I have a new Walther PPQ!

[Scoundrel]

So if they're thought of so highly, and the price isn't crazy (I hear Glocks are spendy too), they why aren't more people buying them instead of Glocks? Marketing fail?

[JFootin]

Walther's presense and marketing in the US is very weak. So much so that hardly any gun magazines have even reviewed the PPQ. Walther allied with S&W to support and distribute the product, and S&W have been very ho-hum about it. Next year, the partnership ends and Walther will be establishing their own service, support, distribution and marketing in the US. Therefore, the visibility of their products will be improving. So, yes, marketing fail.

[JFootin]

:40::32: The Post Office lied! My gun arrived locally in the early morning well before dawn, but they were too lazy to load it on the truck! Next delivery at my FFL is about 5:00pm Monday. So at least 2 more days of waiting. Geez!!! I'm pulling my hair out!

[Scoundrel]

Bummer!

[QuercusMax]

Glock, schmock. Your PPQ will run rings around it.

Question: Would James Bond choose a PPQ if he were just starting out today?

[JFootin]

Larry Vickers says it's the best!

James has superb taste, so he probably would!

Larry Vickers has been using/testing a PPQ 9mm for a while now. Here is a post/update from yesterday on the PPQ on another forum.

Larry Vickers Offline
Subject Matter Expert
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 658
iTrader: (0)


I'm still very impressed with the PPQ - I only teach with it on occasion as I sell Glock parts and Glocks are the most common pistol I see in classes so unless something develops in the sponsored shooter area with the PPQ ( which is possible ) I will continue to only use it part time

I think it is the best new polymer frame striker fired handgun to come on the market in quite awhile; I really like the HK P30 and the PPQ addressed the only real issue with that pistol - the trigger

Honestly my only complaint is a lack of aftermarket sights - the gun is a winner

[JFootin]

Just passing the time, reading posts on the Walther Forum. People that really did some research and tried a lot of guns before deciding on the PPQ....

I got mine after taking a training class with Larry Vickers. He used a PPQ during the class. I said, if Larry Vickers uses a PPQ I should at least look at it. I'm glad I did. I also purchased a PPQ 40SW.

This purchase was to be my first "real" firearm, .22lr pistols don't count.

So, I started researching and asking friends that have decent gun collections to take me shooting. I got to shoot a lot of Glocks and a few S&W models I can't remember. After a few trips out to the range I was pretty convinced I wanted a .45 based mostly on shooting my buddies competition prepped Kimber.

After going to my LGS and talking with the gunsmith who is a retired sniper he changed my mind. He asked what I wanted and why, when I told him it would be my first gun and I'd like my wife to also be able to shoot it he took his 1911 off his hip dropped the magazine , checked the chamber, emptied the magazine, put the magazine back in it and handed it to me and said "Look at this gun, it's a nice gun, probably my favorite but, do you think you or your wife would have the knowledge or presence of mind to make this gun ready to fire after being woken from sound sleep and faced with an intruder somewhere in your home? I'm going with no. Maybe someday but, not today. Hell, I'd probably have a hard time doing it. This is why I don't recommend a 1911 as a first gun."

He then went on to recommend the M&P 9mm. I asked why not a Glock and he said "Nothing wrong with Glock, they are reliable and a good gun... I just don't think you need to buy an ugly gun for it to be reliable."

I asked "Why not a .45?" and he said "The best thing you can do is go out and shoot... a lot. There is no better way to get familiar with your weapon."

After that I started researching the M&P and stumbled across the PPQ thanks to the S&W connection. I instantly liked this gun. I'm left handed, the wife is right handed, PPQ has ambidextrous slide and mag release, that's a plus. It also looks pretty sweet which didn't hurt. Then I started reading all the reviews and thought "I need to go shoot one of these."

