Walther's PPK/PPKs

[Brownie]

I've had a few blued ppk/s 380 semi-auto's over the years, imported by Interarms, mostly in the mid to late 70's and never held onto them.

It's been years since I've had one nor would I consider a new S+W model today. The few I had were Interarms imports, always ran with the loads of the day, and were some of the most accurate guns I've ever fired.

Anyone ever handle the Walther ppk or ppk/s in their travels?

Here's a picture of the ppk

[RTBRANE]

What I found most impressive about the PPK's was the slide movement felt like they ran on jewels, just incredibly smooth, with no appreciable slop. What I didn't like was the steel frame weight. Recoil was annoying. Blowback design, IIRC. Much prefer locked-breech types. Prices were always too high for me to justify the niche they fit: too heavy, too underpowered for the job.

Will

[Brownie]

Had a chance to run my new to me ppk/s [ Interarms import from the early 70's ] a few days ago. Came with the target, warrantee card, and two mags in the original box.

I put 350 rds through it in about two hours. Shooting thumb took a good beating from the grip strap edge at the juncture where the tang sits on my thumb. This is not a range gun by any means, but here's what I learned.

The finger rest mags failed to feed a round occasionally [ I shot nothing but Magtech ball through it ]. It took some time, but I figured out that the pressure the pinky, at times, was putting on the mag changed the angle of feed just enough to cause it to puke on me.

None of the flush fitting mags [ I've got 3 finger rest and 4 flush fit stainless mags for it ] had one malf. So, now that the gun is cleaned, lubed with gunslick graphite, and put back in service, I'm only going to carry the flush fitting mags in the gun and as spare mags in a double mag belt pouch. The finger rest mags are assigned range duty only now.

I shot this gun slow fire out to 40 rds for several mags to determine it's realistic potential for range/distance on the streets. Like JMusic, I like to know what the weapon is capable of. It's so damned accurate, you could take a hostage taker head shot with the ppk/'s at that range if you had to, due in part to it's deign of a fixed barrel.

I'm off from the shop till Sept first taking some down time with the exception of a few private students and the AF Para-Rescue crew down in Tucson. It's being carried strong side with two more 7 rd mags in a dual carrier mag pouch till I go back to the shop, along with the Seecamp on the off side front pocket as the BUG.

Just an update on this gun platforms potential to cover my butt. BTW, It's 110 out here today.:eek: