Walther PPK First Shots: Did Bond Make a Mistake?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- The Walther PPK is a double single action 380 pistol that has served in military service since WWI. Well known around the world, primarily because of its use in movies, including the James Bond films.
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Bought a PP about 40 years ago from a retiring NYPD Det I knew - chambered in .380. So, over those 40 or so years, I have put nearly 7500 rounds through it. NOT. A. SINGLE. MALFUNCTION…in all that time. Minimal cleaning. NO repairs. Yes, it is a small round, with not a lot of muzzle speed or stopping power, but it was the Detective’s back up gun to his old .357 and has been my back up piece through all those years…. Love that little gun.
My step-grandfather was a NYPD detective. He said the PPK and the Colt Mustang II were the most popular backup pieces back in the day. I have an original Mustang II. Had a PPK and it jammed several times on me, plus it's not a comfortable gun.
@@GuyAnthonyDeMarco Mine was a PP - on the frame is engraved MADE IN W. GERMANY. Maybe the quality was better, who knows. All I know for sure is that the piece has never give me a single problem. What squad was your Step-grandad in in the NYPD?
.17HMR has enough stopping power ... with the proper shot placement.
@@EricRedbear Just carry a 9mm
It was one of those guns that was always on my wish list since I was a kid. I must have seen it in one of my dads magazines as I wasn’t a Bond fan. It’s a pretty gun, and it’s accurate. Mine like most I found out later have significant jamming issues. One mag was an issue it would jam after the second round like clock work. Even after sending it back it was not very reliable. I kept it and shoot it occasionally but would never carry for protection. But it is a pretty gun. One reason is there are smaller 9mm that carry way more ammo. Mine is a Walther built by Smith&Wesson not a cheap interarms or other manufacturer.
Years ago, I purchased a PPK for home defense. When I bought it, I shot 50 rounds , cleaned it and put it back in its case. Every once in a while I like to take it out and just look at it. What a work of art! Plus it feels so solid and substantial. What an awesome gun!
The only gun you own
Great point it is ART!If yoiu train with it, you will get good with it. No problem. Nothing better for close combat.
Someday 100 years from now someone will find all those spent shells and say"a great battle was fought here" lol.
That place will probably get passed down from generation to generation
That's good
Now that is funny.
That's great, lol. Recently I was just wondering how he picks up all that brass, and what happens to it after.
Hahaha that’s awesome!
Keep in mind Bond is originally a 1950s Cold War spy. The reason Bond uses a Walther is because a fan of the books kept mailing Fleming about the inadequacies of his original Beretta because it was an underpowered, woman’s gun. The fan was in the military and a gun enthusiast so he gave Fleming a a lot of recommendations and Fleming agreed with him on the Walther for Bonds concealed carry. For it’s original purpose and origin it was the right choice for bond. Ian Fleming even wrote it out because the Beretta caused him to get shot and was forced to upgrade to a Walther PPK.
This fan was the British gun writer Geoffrey Boothroyd. Ian Fleming gave his name to "Q", like shown in Dr. No credits.
@ericktamberg670 Exactly right sir. Beginning with the second Bond film From Russia With Love, Major Boothroyd supplied Bond with his "toys"....minus Live And Let Die starring Roger Moore. The character "Q" did not appear in Craig's first film Casino Royale or Quantum Of Solace either for whatever reason. Finally he was introduced in Skyfall.
@@ericktamberg670 The PPK was derived from the PP which was designed in 1929. Boothroyd suggested at first that Bond carry a Smith & Wesson Centennial and Colt Python for long range. The PPK/S has a longer handle so one more round in the magazine compared to the PPK.
@@mokoarlyana1481 , Boothroyd suggested the S&W Centennial Airweight for operations in Americas and, for Europe, the Walther PPK was his second choice. The first was the Sauer 38-H, but Fleming discarded it because was no longer in production.
Aside from earlier learned replies, the Walther sidearms were prolific after WW2 and taken for individual booty and official reparations by all the combatant victors and neutrals at the end of the War and were exported to Cold War front lines worldwide. Intelligence agencies preferred them for deniability, after an agent discarded one and the police recovered it, there was no way to trace it to the most recent owner, could be anybody.
The PPK is actually the most powerful pistol in the world. Just one shot of it finished WW2 in Europe. True story.
Lol
And isn't .380 the round that started WWI, as well?
@@rob6850 I think that was the 32
@@rob6850 Kyle is right. It was the 7.62 Browning.
@@kylejohnson1308 thanks
My PPK was easily one of the easiest point and shoot pistols I've ever owned. I had no reliability issues with mine.
Same thing here. Even if I haven't shot it in years, it's always so easy to come back to. It's such a comfortable and balanced design for a nearly 100 year old design. They sure don't make them like this anymore.
You are so lucky. My ppk is unreliable at best. As a gun Meh, for defense, hell no.
You are lucky. Most flat nose projectiles don't feed. Round works. Feed angle is too steep
Try pps m2
@@Southized
The difference?
You are Amazing, Mr. Outlaw. Anyone who can hit targets at over 100 yrds with a PPK is Legendary! Mrs. Outlaw looked cool (No Pun Intended) shooting the pistol as well. And I love the banter between y'all and the random things going on in the video. Always genuine. Always enjoy watching you shoot. But I agree with you on the P99. I would choose it over the PPK if I was doing the secret agent thing.
I bought this pistol a couple of years ago, and initially had several gripes with it including the tight slide and rigidity of the firearm overall... BUT, once I took it to the range I was hooked. The PPK/S is an absolute tack driver. Point and shoot is an understatement. Of everything I've taken to the range over the last 10-15 years, this is one of my favorite to run. Great review, and great shooting.
