While I love shooting my Sig Sauer P229 9mm, it's rather heavy and large for an everyday carry gun (for me), so I started looking at the new crop of slightly smaller firearms that have come onto the market.
My requirements were:
- 9mm (I decided a few years ago to standardize on 9mm for handguns. In my case, the 9mm reduces the cost of shooting, ensures an abundant ammo supply, reduces likelihood of wrong ammo loads, and reduces complexity for other family members that shoot).
- Less than 20 ounces empty
- Thin (therefore single stack)
- At least 6 round capacity
- High quality manufacturer
- Trigger safety only (this eliminated the Sig 238 and Ruger LC9)
- Not a Glock or Springfield XD (they just don't fit my hand well)
- Available in less than 60 days
- Under $600
Anyone else that shoots it finds they like it. It really is a great carry handgun.
The M&P Shield is a slimmed-down version of the M&Pc. You can find Shields without the external safety -- but availability of this variant is limited.
The Walther PPS is available in 9 mm and .40.
The M&P Shield is a slimmed-down version of the M&Pc. You can find Shields without the external safety -- but availability of this variant is limited.
Walther PPS
The Walther PPK is still the iconic small handgun and the Walther name had been repaired after a dalliance with Smith & Wesson co-marketing. |
| Walther PPS 9 mm with extended magazine |
NOTE: A newer variant -- the PPS M2 -- is available which rounds some of the angles.I decided on the Walther -- it looked like the handgun I wanted to carry. I ordered one through Charlie Smithgall and about 10 days later he had it in stock.
We had a massive snowstorm that paralyzed Lancaster and I had to wait until the streets were cleared to finally pick it up.
First Impressions
After filling out the ridiculously long and pointless Firearms purchase form, I paid the very reasonable, way-below-MSRP price and took it home.My first reaction was, "Wow, that's small!"
The PPS ships in a plastic carry box that contains two interchangeable backstraps, two magazines (a medium for 7 rounds, and a large for 8 rounds), a fired casing, a cheapo lock, an empty chamber indicator, and owner's manual (also available online here: http://www.waltherarms.com/wp-content/uploads/Instruction-Manual-PPS.pdf)
The dimensions are decent for a small size carry 9 mm:
Finish Color
|
Tenifer™ Black
|
Barrel Length
|
3.2"
|
Trigger Pull
|
6.1 lbs
|
Trigger Travel
|
0.2"
|
Capacity
|
7/8 Rds
|
Overall Length
|
6.3"
|
Height
|
4.4/4.9/5.3"
|
Width
|
1"
|
Safety
|
Trigger
|
Weight (mag empty)
|
21.5 oz
|
I pulled it out, tried to rack the slide and realized this thing is TIGHT.
Down to the basement for some takedown, scrubbing, cleaning, re-lubing, and re-assembly.
Not so fast.
Over on the Walther forum I learned I do not need to remove the back strap.
Tried it, and now that the gun is looser after few hundred fired rounds, it can be field stripped without removing the back strap. So this is good.
I'm spoiled by my Sig 229 that only needs the slide to the rear, twist of the takedown lever, and pull the slide off the frame for field strip.
Done.
Anyway, some reading and re-reading of the manual, and then perusing YouTube let me field strip the PPS.
Differences
The backstraps are a nice touch, but the small doesn't work for me so it sits in the box.The magazine release is a paddle at the bottom of the trigger guard. This takes practice, but once you get it, is no issue.
The rail mount is a nice feature but useless -- who's mounting a light to this diminutive handgun?
The gun is VERY flat, which I like. It makes concealment very easy.
The trigger is very good for a striker-fired production handgun. Trigger pull is 6 lbs with very little takeup. The trigger safety works.
Range
No problem.
The gun is actually fun to shoot. A lightweight 9 mm should be a chore after 50 rounds, but not this one. This is a take-it-to-the-range-to-shoot gun.
Sights were dead on.
Mag swaps take some getting used to -- with my hands it was somewhat easy to get pinched. I changed my grip a bit and that helped.
The geometry worked for me -- I felt like I could really get my hand behind the firearm and keep it there consistently.
The only ammo the PPS didn't like was MagTech Round lead nose (required in our indoor range). The Magtech's work fine in my Sig 229.
It may be that the PPS is so new the edge of the case catches. Oh well, not a deal breaker.
Carrying
After firing enough rounds to trust the PPS, I started carrying it daily.It's light, doesn't print, and I can shoot it well.
It's important to be very comfortable handling your firearm and follow set procedures.
The PPS has a very nice feature -- a cocking indicator on the BACK of the slide. I place my thumb on this as I am holstering. If the trigger gets pushed at all the indicator will start to protrude. It's also painted red but I use the tactile feel and think this is a fantastic feature. Excellent job, Walther!!
Nit Picks
My only issues were the requirement to remove the backstrap to field strip and the gaps between the backstrap and the magazine. The glamour shots on the Walther site (see below) don't show gaps, but mine has a 3-5 mm gap between edges.
Holsters are available for the PPS, and this is a concealed carry gun, so I don't need lots of accessories, so accessory availability isn't an issue for me.Bottom Line
I've been very happy with the overall build quality, ergonomics, and features of this firearm. The price is very competitive for a gun from a higher-end brand.If you're in the market for a small concealed carry auto pistol, consider a Walther PPS or the new PPS M2. The Walther build quality is excellent, with reliability equal to my Sig 229, excellent concealability but also an excellent shooter.
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