I have had my P 230 for some 30 years. It is my carry weapon. She has never jammed. She is so smooth NOTHING snags. Magazine never comes out accidently because the locking mechanism is so good. My philosophy is that handguns and deadly force are always last resort. Shoot and scoot. It's made for elegant self-protection not a gun battle or competition. Modern .380 ammunition is extremely deadly and effective. Great weapon for CCW. Thanks for your comparison.
I'm really considering getting a Sig P230 for summer carry, I just love all steel handguns, has yours been reliable with hollow point ammunition? I heard that the P230s can be somewhat finicky with hollow points
@@takumisato7126 I carry eight rounds in my P-230. Every other round is a Blazer 95 grain FMJ. the other is a Sierra 90grain JHP. The first round I keep in the tube is JHP. I then fire in groups of two. The weapon has never jammed with this configuration. JHP, FMJ JHP, FMJ, JHP FMJ etc. I think they used to call this "Dutch Loading" I do the same with my revolver.
That hard initial pull is what makes it such a good carry gun. In a high stress situation you are going to pull it easily and in normal carry it prevents ND's.
I can't comment on the Mustang because I have never had one but I can say I had a PPK for 15+ years & never had a problem with it. It wasn't picky about ammo,seldom had a jam of any type & never once needed any repairs. It was a rock solid little gun that served me well.
these two firearms represent style , class, and elegance. while there may be many same size 9 mm firearms at this time, none compare with the timeless beauty of these to firearms.
I used this firearm on operations during the fighting in Northern Ireland. It never let me down, but regular cleaning and maintenance was important. The issue weapon was a 9mm short. As to getting nipped by the slide just keep your thumb down. I served 22 years with British units , the unit that I served in was awarded the George cross , which is similar the MOH.
Navy Cross you mean... The highest unit award for America's military is the presidential unit citation, which is the equivalent of the Navy Cross, the second highest medal but that's because a unit cannot be awarded the medal of honor, but individuals can.
My daily carry is a Sig 230. I have the blued version as it is considerably lighter than the stainless 232 (I owned one of those too). I came back to the 230 after getting tired of carrying a full size 9mm all the time. I find the 230 to be a great carry gun, but it does have its flaws. The Euro mag release and lack of a slide stop/release really suck. But I still prefer it over the "chunkier" PPK and most other "pocket" guns. A 9mm version with standard mag release would be a dream.
If I had a PPK I would probably spend more time in front of a mirror in my tuxedo practicing quick draw from a 007 holster than actually shooting it. And of cause pausing for the occasional martini.
YM i own both as well as the Beretta 85 and the Bersa thunder, to be honest i could'nt choose between them, but you are right, the Walther is very very accurate gun. For the fellow below with the Chevy anology, the Walther is not a copy of the Sig, the Walther was designed by Carl walther in 1927 and hit the market in 1929 way before the Sig company was even thought of, it was a gun ahead of itt's time, stands to reason why it is one of the most copied gun in history, thus Y M's remark that every gun collector needs to have one
5 лет назад
JP Sauer & Sohn has been around at least as long as Carl Walther.
Yes Sir, I must agree that the Sig P232 and my P230 are two of the best .380 ACPs in the World. I like my Walter PPK too, but it tends to bite my hand and that I do not like and therefore, it is a safe-queen. However, it's value will only go up and my younger Nephew likes that part of the firearm collecting world. :>)
I'm going to buy either a ppk or 230 today.. the ppk is $950 and 220 mi away. P230 is $700 and 25 mi away. Really wanted the ppk. Thanks to your review I'm getting the sig p230 11/25/23 didn't know which was better. I feel comfortable with the p230 after your review. Thank you so very much. Already have Beretta 84. Want smaller.
I finally acquired the Walther ppk/s Cal 9mm kurz West Germany. By Inter arms. But it's not a 9mm?! It shoots a .380 caliber round. I'm assuming that it's the exact same gun that your talking about? It's black and not nickle and so is the magazine... I went to get ammo and I saw it in the used cabinet and I couldn't pass it up being it still looked brand new and I thought the price that I got it for wasn't bad either! $500.
I just hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet and I'll be doing that as soon as my extra magazines come in. I like it much better than what than the Springfield XD/.40 mod 2 double stack compact! Which was to big for a concealed carry gun because it was very uncomfortable and no matter how or where I carried it, it would dig into my side, stomach and wasn't one but comfortable! Which isn't the case with the Walther ppk/s. 380. I just didn't know why it has 9mm stamped on the side and no where on it does it say it's a 9mm short or .380?! Maybe it's a German thing? Lol. It does say West Germany on the magazine release side, but on the left and opposite side it has Inter-Arms stamped on it.. I broke out my jewelers loop I can see a stamp of a Bird or Eagle with the wings below?! Haven't really looked into it yet, because I'm interested in which era it's from/made in?
Of course the PPK (and the PPK/s that you SHOULD have compared to the SiG here) BOTH have hammer blocks!! What do you think keeps the Walther from firing when you drop the hammer by de-cocking? I'm not being rude, just pointing out that you made a pretty big mistake on what is a key element of the Walther design. If you know something I don't, please let me know, but I carried a Walther PPK/s concealed for thirty years, and I couldn't let that error slide. P.P.S. Why did not make this test more even by featuring The PPK/s? 7+1 should be a feature of both pistols, unless you are looking for more concealability.
Had the SW PPK. Constantly stove piped. Sent back to ME and came back the same way. Ended up selling it as unreliable. Found the Sig and totally enjoy it.
I love my PPKs and have one from decades always accurate and reliable. I have not shot the sig. I find mine very easy to use and a natural point shooting weapon in my smaller hands. I would wear the Batman ring. I found going through Mom's estate where she kept my childhood wallet and there was my Adams West fan club card in it.
