Posted: 5/5/2011 5:38:25 PM EDT
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My father-in-law has always wanted a PPK and is looking to buy one now. He asked me about them and I know absolutely nothing about them.
Anything I should know, things to watch out for, good things, bad things, etc? |
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Yeah - buy an older one marked "Interarms" and stay away from the S&W PPK/s. I speak from very expensive experience.
There is a lot of information to be found on the Walther forum, like "what to look for before I buy." Walther Forum PPK Page |
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I have a PPK/S. I think they are the same weapon except the barrel is a bit longer in the PPK. I'm sure someone here will correct me if this is wrong.
My PPK/S is one of the first made in the US by Interarms. I have purchased it in the 70's and still carry it when necessary. I can't tell you how many rounds I've put down the tube but it's been thousands. The little pistol has been very reliable. I can't remember the last time it ever had a ftf or stove pipe or any problem. Nice shooter. I understand that S&W makes them now but don"t know anything about them. I have heard second hand of problems with the S&W version but nothing specific. Without doing any research, I would guess they are still made in Germany. I'd buy a German made PPK if possible. |
The PPK/S was made in 1968 in order to comply with the ban of certain small handguns.I have two from Interarms.It is basically a PPK slide on a PP frame with the barrel cut to the slides length.I prefer it to the PPK for a few reasons.First the rear is more solid because it has more steel to it.The PPK has the hammer spring exposed and the plastic grip is what protects it.Second since its basically the PP frame is longer thus allowing a better grip and an extra round.Third you can put Pachmayr grips on it which has always been a popular choice,you can't on the PPK. And fourth try to obtain one from Interarms the quality is better,no recalls and it doesn't have that ridiculous beaver tail they decided to add to it.
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I have no compliants with my S&W PPK/S. People like to bitch about them about as much as they like to bitch about Kimbers, and I like Kimbers too. Go figure. Maybe it has a lot to do with personally inspecting the weapons I purchase and knowing what to look for.
One thing to consider is that if you buy a new S&W PPK or PPK/S and it does not work, S&W will fix it on their dime. If you buy an Interarms PP or PPK/S, you are buying a used gun imported by a company that is no longer in business, so if you have problems you are on your own dime for parts and support. |
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Quoted:
That's a fair point. I still remember the first time I shot one - not what I expected from a comparatively small round.
Has he ever shot one? A lot of people think they want a PPK until they actually shoot one. Snappy little buggers that can draw blood if you don't hold it right. Even in the PPK/S with the slightly larger, slightly heavier, slightly greater surface area in the grip and back strap, the recoil is a bit sharp with a full power SD load. It's not "heavy" but it is - as described above "snappy". I'll shoot 200-300 rounds in a 25 oz .45 ACP and not think twice about it, but the same number of rounds in a 22.5 oz PPK/S leaves the web of my hand feeling distinctly beat up, despite the far lower recoil energy of the .380 versus the .45 in more or less comparable weight pistols. Slide bite is a concern on the Walther and Interarms versions with their smaller tang, but it has never been a issue for me on the S&W version - another plus for the very unpopular S&W versions. –––– My significant other will shoot 1911s in .45 Auto and Hi Powers and CZ 75s in 9mm, but she only shot my PPK/S *once* and has no desire to do it again. |
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Quoted:
Has he ever shot one? A lot of people think they want a PPK until they actually shoot one. Snappy little buggers that can draw blood if you don't hold it right. +1 Never really cared for my PPK/S. Still want to buy a pre-war PPK in a smaller calibre one of these days. Have a FEG PPK clone and it was more reliable. |