  At first glance you might say ho-hum a couple of polymer striker pistols from Walther, but some industrial strength 21st Century engineering went into both the PPQ and the P99. They are two very different pistols for two very different schools of thought when it comes to handgun training.  If you have ever dropped your mag while drawing your pistol because you whacked the mag button on you or your holster, you will appreciate the new design from Walther. You do have to alter your grip a bit to drop the mag, but at least you won’t do it by accident.  If you believe in the traditional Glock-style polymer striker-fired pistol philosophy but you are looking for a more 21st Century inspired gun, the PPQ is one of the best in class, and Walther has not leveraged the brand as they could have to command a higher price. The PPQ is price competitive to all the guns in its class.  The PPQ ate everything I fed it, including inexpensive steel-case ammo. I shot it best with this Hornady 124gr. TAP ammo.  The Walther PPQ breaks at just over 5 lbs. consistently. It has no tendency to stack up, and the reset is so minimal it can’t really even be measured. Most important, the reset and the trigger pull are intuitive and annunciated very well, better than most if not all.  Our 9mm test gun came with an extra 15 round mag (17 round available from S&W), interchangeable backstraps, and something you don’t see often, extra front blades to match your sight picture with point of impact. Nice touch Walther!  Both the Walther PPQ and P99 sport a 3 dot sighting system with a windage adjustable rear.  The Walther P99AS is a truly unique striker-pistol. If you have trained your whole life with a double action/single action pistol, the P99 is a 21st Century update to this approach, and if you don’t believe in the Glock methodology (I hope I’m not being too transparent here), the P99 should be your choice. If you carry a gun every day for self defense or duty, the P99 is in my humble (ok, ok, I know) opinion one of best choices in the market.  The decocker on the Walther P99 is integral to the slide.  The Walther P99 AS is very close in function to the classic Smith & Wesson 659 (this is a target model). But instead of having to deal with a lever that sticks out and has to be moved up and down, the P99 is a simple button, that is effectively ambidextrous, and that only requires one motion to decock.  The single action pull on the P99 has nearly the same feel as the long PPQ when it breaks, but the takeup is significantly lighter, as it would be with a DA/SA pistol. The full double action pull is extremely smooth and breaks about about 16 lbs.  The P99 shot to point of aim right out of the box with Hornady Critical Defense, and I was able to walk the groups around the targets with all the ammo types I tested. It had no failures to feed or fire regardless of my methods to try to make it fail.  The P99 has a cocked indicator in the back. The PPQ does not.  The P99 came with two more backstraps of different sizes and a spare 15 round magazine, as well as a magazine loader. |
Walther Firearms
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At first glance you would think the Walther P99 and PPQ are the same gun, but when you look closer, the only things they really have in common are the way they fire (with a striker), their basic profile, and their weight, 1 lb., 8.3oz. The rest is different.
If your inclination is “Yawwwwwn” when you see a review of a modern polymer striker fired pistol, you aren’t alone. All but a few go bang every time, feel great in your hand, and don’t seem to break ever. They even mostly look the same. But there are differences, even major differences, and PPQ and P99 are two guns that deserve a hard look. Most of us think of Walther as an old time manufacturer of WWI and WWII pistols, and for the current PPK/PPKS, but both the PPQ and P99 are standouts in the polymer pistol world and should be taken very seriously.
The P99 is a totally unique pistol in the striker-fired world, and if given a chance by police armorers, could take a lot of law enforcement sales away from other brands. The PPQ will eat your Glock for breakfast at an MSRP of $729 and street price under $600. I was so impressed with both guns that I decided to put them in one article together in hopes that people would read about them both, rather than have to click two articles. Elite is the word that came to mind, and both pistols are truly elite in the handgun world.
Both the PPQ and P99 employ a unique Walther ambidextrous magazine release that is a part of the trigger guard. It is a little hard to get used to, but once I did, I liked it. The downside to it is that you have to alter your grip on the gun to drop the mag (or have really long thumbs), but the upside is that you won’t accidentally drop the mag in a gunfight because you whacked the button, or because the bad guy pulled a Jackie Chan and dropped it for you. I have accidentally pushed mag buttons my whole life so for me it was a welcome improvement.
The other features they share are an effective three dot sight, with a windage adjustable rear (nice feature), a standard 15 round magazine (17 available from Smith & Wesson), and loaded chamber indicators on the side of the gun. They both have interchangeable backstraps for different size hands, a front rail, and both come in a 9mm and .40S&W configuration.
The Walther PPQ
Since I already spilled the beans about the unique status of the P99, I’ll start with the PPQ. It is a straight shot Glock alternative and in my opinion a better gun. You may remember from SHOT Show that I was impressed with the 1/10th inch reset on the PPQ. Walther calls this the QDT, or “Quick Defense Trigger.” If you are unfamiliar with what a small reset means, think of a double action revolver. After you fire it, your finger has to travel all the way forward to catch the hammer for the next shot. This reduces your reaction time in between shots. A revolver is the extreme example of a long reset.
The flip side is a 1911 style pistol, that always fires single action. The reset is very short, almost none and almost feels like there is no reset at all. This means there is very little “let up” required to have your finger ready for the next shot. I won’t get into the advantages and disadvantages of a single action 1911, but take from it the challenge in a striker fired pistol. How do you provide both an even and steady long pull with enough resistance to prevent accidental discharges, with a tiny and easy to use short reset?
Walther’s answer to this is to cock the gun all the way when you rack the slide. The pull of the trigger does not finish cocking the gun as it does with a Glock. This results in a reset that is probably less than 1/10th of an inch. It is so short you can’t measure it.
This begs the question, “is such a system safe, for the first shot as well as for the short reset subsequent shots?” The answer is “yes” on both counts. Like most other striker fired pistols, there is no drop safety on the PPQ. The safeties built into the first shot are the little lever on the trigger, internal “dropped gun” safeties, and the long resistive pull that it takes to fire when the gun is cocked and the trigger allowed to return all the way forward. In the PPQ, the hammer is all the way cocked as I said, but you would never know it from the initial trigger pull. It has its own resistance applied, about 3.5-4 lbs. of it, before you reach the very distinguishable “wall” that breaks that trigger at just over 5 lbs of pressure.