I have a 1939 PPK in .32,K suffix.....this is my daily carry gun,and has been for 9 years. Use good ammo,get good results,as I ALWAYS practice with the same ammo I carry. I cannot find ANY reason other than saving a couple of bucks to do otherwise. I do own SIGs, and they are top-shelf stuff,along with my Steyr m8. I can reload a mag far quicker with the l/side mag button release...which could be significant in an armed encounter.Personal preference dictates all STEEL for a daily-carry gun....but, I'm damned near 70 yo. I always carry one-in-the-pipe and safety off. The DA pull is so hard.... that its "virtually" impossible to gat an AD ,unless you are pathetically unaware/stupid. YES, I like the safety. To me,the LARGE sights on the SIG are totally useless, as this is a "muscle-memory-reflex" kind of weapon. I always "Mexican-Carry",small of the back, or in my rt front pocket and practice twice weekly deploying this little gem. Normally fire about 75 rounds/week and VERY comfortable with the results. While I have a 76 gun collection,from .25 junk to 70series .45 Gold Cup(3digit s/n)to .375 H&H to various 9mm's,etc. EVERYDAY, i saddle-up with this little PPK, and do not feel "underarmed". I rarely practice beyond 10 yards, and this gun(and I) can keep it on a 3inch x 5 inch index card(I've always used those for practice). My 25/40 yard stuff (aimed-fire) usually puts 6 on target.. In a mechanical rest(vice), this thing is like a surgeon at 25 yds, so...I could care less (It's NOT my .22 target pistol). After this looooong-winded rant.I will close with the caveat that I am cognizant that this world is full of folks that carry double-stack, large cal stuff, that think every possible gunfight will be against multiple "assailants" at 50 yards. In the citizen/street arena, I only had to "throw-down" on 2 dudes with a knife that wanted to borrow my wallet, and thankfully , they had other things to do when I said(no bs)..."i've had a good life". I have shot folks and been shot (military), and it sucks folks!!! 3 months in a NAVY hospital. My advise: carry ANYTHING that you can MASTER....the rest is truly BS!! Both of these pistols are really nice choices,I think..P.S. I use S&B 7.65 Browning , 73gr. ball ammo ONLY!!!! This stuff penetrates very well at SHORT ranges(25ft)
I did a gun store compare between these two and ended up with the PPK. The clincher was the DA trigger pull: PPK (smooth) vs. SIG (very gritty). My PPK is a very early S&W (with an AAA s/n) and had some minor build quality issues. At the time, S&W's QA was going through a rough patch. There was a bit of metal on the slide's underside that was just waiting to flake off and gum up the works. I cleared that away with a pocket knife. One of the plastic grip panels was proud of the grip frame due to a casting nubbin that hadn't been filed off (a 5 second fix). Worst of all, the white insert fell out of the front sight on the 2nd magazine full. I filled the hole with white-out and never looked back. My pistol sports the original short tang and I've never been bitten. (But then, I've never been bit by any of my govt-stock 1911's either.) As for accuracy, I second the Marshal. And apart from CCI Blazers, which will not feed, I've never had a failure of any sort. Mostly I shoot SilverTips, but any hollow point will cycle just fine.
I LOVE my Sig p232. I have very small hands and have no trouble shooting it. I also have the PPK but find I have way more fun shooting my Sig. It just reeks of quality.
Marshall....great video. You do a very "down to earth" type of reviews. DON'T CHANGE ! It's a style, that really connects with the everyday man. You've got what's necessary, with out it getting too technical. I do technical all day at work. I was actually comparing these 2 exact pistols for possible purchase of one, and this video was great info. from an owner of both...:-)
I agree with you're review.I shot both main times. I have big hands,so I picked the Sig. Both are accurate point and shoot conceal carry pistols and very rarely jam. The Sig looks cooler but the Double 00'S carry the PPK.
I’m not sure how you can say the PPK is overlooked as a carry gun. It is quite possibly the most famous carry gun in firearm history. James Bond for the old fellas and Archer for the yung’uns. Keeping in mind that original James Bonds were fairly realistic works of literary fiction rather than the absurd movies. The gun was recommended to Fleming by a firearms expert. It was designed ans used as the standard pistol for German undercover police.
It hasn't really been a recommended carry gun since the late sixties, for two reasons. The 1968 GCA meant they couldn't be imported as true PPKs. They got bigger and heavier, which ruined their reputation as small, light concealed carry guns. Second, they were popular at a time when everyone wore suits, and shoulder holster and jacket pockets were the norm. These don't fit into jean pockets like an LCP or Beretta Tomcat. Even today it's twice the weight of an LCP, and three times the price, so the PPK is kinda irrelevant in the carry gun field. I still love my PPK/S, and I carry it like it was intended, in a shoulder holster.
Very nice, thorough review. One thing to note that you didn't discuss, ihowever, s that the newer P232's (the made in the US ones with the completely horizontal serations) accept night sights. The old ones do not. I don't know about the PPK though. I'm am surprised at the accuracy of the sig. It's one of my favorite guns and my usual EDC.
Yeah, really don't think you can possibly go wrong with either. They're both amazing little guns. Still think about getting the ppk for my mother since she always prefers a safety in everything.
Considering one or the other of these after a very disappointing experience with my Ruger LCP. Just cannot get accurate enough with the elsie due to too much difficulty with recoil issues. Appreciate this stellar review of these very nice pistols!
I just got the ppk based on your reviews. Love the gun but have a few misfires. Purchased a rosewood grip and the back of the grip cracked and flaked after 100 rounds at the range. My next 300 rounds were not good. The last 100 I had a miss fire every other shot or near that. I am going to reach out to Smith or a local gunsmith. At 50 feet with no stabilizer I am shooting 2-3 inch groups. Super accurate as you say. Just concerned about the miss fires and my wood grip splintering out of the back. Maybe Rosewood isn't strong enough material. Yours looks like Oak or Walnut. Any feedback or comment is appreciated as I am looking for some input/answers
Actually, the Glock was originally designed for trials held by the Austrian army and it won handily. It is currently the standard pistol for several other nations' military forces, including Norway, Sweden, Finland and The Netherlands, as well as many paramilitary organizations, most notably Germany's GSG-9. It surpasses all NATO durability tests and has a NATO stock number: 1005-25-133-6775. The only reason it wasn't considered for the US XM9 trials was the lack of a manual safety.