I am thoroughly convinced that everyone who doesn't like the PPK or PPK/S needs to go shoot the Sig P230/P232 SL. I've held a new production PPK/S and also shot a WW2 issued PPK in .32 ACP and can't seem to like them. On the other hand, the P232 SL I picked up last year for a steal: lets just say that one is never leaving my collection. It is my favorite gun I own. I'd love to see Mr. and Ms. Outlaw shoot a P230/P232 SL and give their opinion!
Good luck with finding a Sig P230/P232 in .32 ACP. Been there done that!
Glad to see honest outlaw giving this gun a fair shake, even though he is still a little biased towards 380 lol
Common trend on TH-cam guns channels when it comes to 380 guns and the Walther PPKS in particular, is that it is under powered out of date and too heavy. And SUCKS
I don’t really get this sentiment for a number of reasons but these critics don’t seem to pass a brief objective breakdown, 380 rounds are plenty powerful enough for the vast majority of self defense situations. One round of 380 is very lethal, just search for a ballistics gel test to see that it will typically penetrate 9 inches with a hollow point or around 19 inches with ball ammo. Plenty to be lethal and unless you’re going up against 3 to 5 armed attackers wearing body armor it should do just fine.
Most self-defense scenarios play out with 3 to 5 rounds, five being definitely on the high end and are not very common. Paul Harrell speaks a lot about the relevance of caliber size and capacity on his channel and points out that in the vast majority of self-defense situations those two factors are typically not nearly as relevant based on actual statistics not just tactical bro science.
Additionally most .380 guns including the ppks are much smaller and easier to carry for most people.
Regarding the ppks specifically, I think a lot of the hate comes down to the fact it is the “Bond gun” and people don’t want to not be taken seriously if they admit it is actually a good firearm.
The only critiques are typically that it is heavy for its size and the caliber is too small. Since I’ve already addressed the latter, let’s talk about the weight.
22oz is the over all weight.
This is well below almost any full-size pistol including the Glock 19 which sits just under 30 ounces.
I mention this because a lot of people on TH-cam who say the Walther PPKS is too heavy carry full-size pistols that are much heavier than the Walther PPKS
Heavy for its caliber yes but to simply pretend this is a “heavy fire arm “is definitely disingenuous
It is right about the same weight as a shield and many of the post popular compact guns at people consider great for Carry and never mention they are too heavy.
Again Yes it is much heavier than other guns in the 380 caliber category but I find it easier and more accurate to shoot than a lot of the other guns in the 380 category because since it is such a small gun having a little extra weight helps me settle the sites and shoot it more like a full-size gun. Definitely not the best choice if you are looking for the lightest 380 or pocket gun on the market but definitely not a bad option for a carry gun.
Quickly addressing a recoil critique. It’s a 380. Yes it has more than some of the other 380s in its class but at the end of the day, it’s a 380 And probably has much less recoil than the other compact carry 9 mm options.
One of the pros that doesn’t seem to be mentioned very much on a lot of the PPKS reviews is the fact that it is a fixed barrel part of the reason why it is so accurate. Wasn’t shocked to see the outlaw hitting targets from long range. Of course it takes someone who is a good shot to do that however most 380 guns are not going to shoot nearly as accurate groups as the Walther in my experience, And I believe that comes down to the build quality and fixed barrel.
At the end of the day it really comes down to a gun that you are comfortable carrying so you actually. On a day-to-day basis and a gun that you are comfortable shooting and shoot very well. For many people the PPKs fits those categories quite well.
That’s a very detailed comment. One thing no one really mentioned, is that the slide bite caused by the sharp design of the strap. Didn’t cause stitches for me lol but a few bandages.
@@jasonbourne3745 I wonder if there are any custom jobs done to PPKs that smooth those areas out the same way people generally did with custom Browning High Powers or 1911s.
Weapons, like any product of human activity, should be aesthetic. The Glock does not give any satisfaction either in terms of appearance or ergonomics. Walther PPK is an extraordinary pistol for its purposes. It's just not designed for a shovel-like hand. Regarding the 22 caliber - maybe it is worth influencing the congressmen to cancel the restrictions and bans? You are the masters of your country. Isn't it?
I couldve written this comment myself since I agree with every single point
Old post, I know. Just want to say, Walther ppk and ppks are fine guns. Just that there are better guns than that for cheaper, objectively speaking. People banter on it because it's a celebrity gun, the James Bond's gun. Because of that, it feels and sound like a gimmick gun despite it being a real self-defense gun.
I've owned two. First was a WW II vintage, the other was a recent stainless, laser engraved one. Never shot it, finally sold it. No matter how many guns you have, you always need one more!
It's a great backup/conceal weapon. I used to carry it in the back pocket of my jeans. It's designed to shoot somebody point-blank in the heart or face, and then calmly walk away. And it's perfect for that.
The proof is as follows:
If you have 1 gun, that is not enough, since as we know, "two is one & one is none" so if you only have 1 gun, you *really* have none, so must obtain a 2nd gun.
If you have 2 guns, that's actually only 1, and since we have just proven 1 = 0, you have none & must obtain another.
If you have three, that's just 2 + 1, which we now know is just 1 + 0, and that is insufficient. You must have more!
If you have 4, that's just 2 + 2, which is 1 + 1, which equals 2, which in reality 1, which we have shown = 0, so you must obtain at least 2 more to have 1!
The rest of the proof is left as an exercise for the reader...
@@nunyabidniz2868 This is exactly how I think too.
Lee Leland....True. But, if you sell one, don't you need TWO more?
I bought a PPK made in Arkansas by Walther a couple of years ago. Initially I had some failures to feed. But I replaced the original factory 20# recoil spring with a 17# recoil spring and it has run flawlessly with hundreds of rounds of FMJ and hollow points. Even with the heavy trigger pull on double action has not impaired my accuracy at 7 yards. I fire it very accurately in single action and it fits my hands more ergonomically that other 380s I've fired. Chris, I know you have good and bad days like the rest of us and this may have been a good day for you. But it doesn't matter how good you are if the gun's inherent accuracy sucks. Well done as always.
