Walther PPK Pistol Review

By Alan Murdock, AmmoLand Youtube Reporter

Walther PPK Pistol
Walther PPK Pistol

USA –-(Ammoland.com)-Recently I purchased a Walther PPK, the blued steel model manufactured in the USA by Smith & Wesson.

I bought the gun because I recently had a concealed firearms student who couldn’t cycle a 9mm pistol.

I wanted a pistol that had a barrel length greater than three inches, but that had a lighter spring than the 9mm, making it easier to cycle.

You might say, “A student like that should get a revolver. They’ll be able to carry .38 +p rounds with a greater stopping power than the .380.”

While that is true, the revolver adds bulk and increases time on reloads. For this particular student, I believe the .380 will become a better option, but I believe that the latest round of ultra micro guns like the Diamondback .380 or Ruger LCP are too small to use effectively as a first carry gun due to sight radius and grip size.

Because of its blowback design, many people find the Walther PPK to be an easy shooter and very accurate. The first three rounds out of my gun were in a 1/2 inch group at 15 yards, offhand. That’s pretty sweet for a double/single-action pistol.

The Walther is a classic gun with great handling and beautiful lines. I like the gun primarily as a small backup gun that still fits my hand nicely, and as a great gun to teach new shooters or for shooters who can’t cycle larger pistols.

The following video by TheYankeeMarshal highlights some of the strengths of this quality but under recognized pistol:


About Alan Murdock

Alan Murdock is a lifelong shooting enthusiast. From youth he has shot firearms and archery. Today he is a certified NRA basic pistol instructor and Utah Concealed Firearms instructor. His blog on shooting and personal defense can be found at www.alanmurdock.wordpress.com

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david L marshall

Need an extra mag’ any info on 9mm ppk m007

Travis

I have a .380 PPK that is my EDC gun. It looks like this: https://www.everipedia.com/walther-ppk/
I switch between this and a Sig Sauer P290RS. I like how both of them are heavy and accurate.

Mario Hiraldo

I intend to get me a ppk, how do I find out if it’s a replica or original? In general how do I know I’m not been ripped off. Thanks

Jim D.

The US and the German PPK/S’s made today do not compare with the older ones. The fit is sloppy and finish is dull. Look for an older, used one.

Mike H

Great firearm,but keep in mind,PP & PPK/S series are not drop safe without safety/decocker on! Yeah,I know,don’t drop it. But it happens. I own a 1954 PP & a 2006 PPK. Both classics & timeless. Extended grip tang on S&W PPK much needed improvement. PPK is my 90% CCW. Shoulder holster or IWB.

Larry A. Smith

Mike I just received a Wather PPK after a death in the family. I need to clean it and Im not sure how it breaks down. Could you give me any ideas or help

Larry A. Smith

Tom Atkins

I ended up with a Sig P230 many years ago and it has beautiful lines and shoots very accurately. The newest version is the P232. Both the Sig and Walther are somewhat heavy but they are the cream of the crop. I am interested in the newest PPK/S no longer manufactured by S&W but by Walther Arms in Arkansas. Any reviews or thoughts?

Gary Mckeown

I like my ppks being stainless is a great summer gun to carry sweat and humidity means I don’t have to worry about rust , it’s old school firearm which is still around today not because its cool but because it works I was going to trade it this week to a friend but I ended up saying no its mine and I’m keeping it

Charlie Racine

There’s a little pin powered by a small spring that gives the safety that positive snap when going from safe to fire. Sometimes they wear out and need to be replaced. About ten minutes and maybe $10 for the new pin

charlie wilson

Oh yeah it’s in .380auto.

charlie wilson

I have a 1971 PPK/S and the decocker /safety lever is no longer engaging with a click. It just kinda slops from safe to fire with no positive stop points. Anyone know what’s up with this.

mario

where can i find a price exactly of the walther ppk with original seals of the german army in cal..32? somebody help me plis?thank"s a lot.

Patrick Ward

I have had a Wallther PPK in .32 and one in 380. Both were made in Germany. They were extremely safe with a manual safety / de-cocker. I always carried them with a round in the chamber. They were extremely accurate and a pleasre to shoot Not really as concealable as say the Ruger LCP. I went to a Beretta Sub- compact in 9 mm. It's length and height are a little smaller than the PPK. but is much thicker. It has a 13 round magazine and a safety / de-coccker and exposed hammer, just lik a PPK. It has… Read more »

Jon Wilson

I have an FN Model 10 (S/N 548385) which use to belong to one of the banks in Berri, Australia – the banks all got rid of their guns many, many years ago. I doubt this one has been fired much if at all and I have never fired it. I would appreciate opinions on what it is like compared with the Walther PPK. It seems a little bigger judging from the video and has very small sites. Calibre is .380 (I also have the .32 which is physically very similar).

