| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Nathan |
Posted - 08/29/2007 : 16:31:53
history: i purchased a walther PPS first edition that sufferend a catastrophic failure after 20 rounds. CLICK HERE for the thread with pictures and explanation of the failure. i sent the weapon to walther for repairs and when i got it back the failure was repaired, but the weapon and case were beaten up. CLICK HERE for a description of the damages as well as pictures. i called "Larry" at walther america customer service who told me that he would make it right by sending me a new weapon.
update: i recieved my new PPS from walther america. initially i was a bit apprehensive when i saw damage on the cardboard box that it arrived in. obviously the hole had been punched in the box during shipping, and considering the luck i had thus far i opened the package expecting the worst.
i was pleasantly surprised to see that my gun case was actually packaged inside another box that was not damaged. i was also surprised to see a walther hat and patch included in the box. it was a nice gesture that is appreciated. funny how the little aspects of customer service can make such large differences. happy about the hat, but anxious to get my hands on my weapon i continued to dig.
the walther case was as perfect as the original. highly polished, and flawless. its impressive that walther went to such lengths to provide such a well built case. i own pistols costing literally three times as much as this weapon that came in cheap plastic cases.
considering the awful luck id had to this point, i was overly critical when i opened the box. as hard as i look however, i simply cannot find fault anywhere on this weapon.....not even machine or tooling marks.
this picture has nothing of substance to add, only that i thought it looked pretty cool. this is what the PPS looks like laying next to a 9 month old german shepherd.
range report: once satisfied with the condition of the weapon, it was time to see how it performed. i field stripped the weapon, cleaned and lubed it. i carefully inspected all mating surfaces, reassembled it, and headed to the range. my intention was to run at least 300 rounds of corbon 9mm +P with whatever combination of 115 grain and 125 grain loads i could find. after three stops i could only come up with 200 rounds of ammunition and i never pull from my cache (except for emergencies, which is why i cache ammunition to begin with) so i also picked up some WWB.
click image above to view video
the above featured video is not formal training, but simply an effort to become familiar with all aspects of my new weapon. im still experimenting with different stances for shooting from behind cover, trying to find a happy balance of comfort with agility. since nobody (i care to purchase from) makes a holster for the PPS at this time i could not begin each drill by drawing the weapon so i began each drill from holding the weapon angled down with my trigger finger in the ready position. my testing in the past has shown this to be pretty comparable to the time it takes to draw the weapon from an IWB holster under an untucked shirt.
what i like about the PPS:
- flawless peformance. not a single failure of any kind, no hint of hesitation. feeding is as smooth as anything ive ever fired.
- the trigger smoothed out quite nicely after about 100 rounds, and breaks clean at somewhere around 6 pounds.
- sized perfectly for deep concealment.
-POA/POI are consistant at typical defensive ranges. i didnt test beyond 7 yards because i purchased the weapon for CQC.
- recoil is very controllable, followup shots, controlled pairs, and even "double taps" were fast, consistant, and notably accurate.
- every aspect of the entire package is asthetically pleasing. certainly that is insignificant in combat weapons, but i do like it and felt its worth nothing here.
what i dont like about the PPS:
- i wish the trigger reset point was a little more crisp and obvious, perhaps this will improve with my familiarity. it wasnt "bad" by any means, just not as crisp as the 1911s that have spoiled my trigger finger.
- 2 of the 300 ejected cases hit me in the forehead, one stuck between my safety glasses and my forehead giving me a nice burn. both were within the first 50 rounds so i think perhaps my extractor loosed up a little as it worked.
....and that pretty much sums up what i dont like about the PPS. i do wish there were more holster choices but this is the case with any new design.
bottom line: i can highly recommend this weapon with confidence to anyone seeking a small, truly compact 9mm capable of +P loads. the 3 different magazine choices allows you to choose between capacity and overall level of concealment. with the shorter 6 round magazine the weapon absolutely disappears most anywhere. i found the 7 round to be my best carry choice because it gives me a pinky rest resulting in slightly better control as well as 1 additional round. the 8 round magazine is the most comfortable and i will use the 8 round magazine once i find an IWB holster for the weapon. for now it slides in my front pocket nicely with the 7 round magazine. i do not yet carry this weapon but i definately will once it reaches with 500 round mark (using the type of ammunition i plan to carry) without failure.
despite the trouble i had initially, in the end it was well worth it. this weapon is as great as any other walther ive ever owned or fired.