I'm impressed by the accuracy you have maintained with such a small gun
I think the fixed barrel has a lot to do with it. I have a love/hate relationship with mine - Biggest complaint is the "slide nibble". Not quite a "slide bite", as it takes a few shots to actually draw blood from the scratches it makes.
I had always told myself that one day, I was going to get my handgun license and when that day came and I went to get my first gun, it was going to be a Walther PPK or PPK/s.
Got my license in February of 2021 and sure enough, a week after receiving it, my local shop got in a used model. Purchased it on the spot.
Is it a terribly comfortable gun to shoot? No. Put enough rounds through it bare-handing it and it will leave you sore. But every time I take it out at the range I catch people sneaking a peek at it. And it's an awful lot of fun.
What a breath of fresh air! Some firearms are still made from steel for those of us who don't have limp wrists or suffer from the "oh it's too heavy" syndrome.
My dad got one back in the early 70's, back then they were still made in Germany. When he passed 15 years ago I ended up with it, still in the original box with the instructions. Maybe have put 200 rounds through it. One of the better guns in my collection.
You should get a golden one. One shot kills everything. That's a comment for the old folk! 🤣
Or the silver one that penetraits everything
You have to remember PPK also has a fixed barrel, which makes for excellent suppressor hosts.
German engineering at its best. It may be an old design, but it's simple and effective. And pretty accurate, as evidenced by your shooting. First gun I bought 20 years ago.
You two seem to have such a good time doing whatever you do and with each other. I expect to see you celebrating a 50 yr anniversary..... Can tell you are two are absolutely in love!!!!! So nice to see it as often as possible!!!!
The PPK was suggested to Ian Fleming by Geoffrey Boothroyd, a British firearms enthusiast with a particular fondness for the Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum. He wrote a letter to Fleming telling him the Beretta was a ladies' gun and not a nice lady at that. To him the PPK was the smart choice. Back then there not that many subcompact choices, there were very few pistol options in .380 or above, the heaviest hitters being snub nosed .357 revolvers.
The Beretta Boothroyd thought to be a ladies gun was one chambered in 6,35mm (.25ACP), and the PPK Bond got in the later novels and in the Connery-Lazenby-Moore era was chambered in 7,65mm or .32ACP.
Great scene in the film, 'Dr. No'. Boothroyd describes the PPK as 'M' demands Bond hand over his Beretta and use the PPK instead.
I have had one of these since the mid 80's and carry it every day. Love it!! The only ammo issue I have ever had is with blazer aluminum shell which had a hard time cycling. As far as the slide bite goes, I solved this by filing off the sharp slide corners just enough so it doesn't cut. Only an expert would see the difference.
Love the PPK. Wish Walther would make them in .32 again.
👆 THIS... I'd buy two or three of them.
why? .32 is considerably worse than .380 and is more expensive lol
@@enzowarren9832 .32 feels better with the straight blowback action
@@enzowarren9832 .32 is what the gun was originally chambered in
I think the .380 is perfectly suited for the PPK and PPK/S. Any smaller, like with the Beretta Tomcat, I'll take the .32.
If I remember correctly in the books Bond was a little miffed when he had to trade his 25 cal Beretta (a 418 possibly) for the PPK. I think he was concerned about maximum concealability over stopping power, that makes sense considering his trade. I don’t thinks he was as “run and gun” in the books.
Came here to say this. It actually was in Dr. No too, I believe. He was called in and issued the PPK, and tried to sneak out his Beretta.
Good points. How many shootouts between spies actually happen in the real world anyway? In the books, particularly the first five with the Beretta .25, maximum concealment was Bond’s goal and if he had to use a gun at all, then the whole case had already gone tits-up. Sometimes he went unarmed as well.
I believe Bond was given a choice between a S&W .38 revolver (which he dismissed as being “too much gun”) and the PPK. I believe Bond’s original PPK was a .32, not a .380.
That was in Dr. No... If I remember right Bond explained the Beretta was effective and he saw no reason to change, or something like that.
The design of the PPK is sound. The problem has always been Quality Control, and if you get a good one, never let it go. You may never find another one...
walther america produces them now, ive heard good things about the quality out of Ft Smith
That’s with all guns
@@chrisgabbert658 Sorry Chris, you would be wrong. The problem has always been the Manufactures. Ooops!...
@@David-ru9su everyone wants quality at a cheap price.
@@chrisgabbert658 You would be correct. That is why I bought two Canik Elite pistols. One of them is the Elite Black which only cost me 300 dollars and the other one is the Canik Elite SC Black that only cost me 360 dollars. They are very well made and meet all NATO specs and have hammer forged barrels. I have put my Glock and S&W pistols up and they will sit in the safe until my kids inherit them...
I live in a small town so my grocery getter is usually a smaller low cap carry option. If I’m not taking an airweight I’m usually taking my ppk.
I was also surprised by its accuracy and for some reason just fell in love with it. Definitely not a primary carry but quick trips around the corner I grab it and go
I recently just hung up my PPK/S as my CCW for a Beretta Tomcat as it was too big ☹️. The PPK always draws straight and hits what you point at. The Beretta Tomcat may do the same and look good, but it's still nowhere as sexy or recognisable as my PPK.
Higher accuracy achieved due to the fixed barrel. It's also not the same as the G42. Fixed barrel VS tilting barrel. Excellent shooting though
Exactly. I came to write the same thing. I have a Polish P64 and it is pretty much a PPK rip off and I was not surprised by the accuracy...well until he was shooting it as 100 yards! Holy chit! But yeah, fixed barrel equals amazing accuracy. Dont think I could shoot it 100 yards though.