@mmmmmnnnnn55555 Thanks! I got some lame brown plastic grips. Probably originals given what I know about how my dad got the gun. They are ok and the gun fires great, but i like the look of the wood here.
PPK with the backstrap will save the web of your hand every time. Both are very nice history pistols and awesome additions to ANY collection. There will be the peeps that will say that the modern .380's are better, but I don't think that is the point of this Vid. The family PPK is a vintage piece but works like champ, the trigger's a bit heavy, as new ppk's are. I have to admit, my favorite .380 is the "all business" Colt's Government Model .380, series '80. Thanks for the Vid, enjoyed it!
Try the Bersa Thunder. It's pretty inexpensive but the performance and quality is more than what you pay for. Some people have tried comparing it to the Walther PPK (since it's a PPK clone) and they come out saying it's just as good or even better. Bersa Thunder owners are quite pleased with it. You might like it yourself.
Wow, never knew Sig had an identical clone of the PPK! The PPK is what got me started on my Walther collection. I hate the European mag release. Have one on my P5. Very impractical.
I own an old Interarms PPK/s (blued not stainless) and it uses all true engraving. it's really pretty and I got it for a great price. I really enjoy it (probably too much).
The Walther has a larger tang. How often has the Sig bit your hand while firing? Is that something that would detract from the gun, or is it fairly safe to fire rapidly, or off a fast draw?
Very good review, no background music or shaky camera, wish more people did reviews like this! After watching, Id be goin for the Sig, its got sleek looks plus Iv a large hand span.
If it is a stainless frame, you can easily round off those sharp edges and not ruin the finish. I did it with mine, using jewelers files and steel wool, and it looks, feels and works wonderfully. The other option is to buy custom grips that eliminate those sharp edges -- or make your own.
I have the SIG P230 which was the earlier German made gun that is now called the P232. I have the blued version which has an alloy frame and only weighs 18.5 ounces. I believe the stainless version is about 5 ounces heavier. Both the PPK and SIG's are excellent guns but seeing that i own the SIG, I can only comment on the P230/232's. And I can tell you the P230 is extremely well made and it has exceptional bluing. I only shoot it a couple times a year and it's primarily a safe queen.
Nice review and shooting! I've got both of them in Stainless and I prefer the Sig Sauer. The lack of a safety and it's beautiful clean lines make it the winner for me. Actually, it's my conceal carry weapon. I've considered using my Glock 17, but I think that might be too big and quite honestly, overkill for my needs. If I were a cop I'd be carrying my Glock 17 (9mm) or perhaps its shorter brother, the Glock 19 if I had one. Don't get me wrong, the PPK is great, but I still prefer the Sig.
Both are nice. I think the PPK is just a sexy damn gun. The sig isnt half bad either in the looks department. anyone who says the 380 is useless hasn't seen the ballistic tests on the rounds. These are indeed easy to shoot and 5 quick shots to the face alone makes for a bad if not shortened day.
Everyone says a .380 is a weak gun, for EDC but there's not a single sane person in this world that would volunteer to be shot by one. For what they are, they are great guns.
+Ethan A .380 will work just fine if you hit what you're shooting at. They've worked plenty of times throughout history, and they continue to get the job done today.
+Customchannel That would depend on what you are defending. Ask any rabbit, gopher or squirrel if and air rifle can be a good defensive rifle. The .380 is perfect what it's designed for. It can be fired from lightweight easy to conceal frames. The ammo is also generally much cheaper than 9mm which has similar stopping power.
Ethan I don't think anyone would volunteer to be shot by any bullet... there's not a sane person that would say they would want to be shot, the idea that just because someone doesn't want to be shot by it, doesn't make it strong or weak. look at statistics, AKA size, weight, and Design. the hollow point is designed to penetrate virtually anything and destroy it. it's called a cop killer for a reason, go straight through bulletproof vests because it has a needle point on the inside of the bullet.
Jared Fogle you should do some research on ballistics, body armor, and ammunitions... hallow points dump most of their energy on impact, causing a lot of trauma to soft tissue. They're not designed to be penetrators, that's what jacketed rounds are for. A jacket of a harder metal around the soft led bullet keeps the round intact longer allowing it to penetrate further.
As for the lack of an external safety on the M11, it was simply not a requirement in the specification given by the DoD. It was a requirement for the XM9 trials 30 years ago. The latest sources I have still show the G17 as the basic issue pistol for the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Danish Military Police, as well as many others. I never said that the Glock was perfect, or even the best (I'll take the M1911, thank you) , but your comment that no military uses it is patently untrue.
Over the years,I've owned many PPK's, from WWII German guns to those from the Interarms era, and the most recent ones from Smith and Wesson. I've also owned quite a few P230's and P232's. I am of the same mind as the video's author in feeling that it is hard to choose. Going with the car analogy of some previous comments, I'd say the PPK was a Mercedes-Benz, classy but sometimes finnicky, while the Sig was a Volvo, very nice and always reliable. In my experience with them, function slightly favored the Sig, while history and the "cool factor" was owned by the PPK. After all, James Bond did not carry a Sig. :) I will say that the Sig 230/232s have always been high quality pistols, and the great thing in the old days was that the 230 in blue finish had an aluminum frame and was much lighter than the stainless version, coming in about 6 ounces lighter. Not sure if you can still get those or not. One caution if you buy a PPK used. The ones from the early Interarms era made at the Ranger plant in Alabama in stainless were total pigs from a quality control standpoint. Some would not feed ball properly and you could forget about a hollow point. Oddly enough, during the same time period, they made the PPKs in .32 which worked flawlessly. Go figure. Just watch it if you buy an old one. The really old ones from Germany always worked fine, but they were very expensive. One thing to keep in mind is that as blowback pistols, both guns have very heavy recoil springs and could be difficult for some people with limited hand strength to rack the slides on. The PPK always seemed to be more heavily sprung that the Sig. Also the double action trigger on my pre-S&W PPK's often took two men and a boy to pull, coming in at 18 pounds plus. I'm told they are better today. Ont thing I will say, both guns are accurate as hell, owing ot the fixed barrels. Thanks for a nice video.