For subsequent shots, as soon as you let up the trigger at all, even the tiniest amount you are able to creep your finger forward, the PPQ produces an audible click, and your finger feels that breaking “wall” again, at the same 5lbs and a few ounces. I dug through my safe and tried a number of other striker fired pistols from various manufacturers, and none are as short or as annunciated ( both audible and tactile), as the PPQ and P99 (they are the same). Whether you agree with the striker fired polymer pistol philosophy of safety is beyond the scope of this article (well actually, see below in the P99), but if you do, the PPQ is as safe or safer than any other pistol in its class, with flawless function, nextgen ergonomics, and a great price.
Unique to the PPQ is a textured grip system that Walther calls a “Cross Directional Textured Tactical Grip(tm).” It is a mouthful I know, but the grip on the PPQ is surprisingly different. It grabs your hand better than standard ridging, but isn’t abrasive like the skateboard tape feel of many extremely aggressive grip surfaces. The PPQ also has both front and rear slide serrations, and the one thing it lacks that you might expect is a cocked indicator in the rear. I was not able to test this gun in my Ransom Rest because they don’t make the panels for it yet, but in casual shooting at 10 yards I was able to easily keep it in a few inches, similar to other guns I have tested in this class in casual shooting from a bag.
The Walther P99 AS
Preventing an accidental discharge in or after a gunfight should be as important to you as the performance of the handgun itself. Most accidental discharges I have seen over the years have come from re-holstering the weapon. In the midst of severe tunnel vision that is almost guaranteed in advanced confrontation or an actual gunfight, the individual habitually attempts to holster the weapon without thinking and does not pull out his or her finger from the trigger guard. The finger catches on the holster as the weapon is pushed in and bang, you’ve shot yourself in the leg.
The P99 is from what I have seen the only striker fired polymer pistol with a “decocker.” To understand what this is, especially if you have come from a standard Glock way of thinking, go to a range with rental guns and try a Sig 226, or a Beretta 92, or this Smith & Wesson 659 I have included in the pictures. These guns are all called “double action/single action” (DA/SA) and have an exposed hammer with what is called a “decocker.” The decocker lever allows you to rack the slide to put a round in the chamber then drop the hammer safely without ever having to press the trigger at all. Your first shot is “double action,” which is heavier than single action and thus easier to not shoot someone by accident, including yourself. The subsequent shots are then “single action,” where the hammer is already back from the rearward travel of the slide and you only have to reset the trigger. I explained reset in the section on the PPQ, and it is the single action pull of the P99 that has that almost impossible short reset of the PPQ.
Training for this decock movement before you reholster the firearm has been part of the police, security guard, and concealed carry regimen for decades. Like driving a car, you just do it. Training for a decock with the P99 is the same way, but the P99 is a 21st Century alternative. There are no giant ears on the sides of the gun to catch on things. The decocker is integral to the frame. The trigger pull is not scratchy and doesn’t have a tendency to stack up depending on where you put your finger like a lot of DA/SA guns. It is butter smooth and extremely consistent at about 11 lbs.
The second shot is much the same as it is with a traditional hammer fired double DA/SA pistol, except that it has that almost impossibly short reset as seen on the PPQ. The audible and tactile annunciation of the reset is the same as the PPQ. The major difference is that if you let your finger all the way forward and don’t decock the P99, the subsequent long pull does not have the resistance of the PPQ. It is less than 2.5 lbs. You would train to decock the P99 as soon as the current threat has ended regardless.
The model we are talking about here is the AS version. There is also a double action only version, though I have not tried it. It would lack the decocker. Double action only versions of pistols are meant to mimic the function of a double action only revolver, which is required by many security firms. A double action only gun removes the ability to cock the gun to intimidate someone, as in click, click, “go ahead, make my day. ” It will only fire from a long, full trigger pull.
The P99 does have a cocked indicator in the rear, and it doesn’t have the front slide serrations like the PPQ. Some people train to hold the front of the slide to rack a failure to fire, but I don’t think this gun will ever fail to fire, except in the case of a hard primer. For that, the P99 is one of very few striker fired guns with a “second strike” capability. You can pull the trigger a second time and the striker will hit the primer again. Like the PPQ, the P99 seems as accurate as any other gun in its class I have fired. The MSRP on the P99 is $679 and the street price is significantly less. Walther is also shipping a compact of this model, though I have not seen one in person yet.
Both guns shot every type of ammunition I put through them, including the steel case Hornady Steel Match. They don’t bend brass on you, and the extractors show no signs on the case head. I know it gets tiring to hear over and over again, but neither gun failed to fire no matter how much I limp wristed them. If you are just researching for an alternative to the ubiquitous and tiresome Glock, or you are a serious professional looking to outfit a police force or security company, I would take a look at the Walthers. They are an elite class of firearm for a price competitive with lesser-guns, and the P99 is completely unique. Plastic pistols may all look the same, but don’t underestimate the Walthers.
Walther Firearms
I was wondering.
I saw here that Smith&Wesson has a 17 round magazine that will work in the P99
The question is. If I wanted to order those magazines for my P99. Which S&W magazines should I be looking for?
Also I have read on other sights that there are Canik mags, 18 round mags that will also work in the P99. But no particular model of Canik is given to know which magazines to order.
And lastly, are there any other brands, Canik? Smith&Wesson? Other that make a 17 or 18 round magazine for the PPQ M2. I’ve read that the mags for the PPQ M2 and the PPQ with the paddle style mag release are not interchangeable. Which I don’t understand. Not that it matters I guess.
I have the M2 and would like to find some higher capacity mags that fit that don’t require any cutting or grinding.
Lol try using your index finger for the mag release.
Check out the canik tp9sa. Very similar, half the price.
I have the Canick TP9SA. Fantastic firearm, and the reset is as close to the PPQ, as it gets. Also an 18 round mag
The Canik is a Single Action Only ;-(
I’m surprised no one noticed, or at least commented on, that in the 11th picture from the top (showing the trigger pull for the Walther P99) the single action pull is not 5lbs. 10 oz. it is 5 lbs. 1 oz.
Also, in the text they say that “the subsequent long pull does not have the resistance of the PPQ. It is less than 2.5 lbs.” Not sure where they get that as the picture shows a single action pull of 5 lbs. 1 oz.