PPK was one of the first guns my firearms instructor introduced at the time of my CCW course. Knew nothing, had zero experience, never even picked up or shot a gun. I must say I was impressed by the popularity of the gun and its reputation. Congrats! on obtaining your PPK.
Cheers mate!
I picked up a PPK .22 LR for 1/2 the price of the 380 pistol just to see what the hype was all about. After the first 200 rounds and a thorough cleaning/lube it ate whatever you fed it. The best part is that I get to practice on the cheap at the range using all of the shooting mechanics to hit targets accurately. I then finish off the practice session with a 9 mm carry pistol with only 5 rounds. It has saved me a great deal on money on ammo and my skills have improved, but importantly it is a lot of fun to shoot.
I love James Bond that not only did I get the PPK, but the same shoulder holster he carried it in.
Seriously I love you Chris. You're the reason I started watching this channel, but I can't get enough of having your wife more active in the vids. I would say your channel is like 9/10 by yourself, but add your wife and it's 11/10 easy. Just you two talking back and forth makes these vids even more fun. I didn't know that was possible but it is!
Mine broke first round out of the box (it was a PPKS). The pin above the hammer that indicates whether i\or not a round is in the camber broke with the first pull of the trigger. I was shocked because Walther is a good firearm. H&K is my top choice with Walther being a close second.
My first carry was a Bersa 380 and I loved it... probably would've gotten a Walther if I could've afforded it at the time though for the sole fact that it's goddamn beautiful.
My first gun was a Bersa Thunderbolt 380 also. Such a good gun and would love to have one again......
Picked up a Barrera pop up barrel 380 and it's such a good pocket gun.... Wish they came in a 9mm caliber....
@@bryanduchane2371 I've been considering getting a Beretta Tomcat
I still have an original Bersa Thunder .380 steel frame. I shoot it when I can find ammo that isn't insanely priced. It's been reliable as the anything I've ever owned.
Ive actually heard the Bersa is more reliable and doesnt cut your hand like a PPK also its halft the price. Luckygunner did a good review on both
Very impressed I usually only hear bad things about the accuracy with this thing. Thanks for the review!
You will find few accurate 380s the Beretta is fair 👌
Just to be clear, in the original Ian Flemming novels, the PPK was forced on Bond by M and the Quartermaster. He wanted to stick with his Beretta .25.
The Beretta was ideal for a man hiding a gun; small, concealable, well-made, and not too noisy should it be deployed in the service of the King or Queen. But it wasn't quite enough for some missions.
I've had my PPK/S for over 30 years now and it's the only .380 I've kept. Sure, it's not all new and modern but it's all about Style! While I can't make steel ring at 75yds with mine, I do well enough at 20yds. Thanks for the Honest review!
Love my Interarms PPK from 1985. Was my back-up during my Border Patrol days. Yes, hammer/slide bite is a real thing with .380 ammo. However I found that with 85gr. Winchester Silvertip HP it is a very soft and very accurate shooter. If I once again had to rely on that piece to protect me, I would have no problem holstering and carrying her on my hip. Awesome vid.
Chris can turn any pistol into a sniper rifle. I am impressed
The newest PPK's made by Walther with the updated larger backstrap to prevent slide bite are nice. I sold mine due to the fact I wanted more magazine capacity. But I did feel really secure with the safety/de cocker it has and felt comfortable carrying it on safe with a round in the chamber. It was nice and comfortable to shoot even for being its small size and .380. Also nice sights and magazine with the pinky extender. Only cons to it were really the limited capacity and heaviness for its size as well.
One more reason people like the PPK, me included, is that it is a DA/SA semi auto in a concealed carry package. I carry the Bersa CC .380 (very similar) with one in the chamber, hammer down, safety off. Just like I carry my revolver, but it’s smaller and semi-auto.
And yes the PPK is a good looking gun.
I've also seen Bond use a "teacup" grip at least a few times, so he might not be the best role model for firearm choice, or technique.
Before adopting the PPK in .32 Auto, Bond used a Beretta pocket pistol chambered in .25 Auto.
@@voxfan7403
Ah yes, the .25 ACP.
"I have stolen your gun Mr. Bond! Now you will die!"
*Gun explodes*
I BOUGHT MY INTERARMS PPK/S .380 STAINLESS STEEL 35 YEARS AGO & ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. NEVER HAD A SINGLE MALFUNCTION, EVEN WITH HOLOW POINTS & IS VERY ACCURATE. I WILL NEVER SELL IT BUT IF I SAW A REALLY NICE USED ONE FOR A REASONABLE PRICE I WOULD BUY ANOTHER.
One must remember that when Ian Fleming wrote the Bond novels and introduced the PPK it was in the 1950s' and there wasn't a lot of choice in European firearms. The gun needed to be concealable and effective to replace the Beretta .22 LR that it was replacing after that gun's failure in "From Russia With Love".
The suppressor got caught in his waistband, it could have happened with any suppressed pistol, also it was a .25acp (model 418.) My pendantic bits aside, everything you said is correct.
@@FoxtrotFleet Forgive me, it has been decades since I read the Bond novels. Cheers
It was actually a Beretta 418, in .25 ACP. Granted, not much difference in power from .22LR
@@billmankin6204 Yeah, my bad but its been decades since I read the books. Cheers
I never use the word "need" and "gun" in the same sentence. Instead I substitute "want". I never get an argument about practicality of me getting ANOTHER gun. I only have to ask, "can I afford it now or later?" Honest Outlaw is a man after my own heart. Some guns are just art.
Fantastic shooting display of trigger control and sight picture! 100 yards? With a 32 acp? WOW! You are on of the best!