For the XM9 trials all SIG had to offer was the P6, after that they started producing double stack. As of now 3 SIGs are in service, the P226 & P229 by the Navy and the P228 by the Army and Air Force. And at this time, the Austrian Jagdkommando's are the only ones that do use Glock. In the last four years, due to reliability issues, every other military has switched to either SIG or HK.
Now when I last shot one of those, which was about 35 years ago, it had plastic grips and a heel type mag release. Those wood grips without chequering look like they're designed to slip out of your hand when you're shooting it.
Manual safeties are only an issue on a carry weapon if you are not used to manipulating one. The decocker on the PPK is very similar to that of the M9 and after a lot of range time,drawing and manipulating the safety becomes second nature. It all about preference
The Sig just has pure sex appeal. Screw features, I want a gun I can fantasize about turning into a woman! Crap, I just typed that into the comments section...
Regarding the Interarms PPK and carrying it with the hammer down and safety off. I have a West German produced Interarms PPK and it is equipped with a firing pin safety / block that is pushed up out of the way when you pull the trigger. I carry mine with the safety off and have no concerns that it will go off if dropped.
I had a Walther-PPK-S years ago. I sold it caused it had a very hard and long double-action trigger pull. At over 18-pounds DA, it was horrible. But in single-action, it was very accurate.
I have the S&W PPKS and the major issue I have is the bite in the web of my hand. More than just a bite. I actually bleed after firing 50 rounds. Also I tried to trade it in and 2 gun stores wouldn't take it since they said there are so many trade ins around.
both sides of the ppk are way too cluttered with lettering. I wanted to by a new one, but will probably look for an older model that is cleaner looking. Too bad SIG discontinued the 232
I had a PPK for many years and after a box and a half or two boxes of ammo, it stopped closing and chambering properly. I sold it at that time and replaced it with a S&W .357 snub nose.
@CatHerderXC90 I actually meant to mention that but forgot. The SIG is easier to tear down because of the tear down lever. The PPK requires the trigger guard to be pulled down. Neither is hard to do though.
I am a fan of Sig firearms The 226 and 229 are two of the finest guns ever made. That being said I have shot many P238 and P232s. I would take my Walther PPK and day of the week. More accurate, better control, better trigger and James Bond carried one for Christ sake. Nothing has come along to replace my PPK as my daily low footprint concealed carry. The 232 as well as the Russian Makarov clones are copies of the PP and the PPK, but better weapons? Sorry Im not sold.
I have had my P 230 for some 30 years. It is my carry weapon. She has never jammed. She is so smooth NOTHING snags. Magazine never comes out accidently because the locking mechanism is so good. My philosophy is that handguns and deadly force are always last resort. Shoot and scoot. It's made for elegant self-protection not a gun battle or competition. Modern .380 ammunition is extremely deadly and effective. Great weapon for CCW. Thanks for your comparison.
I'm really considering getting a Sig P230 for summer carry, I just love all steel handguns, has yours been reliable with hollow point ammunition? I heard that the P230s can be somewhat finicky with hollow points
@@takumisato7126 I carry eight rounds in my P-230. Every other round is a Blazer 95 grain FMJ. the other is a Sierra 90grain JHP. The first round I keep in the tube is JHP. I then fire in groups of two. The weapon has never jammed with this configuration. JHP, FMJ
JHP, FMJ, JHP FMJ etc. I think they used to call this "Dutch Loading" I do the same with my revolver.
absolutely
I can't think of a lot of pistols that look as good as these two. Great looking pistols.
That hard initial pull is what makes it such a good carry gun. In a high stress situation you are going to pull it easily and in normal carry it prevents ND's.
Exactly. The moment I picked mine up and pulled the trigger in Double Action mode, I was like "Ahhh... well that's perfect for carry".
I can't comment on the Mustang because I have never had one but I can say I had a PPK for 15+ years & never had a problem with it. It wasn't picky about ammo,seldom had a jam of any type & never once needed any repairs. It was a rock solid little gun that served me well.
these two firearms represent style , class, and elegance. while there may be many same size 9 mm firearms at this time, none compare with the timeless beauty of these to firearms.
Both if them come in 9mm
Except one of them runs, the other is a turd.
@@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess Nope.
I love my 232. I'm small and it's my daily carry.
I used this firearm on operations during the fighting in Northern Ireland. It never let me down, but regular cleaning and maintenance was important. The issue weapon was a 9mm short. As to getting nipped by the slide just keep your thumb down. I served 22 years with British units , the unit that I served in was awarded the George cross , which is similar the MOH.
Navy Cross you mean... The highest unit award for America's military is the presidential unit citation, which is the equivalent of the Navy Cross, the second highest medal but that's because a unit cannot be awarded the medal of honor, but individuals can.
My daily carry is a Sig 230. I have the blued version as it is considerably lighter than the stainless 232 (I owned one of those too). I came back to the 230 after getting tired of carrying a full size 9mm all the time. I find the 230 to be a great carry gun, but it does have its flaws. The Euro mag release and lack of a slide stop/release really suck. But I still prefer it over the "chunkier" PPK and most other "pocket" guns. A 9mm version with standard mag release would be a dream.
I too carry the trusty old P230. Self defense rounds these days make it a very potent weapon.