The lack of a decocker was a deal breaker for me on the PPX which is a cheaper version of the PPQ but better in a number of ways. However, unlike the PPQ which has a split trigger ssfety, there is no external safeties on the PPX, and with the same short reset as the PPQ. I could not feel comfortable laying this gun down for a second because it can only be “decocked” by (a) dropping the mag, (b) racking the slide to unchamber the round, and (c) dry firing the trigger. Also, when you put the slide back on after a C&L of the insides, it pre-cocks the striker again, so you have to remember to dry fire the trigger again.
If the PPX had a decocker, it would be a world beater. It will outshoot a Glock 17 while blindfolded. The slide only needs to be pulled back part of the way to cock the striker. A full stroke on the slide does not return the trigger to its starting point because once it’s cocked, only pulling the trigger and emptying the chamber will reset it back to point A. I hated the fact that I had to sell it, but I could not keep it for a home defender knowing how easy it would be to trip that trigger with anything that manages to catch an edge of it.
I would love to have a P99, but nobody discounts them!
The P99 AS is on sale at CDNN for about $520
The PPX does not have a striker.
It has a hammer.
CDNN has them for just over $500 right now and that’s cheaper than a new Gen 4 Glock.
There is your big discount!
I really enjoyed your review, but you should not use your thumb to drop the magazine with this type of lever. It should be done by your trigger finger so you will not have to alter your grip. I really enjoy the ppq pistol and decided to purchase one myself and feel the trigger might be a little to quick for local police… so maybe they should buy the p99.
The Walther PPQ has been an absolute joy to buy, hold and most importantly, shoot. With large amounts of training I do in my private time, I try to stick with the 9mm for cost reasons and availability. After deciding I wanted to replace my Sig Sauer P229 9mm I debated, researched and fired the Walther PPQ 9mm, Walther P99 9mm, Beretta M9A1 9mm, Beretta PX4 9mm, Heckler and Koch P30L 9mm, Smith and Wesson M&P Pro 9mm, Springfield XM Tactical 9mm, Glock 17 9mm, Glock 34 9mm and Sig Sauer P226 9mm. All of these pistols were put on trial by me at a local gun range over the course of approximately a month and all pistols had the same manufactured 200 rounds of full metal jacket put through them. The Walther PPQ was the second to the last pistol I tried and it was fantastic. The ergonomics, the recoil, the handling, the superb trigger and the extremely good accuracy. Undoubtedly the Walther PPQ wasn’t at the top of my list for a possible replacement at first but after firing it this pistol is definitely what we call, “On time and on target”. To give a little more weight to my opinion I served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001-2005, worked for private contractors through the D.o.D. in the Middle East from 2005-2008, and now I am a law enforcement officer in the State of Florida. In all that time I have shot and qualified and been an expert with numerous pistols and by far the Walther PPQ is the best weapon for me. Today, I put 1,000 rounds of Fiocchi 115 grain full metal jacket through my Walther PPQ without any cleaning during the course and it did spectacular. During the firing I didn’t experience one failure to feed, failure to fire, stovepipe, magazine problem or anything. My Walther PPQ now has 1,500 rounds fired through it without a single issue. This is something I cant even say about my duty issue Glock 22. 40S&W. With my brand new duty issued Glock 22 in September 2013 I fired 1,000 rounds through the same course with Federal 180 grain full metal jacket and experienced 1 stovepipe, 1 failure to feed and 1 failure to eject properly. This pistol is so good I have decided to assist my fiancé and family in getting their hands on one and I would never recommend something to them I didn’t absolutely trust with their lives and mine. If your considering getting a pistol, do yourself a favor and at least look and try one of these wonderful pistols.
The PPQ has a SA trigger that is far too light for a defensive pistol.
Better of with a P99 AS which is most likely the best defensive pistol ever made.
Excellent review, thanks so much for doing it.
I’m doing research for buying my first pistol, and I’ve pretty much decided on one of these two guns. Can you tell me though, is the P99 or PPQ better than the other? I realize that “better” is a subjective term, but I’m confused about the difference between the two. I know that the P99 has been around for years and the PPQ is fairly new, so does that indicate that the PPQ is an upgraded model? Last question, and hopefully you know…the Walther site shows a new model (M2) of the PPQ…any thoughts?
Thanks so much again,
Andy
I take exception to the having to change your grip to engage the mag release. If you use your trigger finger, there is no grip change and it very natural once you try it. I absolutely love my PPQ and am disappointed that the new PPQ M2 has gone back to the button mag release.
Agreed.
I fully agree with you, Mr. Zering. I am completely satisfied with my PPQ, so much that I had not considered the P99 before today. I’m enlightened by learning of the differences in these two, fine pistols offered by Walther.
Now, if we may only continue to be supplied pistols with the M1 style mag release. I’d add more to my armory.
It’s your middle finger (the bird finger) that you should be using for the slide release lever.
bought a used p99qa. 40 from a buddy who took it to war. he shot thousands of rounds with no malfunctions of anykind. it saved his life on a few occations. ive owned it now for almost two years and put over 3000 rounds through it. still no malfunctions. no modifications were ever made. still stock. by far the best firearm ive ever owned. best hundred bucks ive ever spent. thats right, a hundred bucks. my buddy just wanted it gone(bad memories). im not even sure if he was allowed to take it with him but he did. said he wouldnt go without it. i will always trust this pistol. thanks rick
I purchased a P99 AS in 9 mm a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting a nice 9mm for a while now and I was particularly impressed with the ergomics of the pistol. I have looked at Glocks, and shot a G 17,but the gun didn’t fit my hand. Something about it was just not right. I learned to shoot with a Kimber.45 ACP, so finding a striker fired pistol that felt good in my hand was pretty tough. The P99 doesn’t have the trigger that my 1911 does (heck what does for that matter), but the very nature of the molding process and wear characteristics of polymer between moving trigger parts leads me to believe that to expect it to be comparable to the trigger of a say …..a Sig, would be unreasonable. However, it’s still not bad. At all. So far I really like this little gun.
I really appreciated the dual review format. Thank you.
