New Walther Pistol - PPS

[BlakeTyner]

I know there are a few fellow gun enthusiasts on the board, so I thought I'd start a thread about the new Walther. I'm a pretty big Walther enthusiast, with the P99 being my top handgun ever.

It comes with several magazines, each with more capacity (6,7, or 8 rounds) and each with a pinky rest that integrates into the grip. Like the P99, the PPS also has a couple of different backstraps, so one can change the grip for different sized hands.

It uses a pre-cocked striker system, like the P99QA (or Glock's SafeAction) but, unlike the P99 variants, has no decocker button. To decock and put the gun in safe mode, you take out the backstrap.

Personally, I don't think I'll be picking one up. The P99 Compact is almost as small, has more capacity, and is available in the AntiStress trigger system, which is double-action/single-action capable, and has second strike capability.

The First Edition PPS differs from the prototype in the polymer color - the production models are more gray than black, which I'm not very fond of.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/BlakeTyner/Walther_PPS_grips.jpg

The above pic features all three magazines. Note the long magazine release (like the newer P99s) along the bottom of the trigger guard. I much prefer this system to a mag release button, as it makes it impossible to accidentally drop the mag under stress.

It is a recoil operated, locked breech design (modified Browning type with tilting barrel.) I may eventually pick one up just to have, but if I want a backup sidearm I think I will be going with the P99c AS in 9mm.

~Blake

[The New Blood]

hmmm, I don't see any pics. Sounds cool though.

[BlakeTyner]

There should be a pic now. For whatever reason, the first two I had got lost.

~Blake

[Just Jeans]

Hmm? A thread about guns?

*reads thread*

Balls! It would be about semi-automatic pistols rather than revolvers. Pistols are for pussies. *shakes his fist emphatically and walks off*


... but actually, it is a very nice gun, Blakey (I definitely like it better than the Walther PPK). I've seen your P99 up close, but I still prefer that revolver of yours.

Revolvers are the best guns ever.

[BlakeTyner]

Believe it or not, Walther actually makes a wheelgun.

Behold, the Walther R99:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/BlakeTyner/3137_r99_blue.jpg

Only trouble is, they're not imported to America. There's one particular guy that can get it for you, but it'd be over $1,300 for a gun that's essentially a Smith & Wesson M19 with polymer grips and custom backstraps. Still, it's a mean looking piece.

~Blake

[Kat]

I prefer shotguns and rifles over pistols in alot of ways. Benelli has always been my favorite maker of shotguns.

[Just Jeans]

That is one beautiful revolver, Blake. How come they're not imported to America? Is there a particular reason, or are they just not?

[BlakeTyner]

It's tough to say, really. Walther just doesn't have much presence in America. The P99 is at least equal (and, in many/most ways, superior) to any Glock firearm, but Walther and S&W (the official importer) just never did much in the way of marketing.

There is a fairly convoluted point system in place vis a vis importing handguns to the United States. A gun must accumulate enough points in order to be allowed - things like safeties, locks, lengths, etc. The PPS looks to have been specifically designed in order to make the points, so this may be Walther's way of putting their foot in the door in the United States. Smith & Wesson has discontinued the SW99, which was their version of the P99. Walther made the frames, S&W made the slides and barrels. S&W now has their new M&P pistol, which apes some design elements from the P99 - namely the backstraps.

Unless Walther offers some pretty huge incentives to police departments, I don't know that they'll ever be a major player here, but it seems like they don't mind that so much.

As for the R99, I think the bottom line is that 'it just isn't.'

~Blake