Posted: 3/29/2006 8:04:51 PM EDT
| I've been wanting to get a small back up gun and I know there are lot of other options out there but I'm just trying to get some info on the PPK. Is it worth the money? The guy I was talking to at my local gun shop said that he'd take a Bersa over the Walther which kinda shocked me. Anyone have experience with either? I'd like to get some opinions. thanks |
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I've got a Interarms PPK/S .380 that I picked up for $350. I wear it when I don't feel like carrying my 92FS. Carry both in a Comp-Tac CTAC and I carry two mags of Hydrashoks (they were a)on sale and b)work in the pistol). Backup/undercover gun for the SAS. Anyway, I like it a lot. Never had any "bite" problems, and it's really accurate. I give it a thumbs up. For me it was between that and the Sig 232(?) and I went with the Walther 'cause of the mag release. The only thing I don't like is the lack of a standard slide release. Kinda funny to reload and then have to grab the slide, but no big deal. Disassembly is easy, so is cleaning. Oh, I dunno if it's just me, or if I need to increase my morning pushups, or the spring, but the slide requires a lot more force to haul back than my 92FS does. Or my USP did. I dunno why that is. Thumbs up from me. I've never handled the Bersa, so I cannot comment. |
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On the PPK: Pros: Fixed barrel - no issues with 'contact shots' here Extremely accurate, due to the above feature Small Reliable Cons: Cannot be safely carried hammer-down, safety off with a round in Some folks don't like .380 I have a 'W. Germany' Walther PPK/S (1970). I have no complaints, for what I used it for back home.... |
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I had a BAD experience with a new S&W PPK/S. One of the few guns I took an immediate dislike to because of not feeding ball ammunition and general bad vibes/fit/finish. Traded it on a SIG 232 and like that a whole lot better, although it is a larger pistol. Can't comment on German or other pre-S&W models, but sure have some strong feelings about the S&W. If you have to have a .380, the SIG is a very fine firearm. |
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One of the guys I used to work with was with QC for Ranger Mfg of Gadsden, Al. They were the company that made Walther's in the U.S. for Interarms. Over half the guns that made it QC had to be reworked. That being said I have a West German made PPK/S. It will eat anything and is very accurate. It also sits in the safe. My pocket carry gun is a Kahr PM9. More firepower, less weight, and just as accurate. |
+1 for the Kahr PM9. I think my PM9 is actually more comfortable to shoot than my Mauser HSc (Mauser equivilant of the PPK/s) in .380, that may have something to do with the locked breach of the Kahr. You can even get 9mm shotshells for the Kahr for use against pests when camping. |
+1 on the p232. slap hogues on it and it is a lot better. and it is designed for hammer down carry just like every other standard sig p2xx model. |
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My experience with them has really varied. I’ve shot some that were reliable, and a lot that weren’t. Plus when they malfunction, they can be somewhat difficult to clear due to the small ejection port and the lack of a manually operated slide lock. And I’ve certainly been bit by them. OTOH, I’ve found them to be surprisingly accurate. The SIG IMHO is a better pistol, though it’s really a bit large considering it’s only a .380.
The Walther is a straight blowback, while the 92S has a delayed locking system. For the same reason, Walthers have a surprisingly snappy recoil. |
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I've had both, and they were both great pistols. I had a PPK/s stainless that I picked up at a gun show a few years back. Worked great, and it ate everything I gave it (which was mostly R/P ball, and I think some Silvertips), and was crazy accurate. I was knocking over 3" steel discs at 25 yards about 5 out of 8 shots. The SA trigger was so light and crisp, a few times, I'd double if I didn't pay attention to my trigger finger. The Bersa was pretty much the same thing, except it had an external slide stop/release. It also had the top of the magazine closer to the axis of the bore. If you were to seat a magazine with the slide off, it would look like the round was practically straight in line with the chamber, whereas with the PPK, it had to go up the ramp a bit. It was also very accurate, but probably not as accurate as the PPK. The trigger was nice, but not as nice as the PPK. Same type of safety. They CAN be carried with the hammer down on a chambered round, and the safety off. That's probably the best way to carry them, then all you have to do is draw and squeeze. I did like the PPK better as far as it's very SOLID feel. If you get a good one, hang on to it. I wish I hadn't traded it... I'll probably get another one someday. |
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MY PPK/S IN .32 acp IS BY FAR MY MOST SHOT AND CARRIED PISTOL OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS.Ive pulled it out at friends house(out in the country mind you)for shits and giggles as we were planting /rotatilling a few bushes.my buds sone about 9 years at the time.enjoyed the heck out of that little pistol. she was a bitch till break in 6-7-hundred rounds for her to loosen up.the back of the slide is sharp as a razor on the interarm models.i dont like the duck tail on the new ones.i sapp  ose it works.
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