Update:
I ultimately sold this weapon after it started to develop more reliability issues. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ridurall |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 22:13:36
I purchased my wife a T-shirt with a velcro attached holster for her Walther PPS .40 about 2 years ago and she love it. I'm hunting for another T-shirt holster for my wife and daughter now also. I'm surprised at how well it works and how well she can conceal it. |
| 1Ranger |
Posted - 02/10/2013 : 17:29:08
After reading all the reviews and comments here and doing other research, I acqd a PPS .40 as my EDC replacing my G27. I added DPM recoil reducing springs and a thumb saver grip since the stippling irritated my hand after 200 rds. I have 500 rds thru it and love the gun. Using a Remora holster. The recoil double springs have also helped. Very comfortable to shoot. |
| badphydeaux |
Posted - 01/18/2013 : 21:17:05
Because in CA you can only buy guns that are on the approved "List". It's absolutely asinine. The list is here (http://certguns.doj.ca.gov). The stupid part about it is that there are occurrences where you'd like to buy a two-toned version of a pistol but because only the all-Parkerized version or stainless steel version is on the list and not the two-toned version you can't purchase it, even though it's the *exact* same pistol, just in a different color. |
| Will R. |
Posted - 12/09/2012 : 14:54:58
Why is the PPS not legal in California? |
| Artema |
Posted - 11/15/2012 : 23:57:07
I tried to buy this today only to find out that it is not California legal. I'm happy with the P99c AS, but I plan on grabbing a PPS .40 as soon as they get it through the bureaucratic system. |
| BearTaylor |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 04:16:03
A PPS40 has been my motorcycle carry gun for quite some time. Last month I had night sights installed on it making the small pistol great for backwoods bike camping. I purchased the sights for $82.00 from Optics Planet(free shipping) and a gunsmith (our club range officer) installed them for $27.50. Money well spent in my books. |
| rambosky |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 16:21:35
I have had a PPS .40 for over two years and love it. It's one of my deep cover pistols. Never had any problems and I must have about 300 rounds through it. I don't have and more rounds through it because I also shoot a Colt Commander, G36 and G27.
This is my saying for a cc gun, "Thin is In". |
| unimatrix |
Posted - 05/19/2012 : 16:02:11
So far I've put about 1100 rounds through my PPS 9 of all types and have had 1 failure to eject the final round. It's my primary ccw pistol with just a simple don hume IWB holster. To me the biggest selling point was with the 7round mag it fit my hand perfectly and the 8 round mag is fine also. Only complaint is that trigger safety has a bit of a bite to it and if I'm at the range for an extended period would rub a blister on my trigger finger. I'm thinking of picking up a second one here soon to have as a back up. I usually carry hornaday critical defense or Federal HJP dependent on what is available at the LGS. |
| ridurall |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 19:51:40
I purchased one of these for my wife chambered 40 S&W and I'm tickled pink with her carrying it and ability to shoot it. It's a very handy gun for her. |
| uchimata |
Posted - 12/04/2011 : 16:47:03
I like this handgun,its compact, reliable, a well designed ergonomic gun in a respectable caliberquote:
Originally posted by rngerdv
Nice
ballsy move with the camera behind the targets!
Ive put a camera under my Jeep before on an climb, but stessed the entire time :D
|
| Danny727 |
Posted - 09/22/2011 : 11:54:56
Thank you for the info I greatly appreciate it and will try it out and let you know how it works out. |
| BobMcT |
Posted - 09/22/2011 : 11:08:48
I carry 147g standard pressure JHP in my PPS 9mm. Either HST 147g (if I can find it), Golden Saber HPJ 147g, or WWW 147 JHP. I originally carried Gold Dot 124g +P which is also a good round. My highest preference would be the HST or Golden Saber, but I've carried the Winchester because you can buy it at Wal-Mart. |
| Eric |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 09:36:00
quote:
Originally posted by Danny727
Hey BobMcT..I really appreciate the advice and now that you say that I feel like my gun has that same problem with brass transfer buildup on the cartridge loading ramp. Also I could probably use a little more oil on these parts of my PPS as well. I will have to find a local gunsmith that has some good references and have him polish mine up. Any recommendations on ammo for both target and self defense?
I bought my PPS .40 almost 3yrs ago now and it's still my EDC.
I get all my range ammo from Wal-Mart. WWB, the CCI Blazer Brass they used to carry, and for the past year or so the Federal Champion. I always shoot the same 180gr weight as my defensive rounds.