I own a P99 QA and a P5. I love the both of them even though they are entirely different weapons. The P5 is getting long in the tooth now but it is a great weapon to shoot and very accurate. I get more consistent grouping with the p99 and it is a helluva gun to shoot. Folks say they are ugly (especially the P5) its just a matter of personal taste really I love ’em.
and they say glocks are ugly. damn. these look like water guns. Dude doggin on glock, but simple fact is, they been on top so long, the only thing tiresome is watching everyone else try to catch up. Ricardo tubbs will stick with his good ol g19 when he has to clean up the streets down here in sunny miami. Peace
Don’t knock a Walther till you try it. Blows flocks away. My P99AS is the best handgun I have ever fired it is my choice CCW weapon
It’s currently impossible to get a P99AS in .40 S&W. Contacted Smith & Wesson and received a run time of 18 weeks! That’s mid-January 2013! Placed a special order with the gun shop and just waiting now…
Love my P99. 1500 rounds, zero failures. I couldn’t design a custom grip that fit my hand any better.
Admittedly, my intial interest in the weapon was the James Bond factor, but when it came time to actually spending my hard earned money I looked at everything. I came back to the P99. I like the glock striker-fired concept and reliability but wanted a little more safety features that they offer. The DA/SA system w/decocker that the P99AS offers fits what I had in mind. I want my first shot to be very deliberate but I want to rain fire after that. To my knowledge, the only other striker fired pistol that is DA/SA on the market is the Taurus 24/7.
In SA the P99 is extremely accurate for target shooting. Me and 4 of my buddies took a pepsi challenge with the P99, Glock 17, Sig 2022, Beretta PX4, S&W Sigma, and a Springfield XD (all in the same caliber). The P99 was the only gun to score in the top half for accuracy for all shooters. The only guy who didn’t absolutely love the P99 was the glock guy. He thought the trigger was weird (but he was brand new to the weapon too).
Highly overpriced, for $40 worth of steel & .50 worth of plastic
I agree, the Glock is overpriced.
well, i find it good with the new decocker, lets see what we’ve got with this version.
Maybe……
I have been shooting for 25 yrs., was in the military, and have shot and trained with many different weapons. I have owned H&K, Ruger, and currently Ruger SR22P and Walther P99 AS. I absolutely LOVE my P99 and believe it’s one of the BEST offerings ON THE MARKET!!! In my opinion the only thing better would be a H&K P30.
Well written, informative article. Thanks.
This is great for the potential buyer. You get all aspects from seller ,other buyers and manufacture.These are tried and true sidearms your going to possible put you life on ! So you want to know the particulars good and bad. But I have not heard any bad on any forums…………..that’s good the P99 in all series and you don’t have to pay and arm or a house payment for dependability and reliability. The cal. is you choice the 9 is little recoil barely the more stout 40 has a little recoil but not bad at all , it’s up yo you ,both feed and fire trouble free. Enjoy a well made sidearm !
This is a good discussion. The info on the guns is good as well as all the comments. The manufacturers as well as the comments have ignored a segment of shooters, to wit: elderly ladies and those that have a handicap as with M.S. The heavy pull of 11 lb. or even 7 lb is too much for these ppersons to overcome. Yet they want a self defence gun in a .380 or 9 mm. A decocker is highly desired. Decocking a revolver is also beyond their means. I know several individuals in this group that find that cocking the hammer on a Walther PPK/s is too much. Double action on the first shoot is beyond their ability. Yet once the gun is cocked for them, they are excellent shots and handle the gun very well. They highly desire a defensive weapon.
Any suggestion from the group?
A wrist rocket sling shot.
Well, they’re not the pre-S&W PPK/S with ambidextrous safety, but they’re nice! I’d be proud to own one (or two)!
I’ve own 2 P99 AS since 2004, one 9mm the other 40 S&W and can completely agree with the article that these weapons are a cut above the rest. I reload the 40 S&W with 175gn lead semi wadcutter’s and have never had a failure to feed or fire those lead rounds. The decocking feature is by far the most significant safety improvement in the handgun world today. Recently I purchased the new Crimson Trace Rail Master laser sight model CMR-201 and installed it on my 40 S&W gun, by far another improvement in a small package that makes the Walther a standout for shooting.
With out a doubt these are fine weapons that are worth having.
Walther has always made high quality firearms. I can’t wait to give this a try. The trigger is the biggest problem for most people I know when it comes to striker fired pistols. I love my Glocks but have installed custom triggers in each one. This should raise the bar.
Neither can touch a Glock 29
Whatever flock fanboy….Both guns blow flock out of the water. Maybe you should give me a try and you will see. Walther quality for price point is above the rest. Nuff said.
I too own several Walthers. I have three P-99″s and one PPS all in .40 cal. All shoot well and are very accurate and recoil is no problem. The S&W 99 mags also fit the P-99″S as they are nearly the same weapon. The PPS uses different mags as it is a smaller thinner gun and does not hold as many rounds, up to 7 only. Anyway, you cannot go wrong owning one of these. I think i will be buying another this next week as I see a couple not far from here for sale. Good luck with them.
I own a P99AS 9mm. I’m very impressed with the ergonomics and easy of carry. I think its the ideal compromise between compact size and reliable function. It runs all types of ammo with no failures to feed or extract. It’s very accurate for a striker fire gun. I like the 4 inch barrel length….easy for concealed carry. I also own a S&W M&P 40 cal. I will probably get a 40 cal P99 AS as well. U Great gun.
great review …on the mag release i use my trigger(index) finger. have you tried this?
I kinda have short thumbs i guess but thus works great for me
I love my P99AS. I really do. Even though mine is only 9mm, it has replaced my “better” guns as my choice for carry. Even at the 3 o’clock position it can hide relatively nicely underneath a loose shirt or hoodie with a little bit of a tilt.
As for having to reposition your hand and turn the gun sideways to reload, that’s crazy talk, just use your middle finger to flip the mag-release lever! It works great for me – it’s quick and I never miss that big beautiful lever.
I have seen one or two malfunctions out of mine though, but not while I was shooting. A couple of very very very new shooters, who happen to be tiny women, have limpwristed just enough to cause a stovepipe, but that’s the only problem I’ve seen. I’ve also noticed (as have many others) that the gun really needs very limited cleaning to function reliably. In fact, after most range trips, I’ll usually just wipe the dust off the muzzle and leave it at that. Never been a problem – I was anal about cleaning it at first, but there was no need for that at all.
