If you want to shoot down a helicopter with a handgun (void where prohibited by law), carry a Walther PPK. James Bond did it in “Spectre” — despite the fact that the timelessly stylish .380 is now built-in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Wait. Is it? Unlike the movie’s plot, the whole thing’s a bit of a mystery. One thing’s for sure: Walther Arm’s U.S. division’s on a roll. Ask anyone who’s said how-do-you-do to the PPQ. Will the new Walther PPS M2 sub-compact 9mm bond with American buyers? Glad I asked . . .
Unlike the Bond girls, the Walther PPS M2 is unlikely to inspire obsessive adoration. Despite the “new” gun’s smoothed-out snout — which removes the option of rail-mounted lights and lasers — the revised PPS is no looker. Like the first-gen Springfield XD, a blocky slide sits atop a blocky frame to create a gun so blocky it could block punts for the NFL. The PPS may not have the world’s tallest bore axis, but it sure looks like it does.
Equipped with the smaller, six-round flush-fit magazine, Walther’s sub-compact single-stack 9mm pistol looks decidedly top heavy. The PPS M2’s extended seven-round base-plated magazine balances out the look, (and allows room for one’s pinky finger) but only so much.
On the positive side, thin is in! If you want an ultra-concealable inside-the-waistband or outside-the-waistband throw-a-shirt-over-it-and-watch-it-disappear everyday carry gun, the slim PPS M2 makes the grade. Unfortunately . . .
The M2 gets an “F” for pocket carry. Fitted with a six-round magazine, the PPS M2 is 4.4-inches tall. With a seven-round magazine, it measures 4.91 inches from top to bottom. Unlike the GLOCK 43 or Ruger LCP (for example), the Walther PPS M2 is not a carry pistol for the front pocket of standard pants. At least not stealthily.
The Walther PPQ’s front finger grooves work beautifully; it’s one of the most comfortable handguns to have and to hold from this day forth.
The PPS M2…not so much. Combined with the thin handle and shallow beavertail, the PPS’s finger slots guide me to grab the gun ever-so-slightly sideways, leading to the dreaded Ruger American Pistol thumb-knuckle bruising issue. This is easily cured by practicing proper pistol placement, but I prefer a gun that naturally falls to hand in the ideal firing position. YMMV.* (*Your Mileage May Vary)
The PPS M2’s magazine release is a welcome feature. The semi-auto doesn’t just eject empty ammunition magazines, it fires them out (self-defense plan B?). The traditionally positioned mag release should, however, be ambidextrous. I reckon a right-side mag release is a necessity in a self-defense handgun, even for right-handed shooters. You never know when you’re going to have to fire your gun with your off-hand.
The Walther PPS M2 has a cocking indicator on the gun’s rump and a chamber view slot at the top of the slide. Less good: The PPS’s magazines will partially seat; you need to drive those bad boys home.
And it’s possible to insert a magazine backwards (above), where it will stay until you fix the problem. It’s funny (depending on the circumstances) but not the recommended procedure for efficient function.
Field-stripping the PPS M2 couldn’t be simpler. Clear the weapon, dry fire the empty gun and pull down the ambidextrous takedown lever. The slide snaps forward a quarter inch. Remove the slide, wash, rinse and re-insert. Function check and Bob’s your uncle.
The right side of the polymer pistol boasts a 3/4-length steel slide rail; a good sign for long-term reliability. The left side features two smaller rail sections to keep the slide in place, which is not so good.
Out on the range, the Walther PPS M2 proved itself a completely reliable companion. I fed it 500 rounds of 115-grain mixed target ammo and a smörgåsbord of various hollow points. The handgun was Oliver-like in its appetite for more.
As the target above indicates (10 yards slow-fire), initial accuracy was startlingly good (for me). All hail the PPS’s trigger, one of the best out-of-box compact nine solutions money can buy.
The trigger safety is blissfully unobtrusive and the 6.1-pound pull has no grit whatsoever. Completely predictable take-up leads to a brick-wall breaking point. The go pedal breaks with OCD-like cleanliness and resets more positively than a Jesus freak after a religious debate.
The reset is really short; I double-tapped once without meaning to. Relax; it’s a feature not a bug.