For defensive rounds, I've only used Federal 180gr HST JHP. |
| Danny727 |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 09:16:02
Hey BobMcT..I really appreciate the advice and now that you say that I feel like my gun has that same problem with brass transfer buildup on the cartridge loading ramp. Also I could probably use a little more oil on these parts of my PPS as well. I will have to find a local gunsmith that has some good references and have him polish mine up. Any recommendations on ammo for both target and self defense? |
| BobMcT |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 09:03:30
Although I posted earlier in this thread I had gone 500 rounds with no problem, I did have some problems shortly after. I started to have feeding and/or failure to eject problems about 1 out of every 50 rounds. The loading round would jam up to the expended shell. I took it to a gunsmith friend who checked it out. He felt the brass transfer buildup on the cartridge loading ramp (flat bar piece) could cause problems in a pistol with such close tolerances. He re-polished the feed ramp AND polished the finish on the cartridge loading ramp to where both are smooth and shinny. He also suggested keeping a bit more oil on the parts than I was using.
I've been back to the range twice and shot about 400 rounds with no problems at all. Although my PPS had the feed ramp (2 parts) polished, the gunsmith felt both that and the cartridge loading ramp should have been polished by Walther. He works on all the county sheriff guns and says they do that to all of them, whether the manufacturer does or not. I feel totally confident with my PPS again. |
| Danny727 |
Posted - 08/30/2011 : 16:21:36
Hey guys, this is my first time on ANY forum of any kind. I have skimmed through previous posts about the Walther PPS having problems. I bought the gun used from a very credible and well known gun shop here in Michigan and the second time I shot it, the gun jammed up 4 times out of 100 rounds. I was using Winchester FMJ ammo, any ideas or things I should look for? Also any ammo recommendations would be helpful. |
| RC3291 |
Posted - 07/16/2011 : 18:46:49
I have only ran about 100 rounds thru mine and no problems. |
| The doctor |
Posted - 05/02/2011 : 12:41:11
Now about a month into having a Walther, I am loving this little gun. Carries incredibly well, shoots straight and no mechanical issues. Would highly recommend if you can afford it. |
| kinoons |
Posted - 03/10/2011 : 08:55:57
I'm well over 1000 rds and two years into my PPS experience (.40 cal) and I cannot recall a single failure. While I occasionally flirt with another EDC, such as a HK p7m8, Sig P6, and Ruger SP 101, I always come back to my PPS. |
| end over end |
Posted - 03/10/2011 : 05:20:22
In the six months I have owned it, I have put 300+ rounds through my PPS 9MM w/o any problems whatsoever. I will agree, I did have a couple of empties hit me in the forehead, but that was early rounds. Later into the still-breaking-in rounds, I have not had that problem. I was considering the .40 S&W caliber, but I believe there are more failures with the PPS in that caliber than in the 9MM.
To answer some holster questions, I do not feel comfortable having a gun of this size in a pocket - therefore I carry a IWB. I purchased a High Noon Bare Asset - this thing disappears on me. Great price.
I am completely impressed with this gun. I find that this gun naturally falls on target for me and my grip (something that a Glock never does for me). Minimal recoil and tight grouping instills alot of confidence in me for this gun. I must say, this gun has got me interested in purchasing another Walther.
EoE
|
| gp193 |
Posted - 02/28/2011 : 04:57:45
quote:
Originally posted by packinpastor86
As anyone tried the PPS 40 sw? I'd be concerned, with the 40 cal being such a snappy round that a small gun like the PPS would make it hard or uncomfortable to shoot?
I just bought one the other day and didn't think that the recoil was hard to manage at all. I'm not a particularly large, imposing guy and I found it pretty easy to control. |
| packinpastor86 |
Posted - 02/27/2011 : 19:39:27
As anyone tried the PPS 40 sw? I'd be concerned, with the 40 cal being such a snappy round that a small gun like the PPS would make it hard or uncomfortable to shoot? |
| Niche |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 02:34:51
Strange. My PPS 9mm is the ONLY semi-auto I own that has never had any sort of malfunction of any kind (don't own a Glock... yet). I did purchase the newer WAP10008 model with the night sights and 3 mags. It could be the newer models run better, or I just lucked out. I've used slide glide on the rails and Eezox on everything else since day one. |
| BearTaylor |
Posted - 01/03/2011 : 08:18:02
I've owned a PPS40 for over a year and it goes bang everytime I tell it to. It's my goto carry gun when I'm in light clothing or wear a vest on motorcycle trips (perfect vest gun). However, I'd stop carrying in a heartbeat if it malfunctioned. |
| Tequila Jake |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 09:20:01
Santa left me a Walter PPS for Christmas--nice Santa! But, he didn't leave me a holster. I plan to carry either at the 3:00 position on a belt or, maybe (big maybe) AIWB. What's the best holster for either of these positions?
Thanks for any suggestions/recommendations.
Tequila Jake |
