I've carried the ppks for close to 30 years. It's been through hurricanes and floods with me where I had to swim. (Gulf coast resident here) . I've only shot ball and hydro shoks through mine. It's been very reliable, but as a left hander, not the best suited. I guess the reason I am so reluctant to change is because of it's natural point of aim. While sights are horribly small , the grip angle is so natural, thus making it a quick draw and hit on target piece.
I’ve had mine for about 15 years now and carry it off and on. The collectibility of it sometimes makes me put it back into storage and go back to carrying my Glock. That’s a great story, thanks for sharing and thanks for coming by!
@@cornfromajar3222 You mention collect ability but I often wonder about my S&W ,it runs 100 % perfect never a hitch but the key board warriors complaining about the same have me worried if I ever did want to sell that I would have to take a loss on it at 2010 prices, with the 2022 models going for 750 smackers that makes me feel un easy . but the good point is that parts can be had for the older american made models so there is no worry to use them.
I EDC a 2020 PPK/S from Ft. Smith; it’s run every hollow point I’ve loaded it with (Hornady CD, Prvi Partisan .380 Defense, Barnes Tac-X I think, and Remington Golden Sabers.) it also runs Black Hills 65Gn Honey Badgers flawlessly. I carry either the Honey Badgers or Critical Defense. Good little pistol that catches more flak than it deserves.
There is some controversy in the gun community about whether it can handle it or not, I guess since it was designed for full metal jacket pre-WW2. I personally haven’t had any issues either. Thanks for coming by!
I have not shot mini hollow points through mine, but there seems to be some questions about whether the gun can handle it. In my own opinion I think it should be fine. Thanks for coming by!
Had my 380 PPK/S for only a year. I fire FMJ's at the range typically and if I had to guess I'd say I have fired approx. 500-600 FMJ's through it. To date the FMJ's have given me exactly 2 jams and both happened within the first 100 rounds shot through the gun. I have fired Hornady Critical Defense rounds with the wax tips at the range also, approx. 70 or so, and never had a single jam with them.
Thanks for sharing. In my experience is are either from the magazine or less often the ammo. Sounds like things are well though after passing those first 100 rounds or so. Thanks for coming by!
@@LostToTheSea Not sure. I'd suggest dropping by a gun shop/range and have one their guys take a look at it. Might be weak spring in the mag clip or in the gun it's self. Pretty cheap fixes either way. I'll also add if you're not happy with the PPK, try out a Ruger Security .380. I picked one up a few months ago, absolutely love love love that gun. Also you'd be trading an $600.00 to $800.00 gun in on a $300.00 gun and I'll guarantee you'll love the Ruger.
@@Zappy1210 I replaced my recoil spring with a 16lb spring and now it shoots ball, flat nose fmj, federal hst jhp, and critical defense. Flawless. I’m so happy.
I have used Hornady Critical Defense without a hiccup. I also have shot many rounds of Polycase through it and it is great. Reduces recoil and makes practice easier on the hand. I carry the gun with Polycase Fluted. I have had it for fifteen years. It is a Smith and Wesson version and I have never had an issues with it. Beautiful firearm.
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t had any issues but I also don’t shoot hollow points very often. I have heard/read in forums it’s a no no. Oh well. Thanks for coming by!
I stocked up on Winchester white box, after the Obama ammo scare 10 years ago when ammo prices finally came back down to earth so I’ve pretty much stuck to that. It’s full metal jacket and not hollow point though, and I’ve not used much HP in it since I got it. But so far so good. Thanks for coming by!
i used to use fiocci ammo. it has a rounded point and would feed good in my 380 but i been hearing negative about those now so i use federal personal defense they feed good.
A bit older video but if any one sees the mec gar mags are oem walther mags. I've got one of each and the number etchings are exactly the same as well as both have a letter a on the front strap of the mag. They are quality mags.
