Experience with the Walther P99 AS in .40?

[firehawk1]

My son is looking at getting another handgun, in .40 caliber this time around. He likes the looks of the Walther P99 AS. I guess we'll be going out this weekend looking for one, as neither of us has actually seen/held one.

Anyone here with shooting experience with one? If so, what's your opinion.

 

[VERT]

Yes I have one and love it! I usually make comparisons of this gun with my Glock 23. They are similar in size. IMO, the Walther beats the Glock in ergonomics, sights, and accuracy. I also like the fact that the gun will double strike a primer. The trigger of both the Glock and Walther are a bit different and both take some getting used to. A lot of people don't like the Walther trigger as it simulates DA/SA and has a lot of take up. You can pre-stage the striker.

Advantages of the Glock are are follows, higher capacity, slightly lighter, and it has a lower bore axis. Follow up shots and recoil are more manageable with the Glock. The Glock also has almost endless options for holsters and accessories.

If I had to choose one over the other it would be the Walther. For shooting targets I will take the Walther. The Glock however stays loaded and seems to follow me when I am wanting a full capacity auto as a companion.

Thought I would through in a picture of our his & her Walthers.

 

[firehawk1]

Appreciate the feedback. I have a P22, is the trigger on the P99 like the P22 at all, I really like my P22. BTW, is your P99 the AS model?

 

[WestSider]

If you like the P22, you will LOVE the P99, it is made 100x better in about every regard. I used to have a P99 AS model and it is definitely one of those guns I wish I could have back.

 

[firehawk1]

If you like the P22, you will LOVE the P99, it is made 100x better in about every regard. I used to have a P99 AS model and it is definitely one of those guns I wish I could have back.

Great, good to hear. Thanks!

 

[VERT]

The wife and I have three Walthers in the house. A P22, PK380 & P99. The P99 is a first generation so is the same as the AS and it is chambered in .40S&W. Like Westsider said there is really no comparison between the P22 and P99. The P22 is the product of a toy company, cheap potmetal and plastic. (The PK380 is actually a much nicer gun and not a .380 version of the P22). Now the P99 is nice. It is a service pistol that will compete in quality with any other striker fired service pistol in the world. The only two complaints I have with my P99 is:

1) It has plastic sights. They are nice three dot sights, but come on why can't a gun in this price range have metal night sights.
2) The gun is a bit snappy in recoil. Not uncomfortable to shoot in any way, but the barrel sits high in the hand. The result is that it is not a fast pistol and a little hard to control.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Hi,

Former owner of two different p99 pistols here... A 1st Gen 9mm and a 1st Gen .40.

I felt that both were rather "flippy" upon recoil, owing to their higher-than-others bore axis. I felt that the .40 version, in addition to being a little flippy, wanted to torque to the right upon firing.

I found them rather accurate. Extremely comfortable to HOLD. Slightly less comfortable to shoot.

Over the years I've owned several different polymer pistols... I've sold/traded them all and have ended up with M&P pistols.

Also on the P99: Mags are expensive. .40 mags are easier to come by than 9mm, however.

Another pistol to look at would be Walther's new PPQ; completely different than the P99, but using same mags.

-J-