I also have a Glock 19 but prefer the 230.
the sign is just one of the best looking back ups in the world...the sigs lines are so crisp and clean it's real quality
If I had a PPK I would probably spend more time in front of a mirror in my tuxedo practicing quick draw from a 007 holster than actually shooting it. And of cause pausing for the occasional martini.
YM i own both as well as the Beretta 85 and the Bersa thunder, to be honest i could'nt choose between them, but you are right, the Walther is very very accurate gun. For the fellow below with the Chevy anology, the Walther is not a copy of the Sig, the Walther was designed by Carl walther in 1927 and hit the market in 1929 way before the Sig company was even thought of, it was a gun ahead of itt's time, stands to reason why it is one of the most copied gun in history, thus Y M's remark that every gun collector needs to have one
JP Sauer & Sohn has been around at least as long as Carl Walther.
Yes Sir, I must agree that the Sig P232 and my P230 are two of the best .380 ACPs in the World. I like my Walter PPK too, but it tends to bite my hand and that I do not like and therefore, it is a safe-queen. However, it's value will only go up and my younger Nephew likes that part of the firearm collecting world. :>)
I'm going to buy either a ppk or 230 today.. the ppk is $950 and 220 mi away. P230 is $700 and 25 mi away. Really wanted the ppk. Thanks to your review I'm getting the sig p230 11/25/23 didn't know which was better. I feel comfortable with the p230 after your review. Thank you so very much. Already have Beretta 84. Want smaller.
USA PPK most are /s=. PP frame and short PPK slide.
1968 NFA ban stopped orig import.
PPK is smaller , sig 230 is PP size.
Have .32 PPK and 232. .380❤
The Sig reminds me of the Mauser HsC .380 which was an excellent pistol.
The reason the safety is on the ppk is because it was designed in 1933. Plus manual safeties do help prevent the gun going off by mistake
The wood grips make those pistols look gorgeious, much better than black grips. Thanks for the comparing those two guns and sharing them with us.
Great video on two great guns. I have low serial number first gen Interarms Walther PPKS blued. My favorite handgun of many!
I finally acquired the Walther ppk/s Cal 9mm kurz West Germany. By Inter arms. But it's not a 9mm?! It shoots a .380 caliber round. I'm assuming that it's the exact same gun that your talking about? It's black and not nickle and so is the magazine... I went to get ammo and I saw it in the used cabinet and I couldn't pass it up being it still looked brand new and I thought the price that I got it for wasn't bad either! $500.
I just hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet and I'll be doing that as soon as my extra magazines come in. I like it much better than what than the Springfield XD/.40 mod 2 double stack compact! Which was to big for a concealed carry gun because it was very uncomfortable and no matter how or where I carried it, it would dig into my side, stomach and wasn't one but comfortable! Which isn't the case with the Walther ppk/s. 380.
I just didn't know why it has 9mm stamped on the side and no where on it does it say it's a 9mm short or .380?! Maybe it's a German thing? Lol. It does say West Germany on the magazine release side, but on the left and opposite side it has Inter-Arms stamped on it.. I broke out my jewelers loop I can see a stamp of a Bird or Eagle with the wings below?! Haven't really looked into it yet, because I'm interested in which era it's from/made in?
@@bayoubullion7024 9 mm Short (Kurz) is .380 in US measurements, peace. Interarms was a US manufacturer licensed by Walther Germany starting in @1980?
Of course the PPK (and the PPK/s that you SHOULD have compared to the SiG here) BOTH have hammer blocks!! What do you think keeps the Walther from firing when you drop the hammer by de-cocking?
I'm not being rude, just pointing out that you made a pretty big mistake on what is a key element of the Walther design. If you know something I don't, please let me know, but I carried a Walther
PPK/s concealed for thirty years, and I couldn't let that error slide.
P.P.S. Why did not make this test more even by featuring The
PPK/s? 7+1 should be a feature of both pistols, unless you are looking for more concealability.
I own both pistols..love 'em in my gun collection.
Had the SW PPK. Constantly stove piped. Sent back to ME and came back the same way. Ended up selling it as unreliable. Found the Sig and totally enjoy it.
I love my PPKs and have one from decades always accurate and reliable. I have not shot the sig. I find mine very easy to use and a natural point shooting weapon in my smaller hands. I would wear the Batman ring. I found going through Mom's estate where she kept my childhood wallet and there was my Adams West fan club card in it.
I have a 1939 PPK in .32,K suffix.....this is my daily carry gun,and has been for 9 years. Use good ammo,get good results,as I ALWAYS practice with the same ammo I carry. I cannot find ANY reason other than saving a couple of bucks to do otherwise. I do own SIGs, and they are top-shelf stuff,along with my Steyr m8. I can reload a mag far quicker with the l/side mag button release...which could be significant in an armed encounter.Personal preference dictates all STEEL for a daily-carry gun....but, I'm damned near 70 yo. I always carry one-in-the-pipe and safety off. The DA pull is so hard.... that its "virtually" impossible to gat an AD ,unless you are pathetically unaware/stupid. YES, I like the safety. To me,the LARGE sights on the SIG are totally useless, as this is a "muscle-memory-reflex" kind of weapon. I always "Mexican-Carry",small of the back, or in my rt front pocket and practice twice weekly deploying this little gem. Normally fire about 75 rounds/week and VERY comfortable with the results. While I have a 76 gun collection,from .25 junk to 70series .45 Gold Cup(3digit s/n)to .375 H&H to various 9mm's,etc. EVERYDAY, i saddle-up with this little PPK, and do not feel "underarmed". I rarely practice beyond 10 yards, and this gun(and I) can keep it on a 3inch x 5 inch index card(I've always used those for practice). My 25/40 yard stuff (aimed-fire) usually puts 6 on target.. In a mechanical rest(vice), this thing is like a surgeon at 25 yds, so...I could care less (It's NOT my .22 target pistol). After this looooong-winded rant.I will close with the caveat that I am cognizant that this world is full of folks that carry double-stack, large cal stuff, that think every possible gunfight will be against multiple "assailants" at 50 yards. In the citizen/street arena, I only had to "throw-down" on 2 dudes with a knife that wanted to borrow my wallet, and thankfully , they had other things to do when I said(no bs)..."i've had a good life". I have shot folks and been shot (military), and it sucks folks!!! 3 months in a NAVY hospital. My advise: carry ANYTHING that you can MASTER....the rest is truly BS!! Both of these pistols are really nice choices,I think..P.S. I use S&B 7.65 Browning , 73gr. ball ammo ONLY!!!! This stuff penetrates very well at SHORT ranges(25ft)
7.65 in a PPK is the perfect combo in my opinion. Disclaimer , I’m biased because I have a pre war PPK in 7.65.