The Walther M2’s thin grooved handle and inherent snappiness takes its toll. As the range session progressed, my accuracy didn’t. Like many, if not all tiny nines, the PPS is a snappy little beast that prefers lower-powered ammo and doesn’t reward extended trigger time.
On the positive side, the PPS M2’s big three-dot white sights make point shooting a breeze; minute-of-bad guy shots are a done deal at close-quarter combat distance. And they are easily removed to upgrade to night sights. And those double taps are, as mentioned, a doddle.
It’s easy to understand James Bond’s affinity for the PPK. While the PPS M2 lacks the PPK’s style, it offers mega-comfortable concealability, steadfast reliability, a phenomenal trigger and 9mm affordability.
Ammo cost aside, the new PPS M2 is less expensive than the original PPS (now called the “Classic”). At $469 MSRP, the new PPS is priced to compete with all the usual 9mm sub-compact single-stack polymer pistols [e.g., the GLOCK G43 above]. The PPS M2 LE edition (Law Enforcement) includes 3-dot phosphoric night sights, and the addition of a third, 8-round, magazine. Bottom line: If it fits, it acquits. More than that, sub-compact-seeking trigger snobs need apply.
SPECIFICATIONS: Walther PPS M2 Pistol
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.2″
Trigger Pull: 6.1 lbs.
Capacity: 6/7 rounds
Overall Length: 6.3″
Finish: Tenifer-coated slide and barrel
Height: 4.4″ with six-round magazine, 4.91″ with seven-round magazine
Sights: fixed front and windage-adjustable rear three-dot sights
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1″
Weight: 21.1 ounces
Price: $469 MSRP (about $330 retail)
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Style *
Blocky beyond belief. No comparison to Bond’s PPK. None.
Reliability: * * * * *
All hits, no runs or errors.
Ergonomics (concealed carry): * * * *
The PPS M2 is a scant 1-inch wide, perfect for inside- or outside-the-waistband holsters. Too tall for pocket carry.
Ergonomics (shooting): * * * *
Tough call. Wonderful trigger, but the thin grip with finger grooves will not suit all shooters. Try before you buy.
Customize This: *
Nope.
Overall: * * * *
The revised Walther PPS M2 9mm is priced well, dead nuts reliable, plenty accurate, perfectly concealable and puts the mag release where it belongs. The gun’s looks let it down (YMMV), but its price will particularly please you.
More from The Truth About Guns:
Gun Review: Smith & Wesson M&P9 SHIELD M2.0 9mm
love the jeans pic…
” Is that an extended mag in your pocket, or are you glad to see me”?
(BTW- a Glock look alike)
My wife purchased one when they were offering a $100 rebate. She received the credit card with the
$100 balance on it. A few months later she tried to use it and found out it had a time limit which was rather short. Was it her fault she didn’t read it carefully? Yes.
A call to Walther told her she was out of luck and they couldn’t help her.
Not a good way to do business.
This will definitely influence me if I consider another Walther.
So, lesson here. Their customer service is questionable.
Just one man’s opinion and very dependent on how you dress and carry, but I don’t understand tall single stack guns that are no good for pocket carry. If I’m carrying it on my belt with a concealing garment it might as well be a G19 or something double stack. YMMV.
You’d be surprised at how much difference a fraction of an inch in width makes. I can wear this gun and my Wilson Commander-sized 1911 in an OWB holster without a hint that I’m carrying. A GLOCK 19 sticks out like a belt-carried bible.
Thin guns also remove the necessity of buying pants a size larger for IWB holsters. But as we both said, YMMV.
Yeah, I carry IWB and thickness matters. I’ve been carrying a G19 IWB though for a while now. No issues with the right holster. But it’s certainly more comfortable and easier to conceal with a gun that’s 1) thinner 2) shorter grip.
I’m highly interested in this PPS M2. I could see it replacing my Nano. RF, want to sell me yours? 🙂
The issue I’ve always had with IWB carry isn’t the gun, it’s the extra magazine(s). I’m not carrying a bottom-feeder without at least one extra mag, and that being the case, single vs. double makes a huge difference.
I considered a PPS a few years ago but ultimately went with a P290RS because of concerns with that backstrap safety thing on the original PPS. Had this M2 been out at the time, perhaps I would have made a different choice.
The original PPS backstrap worried me, too. However, once you decide which backstrap to use, you never touch it again. So there is no wear issue.
