- Optional threaded barrel, .5” x 28 TPI. (Walther Press photo of PPX “SD” version shown above);
- Loaded chamber indicator: The PPX has a loaded chamber viewport, which is similar to those found on the Smith & Wesson M&Ps;
- Three safeties: two drop safeties and a firing pin block;
- The magazine release is in the traditional “American” position and is reversible at the operator level, so that southpaws can optimize the ergonomics without gunsmith assistance;
- Front and rear slide serrations for increased grip;
- The texture pattern on the grip is extremely well thought out, and provides a non-slip surface while still maintaining comfort for the user;
- There is no magazine disconnect feature: the PPX will fire even without a magazine inserted in the magwell; and
- 1 year warranty. Really, only one year? Pretty lame, Walther.
- Not rated for +P or +P+ ammo.
My test sample didn’t come with a threaded barrel. I hope Walther will make these available as a drop-in accessory. According to Walther’s marketing director, Mark Thomas, no decision has been made on this issue yet.
Conclusion
I’ve always been a fan of Walther pistols, if for no other reason that they tend to look cool. Whether you’re talking the PPK, P-38, P5, or P99, Walther pistols have always had that “look” of awesomeness about them. (P5 shown above). I guess the PPX is the ugly duckling of the family; perhaps not as ugly as the Springfield XD, but on the homely side nonetheless. But the PPX is good where it really counts: performance and value. You might say it’s the minivan of polymer pistols; not a looker but pretty darn practical and economical.
I think Walther’s press release for the PPX sums it up best:
We are very excited about the new Walther PPX because it has all the features law enforcement and avid shooters have come to expect from Walther but is affordable so it can fit in anyone’s shooting budget,” said Adam Blalock, President and CEO of Fort Smith-based Walther Arms, Inc. “This is one pistol that truly has to be fired to appreciate and it is certainly worthy of the Walther name.
I agree that the PPX is a pistol that grows on you when you fire it. While this pistol would
not, in my estimation, be a good candidate for a concealed carry piece due to its bulk, relatively light trigger, and lack of manual safety, I do think the Walther PPX will serve very nicely in the role of an inexpensive-but-reliable home defense pistol or range plinker.
Bottom line: would I recommend the PPX to someone looking for an entry level pistol in the $400 price range? Absolutely. If the buyer has some additional coin I would probably steer them towards a PPQ M2 or an M&P. My only real hesitation: I do wish the PPX were rated for +P and +P+ ammunition, as the 9 x 19mm needs all the help it can get in the man-stopper department.
The Walther PPX for this review was provided by The Kentucky Gun Company.
Specifications:
Calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W Note: The PPX is not rated for +P or +P+ ammo
Action: Semi auto, short recoil, locked breech.
Barrel length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 7.3 inches
Overall Width: 1.3 inches
Overall height: 5.6 inches
Weight: 1.7 lbs
Sights: Adjustable 3-dot steel
Finish: Tenifer, black or stainless
Capacity: 9mm = 16rds, .40 S&W = 14 rounds
Suggested Retail Price: $ 499 (MSRP) $389 – $429 (Street price)
Ratings (Out of Five Stars):
Accuracy: * * * * *
A good trigger equals good accuracy, and Walther is really paying attention to its trigger design. I seriously doubt that there is any other 9mm semi-auto pistol in the $400 price that is
more accurate than the PPX.
Ergonomics: * * * *
Pistol ergonomics can be kind of a “blonde vs brunette vs redhead” type of debate. You will either love the PPX or hate it, but you won’t know until you try it out. If you liked the ergonomics of the P-99, you’ll probably like the PPX. The slide lock is easy to reach, and since there are no manually operated safeties, the only real ergonomics issue is the grip. I find the Walther PPX to be comfortable in my hand. The mag well takes some getting used to, and I found it somewhat difficult at first to perform magazine changes because the handgrip appears to be vertically aligned while the mag well is more angled.
Reliability: * * * * *
I shot over 700 rounds of factory ammo through the PPX and experienced no malfunctions of any kind. In the short term, I have total confidence in the fact that this pistol will go “bang” every time. Whether that will hold up into round 25,000(+) remains an open question, although Walther, naturally enough, proclaims confidence.
Durability: * * * *
I didn’t torture test this gun and, frankly, 700 rounds is hardly enough to give much indication about the long-term durability of a firearm. After 700 rounds, there were no signs of weakness in the materials or design. Well, other than one minor thing: the hammer does appear to be pinged from impact. While this is largely cosmetic, it’s also not very confidence-inspiring.
Customization: * *
Threaded barrels are available for this pistol as are 10-round magazines for those unfortunates who live in states controlled by controlling socialists. The picatinny rail allows you to bolt on whatever toys you want. Holsters for the PPX are pretty still rare (non-existent?) at this point. No night sights yet, but I remain hopeful.
Overall: * * * * ½
The PPX offers a lot of gun for the money – undoubtedly it has to be one of the best pistols you can buy in the $350 to $450 price range. I can’t say “
the best” because I simply haven’t had the chance to try everything out there. Yet. And besides, so much of what makes a pistol “right” for any given user is a matter of personal preference as to to fit, the look of the sights, the type of triggers, etc.
As I said before, this gun is really too fat and bulky to be my first choice as a concealed carry gun. But some guys will carry a full size M-1911 or GLOCK 17 with no concerns, so if you fall into that category, the PPX won’t present any unique concealment issues. But the PPX is an excellent choice as a range plinker or a reliable home defense handgun. It would also serve well as a duty pistol for those law enforcement agencies with limited budgets who can’t justify the purchase of a PPQ.