinky rest and one without. While I am well aware that one's pinky doesn't really provide any support/strength in the grip, getting used to wrapping my pinky underneath the magazine is taking a little time. Having the rest is much more comfortable, but again, I have big hands.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x149/djexile27/Firearms/2007_12270008.jpg

Sidebar: I reccomend everyone have at least 2 things for every gun they own, a boresnake and (if you have larger hands) some manner of Hogue grip. They are extremely comfortable.

My shooting was at 25 feet, and I tried some shots one-handed both strong and weak. I've certainly got a lot of work to do both ways, but it helps when you're firing a smaller round out of a metal-framed gun to control recoil. I'll have to get some more practice in. All the same, here's my results of 3 magazines worth using both hands. Guest appearance by tacticat Winston.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x149/djexile27/Firearms/2007_12270001.jpg

Aside from the low flyer, I'm pretty happy with things. As long as I'm staying in the chest area, I think I'm alright. Yes, it could certainly be better, but for the first 100 rounds, I think things came out alright.

Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase. The barrel seems to get dirty pretty easily, but that could be the ammo. Even if that's not the case, this isn't exactly something you're meant to be shooting for a whole afternoon. No FTFs or FTEs, but that's to be expected.

Here's the problem, if there has to be one... the slide doesn't load the top round from the magazine after pulling it back from it's locked position. A slight nudge sends it forward and loads the round. I'm not sure if this is an issue with spring strength or the feeding ramp. The gun would cycle just fine as it fired, so I'm a little confused there. Any help would be appreciated.

If anyone else has something like this, a Sig 232, Bersa or a Makarov, I'd love to hear comparisons.

Rontalvos
12-31-2007, 07:27 PM
Either you're not pulling the slide alllll the way back, or you're riding the slide forward a bit. I've seen and experienced this problem with a PPK and a PPK/S and it was eleviated by a true slingshot of the slide. Most people I saw experience this problem were doing either of the two, or both.

The little gun has a stiff spring so it's difficult to work sometimes. As you slingshot it to load the first round, do it the HS/LD way and hit your shoulder with the slingshotting hand as you release the slide. Pull with authority and it will be fine.

I hope this made some sense, if not then just ask and I'll clarify.

Clinotus
08-29-2009, 02:17 AM
I shot one of these today and was impressed with its size and shape. It would make an ideal small carry gun. There was a bit of an issue with the frame cutting the webbing between the thumb and the pointer finger, but as a concealed carry piece that is really not an issue. All in all I liked it and if the means arose to pick one up cheaply I would snag it in a heartbeat.

terraformer
08-29-2009, 10:40 PM
I shot one of these today and was impressed with its size and shape. It would make an ideal small carry gun. There was a bit of an issue with the frame cutting the webbing between the thumb and the pointer finger, but as a concealed carry piece that is really not an issue. All in all I liked it and if the means arose to pick one up cheaply I would snag it in a heartbeat.

You can find them used for $300-$350. You can't have mine though. ;)

ETA: You also shot the PPK/S which is slightly larger and heavier than the ppk above.

terraformer
08-29-2009, 10:46 PM
Here's the problem, if there has to be one... the slide doesn't load the top round from the magazine after pulling it back from it's locked position. A slight nudge sends it forward and loads the round. I'm not sure if this is an issue with spring strength or the feeding ramp. The gun would cycle just fine as it fired, so I'm a little confused there. Any help would be appreciated.

I have been bit by this as well a few times. What I do is load +1 and I do it out of the magazine. I have to pull the mag to load in another in it's place. You can't stuff an 8th (this is the ppk/s) into the mag so you will know if it failed to strip the top round. As a result, I will never carry it mistakenly empty. There is also a chambered round indicator but it is not in your face like the PPS so you can miss it.

tim9m
10-28-2009, 06:05 PM
I had a stolen ppk with serial number 6175baf that i enjoyed shooting very much. I will give a reward for the information on this gun. It was stolen from chillicothe ohio around july of 2008 . I heard it ended up in richmond dale ohio. If you have this gun I will purchase it from you no police involved in the transaction I already tried them and never heard back from them I even had suspects and figured it was in open and shut case , no luck there. e-mail me at timmoore@elitemail.org