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I need advice, as I need to replace my aging gun.

3K views 27 replies 13 participants last post by  Popeye 
#1 ·
Hello All,

I need advice, as I need to replace my aging gun. I am the proud owner of a Walther PPK that is older than me. It is over 50 years old. It was a gift from my dad that used it as a concealed carry for many decades, and I have used it for home safety for the last 20 years. I need to replace it with something newer, but I do not like the tradeoffs and would like your advice.

To guide you on my advice, I like my PPK as:
· It is a single and dual action gun
· It has an easy to use safety
· I am very accurate with it, especially compared to other guns
· I like the size. It easily fit on my back pocket. It fits on my hiking jacket pocket. It also fits on a sports coat pocket.
· I am actually ok with a .380 …

There are four things that I would like that my PPK does not have
· I would like a laser sight
· Ability to mount a flash light
· Better sights
· Most important, a gun that my wife could load.

I did buy a Beretta 900s about 10 years ago, and I have to say that I am very disappointed with it. It is bulky, it is inaccurate, and I had several misfires and gun jams. In addition the safety is very confusing.

When I bought the 900S I was ok with the tradeoff, I am no longer ok. I need a gun that :
1. My wife could load a bullet in the chamber
2. It is very accurate
3. It has an easy to use safety
4. It is a single and dual action gun
5. Equal size to the PPK
6. I would like a laser sight
7. Ability to mount a flash light
8. .380 or better ammunition


What do you recommend?

Best regards,
JR
 
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#2 ·
If you were to ask Obama he would say if you like your current gun you can keep it. Replace it with another PPK. I have an LCP as a better than nothing pocket gun but feel the need for more lead. I am looking at a PPS 40 to replace my 40 Shield.
 
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#4 ·
With lasers, you get pretty much what you pay for. They can replace the grips or the recoil spring guide.

Firearm mounted flashlights are not a good idea. They are relatively large and bulky, too much for firearm mounting. Get a good light and store/carry it with your firearm. A good set of night sights should prove more valuable than a mounted light.

Firearms? Look at CZ USA's offerings.
 
#5 ·
An LC9 is the same size as a PPK. Only bulkier, thicker. But it's a 9mm.
There is a reason those LCP's are so popular. Smaller and lighter than a PPK by a long shot.
If you ever shot an LCR. You would be impressed. To say the least. There is also a reason why revolvers are so safe without a safety.
I don't mean to sound like an infomercial for Ruger's LC line. I do think they were using their noggins when developing them.
 
#6 ·
Flashlights aren't really a good choice for a carry weapon. That's more of an option for home defense.

It may not meet all your listed criteria. . . but I would suggest checking out a Bersa Thunder 380 Plus.

It's a double-stack 380 PPK clone. 15 round magazine.

Take a look, see if its something you think you would be interested in.
 
#7 ·
i agree.....just get a new ppk or ppk/s and trick it out a tad with improved sights and laser grips if that is what you really like.

the problem is the desire for a da/sa slim CCH pistol with a manual safety..........that is old technology that many makers have moved away from. CZ is an option especially the model 83 if you can tolerate the larger grip. I like the model 83 and would trust it.......but again it is an old design.....no rail.
 
#9 ·
Hello,

Thank you all very much for your useful advice. I really appreciate your right on point recommendations, and the reference to good articles. I am definitely interested in all the recommendations that you have made.

Let me summarize what we have so far.

Try:
· A new Walther (Smith and Wesson) PPK
· A new Walther (Smith and Wesson) PPK with a laser sight (crimsontrace)
· A new CZ USA
· Ruger’s LC9 (9mm)
· Bersa Thunder (380 Plus)
· Model 83



Drop:
· The flashlight requirement (not worth it)
· The single and dual action requirement (old technology)

Please keep the recommendations coming.

Best regards,
JR
 
#12 · (Edited)
Hello All,

A quick update on my quest. I have gone to several gun stores and was unable to find a new PPK. I called Walther (479-242-8500) and the gentlemen there told me: “Of course you have not found any; everybody knows that we are not building them anymore." I asked if they are discontinued and he proceeded to say: " Don’t you know that we are moving production to a new factory? We will start again in Q1.” I asked if there will be any modernization of the design and his tone went from condescending to irritated: “This gun has been the best one in the market for over 50 years, why will we modernize it?”

Although I am disappointed in the poor customer engagement from Walther…. I still think that it is an option. It is also disappointing that after 50 years, they should had fine tuned the manufacturing process and learned to forecast their inventory.

From this exchange I am now debating between waiting for Q2 for the Walther, or moving on to other options. I mentioned Q2 as I will not buy the first batch from a new factory from a company that has a poor supply chain strategy.

Does anybody else know what is going on with Walther? Is this a dying company that is ran by dinasours, or is it that I got somebody that started their Friday happy hour a little bit too early? His tone led me to believe that it could be the happy hour, but the lack of notice on the web site that the gun is out of circulation, the out of stock condition, and the long time to transfer to a new factory let me to believe that it is a more systemic problem.

Could anybody else bring some light into the Walther situation?