Good to see that others agree with my opinions of this gun and that I’m not a freak. I really think p99 is one of the most underrated guns available.
I have a P99 as my very first gun (have shot my GF’s collection of Glock, CZ75, Grand Puissance, etc) and we are very impressed with its performance. Last week at the range we did some malfunction drills with brass picked up off the range to try and induce misfeeds and didn’t get a single one out of over 100 attempts! The P99 just ate the empty brass and waited for a tap-rack-bang. No stovepipes or doublefeeds at all. I’m no expert, but she is and says this is pretty unusual.
As a new shooter, my take on ergonomics is untainted with years of getting used to the traditional methods of operation. So the P99’s magazine release lever seems completely natural and very easy to hit with my trigger finger. Just sweep down and there it is. The big slide release “shelf” of a lever is so easy to sweep on slide lock reloads. The mag well is easy to index a magazine into. The sights are crisp and easy to pick up. Compare this to the atrocity on my GF’s Gen II Glock 17 with a massive front post and dot along with giant “U” trough on the back. The grip is fantastic- very thin for a double stack magazine and fits my slightly smaller than medium (as a standard “guy hand” seems to be) hand very well. Unlike that horrible “Glock block.”
The trigger on my P99 AS is a bit funky. In a good way. One of the things I wanted in my first gun was something to assuage my fears of AD during draw and holster for concealed carry. I’m not to the point of carrying yet, but it was a major factor when I was looking at my very first gun. I don’t really like a gun for carry with no way to lock the gun as “safe.” Call it being a noob, female, or whatever. The problem is that guns with a manual safety tend to suck in other ways. Namely, weight and ergonomics since they tend to be metal framed and old-school. The P99 AS has a pretty beefy initial DA pull, along with a long take up which I find very comforting. It’s reset is so short I have to train not to double-tap. IMO this is the best of both worlds for a concealed weapon. The decocker makes it easy to put away, as the DA pull is very hard to accomplish accidentally. It’s not just a function of trigger weight, but also of pull length.
One thing few reviews mention is the level of quality you get from a pistol manufactured in Europe. The slide, barrel, and frame of my P99 have proof house marks signifying that an actual human being looked at them and checked for tolerances. A test target came with my gun, showing that it can do a 2″ 5-shot group at 25 meters. Not impressive by custom gun standards, but I paid $550 for my Walther and not $3000. The proof house pedigree of my gun and the attention to MY gun is very reassuring and something you will not get from any US factory gun.
Anyhow, to wrap up my rant-view:
The P99 AS is exquisite. It meets and surpasses my needs for a personal carry weapon.
Hi all –
Primarily I wanted to express my thanks to the writer of the article and the knowledgeable folks that engaged in the comments. I’ve always been enough of a firearms fan to stay educated on the topic, but never much of an owner because the (now ex) mrs. wasn’t really gun-friendly, and frankly I couldn’t justify the purchase of another gun with four kids to finance. Haven’t shot more than a handful of times in the last ten – fifteen years.
As my two youngest men are at the tail-end of their teen years now, I realized that they have no practical experience with a handgun, and my only other one is a revolver (on a side note, I found out my unfluted 627 Classic Hunter .357 from ’89 is worth a ton of money, wow). Aside from wanting to start shooting again, I also wanted my kids to know how to handle a gun, so that in the unfortunate situation that they find themselves needing to deal with one, it won’t be their first time.
I landed on the P99 AS after a considerable amount of research. Originally I wanted an HK P30, which is a phenomenal device but nothing I read could convince me that for my purposes, there was any measurable benefit for the price premium. I next landed on the XdM, as accessories are rampant, but I fell in love with the aesthetics of the Walther over the Springfield, and I feel like the P99 just has a feeling of, I don’t know, “collectibility” to it that the Sigs and Springfields in my price range just didn’t seem to have — especially considering that I expect the P99 will be phased out in favor of the PPQ, which I just don’t like as much. No real reason, just purely subjective (and I really like the trigger on the AS).
Long story short – a couple of hours ago I picked up my factory-new P99 AS. It’s a beautiful gun and I’m proud to own it — they’re harder to find than I had expected.
Thanks for reading the ramble — anyone who has some tips for an intelligent but inexperienced new owner would be much appreciated. Looking forward to getting to the range soon, but my wallet is concerned that I’ve been re-bitten by the bug. 🙂
I, currently. P99QA’s in both the 9mm and .40S&W flovors. I have been trying to get some info, on the PPQ trigger assemly. Can it be dropped into the P99 Frame?
The PPG IS MADE IN GERMANY. It is imported by S&W.
The factory laser stamping on the slide bears testament to this fact.
I have fired the PPS and now own a PPQ. It plain rocks. Fit, finish, detail work and, by the way, accuracy and smooth firing.
There must be a good reason Walther PPS is the choice CCW of the Navy Seals.
While still new, I am sure that PPQ will become one of those guns that is “The” gun everyone wants….in it’s particular genre.
Nice post. I’ve carried my Walther P-99 AS for about 9 years and I really love this gun, I cannot find anything bad about it. Well, until it broke while I was doing a qualification course. I’m a retired NYC detective and I go qualify once a year so that I can carry nation wide. Anyway I was qualifying when the gun started to jam alot, it jammed 7 times and it had never jammed in all these years, I still passed. It got me pretty mad when we finished and the guy next to me told me that I should get a Glock. When I got home and check the gun I notice that a piece from the ejector was missing. Luckly I had a lifetime warranty on it, they sent it out and the gun cannot be repaired. So I’m getting a new or refurbished one from Germany, the only thing is that it’s over 4 months and the gun is not in yet. Also, I had ordered a mag for this gun about two month before the gun broke and it’s not in either. I just wonder why does it take so long to order parts from Walther. I still love this gun though. I’m carrying now the Baretta 92F and it is just to big and heavy.
Interesting post. I had been looking around for another pistol for my collection and have been weighing between a fnp-9 and a p99. Anyone wanna comment or have any experience with the two. I dont plan on them being a carry gun, as i have others for that. I currently have a xd45, glock 23, m&p 45, sig p220, and a taurus mil 45, and a M&P 40c. I decided that i will get a 9mm finally, even though i am not a fan of it for self defense. I have held the p99 and the ppq, personally i like the p99 feel better but that is just me.
