Mike Searson, takes the Walther PPQ M2 Pistol in 45 ACP to the range and comes back very happy.
When I think of Walthers, I think of James Bond. Whether it was the Walther PPK in 7.65mm, the PPK in 380, P99 in 9mm or even the WA2000 Sniper rifle; whenever I see that Walther banner logo, I think of 007.
I have yet to meet a shooter that purchased a Walther PPK that did not do so on account of watching a James Bond movie or reading one of the books and when Walther turned to polymer in the mid-1990s with the P99, they lost me as a fan. Not that it was a bad pistol; it simply lacked the classic lines of the PPK, P5 or even the P-38.
In the years since the company has been improving by leaps and bounds in the realm of the polymer pistol and I would give them a second look when I would see deep discounts or fantastic rebates, yet that is about as far as it went.
Let’s face it, most gun shops place them on the second or third shelf, so they don’t jump out at you, and truth be told, my tastes go for the older firearms. Not necessarily curios, relics or antiques, but the guns they made when I was a kid.
That’s when it hit me.
I literally could not remember the last time I saw a Walther that had been traded in, offered on consignment, etc. and I say this as the guy who gets the first dib’s on trade-ins on my local gun shop circuit because my collecting habits are known far and wide.
Apparently, when people buy them, they tend to hold on to them.
So when I was offered a chance to not only test a new Walther but the company’s first pistol chambered in 45 ACP; I was on it like a fat kid on a ham sandwich.
45ACP Walther PPQ M2 Pistol: The Good
The Walther PPQ (Police Pistol Quick Defense Trigger) 45 M2 is the company’s first effort in a 45 ACP pistol and it is a damn good one. The pistol ships in a hard case with a standard and larger interchangeable back straps. It sports adjustable sights, a polygonal rifled barrel, Tenifer finish, and is fully ambidextrous.
When the pistol arrived the first thing I noticed was the grip and how perfect it felt when I grabbed it. If Walther has ever consistently gotten one thing right over the past three decades, it is the grip angle. Then I noticed the proof marks on the slide and probably said aloud how they reminded me of the same markings on my H&K pistols (well duh, they’re German proof marks, idiot).
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Walther PPQ M2 .45 ACP 4.25" Black 12 round Pistol w/ 2 Mags and XS F8 Night Sights 2807076TNS | EuroOptic.com | $ 735.90 |
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Walther PPQ M2 .45 ACP Pistol, Black - 2807076 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 729.00 |
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Walther PPQ M2 4.25" .45 ACP Pistol, Blk - 2807077 | Palmetto State Armory | $ 819.00 |
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Walther PPQ M2 .45 Auto Pistol 2807077 | EuroOptic.com | $ 724.00 |
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At the range with a few hundred rounds of 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ, we were treated to one of the finest factory striker-fired trigger pulls in recent memory. Crisp with no slop, it was somewhere between that of the HK VP-9 and the Steyr series of striker-fired pistols. Checking our target downrange we achieved multiple sub 1.5” groups and a few outside of that extending to 2.95”
Walther PPQ M2 Pistol: The Bad
Because it is a relatively new pistol to the market, you may have a hard time finding holsters and such. You either need to choose from what’s out there, go the custom route or wait for the aftermarket to catch up.
This happens with every new pistol and hopefully, we will see more accessories for the Walther PPQ M2 down the line. As mentioned previously the pistol has a distinct look that may be off-putting to some shooters. It may look ungainly, but we found it to be extremely well-balanced.
Our only real complaint was the lack of a threaded barrel. We are sure that some aftermarket companies will offer some, but hope that there will be a threaded option from Walther down the road. They offer this on a 9mm version
Walther PPQ M2 Pistol: The Reality
Walther’s PPQ M2 in 45ACP is a well-made and reliable handgun. It is priced below similar pistols in this category from HK, Glock, FN, and S&W; making it a very ambitiously priced handgun with an even lower actual price than MSRP.
Walther PPQ M2 Pistol Specs:
- Caliber: 45 ACP
- Finish Color: Tenifer Black
- Barrel Length: 4.25″
- Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
- Trigger Travel: 0.4″
- Capacity: 12 rounds
- Overall Length: 7.4″
- Height: 5.8″
- Width: 1.3″
- Weight (mag empty): 28 oz
- MSRP: $800.00 (less $$$ online )
About Mike Searson
Mike Searson’s career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. He has worked in the firearms industry his entire adult life as a Gunsmith, Ballistician, Consultant, Salesman, Author and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1989.
Mike has written over 2000 articles for a number of magazines, websites and newsletters including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well as AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
- Home page: www.mikesearson.com
- FB: www.facebook.com/mike.searson
- TWITTER: www.twitter.com/mikesearson
I have never been a fan of plastic pistols and was forced to carry one the last 10 years of my career. The first time I picked up one of these, an M2 in 9mm, the first thing I noticed was the ergonomics were absolutely fantastic. Then I tried dry firing it a few times and the trigger was liked melted butter rolling off a perfectly broiled lobster tail. I was so enthused by that first impression that when I retired my trusty Sig P220 was relegated to a supporting role and I bought this gun with the tall XS… Read more »
This pistol has the best, out of the box, trigger and firing chain of any striker pistol!!! I have picked one up and looked it over every time I’ve been in a gun shop. The only thing that has stopped me from buying this pistol is its lack of a thumb safety. Yes, I know the arguments against one, but as a 1911 owner, the switching from safety to fire is just a part of the draw to me and costs me no time. Imagine what shooters would say if any Mauser like bolt rifle came without a safety and… Read more »
Although I do own a Glock 27, I’m not a fan of “space pistols”.
That said, I owned a PPK, and for the very reasons you elucidated. I kept it (and even carried it) for many years, but I finally dumped it because it has a serious design flaw – the rear of the slide cuts the knuckle of the firing-hand thumb. Without fail.
Too bad, so sad.
My preferences in pistols are the venerable 1911 and the Beretta 92FS. I know that sounds like a dichotomy, but I have are good reasons for those preferences.
I always have had the same issue with the PPK. Every time I fired one of mine I left the range bleeding. I also have 1911s and a Wilson Beretta 92G Compact as my favorites, however, I do also have a HK P9S in .45 that is a trusted go to pistol.
“I’ve done been” wanted a damn PPQ-M2 in 45… Should of gotten one when you could still find them in the mid-3’s ….
I was talking to the director of my local police academy one day, and he asked what I thought of Glocks. They were still fairly new st the time, and I told him I didn’t like the idea of a plastic framed pistol. He handed me a G17 and two boxes of 9mm and told me to try it out. At that time, out of love for law enforcement, the academy was built on an old dump site. Sometimes the methane from decaying goo would leak up and create flames coming out of the wiring boxes for the target turning… Read more »
Well, it’s nice to see Walther getting their act together. They have a reputation for discontinuing parts and service more promptly than most other companies once they discontinue a model for something new (I experienced this myself) and their early P99s were “reliability challenged” . . . when that gun was new several showed up at local IDPA matches, and within a few months they disappeared; as soon as they got a LITTLE dirty, they began malfunctioning. Sometimes before the match was over.
HankB …, Well… I bought one of the very first Canik TP9… based off the p99…. Back in late 2011… Maybe early ’12… It was been exceptionally reliable… Been cleaned twice, maybe three time… I don’t remember if it has ever had any failures…. I want to say no…. I know it’s not a Walther…. “I’m jus sayin” …