The whole ‘remove the backstrap to safe the gun’ is asinine, because removing that backstrap is a major PITA, and if you are following safety rules, you’ve already cleared the gun if you are contemplating taking off the backstrap.
I just got a PPS 9mm M1 w/ paddle mag release, and I don’t find the backstrap safety difficult to remove at all. By the same token, I prefer to dry fire prior to disassembly, so I won’t be taking it off unless perhaps as an additional deterrent to thieves actually using the gun if they manage to get it out of my lockbox in my car or home.
The backstrap retention is incredibly solid; the precision with which you would have to beam it at the ground to get it to fail would be ridiculous, I’m sure. As for the supposed ‘failures’ reported by PPS owners, I am inclined to believe these people are the sort that miraculously find the work-around to the idiot-proofing in all devices.
Achmed, Nice post! An excellent point and often forgotten or not thought about detail when considering purchase for concealment. Though this pea shooter looks great (subjective, I know I know), not having a double stack is the reason I passed on a purchase. I bought a SIG instead with a much larger mag capacity.
TFOCP:DR
(Too full of cutesy phraseology; didn’t read)
absolutely, I felt like was watching Family Guy.
I’ve never been able to figure that out about our Mr. Farago. When he’s writing about the second amendment or other “weighty” topics, he’s an excellent writer. But ask him for a gun review, and you always get a jokey mess packed with three times more cutesy frippery than is necessary. I get that the general trend is to punch up gun reviews with clever metaphors and similes, but at a certain point, it starts reading like a parody of a gun review…
But really, I’d be happy enough with just a moratorium on the term “go-pedal”.
There is something to be said about writing for the joy of writing. Not writing for someone else, but for yourself. It’s rolling the words around on your tongue like a Rollo as you savor each consonant and sound. Sure, not everybody may get or appreciate all the inside jokes you tell to yourself or the clever puns or the arcane references that you find interesting, but that’s not the point. Convention kills the jabberwocky. Writing for pleasure sets it free along with the cruestal, pmargiah, and flueggalbird. Write, Robert Farago, for yourself and the world will read with you.
I have to agree, give me florid writing with panache over boring text anyway of the week. Make it fun and entertaining. If I want boring and staid I can always dig up a technical manual.
I agree!
There was not one single clever thing in this article. Obviously, he writes to the ever-growing horde of D-Bags in this country.
This review isn’t guilty of it, but I’d happily go the rest of my life without having to read “booger hook” again. Who the hell talks like that in real life? No one.
This.
I agree, I think this phenomena is infecting the blogosphere and most pop-‘journalism’ (what’s left of it anyway). It’s a new type of virtue-signalling that says, “Look at me! Look at me! I’m smart *and* funny! Love me!”
I’m a huge champion of satire and humor in writing, but context is important. A gun review is no place to show off your one-liner chops to excess. The way Farrago peppers each paragraph with random references and puns is just as annoying as an episode of Family Guy, which is saying something, because that show is even trying to be funny and fails.
Yup. It’s like someone made Tom Wolf pills and he overdosed. I prefer, “just the facts ma’am” in this context. But heck, to each his own.
I agree, the styling and apparent bore axis looks…bad. That distance between the bottom of the slide and the top of the trigger well looks really tall and awkward. That side profile pic looks fairly ridiculous when comparing it to my XDs 9mm.
Height above top of trigger guard is a simple to measure metric I’m surprised is so rarely cited in reviews of handguns. It’s the one metric that really counts wrt the ever fashionable “bore axis”, that everyone seems to be all hung up on. Scalloping out the beaver tail and using a striker mechanism, you can get “bore axis” measured at the rear, almost arbitrarily small (which seems to be unquestionably good according to many these days) But, given a constant bore to top of trigger guard, only by canting the grip forward, Glock style. If you want a less radical grip angle, you either do the hard engineering work of tucking the trigger mechanicals way up, or you drop the rear a bit, making your poor gun look outdated in this brand new world of low apparent bore axis trumping all other concerns.
Glocks, as befits purveyors of “perfection,” does have a short height above the trigger. Kahrs are probably the only ones that does it marginally better, caliber for caliber, as that seem to have been the specific design motivation for that brand’s designers. Straight blowback guns are another matter altogether, as they are pretty much designed according the mantra of no pain from slide bite, no gain. Hence revel in positioning both the shooters trigger finger and thumb web within millimeters of the moving slide, for maximum effect…… 🙂 Does make for a wonderfully slim and concealable barrel/slide/dustcover/front end, though.