My favorite gun, although no longer my edc. My Interarms feeds critical defense reliably. For some reason I get ftfs with round nose fmj. It also seems to like the cheap Remington fmj ammo with the flat nose.
I don’t normally shoot hollow points, but I wanted to try out the box of Defenders since I keep a couple in the magazine. I stockpiled some Winchester white box which I haven’t had any issues with. I’ll try the Remington if I find some. Thanks for coming by!
The last time I took my 1976 (Made In W Germany) PPK/S to the range, I ran 24 rounds of Hornady 380 Critical Defense using 7 plus 1 with each of my 3 magazines. It functioned flawlessly. Don't carry it anymore but Hornady CDs are the only ammo I would use if I ever do.
I’ve not had an issue with Hornady critical defense although I haven’t shot a great deal of it. I happened to have a box of the Winchester I haven’t shot and used it for this video. There seems to be some speculation out there about whether Walthers can handle hollow points and I figured they would work fine. Thanks for coming by!
I EDC an Interarms PPK/S and I run Underwood +P 90gr Hornady XTP JHP through it. Only problem was with one specific magazine. Replaced it, no more problems. 1200 fps, 288 ft/lbs, great expansion should I ever need it.
This is an old thread, so you probably won't see this. But, just in case, what holster is that? I just got my PPKS, and that holster looks pretty nice to my eyes. I was even thinking of a canvas holster like that for pocket carry.
I ordered that from Amazon years ago, just a left-handed inside the waistband holster. I tried to go back and look and see what it was called, but I could not find it. It’s just a very thick nylon. That is the search I would start with nylon IWB holster. Thanks for coming by!
I wish I could test my carry ammo on a chunk of meat, but obviously my local shooting range won’t let me and I don’t have a big enough backyard to shoot. So I need to watch many reviews on TH-cam and trust it. I carry in my ppk Barnes 80 grain JHP
Same here. I would love to be able to shoot something like that or ballistic gel. It sure would make tests more realistic and make my videos more interesting!
What full metal jacket/target ammunition do you use reliably in this gun? I just bought one of these, an actual PPK version and I want to know what is the best target Ammunition to run through the gun reliably and smoothly? I don’t wanna waste a bunch of money, I have heard some people say round nose works the best and some people say round nose works lousy! Can you name me a couple Like two or three brands of reliable Ammunition that feeds and works good in this firearm please?
When I have similar concerns about a gun, I typically buy the big three- Remington, Winchester, or federal. And that’s with any gun especially if I don’t know what it can handle. With my PPK, I’ve owned it for about 15 years and have shot all three brands and then some and have rarely experienced issues with round nose. And as you gain experience you can venture out to other brands to test their performance. Thanks for coming by!
The LGS that sold me my PPK also sold me Fiocchi 380 Auto FMJ Training Dynamics (I think Fiocchi might have recently renamed it). The salesman told me this is what he uses in his PPK. So far, so good--no problems at all. ETA: I should probably add that I bought my PPK only a few months ago; it's new and was made in by Walther in Arkansas. YMMV with a S&W.
They’re definitely our opinions either way, especially when shooting one of the older ones you want to take his good of care of it as you can. Thanks for coming by!
It is stamped Carl Walther PPK/S and several other German identifying marks. It’s American made on the right side of the slide is stamped Interarms Alexandria, VA. It’s my understanding this company manufactured them in the 90s. Thanks for coming by!
Its a straight blowback pistol. People need to understand how they operate and what the ramifications are. If you are conservative about your ammunition choices, that is to say that you don't use an extreme hollow point, light for calibre, "low recoil" (which means a lower power charge) or +P ammunition (which it ancedates) then you shouldn't have any issues after the expected breaking in period. It is my experience that unless you get a pistol or magazine that is outside its normal manufacturing tolerances, most failure to feed/jaming issues can be attributed to poor ammunition selection. You seem to have chosen well.
