Walther PPS?

[Cheeseybacon]

Anyone had any experiences with the new Walther PPS? I just read an article about it in the latest Guns and Ammo and it seems like it's the gun that my dad's Kahr PM9 should have been.

[Mity2]

I'd rather get P99.
Their great gun if you have small hand. But if you have rather big hand, i think you should look bigger P99 IMO

[Cheeseybacon]

Smallness and thinness were definitely a priority when my dad got his PM9. I'm beginning to think likewise as my GLOCK26 is a heavy, chunky little beast. I started losing a lot of weight and between the reduced waistline and the heavy gun, gravity has been having a field day with my pants lately. They almost fell down in Wal*Mart yesterday. Guess I need a new belt.

[Fromthe hip]

I got the PPS 9mm for XMAS (ho!ho!ho!). I have already fired 600 rounds of range ammo and one box of Black Hills +P. No FTF and no FTE. The piece is a natural pointer - the recoil is minimal - even with +P Black Hills 124 gr. The mag release is very convenient and the red-dot cocked indicater is really helpful. For me, it shoots (and conceals) better than the Glock 26. My other two CC weapons are a Sig P239 (.40) and a Ruger SP101 (.357). Both are comfortable carries but IMHO - the Walther beats them both. So far, am using an Uncle Mike's Sidekick #15 for IWB carry. Note: give the pistol a good cleaning before shooting.

[Chase2b]

After reading all the hype about the PPS I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. My wife was in the market for her first CCW and we were searching out the PPS. At a gun show recently, they had a First Edition, which shocked me. But then I held it and didn't like it at all. I didn't like the feel or the balance. My wife didn't either. I reallyyyyyyy wanted to like that gun, but just couldn't. To me it just seemed like a thinner (but not lighter)Glock.

[imperialism2024]

Well, it seemed better to resurrect this thread than to start a new one...

So, on Sunday I bought myself a Walther PPS in .40, to carry as a BUG or as a primary gun when I need to conceal. I took it to the range yesterday, and it performed magnificently for the first 70-80 rounds. Then, the slide began to lock back after every shot, though the casing would eject, and after the slide was released, another trigger pull would fire the next shot, locking back the slide again. I tried both the 5- and 6-round mags that came with it, and both Speer Lawman 155gr and Hydra-Shok 155gr ammo, and the gun did the exact same thing after each of the next 30 or so shots I took to use up the ammo I brought with me, and oiling the gun didn't have an effect.

After getting home from the range, then, I sent an e-mail to Walther's customer service department with basically the same information as above, and asking if there is anything else I should try before sending it in for service, and while the return receipt says it was opened at 8AM this morning, I have yet to receive a reply. Anyhow, my question is whether anyone knows what might be causing this problem, and if so, if it's a relatively inexpensive repair that can be done at a local gunsmith? It seems to make more sense to pay to have it fixed locally in a few days and pay the 42 cents to mail a nasty letter to Walther, than to pay for overnight shipping through UPS and waiting an indeterminite amount of time for it to get shipped back...

Thanks for any advice.

[Cheeseybacon]

Wow, the .40 versions of the PPS are finally out, huh?

Sorry to hear that yours isn't working right. I know it sounds like a stupid suggestion, but make sure you thumb isn't touching the slide stop accidentally as you make an effort to hang onto that thing (40 S&W almost seems like a bit too much power for a gun of that sized frame, IMO). I had the exact same problem with my 1911 when I first got it and it turned out that my thumb was simply coming in contact with the slide stop.

[imperialism2024]

Originally Posted by Cheeseybacon

Wow, the .40 versions of the PPS are finally out, huh?

Sorry to hear that yours isn't working right. I know it sounds like a stupid suggestion, but make sure you thumb isn't touching the slide stop accidentally as you make an effort to hang onto that thing (40 S&W almost seems like a bit too much power for a gun of that sized frame, IMO). I had the exact same problem with my 1911 when I first got it and it turned out that my thumb was simply coming in contact with the slide stop.

Well, I took a look again at my grip on the gun, and my thumb is nowhere near the slide stop. Or at least far enough away that it wouldn't have interefered for 20+ shots without my noticing. I'll also note that the slide stop is very stiff, though still workable. I've also noticed that the slide stop locks it back when I rack the slide.

Over 24 hours and still no e-mail reply from customer service... tomorrow night Walther America will be getting a very unhappy phonecall.

[rant]I'm starting to regret not having gotten that Glock 27... When I got my 22, I took it out of the box, went to the range without cleaning it, fired 250 rounds of very poor ammo, and then another 500 rounds a few days later before cleaning it. No FTFs or problems whatsoever. Hence why I trust my life to that gun, and why I'm rather upset about dropping $600 on a gun that won't cycle 100 rounds after extensive cleaning and lubrication. Unfortunately, I can't always stuff my model 22 down my pants...[/rant]

[Longshot]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck with the PPS... Where did you purchase it at? I have a PPS in 9mm, haven't had a single issue with it. Hopefully walter will get back to you and make things right.

Will the slide lock back with no mag in it?

[imperialism2024]

I got an e-mail reply today from Walther, and was informed that I should send it in for service via FedEx. Fair enough, so I write up a note summarizing the problem, and head off to the local FedEx store.

Here's the fun part.

So I go in, write up the shipping label, and go up to the counter to ship it, packing the Walther hard case inside a shipping box. At this point, when I ask if any special paperwork must be done because I'm shipping a firearm back to the manufacturer, I am informed by the clerk that FedEx only ships between FFLs. He's not a dick about it or anything, and laments how easy it used to be to ship handguns... but he's set on the idea that FedEx won't ship my gun back to Walther, and recommends I try UPS. Edit: I just got an e-mail reply back from FedEx, and they pointed me to the following policy that states they will not ship any handguns: http://www.fedex.com/us/services/ter....html#firearms

So that's the adventure for tomorrow. If UPS won't ship, I think I'm taking it to a gunsmith and sending the bill to Walther.