It's .380 ACP
WWII it was .32
@Chris G I have it in both .380 ACP and .32 ACP from when S&W was making them. Not sure if the .32 is still available.
@@walkerkelly5946 Agreed, but the OP was referencing the one being shot by Honest Outlaw, which was .380 ACP.
Thank you for yours and your wife's opinions on the firearms you test. I still have my Turkish copy of the PPK. I carried it for many years as a backup to my Colt Commander in 45 ACP. I don't shoot much anymore. I do, however maintain my firearms with proper cleaning and storage.
This is one of my favorite Outlaw videos. Talk about cool factor. I'll never get rid of my vintage Interarms PPK. Just way too much style and history, and mine's a good shooter too. Super impressed with your 75 & 100 yd shots. 👍
I think the thing a lot of Americans forget about the PPK and PPK/S in .380 is that the PP was designed to be a police pistol in .32ACP. If you cut it down and put .380 in it, it's going to be a lot less comfortable to shoot with hammer bite etc. It wasn't really intended to be that. Also, shorter recoil spring with lighter slide and more powerful ammo means more malfunctions than the .32 PP. Because of the import restrictions, Americans usually have more experience with the .380 PPK/S version, which was devised to be a US importable gun.
It's always nice when you upload a Walther or Bond themed pistol (I'm still amazed on how well you shot the P99 the last time you featured it).
When I first got my PPK/S 35 years ago I had a few loading jams. Polished the feed ramp and to date have never had another problem.
Some police in my country still carry the "full size" version of these (FEG AP9 or PA-63), the only problem is they are adopted variants, made here with an aluminum frame, and tend to break after some 200-300 shots. But I saw surplus getting far more use out of them. Well QA wasn't the sharpest here in the 80's! LOL
I bought an FEG R-61 surplus import in the early '90s. PPK size in 9mm Makarov. Don't shoot it much because I worry about the frame, although I've heard the frame is an aluminum - titanium alloy and should be strong enough. Great conceal carry pistol though.
Welcome to the club! I had wanted one of these pistols for nearly all of my adult life. Finally, about six weeks ago I bought a mint condition used model. My experience has mirrored yours. The pistol has been absolutely reliable, surprisingly accurate, and just plain cool! Thanks for a nice review.
The first James Bond book was published in 1953. The author's formative years were between the two world wars. It was common in that era to consider the .32 & the .25 as adequate self defence rounds. The .32 was even a common military round.
From that viewpoint, the Walther makes perfect sense, Bond originally used a Beretta chambered in I think .25. In this day and age, Bond would definitely be issued with a 9mm pistol. Although he would probably prefer a slim, discrete single stack, as spoiling the lines of your suit, is more important than surviving a conflict apparently.
In the beginning scenes of Dr. No, M tells Bond to turn in his old Beretta and use the newer approved pistol. Bond put the Beretta on M's desk and then sneaky pocketed it again, and M called Bond on it before Bond got to the door. 🤓
As a 00 agent you're allowed to get shot, as long as nobody sees you bleed.
IMO .32 ACP is still plenty of power for close range defense, you just have to run solid-nose ammo instead of hollow points (which are going to be much more consistent anyway)
Honest Outlaw, great video. I am glad to see that you are giving this gun a fair shake. I have had a PPK/S for over 20 years, and have ran several thousand rounds through it with ZERO malfunctions. It is my concealed carry gun. It is a little on the heavy side, and can be harsh on the hand if you shoot a lot of rounds. And yes, I have gotten the "snake bite" from the slide. It is a badge of honor... :) I also have a Kimber Raptor with 500 rounds through it and still breaking it in. So far, the Walther is more reliable from jamming.
Did Bond make a mistake? Actually, it was his creator, Ian Fleming, who made the mistake. Although Fleming was in the British intelligence service, he was not a gun guy and he picked the Walther PPK simply because he liked the sound of the name.
Here's another fun fact! Flemming, Christopher Lee, and Rhode Dahl all knew each other back in the day! It's said that Lee also knew Tolkien!
I use a PPK/S because it is small (easy to conceal) and hammer fired with a heavy trigger (safety, no chance of misfires during holstering or carrying). Being accurate is a given while looking good is nice, it is not needed. The weight and recoil, while greater than other guns, is not unmanageable at all. I am just no comfortable with carrying a striker with a round in the camber and I want to eliminate negligent discharge chances as much as possible during everyday carry. However, if Walther was to do a modernized PPK I would be very interested. Updated internal workings, swap able sights. red dot capability and maybe even lighter materials. Although, I do appreciate the non plastic construction.
I think of the PPK as the Luger of compact autos. Classy, beautiful design, very accurate, and feels great in the hand. Also like a Luger it IS reliable....with the right ammo and is very picky. Mine likes HPs and rarely jams with most defense loads, but most target ammo will not run well in it unless on the hotter side and with heavier bullets. Clearing jams with that tiny ejection port and lack of external slide lock is a 3 handed job sometimes and the only thing I really hate about it.
As to the slide bite, for me it doesn’t hurt, just annoying and doesn’t effect my shooting. If you’re not bleeding after a few rounds you aren’t shooting a PPK.
I own a PPK/S and I have never had a problem or a malfunction. It draws straight and hits whatever you point it at. Plus it is one of the best looking guns that has ever existed.
Holy cow dude, at 100 yards! My grandfather brought one back from WW2, dad had it, 2nd wife kept it when dad died. Local gun shop has that gun advertised and it is coming home with me this week. I know this was a year ago for you but thank you, love your channel. I used to set up cans my dad finished and he say smoke ‘em son, and I would shot the hell out of those cans brother. I was just little but so many good memories. Keep it up 👊
When Daniel Craig's "Commander Bond" picked an off-duty gun, he picked the Hi-Power. So, my theory is the agency makes him carry the PPK.