In my experience I concur. Although I usually stick with the same brand, I started seeing mixed opinions of what the weapon is capable of and what it was originally designed for. Thanks for sharing and that’s for coming by!
Thanks for checking in! I don’t remember watching much of that show. My 80s TV memories were China Beach, unsolved mysteries, and Tour of Duty. I may have to check into that one!
@@cornfromajar3222i liked all those shows you mentioned. unsolved mysteries for sure. i was always watching different shows and i remember mccall saying she used a walther ppk it stuck with me. i appreciate reply and have a nice evening.👍
If you are not Law Enforcement you have no clue but I would beat to death with lock the friend bought me and yes he told about West Germany in the 60 and he lived near the confusion and ready to go had diabetes and sore feet and I remember everyone eles at 1300 Evens and I had a bank account with them and yes I ein afain
I've carried the ppks for close to 30 years. It's been through hurricanes and floods with me where I had to swim. (Gulf coast resident here) . I've only shot ball and hydro shoks through mine. It's been very reliable, but as a left hander, not the best suited. I guess the reason I am so reluctant to change is because of it's natural point of aim. While sights are horribly small , the grip angle is so natural, thus making it a quick draw and hit on target piece.
I’ve had mine for about 15 years now and carry it off and on. The collectibility of it sometimes makes me put it back into storage and go back to carrying my Glock. That’s a great story, thanks for sharing and thanks for coming by!
@@cornfromajar3222 You mention collect ability but I often wonder about my S&W ,it runs 100 % perfect never a hitch but the key board warriors complaining about the same have me worried if I ever did want to sell that I would have to take a loss on it at 2010 prices, with the 2022 models going for 750 smackers that makes me feel un easy . but the good point is that parts can be had for the older american made models so there is no worry to use them.
I EDC a 2020 PPK/S from Ft. Smith; it’s run every hollow point I’ve loaded it with (Hornady CD, Prvi Partisan .380 Defense, Barnes Tac-X I think, and Remington Golden Sabers.) it also runs Black Hills 65Gn Honey Badgers flawlessly. I carry either the Honey Badgers or Critical Defense. Good little pistol that catches more flak than it deserves.
There is some controversy in the gun community about whether it can handle it or not, I guess since it was designed for full metal jacket pre-WW2. I personally haven’t had any issues either. Thanks for coming by!
My walther's only problem was lead ball ammo. I now use jacketed hollow points exclusively and have never had a feed issue with these rounds.
Thank you for sharing and thanks for coming by!
The Ft.Smith manufactured PPK’s have been flawless with HP ammo..
I have not shot mini hollow points through mine, but there seems to be some questions about whether the gun can handle it. In my own opinion I think it should be fine. Thanks for coming by!
Had my 380 PPK/S for only a year. I fire FMJ's at the range typically and if I had to guess I'd say I have fired approx. 500-600 FMJ's through it. To date the FMJ's have given me exactly 2 jams and both happened within the first 100 rounds shot through the gun. I have fired Hornady Critical Defense rounds with the wax tips at the range also, approx. 70 or so, and never had a single jam with them.
Thanks for sharing. In my experience is are either from the magazine or less often the ammo. Sounds like things are well though after passing those first 100 rounds or so. Thanks for coming by!
I jam every magazine (failure to feed, sometimes a stovepipe) that I shoot with Hornady Critical Defense. What am I doing wrong?
@@LostToTheSea Not sure. I'd suggest dropping by a gun shop/range and have one their guys take a look at it. Might be weak spring in the mag clip or in the gun it's self. Pretty cheap fixes either way.
I'll also add if you're not happy with the PPK, try out a Ruger Security .380. I picked one up a few months ago, absolutely love love love that gun. Also you'd be trading an $600.00 to $800.00 gun in on a $300.00 gun and I'll guarantee you'll love the Ruger.
@@Zappy1210 I replaced my recoil spring with a 16lb spring and now it shoots ball, flat nose fmj, federal hst jhp, and critical defense. Flawless. I’m so happy.