Agreed. One of the biggest issues I have with Glocks is that the tang is too shallow; I get slide bite on my dominant hand Metacarpophalangeal thumb joint with a proper thumbs-forward grip.
That’s the thumb joint closest to the web of your hand, btw.
It just nicks it with the bottom left corner of the slide, but it happens just about every time.
I never understood emphasis on what a gun looks like. If it feels good, shoots well, is accurate and dependable who cares what it looks like. If I want pretty I’ll look at Trump’s wife (and ex wives).
It’s a firearm……not a painting.
Walther seems to be dead-set against making a polymer pistol that isn’t dog-ass ugly. Is it a corporate policy or something?
Ya if you wanting to look good go get some nickel plated Hollywood piece from S&W or Springfield. Walther is a working gun with a take care of business attitude. Personally when I have to display a Walther I’m not at a beauty contest.
Diagree, but not on the PPS. I have a PPQ and it’s very good looking.
The current weapons I’m looking for conceal and carry are the glock 43 (all glocks look like they came out of minecraft) and the PPS M2. I did have the CCP on the list, but it’s a problematic gun, so it got scratched.
You are going to shoot it….not make love to it.
Do you find the P99 and PPQ ugly?
Absolutely
Being someone who absolutely loves the PPQ and was disappointed by the CCP I can’t wait until I can hold this in my hands. I’m holding out high hopes for this one.
Take the plunge. I’ve carried a first gen pps for quite a while and like it. I wouldn’t switch to the second gen because the first has the paddle mag release which is naturally ambi and it has a small rail. Thousands of rounds and no problems.
I agree. I like the paddle release better. However the grip on the PPS Classic just doesn’t work for me. I’ve been waiting on them do something like this. I thought it would be the CCP but not with the issues it has had. Plus I am digging the MSRP on the PPS M2. The only other concern is that it’s being made in the factory Ulm.
That paddle release is why I’ll eventually have a gen1 PPS as a carry option. I currently have a Kahr pm9 but have found there are times as I sit in my car that the mag release gets depressed. I always have to check that the mag is seated as I’m getting out of my vehicle, and probably 30% of the time I hear a little “click” as the mag gets re-seated.
This would never be an issue with a paddle style release so whenever funds free up (pm9 has been good enough for nearly 3 years now) the Classic PPS will be my IWB carry, and the pm9 will be strictly for pocket carry.
I just got one. It is sweet and dead-accurate. I also just discovered that I am a competent shooter with my weak hand with this gun. All the more reason to stick with a paddle-style ambidextrous release design. I love my PPS M1 ‘classic!’
PPQ is made by Walther; CCP is made by Umarex.
To be fair Umarex owns Walther. Umarex is headquartered in Arnsberg while Walther is based in Ulm. The PPQ is produced in Ulm, the CCP is made in Arnsberg. I believe that PPS M2 will be made in Ulm, this is a good thing.
Try it before you buy it. I have a PPQ and love it. Also EDC the Beretta Px4 Storm.
I found the PPS 9mm has too small a mass for comfortable shooting. Kicks like a (small) mule. Have not noticed a hard kick with my Px4, PPQ or S&W Shield – but it is certainly there with the PPS. Grip fits well with the extended mag and agree with author that unless you like your pinkie under the grip, you need to use the extended magazine.
How do you know about the Shot Show booths babes?
Now to the gun: Not my style, on the other hand the classic PPK is another story.
Operational security prohibits a detailed response.
I salute those of you man enough to handle the PPK. That slippery sucker shifts on me after a handful of rounds and the slide bites me pretty good. No other pistol had done that to me. I’m a huge Walther fan; the PPK is simply not on my “to own” list.
so many cary pistols to choose from these days
If they had just removed that weird backstrap disconnect “feature” from the original PPS, it would have been all they needed to do.
I’ll stick with my Shield
Am I the only one who sees that Walther’s last few designs look incredibly similar to a Hi-Point?
Yes there is that.
You realize that 80% of your gripes about this gun apply to every other pistol on the market, right?
Magazine wont seat all the way (on a closed slide) if you don’t seat it assertively – Check.