As for those of you who think s&w makes the walther, that is incorrect, they made the sw99 , their version, and they machine the slides for the ppk. They did a limited run of p99’s but stopped a few years back.They import their walthers from walther and are a exclusive distributor for them. You can find that info on carl walther website all day long, as you can on s&w’s site. The s&w mark on the slide of the frame is the import stamp, as is on alot of other weapons imported but made elsewhere.
But back to the original question, given the 2, which would some of you go with, fn or walther?
Funny how people are saying it’s a HK P30 clone. P99 has been around way before the HK P30.
The double action version of the P99 (mine is the P99QAc – the compact) does indeed have a decocker. When the pistol is decocked, pulling the trigger will do absolutely nothing. In order to fire the pistol, you must “set” the trigger, which is done by sliding the slide back about 3/8″. When fired, every pull of the trigger is exactly the same long, double action–pulling the striker back and releasing it.
With the pistol decocked, it is absolutely required that the trigger be set, with the very audible click that goes with it, in order to use the pistol. But, unlike a single action revolver, every pull of the trigger is the longer double action movement.
With the double action version, carried decocked, it is actually still possible to draw and fire one handed, with a small trick I developed: a pair of the 1/2″ silicon feet (like the ones you put on the bottom of things to prevent scratching furniture), stuck together, and tucked down into the bottom of holster in front of the slide. When pulling the pistol to use it, you actually push down on the pistol, into the holster, which sets the trigger.
FYI, Walther is owned by Smith and Wesson.
My information is that Walther is owned by Umarex, a German company, which has a limited licensing agreement with S&W. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_arms#History
Actually, walther is not owned by s&w, they are the exclusive importers/distributors of the weapon. S&W only made the sw99 version along with the cooperation of walther, they did a limited production of “American Made” p99’s but stopped a long time ago. They now only machine the slides for the ppk. They stamp their name on the side as the importer but do not have anything to do with the manufacturing of the pistol. You can see that on both walther and s/w websites, not the walther portion of S&W, but http://www.carl-walther.de and translate to english.
The PPQ “will eat your Glock for lunch” at under $600? Last time I checked most Glock models were selling for right at $500. My G33 was $499 brand new and I would be hard pressed to beat that firepower and size for the money. GLocks are love em or hate em but for a sub-compact? I consider myself an H&K guy but for the price? the Glock is a much better deal than the H&K or the PPQ. Plus, good luck finding any holsters or accessories that aren’t from the factory.
My PPQ will eat your Glock for lunch… true story. i have yet to have a failure. well over 2000 rounds. i will feed her anything and she will eat it up… pick the PPQ up its at home in your hand. levers make the slide sooooo easy to drop thumb or index finger, or both. being a lefty nothing is better. aside from the action and trigger the ergonomics and styling are reminiscent of a H&K p30… rented one and shot them side by side and i am even happier with my purchase. for about 400-500 less i am not at all envious of it, price not being a factor i would still take my walther without a second thought. incredible pistol… i’ve owned a glock, nothing bad to say about them, just not for me… walther ppq i’ve yet to find a pistol i’d rather carry
P.S. Levers over Tabs anyday
Hello all I have for the last 8 or 10 years tried to see if anyone in the gun world knew the value of a SPAS 15 shotgun. Years ago I dutifully turned in the papper work for it and when I got it back they marked out the 15 and replaced it with a 12. It is an 15 with a box magazine that feeds from underneath. I was told there was only 50 imported (before the ban) in to the US and that one was destroyed because it was involved in a crime. It will fire pump or semi-automatic. Thank you fro any help you may render.. Walt
There were 140 or 180 (I forget which) SPAS-15 shotguns imported. In excellent shape you can expect to get $5k or more for it. No one really shoots them anymore, mostly they’re safe queens or gun show display pieces. Hang onto it, or, if you’re interested in trading, I have an extra M1919A4 Semi-auto . . . 😉
I bought my Walther P99 in 40S&W in 1997! I have had it 15 yrs! I must over 20,000 rounds through it and never had a jam. Love this gun and it is very very accurate! Sadly, it is time to retire it! Plan on replacing it with the new PPQ in 40.
i curently own a p99. i have an extreme collection of almost every auto pistoll u can name. i am also an avid reloader both for myself and a few local folks. my 99 eats absoulutly anything i feed it and begs for more. it has never faild from the first shot until now. i cant tell you how many rounds i have put through it in the 3yrs i have owned it cause i also use it as a test gun for my reloads. my curent 99 is 40 s&w and i am curently looking for a 9mm in the 99. if u see one grab it . it will be the best buy in a pistol u will ever make.
GLOCK WHO????????
YOU WANT THE BEST,NOW YOU GOT IT WALTHER THE P99 40 CAL !!!!!!!!!
I’ve carried a P88 for many years. Carried it on duty from 1993 till retirement in 2008. Never failed and is in my opinion the best pistol ever made. The features it has are not available on any other gun that I am aware of. Does not surprise me that Walther would be bringing out a new semi auto. Will have to look it over especially since it sounds like they did it again. Anyone who hasn’t tried their guns is cheating themselves. Quality through and through.
I have a “Carl Walther” P99-QA .40 Cal purchased before S&W started making them. I would say it is the BEST handgun I have ever owned and oh so easy to shoot. I test drove numerous Glocks, Kimber, HK’s (All great). But the Walther just “Felt” the best!
I had a Walther P22 “Limited Edition” when they first came out. The gun jammed several times with the first couple of magazines worth of shooting, then EXPLODED IN MY FACE!
Lucky I was wearing shooting glasses, as was the store/range owner who had come in at my request to witness my new purchase jamming over and over again.
I will NEVER own another Walther product, EVER!
Their US-made PPK’s kick like mules and jam all the time too.
Walther is NOT a company to be taken seriously, period!