I found a local gun shop that had one for rent. We shot the PPQ, Glock 19 Compensated, P226 Combat, HK P30. I was the most accurate with the P30 but, the PPQ felt best in my hand. The PPQ was very close to the P30 though and when factoring in that the PPQ was quite a bit less money than the Sig and HK it was a pretty easy decision. I ended up finding one at the local pawn shop and got it for a good price.

Since then I've put about 750 rounds through it with no issues and love it.

I picked up my PPQ back in April after researching a little bit via lurking these forums, reading up on the Walther sight, and checking video reviews by Hickok45 and NutnFancy. About five years ago I picked up a Springfield XD 45, but was not a very active range shooter; I had initially wanted to pick up a P99 but couldn't locate one, so I "settled" for the XD. Anyway, I sold the XD and picked up a PPQ 40. It probably has well over 2000 rounds through it now without a hiccup.

In October I finally located a PPQ 9 locally that wasn't overpriced, I decided on it after going through a laundry list of pistols: FNX-9, M&P 9 (already own a M&P9C), CZ-75 (couldn't find a full-sized one at a decent price), Browning HiPower (older model), a Beretta 92, and a Sig Pro 2022. I knew I could handle the M&P, and the price tags on most of these pistols was well below the price on the others, however nothing could beat the PPQ's trigger and ease of use. After three weeks of shopping around I walked in and picked up the PPQ 9 without hesitation and haven't looked back.

[JFootin]

Buying a PPQ in Commifornia!

This is insane! Why do any gun lovers still live in the Soviet Socialist State? This is what a guy had to do to legally purchase a Walther PPQ, which is not on the approved list and is, therefore, automatically considered to be an unsafe gun.

I was a recreational shooter from the mid-80's thorough early 90's, then got a succession of jobs that required a lot of traveling for months on end. Ended up selling of everything because of lack of use and concern about theft. And suddenly, almost 15 years had gone by.

My girlfriend and her dad started shooting semi-regularly which got me thinking of getting something of my own since I live almost an hour from them and wanted to go mid-week. Thought about getting another 1911 since that was my mainstay over the years, but wanted to try something new, too, like a polymer.

I have to admit that YouTube reviews(Hickcock45) and internet blog reports helped me get up to speed on what I'd missed in the last decade and a half. Shot some friends HK's and Sigs, liked them all, but didn't feel like dropping $1k+ on my first gun back. Glocks weren't an option for me because of the (lack of) ergonomics. Springfield was just releasing the XDm and that really caught my fancy since I loved my SA 1911 back in the day. Shot a few of my friend's XDs, liked them, and convinced myself the XDm was even better. I spent a few months obsessing about the XDm when I stumbled across someone's review of the PPQ.

I don't know what it was, but that ended my obsession with the XDm. The more I read owner testimonials, the more I liked the design. Since I live in California, there was no way to see or shoot it before buying (same for XDm), it would have to be a blind faith gamble. On top of that, the only way to get it in-state was through the Single Shot Exemption(SSE) which requires converting the gun to single shot operation and temporary replacement of the stock barrel with 10.5" one for the duration of the mandatory 10-day hold. [I know, it sounds insane, but this is CA - we do everything differently] On top of that, it adds $100 to the price. Anyway, by the time I got around to buying one in April, PPQ's were disappearing in the blink of an eye. My dealer only had one left, and it was a 40S&W. I'd never shot that round, but it was a "take it or wait a long time" situation.

Well, the gamble obviously paid off! The ergonomics are the best I have ever felt in a pistol. My smallish hands can easily work the slide release and mag release without shifting my grip (always a problem). Grip contour is up there with the best I've held. Trigger needs no praise. And the thing points naturally. In the 7 months since I bought it, my PPQ 40 has been shot side by side with a lot of the competition at and above it's price - I prefer it to all.

Please tell me you have pics of it with the 10.5" barrel installed. That just sounds ridiculous.

It is, but you know lawmakers! And now that you mention it, I really wish I had taken some pictures.