Magazine can be inserted backwards – Check.
Isn’t comfortable to shoot high volumes – Check. True of all sub-compacts.
“Fails the pocket carry test” – Check. So do duty size weapons, Volkswagens, and other things that are not intended to be pocket-carried.
“Gun is blocky enough to be a line-backer”.. Not an invalid opinion, but the comparison to a Glock right after that was golden.
High bore axis – legitimate complaint.
I’ve never owned a Walther, nor do I intend to, but parts of this review are just plain vindictive. Time to take your objectivity game up a notch, Robert. 😛
– some magazines slide completely and authoritatively into guns with closed slides with less thrust (e.g. Smith & Wesson Shield)
– while you can put a mag in backwards into other pistols, not all of them “lock” into place like the PPS (e.g., it’s impossible with the FNS-9c)
– the GLOCK 43 and Ruger LCP (for example) are not uncomfortable shooters, at all
– you can pocket carry the aforementioned tiny nines easily
I’m as objective as I can be. I call it like I see it.
380 is a different animal altogether, and I don’t think of the Glock 43 as pocket carry in jeans…khakis, maybe. Maybe.
The 43 is easier to shoot than the pps, I own both, but I don’t find the pps uncomfortable.
Can not insert the magazine backwards in my Springfield XDs 9mm. Not even a little bit. It is rounded in the front, and squared in the rear, both the mag and the mag-well.
it SURE AIN’T PRETTY!
“I reckon a right-side mag release is a necessity in a self-defense handgun, even for right-handed shooters. You never know when you’re going to have to fire your gun with your off-hand.”
I disagree, being able to quickly reload has been the deciding factor in how many self-defense shootings?
Not enough to even notice. Shootability and reliability are way more important.
There are a lot of features which are excellent for concealed carry – such as a right side mag release, night sights and sights you can use to cock the gun one-handed – that you may not consider a necessity. Whether or not your prioritize them – given the low likelihood of ever having to use them – is a personal choice.
And I mentioned the PPS’ excellent mag release’s function; it saves having to strip out the mag (as you must for some guns).
You really ought to make sure your holster covers your mag release, as well as the trigger, if you insist on having one on the “outside” when carried. Ditto for ambi 1911 safeties. Especially now, as both safeties and mag releases are taking on ever more game inspired, gargantuan and protruding, dimensions.
I hesitate to say this because I haven’t shot the M2 yet, but unless Walther completely screwed something up between the PPS and the PPS M2, a *** rating on this gun just isn’t credible (particularly because no specific fall off from the PPS is mentioned in the review).
TTAG reviewers rate guns according to his or her own evaluation. I didn’t consider the previous PPS when deciding on the gun’s overall rating.
I was kind of surprised by the 3 stars also. Looks and a small ding on ergonomic preference don’t seem enough weight to me to knock it down two stars. I read the review thinking, “OK 4 star gun” not perfect but pretty good. I appreciate the objectivity as always in TTAGs reviews but maybe this one got a bit of a raw deal in the score category.
One star off for ergos, one off for looks. The fact that it can’t be pocket carried factored in as well.
My wife has the Walther CCP. I have tried shooting it and like it. Very accurate. None of the snappiness of typical subcompact. Feels very much like my wife’s VP in recoil using the same loads. Though my wife prefers the 100gr CD lite for EDC.
If I were to go for a subcompact Walther I’d buy a second CCP instead.
My wife fired the CCP in Texas and liked it quite a bit. I was not a fan of the trigger.
That’s a sexy slide on a pistol. An F for pocket carry? Seriously? Who carries in their pocket these days like that? Deploying a handgun in a situation when it’s stuck deep in your pocket is asking to be robbed, shot, mugged, whatever. Do yourselves a favor and carry in a holster if you are serious about self defense.
Pocket carry is not ideal but it’s an entirely viable method for armed self-defense. When I’m wearing a lightweight business suit (weddings and funerals), for example, that’s the way I roll. It’s also ideal for a backup gun.
i have holsters for many. but front pocket carry is daily habit. when i sit in the van the kit goes in the dog house hinged compartment for easier access.
best drawn from a standing position, very fast. from sitting, well, probably best to stand.
summer carry is cargo shorts and a tee.
recluse horsehide is perfect for the p938.
because of this it will be on my person.