I should have sued them, now that I think about it…
I have a Walther, a P-38 that my Granddad took from a German who reluctantly surrendered it with alittle .30 caliber assistance. It’s in perfect shape, handed down from one of my uncles, and I even vaguely remember firing it once when I was much younger. It was excellent (mid war, so the finish was still good) at putting rounds down range, and seemed solid and well constructed. It was Mauser made rather than Walther made, just as modern Walters are made by Smith and Wesson (the new one, not the original), and therein lies the problem. It is Very Hard today to tell quality by brand name. Whereas Walther in the past had a good to excellent reputation, Smith and Wesson, when it comes to Semi-Auto pistols, does not. I owned one of their Model 59’s and carried it in the service in the early 80’s (the .45’s in my unit were in terrible shape and I felt tank crewmen were miserably underarmed, so I bought a Colt Carbine and the M59 to replace my M1911A1 and my M3A1) worked SORT of like the Walters above. They were DA/SA with a manual decocker in the same position (thought it was a level rather than a switch), an aluminum frame, and a HORRIBLE trigger pull (which for military purposes was fine, although I got rid of it soon after leaving the service). I mean it was like hauling a cart with my finger for that first double action shot, which I was basically using JUST to cock the weapon since there was no chance of hitting anything unless I took the time to cock it manually first (no shrouded hammer).
So, if Smith and Wesson wants to keep selling Semi-Auto pistols, and call them Walthers, just to get away from their rather horrid reputation in the Semi-Auto world, fine, but until I get a chance to try out someone else’s I’ll stick with my FN FiveseveN, which at least has a manual safety I can engage, and a more than sufficient magazine capacity. Plus with 5.7x28mm FN you don’t have to worry about ricochets or over penetration nailing a bystander. The first thing those rounds hit they disintegrate into it.
I do in a way agree with you on the model 59’s. I too carried a 59 in the 80’s and had some problems with it failing to fire at times. On the other hand, now carrying a M&P, they are great firearms and I have never had any problems with it. So much so, I have purchased a total of three of them and would carry as well as suggest them to anyone else to carry them. I have never had the chance to fire the Walther’s, but I have in the course of my current employment handled many of them and would consider owning the Walther’s. Yes, it takes a bit to get use to the magazine release, but all in all it is a great pistol and well made. As for the fact that S&W is making them, well the lifetime warranty says a lot to me and should to others as well about the quality of the gun.
FWIW, Snith & Wesson doesn’t make the P99 or the PPQ. they are the importer. guns are made at Walther in Ulm, Germany. The P22’s aren’t actually made by Walther, instead they are made by Umarex. Umarex owns Walther, so they can use Walther’s trademarks. Most .22 auto’s are pretty unreliable when compared to service caliber guns. For example, the Sig Mosquito. Again, that gun is not actually manufactured by sig sauer. they just license the trademark and import it. It’s a POS, that doesn’t make Sig Classic guns POS’s. Food for thought. There isa reason a P22 costs less than half of what a P99 or PPQ does, both of which are excellent guns that most certainly only look like Hi-points to someone with very little education or eye for details. 🙂
The Walther P22 is not really made by walther, the PPK is made by smith and wesson. The P-99 is made in germany, so is the PPQ and PPS
I have tried several Walthers also. I had a P99, a PPK and now had a PPQ. Notice all are past tense. Walthers are pretty, not the best or accurate by any means. Everyone is always trying to out do Glock for a reason. They ARE the ones to beat. Keep trying though, I cant wait to see whats next. I love guns, I love shooting. I appreciate functional and accurate guns. Thats why I chose Glock over Walther.
Glad that SOMEONE–however no-named that this person is–was impressed by the PPQ, at least for Walther’s/S&W’s sake. Personally I didn’t care for it at all when I looked at and fondled the 9mm version (though the .40SW version I looked at a week later seemed better screwed together). The grip panel fit was atrocious, creaking and moving every time I put pressure on it or changed my grip. I thought the trigger was rather gritty and just plain mushy, with no crisp break beyond the stacking point (again, another area where the .40SW version I looked at came off better). The ultra short reset was impressive though, but seriously, does that truly matter for most people who would buy a gun like this? This ain’t no race gun. As for looks and overall build quality, to me it comes off like a low-rent HK P30, only striker-fired and of course a lot less dollars out of pocket. Frankly, I think S&W’s own M&Ps are a better choice, even with those weird articulated triggers. And unlike this unnamed writer’s opine, I don’t think Glock is suffering any sleepless nights over either of these pistol designs.
I have owned the P99 since 2001 and has been my personal choice to conceil carry. I would not change it for another!!!!
If we are going to be honest with each other (which we probably won’t), these pistols look like Hi-Points. Big time. And we always said those were ugly, but since this is a “better brand” we will gush over it and pay 3 times as much? Sure it’s a better pistol, but it’s ugly as hell…
I have a HI Point C9 and it is a GREAT deal for the Money hands down!!!!! But in no way does what you are saying have any validity.
If you shot my HI Point, then my Walther……… I guarantee your grouping with the Walther would be 2-3 times better. That and it weighs about a POUND less!!!
I back up HI Point for a inexpensive Gun……But in comparisson it is a piece of SHIT next to my P99-QA Can’t get more unbiased, I own both.
LOL Daniel W you must be high
Definately would like to own one of these little beauties perfect for con.carry.
could you send me all your gun catalogs you guys carry thank you. rifles shot gun pistols etc.
Nice weapons and an excellent review. I have one Walther (P-38) and have always enjoyed shooting it. I do not have a fondness for using polymers on any firearms. I prefer steel and my favorite handgun is my CZ 75. Nothing else I have owned has been as accurate in the “self-loader” category. Since I am not a daily carrier of a firearm weight is not an issue. I will say that if I were to use this review as a basis for purchasing a polymer framed handgun the Walther would be what I would look at first. I have lots of friends with Glocks and just never liked them much. My son has a really nice Sig that I like too but it cost a ton. He is like me in that we prefer steel framed handguns.
they are beautiful pistols.hopefully one day i’ll get to shoot them.
I own four P99s including the S&W .45 ACP version and, other than 9m/m magazines being hard to find, I have had no problems with the .40S&Ws and 9m/m. The .45 shoots beautifully and with superior accuracy for a striker fired weapon. It does have a quirky vibration when fired and only holds nine rounds in the mag, which may be why it is so rarely encountered.
I did fire the Quick Action version in 9 Para at the factory when it first came out and found that both easy and accurate despite my personal dislike of DAO style guns. I am glad to see they are supplying mag loaders at last …the .45 is a bear to load but a Les Baer to shoot !