About 11 minutes into the first Bond movie [Dr.No] "M" forces 007 to replace his Beretta with the Walther because the Beretta jammed on him.
@@stans5270 He wasn't happy about it, either.
@@stans5270 It was in the books too. Based on correspondence between Sir Ian Fleming and a friendly gun nut who I recall having OSS service in the field during the war. He suggested to Fleming that Bond's .32 ACP Beretta was outdated and inappropriate for the day, and suggested the Walther in 9mm Kurz as the modern spy's preferred concealed fighting pistol. The rest is history.
In Daniel Craig’s first Bond movie, Casino Royale, he carried a Walther P99 in an IWB holster and was issued another one later in the movie. It made so much sense and for some inexplicable reason he went back to the PPK in the follow up movies.
Always wanted one of these because of Bond, of course... found a used S&W made ppk/s at my local hardware store with 5 mags for a fair price and bought it on a whim just to say i owned one. Great looking gun... and i was surprised at how well it shot for such an antiquated design. Still carry it from time to time... and im confident when i have it. Ive always been a sucker for the classics.
You're echoed my thoughts on the PPK exactly. Yes, I bought one because I'm a James Bond fan (also have the P5 and P99). My experience has been exactly like yours, it's fairly accurate, mine has been reliable, an the safety/decocker sucks. I don't use it for HD or carry (though I have carried it before), I just like owning it and LARPing Bond lol.
P99 is in Jan Boehmermann's "I've Got Police" ("Ich Habe Polizei") where he sings "Police have armored vehicles and P99s!"
So I’ve had a PPK/S almost identical to the one in the video (mine is S&W made) for about a decade. It’s underpowered, too low capacity, is entirely too snappy for its caliber, has a horribly designed safety, too heavy a DA pull, no mag release lever, and generally pretty heavy compared to other guns in its class. Because of that, I almost never carry it except a few occasions when I wear a suit.
On the positive side, it’s extremely accurate due to the fixed barrel, and it’s one of the best looking guns ever designed. I’ve gone back and forth on selling it over the years but still have held onto it; for what reason, I still don’t know. Glad you got a good one tho, fun seeing its inherent accuracy put on film by a better shooter than myself.
I wanted one of these for a couple of decades until a friend brought one over: bit the web of my hand, sub par trigger, useless sights in the bright sunlight; I couldn't believe it! But they do look debonair.
Modern ones have an extended beavertail which fixes that issue
@@imsteevin I haven't had one of those in a long time!!
My buddy bought a ppk for his first carry gun. It was a jamomatic. There would be at least one jam every mag. The double action was also horrible. You almost needed 2 fingers to pull it. He finally sold it. He still has his Bersa which is working great. Glad yours worked out well for you.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets the back of his thumb bruised from recoil on this gun. I love shooting it, and it's very accurate. But after 75 rounds I had a big ol' bruise on the back of my shooting hand's thumb. Only the Ruger LCP Max .380 does that to me as well. No other .380 I've shot does that, but then, they're not the PPK! Bond's gun wins every time.
With respect, the gun is too small for your hands. These youtubers hardly if ever address that. They always want to blame the gun HonestOutlaw is no different. He is a self proclaimed expert, yet he is getting hurt by his own gun? The gun is too small for him to be shooting it with gloves on and most likely too small for him period. The Sig P365 is too small for some people as well. I have one I have small hands. But for somebody that's say 6ft 4, its probably going to be far too small for them to shoot it comfortably. Does that make it a bad gun? No. It just means its not for everyone. Same goes here for the Walther. I can't shoot Bullpups because I'm a lefty. But I'm not going to blame bullpulps for that. HonestOutlaw should know better its also why I don't take anything he says very seriously.
I had the infamous double feed issue on mine. Began to write it off as unreliable. Ultimately I swapped the factory 20lb recoil spring out for a 17lb spring and I also polished the feed ramp. I have ran 250+ rounds through it since TRYING to make it jam and have had zero issues whatsoever. Cheap ammo, expensive ammo, hot ammo, dull ammo etc - no issues. It runs like a sowing machine now and, on a good day, I can shoot consistently up to 100yds with it. I love a 9mm, but I think the .380 and more importantly the PPKS both get a bad wrap. Sure, 7+1 is a pretty low capacity for a modern day carry gun, but when I carry mine I always carry a second mag side by side with it just incase. Eases my concerns of having a low capacity weapon on me, and for a gun that I can consistently shoot as accurately as I can the PPKS I am more than cofident in my ability to place those first 8 shots where they need to go at various ranges. As for the .380 itself I personally believe it all comes down to round choice. I have studied tons of ballistics testing with .380 defensive rounds and the one that performed nearly on par with a 9mm both penetration with clothing and wound cavity wise was the Federal Premium Hydra-shock Deep. For a 99 grain .380 it performs well on par with a 9mm. I still think a 9mm is clearly a more capable round with respect to penetration and stopping power, but the .380 is far from a “trash round” like I’ve heard it called. Sure, I’ll say again that a 7+1 capacity is rather low compared to a 17+1 or 15+1 like most modern carry guns can hold. But I still genuinely believe that with the proper practice and the proper ammo the PPKS can be a more than capable carry gun in 2024.
P.S. - James Bond did not turn me on to the PPKS, the PPKS turned me onto James Bond 😉
This gun has a lot of nostalgia, and I think that's really the only reason someone would buy it in 2021. But, very accurate for a 3in barrel.
@@elsullo2 yeah but its blowback so the recoil feels like a 9mm but you get a weaker round and less capacity .