I did a gun store compare between these two and ended up with the PPK. The clincher was the DA trigger pull: PPK (smooth) vs. SIG (very gritty). My PPK is a very early S&W (with an AAA s/n) and had some minor build quality issues. At the time, S&W's QA was going through a rough patch. There was a bit of metal on the slide's underside that was just waiting to flake off and gum up the works. I cleared that away with a pocket knife. One of the plastic grip panels was proud of the grip frame due to a casting nubbin that hadn't been filed off (a 5 second fix). Worst of all, the white insert fell out of the front sight on the 2nd magazine full. I filled the hole with white-out and never looked back. My pistol sports the original short tang and I've never been bitten. (But then, I've never been bit by any of my govt-stock 1911's either.) As for accuracy, I second the Marshal. And apart from CCI Blazers, which will not feed, I've never had a failure of any sort. Mostly I shoot SilverTips, but any hollow point will cycle just fine.
Own and love both. PPK wins because it was designed and manufactured in the 1930’s and the Sig is based upon it.
Sig is 38H succsessor. Walther no, Hsc was 3.0 in Germany
i love both guns...i really love the natural smooth look with the wood handle and simple chrome/silver coloring...just basic and beautiful :)
I LOVE my Sig p232. I have very small hands and have no trouble shooting it. I also have the PPK but find I have way more fun shooting my Sig. It just reeks of quality.
Susan Horak seriously I just purchase my P230 one of the coolest little guns I’ve shot
Me also, love my 232 my daily carry since I'm small.
I picked up a beretta 84 if you like 380 it is the best. love the love the Marshall has for the cheetah
Marshall....great video. You do a very "down to earth" type of reviews. DON'T CHANGE !
It's a style, that really connects with the everyday man. You've got what's necessary, with out it getting too technical. I do technical all day at work. I was actually comparing these 2 exact pistols for possible purchase of one, and this video was great
info. from an owner of both...:-)
I agree with you're review.I shot both main times. I have big hands,so I picked the Sig. Both are accurate point and shoot conceal carry pistols and very rarely jam. The Sig looks cooler but the Double 00'S carry the PPK.
I’m not sure how you can say the PPK is overlooked as a carry gun. It is quite possibly the most famous carry gun in firearm history. James Bond for the old fellas and Archer for the yung’uns.
Keeping in mind that original James Bonds were fairly realistic works of literary fiction rather than the absurd movies. The gun was recommended to Fleming by a firearms expert. It was designed ans used as the standard pistol for German undercover police.
It hasn't really been a recommended carry gun since the late sixties, for two reasons. The 1968 GCA meant they couldn't be imported as true PPKs. They got bigger and heavier, which ruined their reputation as small, light concealed carry guns. Second, they were popular at a time when everyone wore suits, and shoulder holster and jacket pockets were the norm. These don't fit into jean pockets like an LCP or Beretta Tomcat. Even today it's twice the weight of an LCP, and three times the price, so the PPK is kinda irrelevant in the carry gun field. I still love my PPK/S, and I carry it like it was intended, in a shoulder holster.
I love my 232. I have a .45 P220 also, both are without safeties and I like it. And yes I always carry one in the pipe.
Try the PPK/S. One of the best .380 carry pistols I have ever tried.
Thank you for making a lengthy PPK video and not once saying "James Bond."
I sold both and I am currently buying both back. The only difference is I want the Interarms PPK instead of the S&W.
Very nice, thorough review. One thing to note that you didn't discuss, ihowever, s that the newer P232's (the made in the US ones with the completely horizontal serations) accept night sights. The old ones do not. I don't know about the PPK though. I'm am surprised at the accuracy of the sig. It's one of my favorite guns and my usual EDC.
Your written comments on the video are what makes this review great.
Yeah, really don't think you can possibly go wrong with either. They're both amazing little guns.
Still think about getting the ppk for my mother since she always prefers a safety in everything.
Considering one or the other of these after a very disappointing experience with my Ruger LCP. Just cannot get accurate enough with the elsie due to too much difficulty with recoil issues.
Appreciate this stellar review of these very nice pistols!
Man you have a nice walther PPk and sig p232 YankeeMarshal! Wood and stainless steel is my fave way to go with guns I love! :)
I just got the ppk based on your reviews. Love the gun but have a few misfires. Purchased a rosewood grip and the back of the grip cracked and flaked after 100 rounds at the range. My next 300 rounds were not good. The last 100 I had a miss fire every other shot or near that. I am going to reach out to Smith or a local gunsmith. At 50 feet with no stabilizer I am shooting 2-3 inch groups. Super accurate as you say. Just concerned about the miss fires and my wood grip splintering out of the back. Maybe Rosewood isn't strong enough material. Yours looks like Oak or Walnut. Any feedback or comment is appreciated as I am looking for some input/answers
No, when the slide locks back it is empty. When you change the mag the slide will drop back forward.
No, you still have to pull the slide back to release the stop! Changing the mag does NOT release the slide!!