Best regards,
JR
 
#15 ·
I"m not sure who you talked to?
I don't know what I'm talking about. There are some here who are experts. Years ago I looked at a PPK and it said: Under license of.... Walther.... it also had another name on the other side which I think was Interarms. I was not impressed with what I saw. Fit and finish was not what I would expect from Walther.
There are plenty available on gunbroker. One I looked at there said new and same thing as I saw before except it had Smith and Wesson on the other side.
 
#16 ·
The PPK's DA trigger pulls inhales VERY sharply and it's just a blowback 380. You can do much better. Put Corbon's 100 gr jhp into a pocket 9mm and you'll have 2-3x greater likelihood of stopping a man. I favor the cocked and locked Sig P938, mostly due to my decades of practice with a 1911. Sig does make a .22lr conversion unit for this 9mm, and they also offer a threaded barrel for silenced use.
 
#19 ·
guarnt is a well known (infamous) internet gunboard troll. Google "gunkid" and check him out. That's who was giving you advice. Heed his advice at your own peril.
 
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#24 ·
Hello All,

Thank you for your help and advice. I was able to take a trip to a gun store and had a lot of fun looking at their options. Their sales person was extremely helpful and full of information. After my research these are my options:

Bodyguard with crimson trace laser, 380 caliber with 2.75 barrel, 11.85 oz
Positive: Easy to carry, build in laser, easy for my wife to use
Downside: It felt like a toy

Sig P938, 9 mm 3.0 barrel, 16 oz (after market laser)
Positive: Felt very good in my hand. Feels solid. 9 MM with the form factor of the PPK
Downside: Twice the cost of the other two guns.

Bersa Thunder conceal carry 380 caliber 3.2” Barrer 16.4 oz
Positive: Low price
Downside: It is not as easy to carry as the bodyguard, nor as solid as the Sig.

Ruger
Positive: Good recommendation from the sales person
Downside: I know nothing about it.


Do you guys have any other positives or downsides that you want to share?

Best regards,
JR Rdz
 
#27 ·
Ruger
Positive: Good recommendation from the sales person
Downside: I know nothing about it.

Do you guys have any other positives or downsides that you want to share?

Best regards,
JR Rdz
Since you mentioned Ruger let me say I'm a Ruger Guy. Ruger's don't often get enthusiastic recommendations but if you specifically ask anyone that knows anything they will rarely say bad things.

I didn't recommended a Ruger when you said you liked your PPK but now that flood gates are open.

I never thought Ruger's were real pretty but always thought they were economical and practical.

I recently bought my second LCP (used), a LC9s pro and a P94 for good measure. I was going to get a LCP Custom but the time it took to look over the used guns they sold out.

Our friend PraireHunt mentioned the packability of the LCP. The tradeoff is the shootability but most of my range time is in the 5-10 yard range. I can keep my shots on a silhouette rapid fire so I'm okay. As much as I shy away from the 9 Kurz considering it's under powered. It's easy to carry and any gun is better than none. I'm experimenting with carrying 2 LCPs. I have a wallet holster I carry weak side and practice. I feel a little self conscience shooting gangsta style at the range with two guns one in each hand. You really need to practice what you plan to do so as funny as it makes me feel it must be done. Try taking a flashlight to practice shooting and you may get some looks.

It's also easier to put a $200 gun than a $500 gun where it may get stolen with less worry but be easier to access.

I found the LC9s pro (no safety) surprisingly easy to shoot. Not sure about the accuracy so it may be harder to shoot than I think. I can also keep it on a silhouette rapid fire but have not been able to get the bullet holes to touch slow aimed fire.

I also don't recommend lasers because I think they're a crutch. Guns fail but it's more likely for a laser to fail even if it's just dead batteries. If you rely on the laser too much and it goes kaput that may get you kilt. The split second of hesitation or aim often we don't think about or calculate it but it's there.

I don't have an LCR yet but it's on my list. I'm a revolver guy but the thickness of the cylinder for concealed carry has been keeping me away.
 
#25 ·
Sig P938.... It is the one gun that holds up the high quality factor of the Walther. It is a really nice gun. Would be proud to own one. You can also get another Sig very close to this that is a DA only. If you want that for safety sake. And the DA is much cheaper. If I were to choose...I might get the DA because I prefer my DA only LC9 to the new striker fired one. I imagine actually in a gun fight. That DA will provide a buffer of sorts for my trigger finger...stop me from spraying bullets all over the place. You might be happy with the DA only? DA only is much the same trigger as firing a revolver.

Ruger.... Great....absolutely GREAT customer service. Ruger has really been using their noggin with their LC line of guns. I"m impressed. They might have a quality issue or two. Refer to my first sentence in this paragraph.

I don't like the striker fired LC9s. You could easily get a used LC9 that is DA only and hammer fired. I really like mine alot.

Then you have the LCP in 380. That thing is so concealable and easy to take with you. You'll find yourself taking it to the bathroom with you. It's ridiculously nice and easy to conceal. You don't realize it now. It's much smaller than your PPK. Look at the new LCP Custom. It's nice. Definitely add the Hogue slip on grip. Not enough distance from the web of the hand to the trigger otherwise.

You really should shoot an LCR. You'll be impressed. Flat out impressed. Go to a range and rent one.

Another possibility is the Beretta Pico?

EDIT: I wouldn't fool around with lasers. Spend the money shooting your gun instead. The practice will pay off much more than the cost of the laser.
 
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