@@redeye8526 That isn't true, my new production PPK/s has less recoil than my full sized CZ-75B. I do use the PPK/s as a carry gun. It just barely offers a full grip while also being able to easily fit in a pocket. Capacity is low by modern standards but I'll take the shootability of it over capacity. Fun gun to shoot, very accurate for what it is and mine is reliable with the right ammo. It is ammo picky though.
@Chris G How did you get it to have less recoil? I shot the PPK/S and compared it to the Glock 42. They're both in .380 but the Glock 42 has noticeably less felt recoil. I feel like my snappy Sig P365 also has less felt recoil too. Did you change the springs out or anything like that?
I have one just like yours and it has been a trusty off duty gun and it does not like wimpy range rounds. Put in some good hot premium rounds for better reliability. The only thing I really dislike is the serrations on the trigger. Just haven't gotten around to having them ground off and the trigger polished smooth.
Outlaw: James Bond is not a real person. 50 yard shot with a .380 is not ideal.
Also Outlaw: goes 7 for 7 at 50 yards, 7 for 7 at 65 yards and 12 for 14 from 75 yards. Lol.
Also also Outlaw: I get to eat crow.
Man, I love your videos. Lol.
Chris, you are a good shot. That does make a LOT of difference.
Love my old Interarms/Walther PPK/S pistols. Easy to carry, accurate and man if you can't stop someone with 6 or 7 shots you should stay home. :)
Good video, thanks for sharing it.
Bought a brand new PPK last year for daily CC. First two hundred rounds had occasional feed issues which I resolved with cleaning with a lubricant/solvent mix followed by an application of Hoppe's 9. Been reliable and accurate ever since. Agree it's not the most comfortable handgun but it's very easy to conceal, I like the weight and most of all I've always appreciated the aesthetics of its design.
Any way you look at it 100 yards with a small carry gun is really good shooting
I use PPKs, in .380acp A older PP, in .32acp, and a PPks in a 22lr....its a wow factor, but the 22ppks, has about a 17 pound da pull,while the SA is approx. 3 pounds...the DA pull on the others is perfectly fine with exceptional single action pull
There is supposed to be a solid red dot painted on the slide to indicate "ready", and the safety lever swings to cover it to indicate "safe".
The paint fell off in Mr. H.O.'s example. You can see the divot in which it was nested, but the paint itself is gone. Time for alcohol and nail polish.
The ppk was my first every gun, I bought it when I turned 21, and I’ve only ever had one malfunction with it when I tried to do 6+1 in it, I’ve learned my lesson and only load 6
I was kind of disappointed when I shot this gun about 15 years ago. I think the hype and reputation made you expect more. I also got slide bite.
The hype really came from the fact that there wasn’t anything like the PP in 1929 and PPK in 1931. You could safely carry a round in the chamber and lower the hammer. .32acp (7.65x17) was the most common version in Europe. Compared to a lot of what was available it was easy to shoot (smaller people with smaller hands back then too), safe and looked good.
For guys like me with small hands, I never got slide bite when I shot a WW2 era one in .32 ACP. Oh, and that's probably where the benefits of having small hands stop 🤣
The Walther PPK was never a pistol I wanted even being a James Bond fan. However, watching your video and seeing the accuracy makes me think I need one in my collection!
It's a fun gun. I don't shoot it very often, but it's fun to look at and hold. Like he said, some guns are just fun to own. As a Bond fan, it's just fun.
Did you buy it?
@@andyleotell not yet and do not plan to anytime soon. Maybe in the future sometime and I’ll be sure to post if I do.
The barrel is pinned to the frame, so it's not "flopping in the wind" like the other Browning action locked breech pistols you usually review. The ones made by S&W and/or Interarms were not on par with the German made Walthers.
I rented one on my 1st visit to a range over 30 years ago. It was the most comfortable and accurate gun I fired but I was in the market for something else. Today I finally bought one. Can't wait to get it to the range.
Comparing it to the Ruger LCP is disingenuous at best, as it's 50+ years older. This was one of the first single stack, ultra concealable handguns with excellent craftsmanship and reliability for it's time; before 9mm was brought into the 21st century. Are there better options today, absolutely, tons of them. Was it cutting edge for the time it was made, yes it was.
He said that 🃏
@@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965 And I thought my jokes were bad. He literally said it was used in both world wars, then said that it's not as convenient as a Ruger LCP. Thus comparing it to the LCP. Don't pretend you know about guns stoner, you can't even legally own any.
@@TheJoker-bz2uz I still have em 🃏
@@shanescatsandcannabisfarm2965 Cool story bro, keep bragging about it online. Definitely won't end up in prison that way 🤣🤣🤣
@@TheJoker-bz2uz All you do is talk shit in the comment section of EVERY gun video you watch. Shut your mouth for a change.
Don’t expect to get an answer or comment from da big guy this late,.. but his take on “wanting ALL the guns” made me smile.
Im 62. Until. 3 years ago, the last firearm I shot was my service .45 and a Viet Nam era USMC M16 Some 38-40 years back.
I got my CPL,.. bought a Hellcat for my test which malfunctioned so bad it was unusable. Picked up a Blue label G19 to complete my CPL test. (Hellcat came back from Springfield 100% reliable now) Got two guns now. So I figured I was set. Got My edc & a spare, good ta go!
Then I saw the PDP! 💕🥰💕🥰
I’ve since learned “Gun LUST” is a thing!! 🤣
In 3 years, my Quiver now stands @ 1-Blue label G19. An original issue Hellcat /w Speed Sights. A 4” Compact PDP with Holosun 509T. A recently acquired blue label G48, and a Brand Spanking New Foxtrot Mike FMP9 10” AR Pistol Build. 😁
It’s a sickness! 🤣🤷♂️😎
I can’t believe how accurate that thing looks. Still hate the capacity/round but man, an all metal pistol that small and accurate. Hmm 🤔
P91
The secret to the accuracy is that it is a straight blowback gun, meaning the barrel is solidly fixed to the frame. This is inherently more accurate than the tilting barrel system used on most pistols nowadays.
was going to say i have a interarms ppk/s and it surprised me how accurate its been, its a reliable pistol and has never failed me.