You will enjoy and rely on any P.99 you get.
I’ve got the P99 AS 9mm, what is the name of the S&W .45 Cal version?
Regarding the magazine release, you actually don’t have to move your hand at all if you use your trigger finger to release the magazine. It’s by far the fastest and smoothest way to change a magazine. Same thing goes for some of the HK pistols with similar magazine releases. Give it a try, and you’ll see how superior this system is compared to the standard magazine button on the side of the frame.
Regarding the P99AS Compact, I have several of them along with several full-size P99AS and can attest to their compactness and incredible feel. Plus, the full-size magazines work in them just like the Glock compacts, and if you search on the Internet you can find adapters made in Germany which sit on top of the full-size magazine base, thus giving the Compact models a full-size grip.
Great pistols.
I have owned an H&K USP 45 for nearly 15 years. The magazine release can be utilized by either the trigger finger or the thumb. I have grown so accustomed to dropping the mag with my trigger finger, that I find it difficult to use the 1911 or Glock thumb button types. The Walther has mimicked this style and I applaud it. There is no movement of my grip to drop the mag. I have proven several times, that I can change mags and be back in the fight, faster than shooters that are better than I am. It’s ambidextrous and so far as I can tell, foolproof.
Fine looking guns!
No mention was made that included a left hander shooter. Any comments as to best one for a lefty?
that would be the PPQ because of the ambidextrous slide and mag release.
The H&K P30 which the Walther looks like a clone of is the same with a slightly shorter barrel and a decocker on the aft end of the slide.
I have shot the H&K but not the Walther. I am currently saving cash to get the H&K as its price is about $300-$400 more than the Walther.
Now I ahve to check out the Walther!! 🙂
i have the hk usp expert, the wather p99 9mm. and the walther p99 qa in 40s&w. hk most accurate most expensive and after two mags i have been trying to sell it. beware it is for large hands only. walthers feel the best in my hand, over glock, imi, s&w ,fn xdm, hk taurus, i have owned and shot over two hundred different semi-auto hand guns and the walthers have now replaced even my customized berretta’s and jericho 9/41, (my carry gun for over twenty years). i am very comfortable carrying two walthers, and my .38 cobra. i swore that i would always carry my jericho as a primary but this year switched to the p99. word to the wise, three gun is a minimum. i do however live less than 40 minutes from the non-existent, us/mexico border
I would like to point out that the HK P30 went into production a full decade after the Walther P99.
I’m lefty and have the PPQ. No problems at all for me.. The PPQ Is one beautiful shooting gun. Really feels just right. Can’t go wrong with this one.
Either one will work pretty well. Both have ambi mag releases but the PPQ has a ambi slide release too. I like the feature set of the P99 AS better though and have seen many people that prefer the P99 AS’s trigger system over the PPQ.
Why isn’t the P99 on the Walther website, the PPQ is?
I believe that the P99 is a Smith & Wesson pistol
Sorry, the top photo clearly shows Walther. I think that I was thinking about the SW series pistols from Smith & Wesson. They also had similar pistols from Walther. I don’t know if the two companies are still doing business together, but at the time they were (early 2000’s).
I have the p99as. It has smith and Wesson printed on the barrel Smith and Wesson imports them
The P99Q is S&W in the .40 caliber.
I have one in .40 S&W and also a Walther PPK/S .380 cal.
The P99 is the exclusive U.S.A. distributor for Walther and as such the P99 is listed on the S&W website here: http://www.smith-wesson.com/walther
The (unidentified) writer states (about the P99): “These guns are all called ‘double action/single action’ (DA/SA) and have an exposed hammer with what is called a “decocker.”
I disagree. “These guns” are called “double-action (DA)”. The trigger mechanism allows them to be fired in either DA mode or single-action (SA) mode. DA/SA is merely a MODE of firing an uncocked DA pistol.
The writer also states: “…the P99 is one of very few striker fired guns with a “second strike” capability. You can pull the trigger a second time and the striker will hit the primer again.”
If the pistol doesn’t fire when the trigger is pressed then the shooter should IMMEDIATELY perform “tap/rack” instead of wasting time pressing the trigger again. The “misfire” can be caused by several other problems that a second pull of the trigger will not solve. “Tap/rack” can be performed very quickly and solves more than one problem.
I have to disagree a little with Shawn’s following comment: ““These guns” are called “double-action (DA)”. The trigger mechanism allows them to be fired in either DA mode or single-action (SA) mode. DA/SA is merely a MODE of firing an uncocked DA pistol.”
Eventhough you are correct in pointing that DA/SA refers to MODES of operation, it is also true that DA/SA is a terminology now commonly employed (by manufacturers, vendors, instructors, etc.) to differentiate “these guns” from those designed to operate in strictly Double Action ONLY (DAO) mode. Given that in DAO you sacrifice the capability of firing from a pre-cocked hammer (or striker) for the sake of giving the shooter a consistent trigger pull through out the operation, the term DA/SA has become an accepted nomenclature to differentiate a dintinctive design class among semi-autos.
By the way, there is nothing wrong with double strike capability. I agree with your premise that shooters should train to tap/rack after a malfunction. However, from time to time, even shooters trained to “IMMEDIATELY” perform “tap/rack” instead of “wasting time” pressing the trigger again”, will instinctively pull the trigger a second time before realizing they have a malfuction. I’ve seen this happen many times during particularly stressful training scenarios. In the rare eventuality of a hard primer, it would take less time to get a second shot that way. The time lost pulling a trigger a second time before tap/rack is minimal. Also, a double strike capable mechanism offer the advantage to allow instructors/trainees to conduct realistic dry-fire drills in class more effectively than with the cumbersome (and ineffective IMO) procedure required with striker-fired guns without the capability.
I restrike rather than go through tap rack drill. I carry a revolver, and restrike gives me a new round.
My main worry is a high primer.
Ever heard of a hard primer? You can do a second strike (A HELL OF A LOT FASTER than tap rack bang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if thats the case you better be going for your backup!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have owned 3 Walther guns, all of them impressed me with their accuracy,features and quality…Jim Erthal
Do you have a Walther P99 QA? i plan on getting one but i hear they are not a good pistol. But i have also heard they are amazing. What do you think the pros and cons are?
Nice little article. Keep them coming.
Zeke