Walther Ppq M2 Q4 Tac Combo 9 Mm Reviews

Walther PDP 9mm Pistol: Full Review

Natural Selection: The Walther PDP 9mm rises to the summit.

(Marking Fingar photo)

April 01, 2021

MANY OF MY GUNS seem to speak High german, simply not this ane. The new Personal Defence Pistol (PDP) wears Walther branding and has some familiarity with the PPQ, but information technology's different. It'southward every bit if information technology was made for America.

Sure, there's all the same a German accent to the PDP, but I tin can easily empathize what this pistol says for Walther. Don't become me wrong, I respect the outgoing PPQ. When I learned that Walther was going to exist discontinuing the PPQ, I asked "Why? Information technology'southward a great gun!"

Introduced in 2011, it doesn't seem every bit though the PPQ was with u.s.a. that long. I suppose that'southward why it seems unfortunate, especially given that the PPQ was incomparably a amend pistol than the P99 it replaced. In my stance, the PPQ matured when Walther added the M2 push-button mag release for the American market place in 2013. Nonetheless, the all-time variants didn't appear until the Q4 was announced in 2017 and the Q5 Match arrived in 2018. Then life got ameliorate with the Steel Frame (SF) series in 2019.

(Mark Fingar photo)

Relax. "The Q4 and Q5 will go along," said Cody Osborn of Walther Artillery. He added, "Simply the PPQ series will go abroad."

Compact Steel Frame models were introduced merely a year ago, simply while many were clamoring for a sample of the Q4 Compact SF, Walther was already circulating a few pre-production prototypes of the PDP for jury testing. Afterwards shooting a sample in a pistol class with retired U.South. Army Special Forces veteran (now firearm training instructor) Larry Vickers (vickerstactical.com), I suspended all temptations to purchase a new striker-fired pistol until the PDP was launched. It shot very well, and Vickers agreed.

(Mark Fingar photo)

The Guns

I now have 2 PDP samples that represent Walther's showtime introductions. One is a full-size variant featuring a 4½-inch barrel, and the 2nd is a compact model with a 4-inch butt. Both have stepped chambers and polygonal rifling, which is known to produce authentic groups.

Walther's new Functioning Duty Texture wraps from the sides of the grip and around the backstraps. The texture is made of many hexagonal pyramids. It becomes more than tactile as information technology is squeezed. (Mark Fingar photo)

Though the Full Size PDP's grip frame is longer than the Meaty'southward to have 17-round magazines, and the compact PDP'south shorter for xv-rounders, the contours and texturing are identical. Walther includes interchangeable backstraps for the grip, which are great to tune how the frame fills the palm your manus and positions your index finger in relation to the trigger. On that discipline, the frame of the PDP eliminates the finger grooves that were on the PPQ just continues the subtle finger humps on the sides. The bottom of the grip is nevertheless flared, also, which supports the high undercut at the back of the triggerguard to enhance your hand position on the frame. It'southward intuitive to fill the gap upwardly and under the protective beavertail.

The grip frame and fashion of texturing is distinctively Teutonic. Information technology works like the bolstering in the seat of a performance automobile that holds a driver through sharp turns. If this grip were designed by Americans, it would be comfy, tiresome or weird, to accommodate the maximum number of potential shooters. In contrast, the PDP's texture is refined and covers a lot of surface surface area, non merely certain areas and shapes. Gripping the PDP feels form fitting, tactile and purposeful.

The ambidextrous slide-lock lever is long and serrated. It is positioned high enough to avert unintentional use, merely still easily reached by the firing-­hand'due south pollex. (Marker Fingar photograph)

The layout of the controls is reminiscent of Walther's recent designs, but the PDP's take been improved. The magazine release button, for case, functions like the M2, but the touchpoint now features positive texture. Before, the M2 push button was simply scored with vi striations.

The ambidextrous slide-lock lever is still ambidextrous, and functions with either hand. Its design makes it truly a slide stop or a slide release. The lever doesn't beetle similar a wart as stubby levers on some pistols do, and it's long plenty that any hand should exist able to reach it from either side. Beingness as long equally information technology is, some wonder if information technology could exist operated unintentionally. I've shot this style of lever enough that I believe those concerns are not an issue.

Though manufactured in Germany, the PDP is imported through Walther Arms in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Earlier arriving, these pistols are subject to pressure level tests at the Ulm proofhouse. (Marker Fingar photo)

Control enhancements on the PDP keep to the slide area. Walther has made the forward-raking slide serrations deeper, edgier and more pronounced. Unfortunately, they are too calling these "Superterran Serrations," which might mean something in German but is lost on me. Manipulating the slide isn't hard, but the "super" serrations mean that y'all don't take to clasp it as hard to pull and overcome the recoil bound.

Serrations on the PDP are coarse and deep, and similar in spacing as the Picatinny rail slots underneath the dustcover. Cut on the slide's angular surfaces, they offer substantial control. (Mark Fingar photo)

Of course, new to Walther'due south new pistol is the fact that every PDP will be optics set up. If yous want to proceed the factory look, then simply proceed the coverplate installed. Still, if you take crumbling eyes, manual dexterity bug or find yourself needing to perform a 1-hand slide manipulations, you might appreciate what an easy task it is to install an optic on the PDP. Without, you lot can withal rack the slide with the factory ledge rear sight, merely information technology is even easier if you opted for having a ruddy dot mounted. I tin't recommend them plenty.

