OK - I’m considering a Walther PPQ M2 in 9mm. I checked out a 9mm PPQ rental today at a local indoor range and came away very positive except for the muzzle flip.
My question for you guys is on your split times (controlled doubles) with the PPQ compared to a similar sized polymer like Glock. (I know the 9mm Glocks compete well in the gun games.) Is it a big difference or just a perception/training issue on my part.
I’m a long time 1911 shooter and in my younger days was moderately serious about the gun games (IPSC B class). Read: I’m very used to the platform I’ve shot for decades. I still run a (heavy) 5" 1911 for 3-Gun as my way of getting some trigger time and practice for same, so this is my very limited basis for comparison.
Didn’t we used to hear that about dropping the slide with the slide stop, mag wells, high grips, stippling, extended controls, fiber optic/tritium sights, and pistol mounted red dots?
As far as I know a faster split time never got somebody killed.
I disagree on both of these points. The PPQ is almost the exact same size as my Glock 19. I have zero problems with muzzle flip or recoil with the PPQ. I post better times with it than my Glock 19 or M&P. They are not substantially better times but I would not categorize the PPQ as a gun to slow for competitions.
As an occasional gamer myself I’ve seen a few of the new Walther’s in IDPA. When I asked, the owners seemed quite satisfied with them. My observation was that these pistols when gripped right didn’t seem to jump anymore than other pistols. I have never shot one. My HK P-30 has a high bore axis but due to the nice grip it doesn’t seem any worse than comparable pistols I’ve used. Only my competition only CZ shoots noticeably flatter.
If the Walther has the great trigger everybody seems to rave about I don’t know why one wouldn’t consider it.
I finally got around to a PPQ that’s been sitting boxed for a yr or so.
Trigger is excellent in weight, travel & reset. Recoil, a bit faster than glock.
Initial impression, polymer lighter and subjectively not as grippy as a glock. Not bad, different. Maybe will degrease later.
Very ergonomic with the fwd slide cuts, angular slide profile, adjust grip size and modular blackstrap. Fast to reload with trigger guard mag release and thin slick all metal mags.
I think more concealable than a G19, due to the more organic flows. Not a print brick like the glocks.
New favorite pistol for me. Match grade barrel on the way. I was shooting one hole groups at 7&10. No issues. But have an order in for some Jarvis barrels anyway.
The only thing lacking is aftermarket support. In this case I’d like better sight options. Making some when time permits.
I wouldn’t characterize faster as bad. Just a different impulse. In high profiency circles faster is better allowing for quicker tracking… Despite what the populistic über heavy AR buffer crowd thinks.
I have done Bill Drills with the Glock 19 and PPQ in 9MM. I didn’'t have my timer that day, but all I know is my hits were better with the PPQ and that was my first time shooting it.
My experience with PPQ was that is cycles faster than G17, flips-up more than G17, but also goes back down on target faster. Actually amount of flip is irrelevant. Fast cycling and good tracking is what is relevant to fast and accurate shooting (that is why for eg. HK P30 or HK45 series are much better than HK USP full size in this regard).
When I was competitively shooting 2011 STI in .40SW, I used recoil spring as low as 9lb (and lightened slide) for faster cycling and better tracking. Went back to 11lb later for more positive feeding (1911 feeding geometry does not like .40SW loaded to CIP specified OAL).
I was seriously considering changing my competition pistol from HK P30L (LEM) into PPQ, but insane amount of money Walther asks here (and level of investment I have in HK oriented gear) scared me off.
Split times are useful when comparing individual weaponsn ala wh ich one do I perform better with.