Walther PPK

[dnar]

Originally Posted by highrider

Here's one my father-in-law gave me. He brought it back from Germany after WWII. Still a good shooter. I don't carry it but I still take it to the range every once in a while. Like all of us old-timers, it likes to get out and kick up its heels on occasion.

Hey highrider,

Your .32 caliber Walther PPK looks quite spiffy, indeed!


rand

[highrider]

Hey highrider,

Your .32 caliber Walther PPK looks quite spiffy, indeed!

Thanks, dnar. He cleans up pretty good for an old man.

[OneChambered]

I really like my buddy's PPK .380 and was about to get one as a backup piece until I read about Bersa's Thunder. 380 CC piece. Walther certainly has the prestige and a great history behind it. From what I read of the Bersa, it's operationally simple, reliable and shoots true. It's also half the cost of the PPK. Does anyone have experience with one?

[Charlie B]

Originally Posted by OneChambered

I really like my buddy's PPK .380 and was about to get one as a backup piece until I read about Bersa's Thunder. 380 CC piece. Walther certainly has the prestige and a great history behind it. From what I read of the Bersa, it's operationally simple, reliable and shoots true. It's also half the cost of the PPK. Does anyone have experience with one?

I have the Bersa Thunder 380, it is a very under rated and well manufactured pistol.

Compared to the PPK, it is very comparable in size and a little lighter. Both shoot similarly with little muzzle flip, so recovery between shots is minimal. You can find the Bersa for around $250 and the PPK for around $525. They both field strip about the same for cleaning and maintenance. I’ve run at least 4000 rounds through my t380 and at least 2/3 were CCI brass. I haven’t had any problems with it.

Pick up a couple of extra magazines! BTW, the Bersa handles hollow points better than the PPK.

[colagrrl]

Originally Posted by OneChambered

I really like my buddy's PPK .380 and was about to get one as a backup piece until I read about Bersa's Thunder. 380 CC piece. Walther certainly has the prestige and a great history behind it. From what I read of the Bersa, it's operationally simple, reliable and shoots true. It's also half the cost of the PPK. Does anyone have experience with one?

I own both the Bersa Thunder 380 and the Bersa Concealed Carry 380, as well as the Bersa Ultra Compact 9mm. I bought the Thunder first, had it for about 3 months, then went looking for the CC. The CC version tends to be rather elusive, you'll see it on the shelf and if you don't act fast, it's gone. I checked every local gun shop in my area, couldn't find it anywhere, so I had a shop right down the road from me special order it. I paid just under $300 out the door and as far as I'm concerned, it was worth every penny.

All 3 of the Bersa's I own shoot exceptionally well and are very reliable, but they do tend to not like limpwristing. I had a limpwristing related malfunction with my Thunder 380 my second time out with it, but never again after I figured out it was user initiated. The Concealed Carry holds 8+1 (the Thunder is 7+1), is lighter, slightly shorter, slightly thinner, has a bobbed hammer and has a considerably lower profile beavertail than the standard Thunder 380. The CC version is definitely easier and more comfortable to conceal than the regular Thunder 380, with the rounded edges and no beavertail jutting into your rib cage. The only downside to the CC is the lack of raised sights, but who needs those anyway I actually just picked up some flourescent orange and green Testor's paint at Wal-Mart to paint the sights with. Other CC owners have done that and had great results, so I figured I'd give it a go.

I have a few pictures for you to compare the sizes of the different Bersa guns, the first is my CC 380 over top of my Thunder 380, matched up at the front of the trigger guards:



This is a left to right image of my CC 380, Thunder 380 and UC9 (the muzzle of the CC is not touching the board I had the guns sitting on, it's shorter than the other 2). Also, notice the low profile sights on the CC:



Last is an image of all 3 Bersa guns together, with the UC9 on the top:



Too bad you don't live closer, because if you did and were going to be at the PAFOA #9 Group Shoot this Sunday, then you'd be more than welcome to take any of my Bersa's for a spin. Heck, that offer stands to anyone who might be reading this and wondering about a Bersa

I hope the information helps, but if you should happen to have any questions, please feel free to send me a PM.

Jenn

[OneChambered]

Charlie B & colagrrl -
thank you for your replies and valuable information given...I'm calling my dealer today to order the t380 and the cc model...this marks my first experience with this forum and I'm hopeful that someday I'll be able to help someone as you have helped me...thanks again

[HST]

Thought I would dig this thread up again rather than start a new one...

I recently received a stainless Walther PPK (InterArms) in .380 ACP as a gift. Knowing what I do about its previous owner, it was stored more than it was shot by a substantial margin. In fact, I would be shocked if there were more than a couple of hundred rounds put through it. It was given to me with the original box and all documentation, along with 3 extra clips and a few belt holsters.

After a very thorough cleaning, I must say the pistol is in very good shape; there are almost no blemishes on it. Personally, the "feel" of the pistol is fantastic, fitting very naturally in my hand and feels very solid for a small frame pistol. I can definitely see this piece finding its way to becoming a frequent CC pistol; can't wait to get it out and put some rounds through it.

I was wondering, those of you who have a PPK or PPK/S, have you purchased or considered purchasing an aftermarket grip? The black plastic grip isn't bad, per se, but to me this pistol seems like it would benefit (aesthetically and functionally) from a wood grip. Thoughts?

[Fitch]

Originally Posted by HST

I was wondering, those of you who have a PPK or PPK/S, have you purchased or considered purchasing an aftermarket grip? The black plastic grip isn't bad, per se, but to me this pistol seems like it would benefit (aesthetically and functionally) from a wood grip. Thoughts?

First, congratulations on receiving what I regard as one of the best concealed carry pistols ever designed. I have two of them. I carry the stainless one every day every place it is legal.

IMO, the gun is almost perfect as it is. The stock grips work well, they conceal well, and they will last about forever. One change has been made on my stainless S&W built Walther PPK/S, it was sent to Novak and had Novak sights fitted to it. They are a huge improvement over the stock sights. You can see them here ...



I wouldn't mess with the grips, but if you feel like you want to customize it a bit, try the Novak sights. Highly recommended.

I carry it with the decocking lever in the fire position just like I would a SIG P239. That way there is nothing to remember. The gun has a first shot trigger stroke like a DA revolver, the trigger pull for subsequent shots is much like a 1911.

The gun can be loaded, a round chambered, and cleared with the decocking lever in the "safe" position which makes it very safe to load and clear. I like mine a lot.

I've trained with it to the point where I can get all 7 rounds into COM, none outside the 9 ring, on a B-27E silhouette at 21' in 3.5 seconds including the draw from concealment. First shot is in just over 1 second - I'm hoping to improve that. The gun has enough weight that you can hold it on target and just pour the rounds into it.

Good luck with it. Get about 500 rounds down range in disciplined practice and you will grow to love that little gun. It is a brilliant design for concealed carry.

Fitch

[supercomando]

My local gun shop has an used Walther PPK/S Smith & Wesson model. Its stainless steel complete in the original box and really in nice shape. He wants $ 400.00. Is that a fair price ? I was tempted to buy it.

[Fitch]

Originally Posted by supercomando

My local gun shop has an used Walther PPK/S Smith & Wesson model. Its stainless steel complete in the original box and really in nice shape. He wants $ 400.00. Is that a fair price ? I was tempted to buy it.

That is what I paid for my Stainless one you see in the post above yours. It too was used. It's a really fun gun to shoot and perfect to carry.

Fitch