Sincerely, Jon Wilson

Michael Jamieson

I have owned many pistols over the years and find my PPKS one of most accurate I have owned.

It's a nice carry gun flat and easy to conceal.

Slide bite MAN UP. you can't go wrong carrying or owning a PPK.

Nick Zohfeld

I'm glad you added the trailer about the ease of disassembly and the mechanical simplicity of the weapon. This gun is the easiest to disassemble and clean of any of the guns I own and I consider that a major plus. While I can't share your enthusiasm re the pistol's accuracy, this pistol is still one of my favorites. Mine being an older model, I HAVE experienced 'slide bite' on numerous occasions. I guess I'm a slow learner.

Sam

I bought a PPK 7.62 mm in Germany in 1969. I love this gun and like the fact that it's an oldy. I feel it's one of the best guns made for personal protection. It's small and easy to carry, has a smooth action and best of all it's double action. So it can be carried with a round in the chamber safely and fired immediately in a bad situation as quick as a revolver. The trigger pull is a little hard on the first round, but after that it's really smooth and easy to pull. It's a really nice… Read more »

David

I recently purchased a PPK/S and love it so far. Quality is impressive and breakdown is simple. My only complaint is as others have said, it is somewhat difficult to rack. I appreciate the previous comment about cocking before racking…why didn't I think of that? I have larger caliber handguns, but the PPK/S is my favorite carry given overall size/weight. I feel the 380 is adequate protection keeping in mind that accuracy is everything.

Mohamad Naiem

I would like to introduce myself to you as an Egyptian citizen live in Cairo, I am very much interesting in buying one pistol from your esteemed company, It would be highly appreciated if you furnish me with your Export terms and conditions for such case.

Kindly note that, I am legally permitted to carry self protection weapon in my country, moreover, my necessary import permeation excepted to be issued from our ministry of interior next month.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best regards

phil

I love my ppk/s

Laufer

That's an excellent video Mr. Murdock.

My exposure to handguns has been very sporadic with no tng. on any type, and my only guns are milsurp rifles.

Do you consider the Bersa .380 to be just as reliable for anybody considering their First handgun for CCW? One minor hang-up is that I shoot rifles left-handed.

john

I thought the walter ppk was a british pistol

johndillinger

The 380 is a 9MM, but usually 90 grain..9MM kurst or short

johndillinger

The Walther PPK was the personal piece of Adolf Hitler and the gun he shot himself with. A little history here.

LarryArnold

In my experience most .380s are harder to rack than most 9mms. The difference is the action. 9mms tend to be recoil operated, so the action locks. .380s tend to be blowback. Since the action isn't locked, only the mass of the slide and the spring keep the action closed until the pressure drops. Since .380s tend to be smaller, and the slide lighte, that means the spring has to be stiffer.

With a recoil-operated .380, like the Colt Mustang, you can get an easier-opening slide.

JimInMT

I have a PPK .380 Walther and I do NOT like its spring for cocking, nor its security of the magazine. I would rather have PPK-S, as in the .22. Remember, a .22 almost killed Reagan. It is not inconceivable that the lighter load, but much smoother pull on the spring, lighter strength needed, if probably a safe gun for someone who cannot cycle a heavier calibre. My wife hates some semi-autos precisely because the spring is too strong, yet in same calibre, some are lighter to pull. At 10 feet, anyone hit with a .22 is likely to NOT… Read more »

Uncle Lar

You might also want to consider the Bersa .380. Lines very similar to the PPK at a significantly lower price point. Bersa is also primary supplier of handguns to the Argentine military and law enforcement, so not a minor player in the arms business.

David Tupper

Cock the hammer before you cycle the slide. The major resistance to starting the slide back is the mainspring holding the hammer down. This is one advantage to and exposed hammer firearm,a s opposed to concealed hammer or striker fired.

Joe Doakes

Excellent pistol to collect. The Walther PPS is an excellent pistol to carry.

🙂

Rich Stocum

My PPK is harder to cycle the first round than any of my 9mm's. I have a Taurus PT-99, a CZ-75, and an HK P7. The spring is at least as stiff in my PPK, and it's harder to get a grip on it because it is smaller than any of those 9mm's. Won't a student who has difficulty cycling a 9mm have more trouble?