Actually, the Glock was originally designed for trials held by the Austrian army and it won handily. It is currently the standard pistol for several other nations' military forces, including Norway, Sweden, Finland and The Netherlands, as well as many paramilitary organizations, most notably Germany's GSG-9. It surpasses all NATO durability tests and has a NATO stock number: 1005-25-133-6775. The only reason it wasn't considered for the US XM9 trials was the lack of a manual safety.
@mmmmmnnnnn55555
Thanks!
I got some lame brown plastic grips. Probably originals given what I know about how my dad got the gun. They are ok and the gun fires great, but i like the look of the wood here.
They are both wonderful guns. I have both and like them both. The Sig is way more valuable now. Sig needs to start making them again.
You don't have to take the magazine out to close the slide on the PPK. You could have simply have rounds in the magazine.
"Violent decocker", now that's scary!
Yep I don't decock mine like that, really scary if the blocker dosent cover the pin man. Yikes.
PPK with the backstrap will save the web of your hand every time. Both are very nice history pistols and awesome additions to ANY collection. There will be the peeps that will say that the modern .380's are better, but I don't think that is the point of this Vid. The family PPK is a vintage piece but works like champ, the trigger's a bit heavy, as new ppk's are. I have to admit, my favorite .380 is the "all business" Colt's Government Model .380, series '80. Thanks for the Vid, enjoyed it!
Try the Bersa Thunder. It's pretty inexpensive but the performance and quality is more than what you pay for. Some people have tried comparing it to the Walther PPK (since it's a PPK clone) and they come out saying it's just as good or even better. Bersa Thunder owners are quite pleased with it. You might like it yourself.
Wow, never knew Sig had an identical clone of the PPK! The PPK is what got me started on my Walther collection. I hate the European mag release. Have one on my P5. Very impractical.
Who are we to argue with 007.
I have a PPK as a my current carry, how do you feel about the sights?
I own an old Interarms PPK/s (blued not stainless) and it uses all true engraving. it's really pretty and I got it for a great price. I really enjoy it (probably too much).
The Walther has a larger tang. How often has the Sig bit your hand while firing? Is that something that would detract from the gun, or is it fairly safe to fire rapidly, or off a fast draw?
Very good review, no background music or shaky camera, wish more people did reviews like this! After watching, Id be goin for the Sig, its got sleek looks plus Iv a large hand span.
If it is a stainless frame, you can easily round off those sharp edges and not ruin the finish. I did it with mine, using jewelers files and steel wool, and it looks, feels and works wonderfully.
The other option is to buy custom grips that eliminate those sharp edges -- or make your own.
Thanks for the great review. However, are you aware of a PP/K/S style that does fire a typical 9mm round?
I have the SIG P230 which was the earlier German made gun that is now called the P232. I have the blued version which has an alloy frame and only weighs 18.5 ounces. I believe the stainless version is about 5 ounces heavier. Both the PPK and SIG's are excellent guns but seeing that i own the SIG, I can only comment on the P230/232's. And I can tell you the P230 is extremely well made and it has exceptional bluing. I only shoot it a couple times a year and it's primarily a safe queen.
How is your P230 with hollow point ammo?
Nice comparison. Was just thinking on the way back from a gun show a couple of weeks ago how great it would be to see a side-by-side.
Nice review and shooting! I've got both of them in Stainless and I prefer the Sig Sauer. The lack of a safety and it's beautiful clean lines make it the winner for me. Actually, it's my conceal carry weapon. I've considered using my Glock 17, but I think that might be too big and quite honestly, overkill for my needs. If I were a cop I'd be carrying my Glock 17 (9mm) or perhaps its shorter brother, the Glock 19 if I had one. Don't get me wrong, the PPK is great, but I still prefer the Sig.
If I were a cop I would be carrying a Glockenspiel
The grips are from Hogue.
I own both and Beretta 70S,those are very good guns...
Both are nice. I think the PPK is just a sexy damn gun. The sig isnt half bad either in the looks department. anyone who says the 380 is useless hasn't seen the ballistic tests on the rounds. These are indeed easy to shoot and 5 quick shots to the face alone makes for a bad if not shortened day.
Buzby J Five shots to the face? You always aim for center mass. Moron.
I love the SIG decocker! PPK is, of course, legendary.
Everyone says a .380 is a weak gun, for EDC but there's not a single sane person in this world that would volunteer to be shot by one. For what they are, they are great guns.
+Ethan A .380 will work just fine if you hit what you're shooting at. They've worked plenty of times throughout history, and they continue to get the job done today.
+Customchannel That would depend on what you are defending. Ask any rabbit, gopher or squirrel if and air rifle can be a good defensive rifle. The .380 is perfect what it's designed for. It can be fired from lightweight easy to conceal frames. The ammo is also generally much cheaper than 9mm which has similar stopping power.
John Floyd 380 is cheaper what
Ethan I don't think anyone would volunteer to be shot by any bullet... there's not a sane person that would say they would want to be shot, the idea that just because someone doesn't want to be shot by it, doesn't make it strong or weak. look at statistics, AKA size, weight, and Design. the hollow point is designed to penetrate virtually anything and destroy it. it's called a cop killer for a reason, go straight through bulletproof vests because it has a needle point on the inside of the bullet.
Jared Fogle you should do some research on ballistics, body armor, and ammunitions... hallow points dump most of their energy on impact, causing a lot of trauma to soft tissue. They're not designed to be penetrators, that's what jacketed rounds are for. A jacket of a harder metal around the soft led bullet keeps the round intact longer allowing it to penetrate further.
As for the lack of an external safety on the M11, it was simply not a requirement in the specification given by the DoD. It was a requirement for the XM9 trials 30 years ago. The latest sources I have still show the G17 as the basic issue pistol for the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Danish Military Police, as well as many others. I never said that the Glock was perfect, or even the best (I'll take the M1911, thank you) , but your comment that no military uses it is patently untrue.