I have used Hornady Critical Defense without a hiccup. I also have shot many rounds of Polycase through it and it is great. Reduces recoil and makes practice easier on the hand. I carry the gun with Polycase Fluted. I have had it for fifteen years. It is a Smith and Wesson version and I have never had an issues with it. Beautiful firearm.
Thanks for sharing! I haven’t had any issues but I also don’t shoot hollow points very often. I have heard/read in forums it’s a no no. Oh well. Thanks for coming by!
@@cornfromajar3222 I believe it`s the same reason as the 1911 they where originally designed for FMJ in the days before hollow points.
I have a S&W from about 2011 manufacture it has also been absolutely flawless
My PPK/S is in all black.
Very nice pistols that are very valuable today even brand new.
They are and the price keeps going up. Thanks for coming by!
I carry an Inter-arms PPK in SS. The only problems I have ever had was cheap ammo. Using Speer Gold Dot it functions flawlessly.
I stocked up on Winchester white box, after the Obama ammo scare 10 years ago when ammo prices finally came back down to earth so I’ve pretty much stuck to that. It’s full metal jacket and not hollow point though, and I’ve not used much HP in it since I got it. But so far so good. Thanks for coming by!
i used to use fiocci ammo. it has a rounded point and would feed good in my 380 but i been hearing negative about those now so i use federal personal defense they feed good.
I don’t think I’ve ever shot Fiocci through mine usually it’s a little higher in price here.
A bit older video but if any one sees the mec gar mags are oem walther mags. I've got one of each and the number etchings are exactly the same as well as both have a letter a on the front strap of the mag. They are quality mags.
Thanks for coming by!
I thought I was the only one who mixed ammunition in a magazine. I go one hollow and one full metal jacket until filled on any pistol.
Thanks for coming by!
My favorite gun, although no longer my edc. My Interarms feeds critical defense reliably. For some reason I get ftfs with round nose fmj. It also seems to like the cheap Remington fmj ammo with the flat nose.
I don’t normally shoot hollow points, but I wanted to try out the box of Defenders since I keep a couple in the magazine. I stockpiled some Winchester white box which I haven’t had any issues with. I’ll try the Remington if I find some. Thanks for coming by!
The last time I took my 1976 (Made In W Germany) PPK/S to the range, I ran 24 rounds of Hornady 380 Critical Defense using 7 plus 1 with each of my 3 magazines. It functioned flawlessly. Don't carry it anymore but Hornady CDs are the only ammo I would use if I ever do.
I’ve not had an issue with Hornady critical defense although I haven’t shot a great deal of it. I happened to have a box of the Winchester I haven’t shot and used it for this video. There seems to be some speculation out there about whether Walthers can handle hollow points and I figured they would work fine. Thanks for coming by!
I EDC an Interarms PPK/S and I run Underwood +P 90gr Hornady XTP JHP through it. Only problem was with one specific magazine. Replaced it, no more problems. 1200 fps, 288 ft/lbs, great expansion should I ever need it.
Despite everything I’ve heard, I suspect that most feeding issues with this gun can be attributed to the magazines. Thanks for coming by!
This is an old thread, so you probably won't see this. But, just in case, what holster is that? I just got my PPKS, and that holster looks pretty nice to my eyes. I was even thinking of a canvas holster like that for pocket carry.
I ordered that from Amazon years ago, just a left-handed inside the waistband holster. I tried to go back and look and see what it was called, but I could not find it. It’s just a very thick nylon. That is the search I would start with nylon IWB holster. Thanks for coming by!
I wish I could test my carry ammo on a chunk of meat, but obviously my local shooting range won’t let me and I don’t have a big enough backyard to shoot. So I need to watch many reviews on TH-cam and trust it. I carry in my ppk Barnes 80 grain JHP
Same here. I would love to be able to shoot something like that or ballistic gel. It sure would make tests more realistic and make my videos more interesting!