There are only three real criterion to this whole thing:
1) that the pistol overall length exceeds 10.5"
2) that the pistol has to be manually feed 1 round at a time similar to a blot action rifle.
3) the gun must be fully functional and capable of firing in this configuration. It cannot be "faux" SSE

So, any participating FFL has 10"+ barrels made for the most popular off-list models of pistol and "rents" those to the person buying a pistol via the SSE exemption. So, when the FFL receives the pistol, he field strips it, inserts the long barrel, inserts a temporary magazine block, and lets it sit for 10 days. As soon as the buyer signs his DROS papers, the gun is field stripped again with the stock barrel replaced and mag block removed. The gun is now fully legal in the state of California(except 10+ round mags,which are legal to own as long as they stay disassembled in "kit" form). Any time after that, the gun can be legally sold or transferred without ever having to go through the SSE procedure again.

California Firearms Laws 2007 (end of pg 35)

Handgun Safety, Functionality, and Testing Requirements
No handgun may be manufactured or sold to the public in California unless it is of a make and model that has passed required safety and functionality tests and is approved for publication in the Department of Justice’s official list of handguns certified as safe for sale in California. Any person who manufactures, imports into the state for sale, sells, gives, or lends an unsafe handgun is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Penal Code § 12125.)

The current list of handguns certified as safe for sale in California is available on the Bureau of Firearms website.

Exceptions

* Single-shot pistols with a barrel length of not less than six inches and that have an overall length of at least 10 ½ inches when the handle, frame or receiver, and barrel are assembled. (Penal Code § 12133.)

NOTE: The exemption for single-shot pistols from handgun safety testing only applies to the sales of complete firearms that meet the barrel length / overall length criteria outlined above. The sale of frames or stripped receivers by themselves is not affected by the exemption. Therefore, dealers may not sell any single-shot pistols that do not meet the aforementioned criteria. Additionally, firearms dealers should be cautious regarding the sale of “after market” barrel conversion kits available for some of the more popular single-shot pistols. The sale of an interchangeable barrel of less than 16 inches to a purchaser of such a firearm could expose the firearms dealer to criminal liability for aiding and abetting the manufacture of a short-barrel rifle.

Who knows how long this loophole will stay in effect.

Here is the definitive source on CA's Single Shot Exemption

Even this guy has no regrets and describes his PPQ as better than all others! I have never been able to see, handle or shoot a PPQ, but it is stories like this that convince me I have chosen the absolute cream of the crop of compact double stack semiautos, regardless of price.

[JFootin]

Glock, schmock. Your PPQ will run rings around it.

Question: Would James Bond choose a PPQ if he were just starting out today?

Another satisfied customer...

Was lucky to choose this gun and to find one...
I'll admit I was drawn to the Walther brand initially purely from my passion for James Bond films. After doing a lot of research I found that Walther had a great reputation. Factor in the fact that I like German engineered products in general and it seemed like a no brainer. I decided on the PPQ after doing some more research into the various Walther models available. That's when things got tough. I started calling around the Atlanta area - no one had a PPQ. I started checking surrounding states - still no luck! Finally, after calling 20+ stores, I went back to my original list of GA gun shops and decided to try one more (at random). Not only did they have one but it was at list of $509.99 (scheduled to go up in price the next day). Wow! I raced there on my lunch hour and bought it immediately. Got in the car to go back to work and the first song on the radio is... "View to a Kill". That night, went to see "Skyfall" to complete the day! I guess it was destiny.