Over the years,I've owned many PPK's, from WWII German guns to those from the Interarms era, and the most recent ones from Smith and Wesson. I've also owned quite a few P230's and P232's. I am of the same mind as the video's author in feeling that it is hard to choose. Going with the car analogy of some previous comments, I'd say the PPK was a Mercedes-Benz, classy but sometimes finnicky, while the Sig was a Volvo, very nice and always reliable. In my experience with them, function slightly favored the Sig, while history and the "cool factor" was owned by the PPK. After all, James Bond did not carry a Sig. :)
I will say that the Sig 230/232s have always been high quality pistols, and the great thing in the old days was that the 230 in blue finish had an aluminum frame and was much lighter than the stainless version, coming in about 6 ounces lighter. Not sure if you can still get those or not.
One caution if you buy a PPK used. The ones from the early Interarms era made at the Ranger plant in Alabama in stainless were total pigs from a quality control standpoint. Some would not feed ball properly and you could forget about a hollow point. Oddly enough, during the same time period, they made the PPKs in .32 which worked flawlessly. Go figure. Just watch it if you buy an old one. The really old ones from Germany always worked fine, but they were very expensive.
One thing to keep in mind is that as blowback pistols, both guns have very heavy recoil springs and could be difficult for some people with limited hand strength to rack the slides on. The PPK always seemed to be more heavily sprung that the Sig. Also the double action trigger on my pre-S&W PPK's often took two men and a boy to pull, coming in at 18 pounds plus. I'm told they are better today.
Ont thing I will say, both guns are accurate as hell, owing ot the fixed barrels. Thanks for a nice video.
I'm on a list to get the PPK/S as soon as my local FFL gets another one. So far they've only gotten one new production gun. I like this gun.
That is my left hand. The right hand has a Superman or batman ring on it (depending on the month).
Good thing the P232 is CA compliant. I hope there is a rental I can use to practice with in a firing range.
@MrDbcooper456 since neither has ever given me any failures in hundreds of rounds, I cannot answer that question.
@chaos311clarity if not mistaken the p232 has shorter beavertail and the p232sl has longer/larger beavertail.
For the XM9 trials all SIG had to offer was the P6, after that they started producing double stack. As of now 3 SIGs are in service, the P226 & P229 by the Navy and the P228 by the Army and Air Force. And at this time, the Austrian Jagdkommando's are the only ones that do use Glock. In the last four years, due to reliability issues, every other military has switched to either SIG or HK.
PPK/s. Extra etching was never a problem.
Walther PPK all the way every day!
Now when I last shot one of those, which was about 35 years ago, it had plastic grips and a heel type mag release. Those wood grips without chequering look like they're designed to slip out of your hand when you're shooting it.
Great video Marshal. You should do one including a Bersa Thunder.
I think a Walther PP and a SIG 232 would be a better comparison due to barrel length.
Both awesome guns, I love my Bulgarian Makarov though
Manual safeties are only an issue on a carry weapon if you are not used to manipulating one. The decocker on the PPK is very similar to that of the M9 and after a lot of range time,drawing and manipulating the safety becomes second nature. It all about preference
The Sig just has pure sex appeal. Screw features, I want a gun I can fantasize about turning into a woman! Crap, I just typed that into the comments section...
Hajaha good one!
I AM a woman & I agree 😆
Just keep her undressed by never placing her into a holster.
You are using the weight of the two tone model P232 which has an aluminum frame.
Regarding the Interarms PPK and carrying it with the hammer down and safety off. I have a West German produced Interarms PPK and it is equipped with a firing pin safety / block that is pushed up out of the way when you pull the trigger. I carry mine with the safety off and have no concerns that it will go off if dropped.
If you are thinking about buying one of these, get the Sig. Besides the size issue it is the better gun. And yes, I have owned both!
I had a Walther-PPK-S years ago. I sold it caused it had a very hard and long double-action trigger pull. At over 18-pounds DA, it was horrible. But in single-action, it was very accurate.
I have the S&W PPKS and the major issue I have is the bite in the web of my hand. More than just a bite. I actually bleed after firing 50 rounds. Also I tried to trade it in and 2 gun stores wouldn't take it since they said there are so many trade ins around.
They make rubber ones that do that. if you do not want the metal strap stick to the PPK.
You mentioned (correctly) your appreciation for the beretta 84. How come you never did a review on that one?
both sides of the ppk are way too cluttered with lettering. I wanted to by a new one, but will probably look for an older model that is cleaner looking.
Too bad SIG discontinued the 232
I love the Pachmayr combat grips. They make the pistol 'stick' in your hand.
I had a PPK for many years and after a box and a half or two boxes of ammo, it stopped closing and chambering properly. I sold it at that time and replaced it with a S&W .357 snub nose.
Another great review,..my buddy has a Sig,... and the review was spot on,.....
The Luger was the first auto loading military handgun,it came with a push button magazine release on the side. Why isn't that the European style?
Yank gun shop storie’s. Colt 1903 JBrow = that European mag re😂😂😂❤
Wood and stainless steel on a gun is like strawberries and whipcream on a cheesecake!
You can usually pick up the P232 from just under $400 used. That is what I paid for this one.
@CatHerderXC90 I actually meant to mention that but forgot. The SIG is easier to tear down because of the tear down lever. The PPK requires the trigger guard to be pulled down. Neither is hard to do though.
I inherited a Walther from my late father. Do you know if I can get the plastic handle cover replaced with wood?
I want the sig p232 so bad, what a beauty
Great review (as always), BUT did I miss the trigger pull action? How long is the pull on each and what do they feel like during the entire pull?
I am a fan of Sig firearms The 226 and 229 are two of the finest guns ever made. That being said I have shot many P238 and P232s. I would take my Walther PPK and day of the week. More accurate, better control, better trigger and James Bond carried one for Christ sake. Nothing has come along to replace my PPK as my daily low footprint concealed carry. The 232 as well as the Russian Makarov clones are copies of the PP and the PPK, but better weapons? Sorry Im not sold.
Excellent video comparing these to weapons. I learned a lot, thanks.