I prefer Makarovs. Yeah yeah yeah I'm an effing Heretic because I prefer the copy ............... most of which have better triggers and A superior caliber.
the fixed barrel helps with consistency & accuracy... my carry usually is a FEG PA-63.. A PPK MAGNUM in 9x18 MAK...
Great video. I've had a stainless PPK for over 25 years. I had to get one because it looked like it was hewn from a billet of stainless steel. I bought it primarily for its classic looks, even though the manual of arms is not optimal for a lefty, like me. Cleaned mine once in an ultrasonic cleaner and it took the red paint off the slide by the safety. Noticed yours is gone also. Red Testers model paint has held up well since.
Dude!! Amazing timing with this video....I literally went into my local shop today inquiring when he'd be getting a PPK in "You can't find 'em right now". there was one there a few months back (DOH!) the hunt begins. Thanks for the review
Look into the Bersa Thunder. Costs less. Available. More color options. More platform options. More rounds. I think it is a better gun and it looks like a PPK
@@ricjona1069 thanks for the suggestion..ppl seem to like it.
The PPK is a lot like the Aston Martin DB5 that the cinematic James Bond used to drive. They were both pretty hot in their time, but that time has passed. The main reason that the PPK and the DB5 keep appearing throughout the Bronson and Craig eras is that both are iconic as heck. The PPK may not be the best choice for a carry gun, but it makes a lot more sense than using a DB5 as a travel car.
Bronson? When did Charles Bronson play Bond? 😉😁
@@CptBerns Um different Bronson, first name Pierce.
@@darwinskeeper421 You mean Pierce BROSNAN. 😉😁
Excellent review, and fun to watch. You guys are a great team. Also glad to watch an apolitical channel and a guy concerned about a homeless shelter. Kudos.
I have one. Love it. It was my first back up weapon working gang detail in South Central Los Angeles, never let me down.
Walther is and has always been stellar and the ppk is a good example why.
I bought a used ppk from my neighbor which is a CO at a prison here.
He didn’t like the size and the caliber so he shot it once and it sat.
I got it for $200 and knew I got away with theft on a good friend but he didn’t care.
It’s extremely accurate and I mean in any situation , one handed , two handed, from the hip, blindfolded with your feet, ok maybe not that but point is made.
I shoot this better with one hand than I shoot anything else. At 20 yards I literally stack bullets. The targets bullseyes are littered with overlapped cluster holes. Without thinking it’s an easy little gun to shoot. It’s grip is not ideal and squared off, it’s capacity is horrible for todays standards and it’s heave as hell for the size. None of that matters after your shoot it you know why it’s priced at $800 bones.
Quality is Walther and Walther is quality in all the examples.
The pdp is their newest and arguably greatest model that’s a duty shooter to boot.
I’ve owned this exact gun since I’m 21 years old and I am now 58. Everything they said about this gun is 100% accurate. I’m not sure I put 100 rounds through it, But it is a nice gun to look at.
Great, honest, fair review of the old Walther PPK. I’ve owned several PPK/PPKs over 40 years and all of them have been great little shooters. Reliable and pretty accurate. People say the recoil is more then modern 380s. Maybe a little but it’s not an issue for me or most shooters. It’s definitely old school but still a relevant viable carry gun option. As you pointed out it’s a beautifully machined, old world craftsmanship, a heirloom piece that is fun to just look at and fondle on the table. Great shooting BTW. I shoot mine 50 yards at 8” steel all the time and rarely miss. It’s as accurate as the shooter so no excuses. I remember buying my first one back in 1980 and waiting until I turned 21 to pick it up at the gun store. I probably went in there 20 times and asked to look at it. The gun dealer used to say “there’s Mr Bond coming in to check his PPK”. I took it home and showed my dad who is British and he did the “Bond, James Bond” accent perfectly as he was holding it. Special place in my heart for the Walther PPK. Thanks for posting this review
This is the perfect gun, to finally buy, after spending years wanting one. Only to leave it sitting in your safe, and take out to show your friends, then sell, and hold onto the stories, of I used to have the James Bond gun, and how beautiful it was, along with short history lessons of its service life.
I've been slumming it with a Bersa knockoff copy for over 20 years, but with only roughly a 1000 rounds during that time. It's not an every day carry. You'll never confuse the trigger with a 1911 Gold Cup, but it's a fun little gun to shoot and it stays in the desk drawer of my home office "just in case". It does not particularly like hollow point ammo, but feed failures with other ammo are so rare that I can remember most of them. My Bersa has a little grip extender on the magazine (which not all the mags in your video appear to have) and is a real plus for big hands.
I love guns because I grew up in the Rocky Mountains and they're so distinctly part of Americana and especially my ancestors that depended on them not just for defense but literally to eat. My age meant new James Bond movie something to do with your friends and on very very rare occasions taking a girl dumb enough to agree to a date. My dad got me a PPK my senior year of high school and I had no idea if it was good or really even how guns worked beyond how to load, shoot, reload and basic cleaning. Still have it, still love it, still terrible at hitting much with it but it's the first thing I make sure where it is whenever I move since 1988. Probably my favorite review so far just because of nostalgia.
I started my LE career in 1981. I carried a 1911 Government model as my primary weapon. The PPK/S was my back up gun. Neither weapon ever malfunctioned, with thousands of rounds through each. I still own both, although today my EDC is a Sig P365XL.
I carry one every day. Love these pistols. It doesn't ruin the lines of my suit like a 1911.