XD Talk

**jmichna** · 04-20-2008, 01:44 PM

My daughter and I saw a used, olive drab/black Walther P99 .40S&W at our local gun shop. As a consignment sale, they're asking $479 but I'm sure the final sale price will be around $440. Gun has original case, a mounted night-style front site (extra front sights in the pistol case), standard rear sight, and only one magazine. Looked at barrel with a bore light, seems okay but very dirty (doesn't anyone clean guns they intend to sell?)

I'm not at all familiar with Walther pistols (our other .40S&W is a Kahr).

My daughter really like this Walther P99 as the slide is quite easy to rack for her (she struggles with the Kahr, has little problem with the XD9).

Some questions:
- General opinions on the Walther P99
- Is the price in the ball park?
- Is that easy-to-rack slide indicative of a potential problem, or just how the Walthers are?
- Where's a good, reasonable place to pick up extra P99 magazines?

If this seems like a good deal, we'll probably put in a bid this week.

Thanks!

fivehourfrenzy · 04-20-2008, 01:54 PM

The P99 is an excellent gun. Is it QA (quick-action) or AS (anti-stress)? The .40S&W kicks pretty hard in the compact models, but it's not bad at all with the full sized. They are extremely reliable, and I never had a problem with mine other than I couldn't control the muzzle flip on the .40 P99c.

The one single drawback to a P99 are the mags. Most of them cost about $50 a pop, although I've heard of places that sell good quality mags for significantly less. The SW99s use the exact same magazines, and can be found for probably $30 each. If you get it, be sure to clean it. One of the Walther guys on handgunforum put his P99 through a 10,000 round torture test and it did very well. However, my experience with Walthers is that they don't function as well when they're extremely dirty.

Also, stay away from the PPK and PPK/S. They've had constantly feeding/cycling problems, not to mention the .32ACP and .380ACP, in my opinion, are puny defense rounds unless you need a pocket gun, in which case anything over 9mm won't fit. Good luck.

plastikxd9 · 04-20-2008, 01:55 PM

That seems like a good deal on the P99...they usually go for a bit more than that.

However, I didn't really like the P99. I haven't shot one, but I didn't like the feel of it in my hands. It seemed almost too...plastic-y (if that's a word) for a poly gun. Felt a bit cheap.
Also, I've heard nothing but bad things about the warranty of those guns and how things sometimes fall apart out of the box. A few gun places I've been to won't even rent them out because of how they fall apart, they don't want to deal with returning them to get new rentals.

But hey they are pretty cool lookin.

Fen · 04-20-2008, 03:49 PM

I had a Walther P99 .40 Titanium for quite some time as a daily shooter. I never had one single malfunction in the gun for what I would guess to be about 5,000 rounds. They are easy to use, very comfortable, very accurate, have OK triggers, and they fit in large frame glock blackhawk serpa holsters. The 12rd mags you can usually get from CDNN for about $30. I did a lot of holster work with that gun and it never disappointed me. $450 is a damn good deal for one too. I sold mine with all original box and papers for $550. I sold out in favor of 9mm handguns thanks to ammo prices.

Joeywhat · 04-20-2008, 04:53 PM

It seems with Walther that you need to wait a few years until you can get a reliable weapon. I just recently bought my P22 and it has absolutely no problems. Earlier models were plagued with problems. Everything I've heard so far says the P99 is in the same boat...early models are pretty bad, but they are now fixed, and new models will not have any problems. I was thinking of buying one myself, although I think now I'd rather have a PPS.

fivehourfrenzy · 04-20-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

It seems with Walther that you need to wait a few years until you can get a reliable weapon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

I think now I'd rather have a PPS.

I'm confused. You need to wait a few years 'til something new (like the PPS) becomes reliable, but you want a PPS before it's had a few years to become reliable? Not trying to be smart here, just curious.

Joeywhat · 04-21-2008, 04:57 AM

No, I realize the problems the PPS is having...if I bought it it would be my secondary handgun, so if a problem arose I wouldn't have a problem sending it in for repairs.

shipwreck · 04-21-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivehourfrenzy

The one single drawback to a P99 are the mags. Most of them cost about $50 a pop, although I've heard of places that sell good quality mags for significantly less. The SW99s use the exact same magazines, and can be found for probably $30 each. If you get it, be sure to clean it. One of the Walther guys on handgunforum put his P99 through a 10,000 round torture test and it did very well. However, my experience with Walthers is that they don't function as well when they're extremely dirty.

Not true. Walther branded mags are $34-$38 tops. But yes, the SW99 mags can be found for $28 or so.

My P99 A/S is my all time fav gun. I spent money on an expensive 1911 before, and still shot better with my P99. I have a shooting buddy that had the same issue with an expensive WIlson 1911 - he shot better consitently with his P99.

Be aware that there are 3 trigger styles to the P99 - A?S is the preferred version among most P99 owners.

Also, the gun is best in 9mm. I have shot the 40 cal version and didn't care for it. Pretty snappy for a 40.

shipwreck · 04-21-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

It seems with Walther that you need to wait a few years until you can get a reliable weapon. I just recently bought my P22 and it has absolutely no problems. Earlier models were plagued with problems. Everything I've heard so far says the P99 is in the same boat...early models are pretty bad, but they are now fixed, and new models will not have any problems. I was thinking of buying one myself, although I think now I'd rather have a PPS.

Technically - Walther does not make the P22 - Uramex does - the parent company if Walther that specializes in airguns. It just has the Walther name on it, as does the new SP22.

fivehourfrenzy · 04-22-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeywhat

No, I realize the problems the PPS is having...if I bought it it would be my secondary handgun, so if a problem arose I wouldn't have a problem sending it in for repairs.

Gotcha. Well I thought maybe you meant you'd like to have a PPS once the initial teething problems, if any, were resolved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Not true. Walther branded mags are $34-$38 tops. But yes, the SW99 mags can be found for $28 or so.

The P99c mags were all $50 where I looked for them, but perhaps the full-sized mags are less.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Also, the gun is best in 9mm. I have shot the 40 cal version and didn't care for it. Pretty snappy for a 40.

Amen to that. The P99c is especially snappy in a .40.