This text first appeared on AmmoLand Information on February twelfth of 2025 and seems right here now with contemporary updates.
I can’t assist it. I’ve been a James Bond film fan for a very long time. My first expertise with a Bond movie was when my brother and I watched, in a theater, “Goldfinger” when it got here out in 1964. What fascinated me even then was the tremendous spy’s use of what I noticed as a cool pistol, the Walther PPK, in a number of of his celluloid exploits. However the barely bigger PP appeared, too. The PP was featured within the first Bond movie, Dr. No, though it was known as a PPK. One or the opposite of those pistols was utilized in a number of Bond motion pictures, to not point out many others. They turned a film icon.
I had requested, from Walther, a number of months in the past a PP to evaluate. They have been arduous to get. I believe that was due, partly, to the truth that they have been out of manufacturing from 1999 – 2024. I would’ve gotten one of many first ones off the reinvigorated line.
Why did I not request a PPK? My ideas have been that the PPK was most certainly the extra generally seen of the 2. So, I assumed why not get one thing that many shooters could not have expertise with? You understand, one thing a bit totally different. In any case, the PP was the primary of the collection to be launched in 1929, with the “Ok” model coming two years later.
What do the letters imply? “PP” means, in English, police pistol… or, in German, Polizeipistole. The “Ok” stands for kriminal (brief for kriminalamt). This could be the felony investigation workplace (assume CSI). Thus, the PPK was a barely smaller-framed pistol made for what we might name plain-clothes detectives. That’s the one which will get probably the most consideration, however I nonetheless like its barely bigger and older brother, the PP. The PP was carried by many German police departments and the army… it was additionally fashionable with civilians once they might personal them. Apparently, It was equally fashionable in its .32ACP model. They offered a bunch of them. They even had them manufactured for some time beneath license in France by Manurhin. Heck, even Smith and Wesson made them beneath license for some time. They needed to meet the demand.
Stay Stock Worth Checker
This specific pistol is a factor of magnificence… I hope my pictures will reveal that. Its polished chrome steel accentuates its basic strains. By way of operation, what’s placing about this pistol is that it doesn’t use a locked breech, however is blowback-operated. The barrel is mounted, with the recoil spring round it. The slide-mounted security additionally features as a decocker, permitting you to securely drop the hammer on a loaded chamber.
Talking of loaded chamber, one other fascinating function is the loaded chamber indicator. It’s a rod that protrudes simply above the hammer if there’s a spherical within the chamber. You possibly can see it, or simply really feel it if it’s darkish, and thereby know if you’re good to go.
Specs
Let’s have a look at the specs from Walther’s web site.
CALIBER:
.380 ACP
BARREL LENGTH:
3.9”
TRIGGER PULL:
SA: 6 lbs. | DA: 13 lbs.
TRIGGER TRAVEL:
.04/.2″
CAPACITY:
7
OVERALL LENGTH:
6.9 in
HEIGHT:
4.3 in
SAFETY:
Handbook
WIDTH:
.97 in
WEIGHT EMPTY:
24 oz
Magazines included
2
MSRP:
$969
Guarantee: As a closing a part of the specs, the guarantee is named the Legendary Lifetime Restricted Guarantee. It applies to pistols made after 1993 and covers the gun for its lifetime, and never simply with the unique proprietor. It merely covers the gun so long as wanted. There are limitations, in fact, as with something however they need their weapons to perform irrespective of who owns them.
One other fascinating facet of the guarantee is their 30-day money-back assure. Should you don’t like your PP (or most different Walther fashions), you possibly can return it for a refund inside 30 days. That’s one thing you don’t often see.
We see that we’ve a DA/SA 24-ounce pistol that holds 7+1 rounds of .380. The gun is made in what I’ll name an old-school means the place the grip and body edges are sharp, it makes use of replaceable grip panels, and the journal launch button is behind the set off however means up excessive.