Removing the coverplate reveals the PDP's deep sight cutting. Gun owners are afforded the choice of 1 free adapter plate to accept their preferred optic. Grand&A'south evaluation featured a Leupold DP Pro. (Marking Fingar photo)

On the topic of sights, Walther one-ups its German language-speaking rivals by offering an adjustable rear sight — standard. The rear features two white dots, which tells us that the current tendency of going all-black at the rear to keep focus up forepart hasn't caught on in some parts of Germany, but I've got to praise Walther for non putting the rear sight on a removable sight plate as so many do. I've had a carmine dot fail in training, which got complicated without backup sights in place. If that happened while shooting the PDP, you lot could simply remove the optic with minimal downtime, and transition to run the gun with iron sights while knowing they're already zeroed. My only suggestion to Walther regarding the sights is a request for taller sights and so that they could be used in tandem with the optic's crimson dot. That said, I appreciate why a company wouldn't want to install and so-called "shark fins" at both ends of a bones pistol. Well-nigh of united states of america optic-sight users would simply take care of that on our own later.

Though the standard three-dot sight system features an adjustable rear, the sights practise non co­witness with an optic installed. (Mark Fingar photo)

Lyman's digital trigger gauge's study of 5-pound, ane-ounce pull doesn't do the factory trigger justice. Labeled the "Performance Duty Trigger," it's smoother and more predictable than those on virtually striker-fired pistols. Of course, a good trigger helps whatsoever shooter realize the accurateness potential of whatever gun, which explains why I was able to repeatedly cluster 1¾-inch groups from 25 yards with the PDP, using a Leupold DP-Pro reddish dot of course. To me, the trigger of the PDP feels a lot like the PPQ'due south, and it turns out that they're cross compatible. (This also ways that the aftermarket trigger from Apex Tactical for the PPQ can be installed, too.) Walther told G&A that the shape of the shoe and safety lever appear identical, but the geometry of certain parts on the within were changed for the PDP. The takeup was shortened and lightened versus the PPQ, and the PDP's trigger has a more distinct wall.

The PDP features Walther's new Performance Duty Trigger, marked "PDT." It is distinct and provides a recognizable feel. It is housed in a trigger guard that features a rear undercut and front checkering. (Marker Fingar photo)

Disassembly and maintenance are easy and familiar. Like the PPQ, with the magazine removed and free of ammunition, the PDP disassembles past pulling down on the spring-loaded takedown crossbar and pressing the trigger to release the slide frontwards off the frame. Compressing the recoil spring and guiderod associates slightly takes little effort to remove it, and then the butt is complimentary to be pulled away from underneath the slide. This is as far as is necessary to disassemble the PDP for inspection and maintenance.

(Mark Fingar photo)

Shots Fired

The texture on the PDP is more aggressive than that on the PPQ models, which has been a point of criticism of the PPQ. The PPQ feels snappier to some shooters because of the peak of the slide and the reciprocating mass above the bore's center axis. The PDP'southward slide is amend engineered for how slide mass is distributed, and the design of its new texture and grip mold resulted in better control than the PPQ offered. This became axiomatic to me afterwards shooting the PDP in a two-day pistol course where fatigue factored in my ability in manage recoil. The PDP is simply a comfy pistol to shoot more for longer. The PDP would make an fantabulous option for a new gun owner wanting to purchase a pistol to learn with in class.

(Marker Fingar photo)

Associate Editor Jack Oller and I fired effectually 1,500 rounds each in training and testing through four samples, two of each model. Of all iv guns sent to Guns & Ammo for testing, there have been no malfunctions. Time and ammunition availability issues during the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from shooting thousands more for validation, but after using the PDP in a handgun course at The Site (thesitetraining.com), Oller supported my conclusions.

The PDP is the nigh modular and versatile pistol designed by Walther. Both configurations proved themselves to exist more than qualified to serve you on duty or for protection. Utilizing the power to mount a reflex sight can amend your speed and accuracy at distance, and I'm glad that Walther has taken the determination-making process out of the buy toll. Even without such modern amenities as an optic, the PDP is a must-see. The PPQ will be remembered fondly, and the Q series will e'er accept its place amid serious shooters. However, it's easy to empathize how the PDP will be the handgun that continues Walther's evolution.

Walther PDP 9mm Performance:

(Guns & Ammo image)

Walther PDP 9mm Specs:

Type: Recoil operated, striker fired, semiautomatic
Cartridge: 9mm
Chapters: 15+one rds. (Meaty); 18+ane rds. (Total Size)
Barrel: 4 in. (Compact); 4.5 in. (Full Size); polygonal rifling
Overall Length: 7.5 in. (Meaty); 8 in. (Full Size)
Width: 1.34 in.
Height: 5.4 in. (Compact); 5.7 in. (Full Size)
Weight: 1 lb., 8.4 oz. (Meaty); one lb., ix.four oz. (Full Size)
Sights: 3 white dots, adj.; optic ready
Trigger: 5 lbs., 9 oz. (tested)
Safety: Trigger condom; striker rubber, disconnect condom
MSRP: $649
Importer: Walther Arms, 479-242-8500, waltherarms.com

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Source: https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/walther-pdp-9mm-pistol-full-review/388834

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