[JFootin]

Chosen over an HK P30 LEM

after a couple of tries at the (as close as possible) perfect handgun to me, i ended up with a Sig P250 9mm (still love it/have it/wont get rid of it)but the long trigger pull left me "wanting"...but i dont know if that "wanting" ever goes away, or if it was just the trigger pull...anyway...I decided to start over from square 1 and just research with no bias, except for my eventual new purchase to be 9mm...after a long time of on-line research, many gun stores and friends range sessions I had concluded that it didnt get better than the HK P30 LEM...trigger was an exception, wasnt the best but life is about compromise....while at the store handling one (HK) for one last time before pulling the cash out, I looked down through the case and saw and odd looking gun (odd because i hadnt seen a Walther like this before) in the Walther section...asked the salesman about it and he said they just came out with the PPQ...so I asked to see it and held/dry fired/ and compared side by side with the HK...felt the Walther build was a little better, but grip customization on P30 was better....now i was stuck, the Walther was $200 cheaper....so back to research on the PPQ...after a few months, I was satisfied, but still hadnt fired one....went and bought it anyway, and have been nothing but amazed and suprised, and the "want" (for that purpose of gun) has vanished....and the funny thing is I ended up with another Walther, because I went through the same process for my concealed carry purchase and ended up with a 9mm PPS (no more "want" there either) ...and couldn't be happier....now, if Walther only made an AR or Bullpup......

Interesting punctuation, isn't it?

[JFootin]

The waiting is over!

I finally got my PPQ this afternoon. A stupid thing happened at Grabagun or I would have had it Friday. It had fallen on the floor between two bins or carts in the shipping department Wednesday after I had paid it off, and didn't get shipped. They discovered it Thursday after I called them asking why I wasn't seeing any tracking input for it!

The gun is every bit as good as I expected it to be! The target that came with it has a 1" five shot group dead center that was shot at 15 meters. The slide racks easily. The ergos, the balance, the light weight and the perfect grip texture make it a great handling gun. And, man, what a trigger!!! It has .4" travel, .1" reset and awesome smoothness with zero creep or sloppiness. And it is designed so you can take up the foretravel which is light and stage it at a point where about 5.4 pounds will make it go bang. I have been dry firing it and it is so easy to let that trigger off with no movement of the sights at all. People talk about how the PPQ seems to make them better shooters, and I believe it!

BTW, this gun didn't come in cardboard. It came in a real nice, roomy plastic case with thick foam rubber lining and two lockable slide latches on either side of the carry handle.

The weather looks pretty nice, so I am hoping to get out and shoot it soon.

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.

[APSKahr]

Glad you finally got it, that would have driven me crazy. I got mine weekend before last. It was only the second that I had seen in the last year. Overall I still prefer my G17 but the PPQ sure is nice. I'm going to order the Dawson sights as they have a tighter rear notch.

[Scoundrel]

Having done computer work for logistics companies that ship items for vendors, and thinking about the overall shipping process, I am sometimes amazed that shipping is as reliable as it is.

Silly mistakes like that can happen to anyone, and I'm glad that all you lost was your patience.

Have fun with it!

[JFootin]

Glad you finally got it, that would have driven me crazy. I got mine weekend before last. It was only the second that I had seen in the last year. Overall I still prefer my G17 but the PPQ sure is nice. I'm going to order the Dawson sights as they have a tighter rear notch.

I am not in a big rush, but I would like to replace that awkwardly shaped rear sight with the steel one that they use in Europe because it is more streamlined and shaped to match the shape of the slide. It's hard to find parts right now and S&W don't care, but things should improve next year when Walther dumps S&W and establishes a full sales, distribution, support and parts operation here in the U.S.

The reason they put those cheap adjustable plastic sights on them is to pass the U.S. laws regarding imported guns having lots of features and not being Saturday night specials.

[APSKahr]

I think my main issue with the sights is the size/shape of the notch/post dimensions (I've never really cared about looks) . It was exactly the same as the P22 I had. The rear notch is too shallow and too wide. I think this is why I can shoot my G17 more accurately b/c the sight picture is "tighter" with it's Trijicons. From the pics I've seen, the Dawson and Trijicon sights remedy this. The meprolight sights seem to be the same dimensions as stock.
Hard to find extra mags too! Magnum Research mags are sold out everywhere I've looked.