The sights are milled into the slide and are usually not adjustable. To sum up, the gun is heavy-for-caliber with no de-horning, has what is taken into account a low capability today, and has rudimentary sights. And, as talked about, it’s a conventional DA/SA design with a slide-mounted security/decocker and a hammer block… no striker right here! However… it really works. They’ll’t make them quick sufficient, so that claims one thing about its old-timey design nonetheless being in demand.
Reputation
These pistols are extra fashionable at present than a contemporary bowl of shrimp at an all-you-can-eat buffet. So… why are these pistols so fashionable? I believe it’s due to their historical past, and the truth that they’re an iconic design. Many different corporations all over the world have copied the PP’s design, nearly to the purpose of patent infringement. It’s, to place it merely, a basic that has offered nicely for nearly a century.
The gun’s reputation can also be primarily based on one other issue… it’s a well-made and really dependable pistol. The factor ticks alongside like a German cuckoo clock. The machining is great, with no stray marks anyplace. Correspondingly, the pistol’s elements match collectively like they have been carved from one piece of metal. And the end is one thing to behold. The chrome steel slide is polished the place it must be however has wavy striations reduce alongside its higher floor to interrupt up glare between the sights.
You possibly can nearly see your self within the set off’s polished face. The grip’s back and front straps are easy… I’m not certain I like that, but it surely works with this pistol, holding the strains flowing. It seemed so contemporary and clear out of the field I nearly didn’t wish to spoil it by capturing it. For a 1929 design, it was gentle years forward of its time.
I attempted to find out the place this pistol was made. The PPK variant has been inbuilt Walther’s Arkansas plant since 2018. However I’m undecided if the PP is made there, too. Right here’s the pistol’s engraving on the left facet of the slide…
Taking The PP Aside
It’s fairly straightforward to field-strip the PP/PPK. First, rotate the protection right down to the “protected” place and take away the journal. Pull down on the entrance of the set off guard and push it to the facet so it rests on the body or block it open with one thing, to maintain it out of the slot. Then, draw the slide again to the rear and elevate the again of the slide off the body. You possibly can then take away the slide and the recoil spring to scrub.
To place issues again, merely reverse the method – put the recoil spring again over the barrel, small finish first, and run the slide over it, pulling all of it the best way to the rear. (It does add that the thumb security needs to be engaged throughout re-assembly). Finagle the slide round till it seats on the body by mating the grooves within the slide to the rails on the body, let it go ahead, and change the set off guard. That’s it. Should you get caught, a hyperlink to the guide that comes with the gun is right here. Taking the pistol down and reassembling it’s coated on pages 24-26. It’s for a PPK, however the drill’s the identical.
Capturing The PP
I obtained the pistol on a Thursday, and I usually prefer to “get with this system” and shoot it as quickly as I get it, however the climate modified that plan. My former-deputy good friend Ed volunteered to do a few of the capturing, because the older I get, the much less I just like the chilly, and my OEM eyeballs aren’t the perfect with open sights. I manned the digicam and shot a bit. It was about 20 levels with a stiff west breeze, however that didn’t trouble him. We’ve had a real January winter right here within the Hoosier state, with a few foot of snow and temps that had all of the brass monkeys being introduced inside…
We set targets up on my Caldwell Final Goal Stand at 15 yards. The bottom was frozen, so we propped the stand towards a 5-gallon bucket. I introduced out three .380 FMJ hundreds that I had available.
Let me say up entrance that I do imagine we might’ve accomplished higher on a day extra conducive to not freezing your toes off, however because the saying goes, the present should go on. I’m not making excuses… it was simply darned chilly and blowing.
The primary load we shot was the Fiocchi 95-grain FMJ load. It didn’t accomplish that nicely. All the masses shot excessive for Ed and me, together with this one. Being a former cop, he’s used to protecting the goal with the entrance sight – in essence, a middle maintain. I used to be taught, years in the past, to make use of a 6-o’clock maintain, like bullseye shooters use. I do use a middle maintain after I’m capturing self-defense pistols with crimson dots, and even iron sights, as that appears to be the place they’re regulated to hit. I’ve tailored however I’m undecided the Walther had tailored. I believe it was regulated for a 6-o’clock maintain. I’m undecided, however that may clarify why every thing shot so excessive. The Fiocchi load wasn’t fascinating, so we went with the second load I had,
Right here’s a consultant goal from the Vendor & Bellot 95-grain FMJ load. I’ve had good outcomes from S&B manufacturing unit .380 hundreds in different weapons, so I used to be hopeful. This load was the perfect of the S&B hundreds we placed on paper that day. It will at the very least suffice as a place to begin in your ammo search,
Right here’s a goal from our third load, CCI’s 95-grain FMJ, that I shot:
All of the teams have been excessive and represented patterns greater than teams. I’m not the perfect handgun shot on the planet, however I do OK often. (I’ve had loads of success, searching deer with open-sighted revolvers). Two totally different, skilled shooters, capturing totally different hundreds, and not one of the hundreds are near the purpose of intention or that correct. You’ll assume {that a} $900 gun would have its sights regulated extra intently … the masses we shot have been plain-jane 95-grain FMJ hundreds. Even contemplating the climate, we weren’t proud of the outcomes.
Not one of the hundreds would have me writing dwelling, however with all of the 380 ammo on the supplier’s cabinets at present, you’d hopefully discover one thing that grouped nicely. I’ve been desirous to strive a few of the new protection hundreds however haven’t had the prospect but. With the fitting load, the PP would make an honest carry gun. You would want a holster, as it’s not gentle like a polymer-framed pistol and wouldn’t do nicely in a pocket, however there have been holsters round for these for many years.
Each the PP and PPK are identified for his or her accuracy, so please don’t let these targets put you off. Situations have been horrible, however the gun ought to carry out, with the fitting ammo… that’s not a difficulty. As I mentioned, with extra time, cash, and targets, I’d discover a load that grouped nicely and can be efficient to hold on this gun.
Summing Up
This gun, as I mentioned, is a basic. It isn’t low cost – nothing of worth is – but it surely appears nice, it felt fantastic within the hand, and it functioned very nicely. I might see the pistol getting used for hid carry, as soon as the fitting ammo was discovered. With the 2 seven-round magazines that include it, you’d be well-armed.
The gun additionally is available in .32ACP, however I figured that .380 can be a bit simpler. This pistol will carry out nicely with the fitting hundreds. We simply didn’t occur to have these proper hundreds on the time of capturing.
It is a area of interest gun. Not each shooter at present would wish to undertake a steel-framed, 7+1-round-capacity .380. However, for those who like old-school weapons and are a DA/SA fan, this gun’s for you. In case you are trying so as to add a basic icon to your assortment, give the PP (or PPK) a glance.
As I mentioned, it’s not low cost (I’ve seen it for $850), but it surely IS high quality – there’s a entire lot of hand-fitting and ending right here. I see no cause why this gun wouldn’t recognize over time. I do know it could be the centerpiece, the focus, in my gun protected. This previous police pistol continues to be viable within the twenty first century and makes an efficient carry piece. In any case, James Bond was a believer!
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About Mike Hardesty
With expertise spanning over 45 years, Mike Hardesty has lengthy loved capturing and reloading. An inveterate reloader, he casts bullets and reloads for a various array of firearms, every dealt with with long-practiced precision. Residing in rural Indiana, his homestead boasts a private 100-yard vary the place he shares his love for weapons to his 4 sons, their wives, and eleven grandchildren. As a acknowledged writer, his writings have been featured in notable platforms like Sniper Nation, Bear Creek Arsenal Weblog, Pew Pew Tactical, TTAG, Dillon Precision’s Blue Press, and Gun Made, revealing his ongoing ardour for firearms on the age of 72.
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