What full metal jacket/target ammunition do you use reliably in this gun? I just bought one of these, an actual PPK version and I want to know what is the best target Ammunition to run through the gun reliably and smoothly? I don’t wanna waste a bunch of money, I have heard some people say round nose works the best and some people say round nose works lousy! Can you name me a couple Like two or three brands of reliable Ammunition that feeds and works good in this firearm please?
When I have similar concerns about a gun, I typically buy the big three- Remington, Winchester, or federal. And that’s with any gun especially if I don’t know what it can handle. With my PPK, I’ve owned it for about 15 years and have shot all three brands and then some and have rarely experienced issues with round nose. And as you gain experience you can venture out to other brands to test their performance. Thanks for coming by!
The LGS that sold me my PPK also sold me Fiocchi 380 Auto FMJ Training Dynamics (I think Fiocchi might have recently renamed it). The salesman told me this is what he uses in his PPK. So far, so good--no problems at all.
ETA: I should probably add that I bought my PPK only a few months ago; it's new and was made in by Walther in Arkansas. YMMV with a S&W.
I carry a very old PPK in.32 auto, I only use ball.
They’re definitely our opinions either way, especially when shooting one of the older ones you want to take his good of care of it as you can. Thanks for coming by!
Is that the regular PPK? Reason I ask is because the beaver tail doesn't seem as long on this PPK/s.
It is stamped Carl Walther PPK/S and several other German identifying marks. It’s American made on the right side of the slide is stamped Interarms Alexandria, VA. It’s my understanding this company manufactured them in the 90s. Thanks for coming by!
Inter arms had a shorter beaver tail than the S&W models and they both came in the PPK/S model
@@cornfromajar3222 I think Interams was just the importer, guns were made in Germany.
I keep Speer gold dot 90gr in my ppk-s
Thanks for coming by!
Its a straight blowback pistol. People need to understand how they operate and what the ramifications are.
If you are conservative about your ammunition choices, that is to say that you don't use an extreme hollow point, light for calibre, "low recoil" (which means a lower power charge) or +P ammunition (which it ancedates) then you shouldn't have any issues after the expected breaking in period.
It is my experience that unless you get a pistol or magazine that is outside its normal manufacturing tolerances, most failure to feed/jaming issues can be attributed to poor ammunition selection.
You seem to have chosen well.
Thank you for sharing and thanks for coming by!
You should always test loads before carrying. Basic self defense
Yes you are right. Thanks for coming by!
Mine's an Interarms .32acp, shoot hollow ALL the time.
I didn’t even know they made hollow points in .32. That’s interesting! Thanks for coming by!
@@cornfromajar3222 i live in asia, its fiocchi and sellier & bellot
I've had no trouble will all kinds of ammo, from junk to premium, it works fine
In my experience I concur. Although I usually stick with the same brand, I started seeing mixed opinions of what the weapon is capable of and what it was originally designed for. Thanks for sharing and that’s for coming by!
@@cornfromajar3222 I do think these guns need a good break in though
When I see a good OEM magazine I assume it's made by Mec-Gar
Thanks for coming by!
mccall on hunter carried a ppk.
Thanks for checking in! I don’t remember watching much of that show. My 80s TV memories were China Beach, unsolved mysteries, and Tour of Duty. I may have to check into that one!
@@cornfromajar3222i liked all those shows you mentioned. unsolved mysteries for sure. i was always watching different shows and i remember mccall saying she used a walther ppk it stuck with me. i appreciate reply and have a nice evening.👍
You sound like Chris Pratt lol
Haha thanks for coming by!
If you are not Law Enforcement you have no clue but I would beat to death with lock the friend bought me and yes he told about West Germany in the 60 and he lived near the confusion and ready to go had diabetes and sore feet and I remember everyone eles at 1300 Evens and I had a bank account with them and yes I ein afain
Thanks for coming by!
Sweet ❤
Thank you thanks for coming by!