As someone who loves his PPS “Classic” what I want to know is how does the PPS M2 compare to the original? Is it an upgrade, downgrade, completely different gun?
Is the Classic going to continue to be manufactured? What I really want to know is should I pick up spare mags now.
I haven’t touched the new pps and don’t have to because I’ve grown to really like the paddle mag release and the classic has a small rail if I need it. RF is correct about trigger, accuracy and how the mags release.
Agreed. I carried a 9mm PPS for almost 3 years before, ahem, upgrading to the Springfield EMP. However, I kept the PPS because the paddle safety is awesome, the 9mm variant shoots well (not so much the .40 S&W version) and it’s a very slim and easy to use gun. The new one looks quite a bit uglier than the original.
If the PPS is too big for pocket carry then it doesn’t have much to recommend it over the XD mod 2. You get twice the capacity in the mod 2 for the price of a little extra bulk. If you can’t get a single stack into your pocket then there is little reason to give up the capacity.
Fat grips print like mad.
I am packing an XD Service right now and it doesn’t seem to be printing. In other words, and unfounded assertion that can be proven demonstrably false.
Stuki’s statement might be a little overly broad, but on some body types/clothing combinations, a double-stack grip just isn’t realistically concealable. I’m a pretty thin guy, and if I want to hide a gun under just a T-shirt in a strong-side IWB, a double-stack pistol doesn’t work. Your mileage may vary (and it sounds like it does).
If he caveated his statement I would have had no objection but he made a blanket statement. There are many loose fitting options that look good and can hide a full size double stacked pistol without printing. Sure, if you want to wear tight fitting clothing almost any gun will print not that many people would notice. I am an OFWG where the F stands for fit. I am fairly thin myself.
My response was specifically to the assertion that the only justification for a single stack is pocket carry. A mode of carry where I personally see less of a difference in concealability between a single and double stack (G43/G26), than in a traditional strong side holster. In a pocket, length/height is a bigger issue, in my experience. If you wear loose enough clothing, virtually nothing prints. Under a Burka, you could probably conceal a belt fed .50 along with 1000 rounds. And perhaps a dude to operate it, as well. Belt fed .50s still “print like mad”, though. As do dudes.
The PPK just looks so classy, this gun looks very plain. I know we should buy a gun, especially a carry gun on performance, but this just looks plain ugly.
I think it’s better-looking than the original PPS. That said, it seems to be an IWB/OWB gun size which may work for some people. I’ll stick with an SR9c for that.
I bought a PPX – that’s right a PPX – from CDNN because it was a great deal ($279) and looked weird. It’s now one of my favorite guns to recommend for a home or vehicle use. The tall slide/high bore axis may not be in vogue but I shoot it as well as my Glock 19. Must the great grip and nice sights. If it looks like a HighPoint it is in good company with a lot of HK pistols. If you confuse it with a HighPoint after actually using one then it doesn’t matter what you carry.
Anyway – I think Walther is building nice stuff and is not afraid to hang-it-out-there in the market. Bully for them. I still like my PP even though I don’t carry it much. BTW – I believe Bonds PPK is a .32.
Wasn’t he ordered to use the 32 and turn in his 25 Beretta?
Just another option for a small gun. It DOES resemble a Hi-point-I hope it doesn’t run like one. I’ve seen worse…
If it can knock a black helicopter out of the sky, I’m all in!
“Onanistic adoration’ and then the pocket picture…..
Come again Paul? LOL
21 ozs large profile and only 6 rds you might as well pack a revolver, the whole purpose of semi auto (capacity) is thwarted with these various skinny 9mms.
Glock 26 with a 33 rd mag in your pocket and really impress the ginches.
My PPS “Classic” has been my everyday carry gun for 4 years, and I see no reason to go to the M2. It’s very comfortable to carry (slim!) and I’ll never have an issue with the paddle mag release as can happen with other pistols. I used to carry a Rohrbaugh R9 and hated it. Takedown was a bitch, and it beat you up at the range. I say carry a gun that you enjoy shooting b/c otherwise, you won’t practice with it. The PPS is very accurate, and enjoyable to shoot, and carried in the 4 to 5 o’clock position (IWB) is ideal for me. And though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I happen to find it a very good looking (and original looking!) pistol.
Well I have several popular so called carry pistols here and some beautiful 1911’s plus several Glocks but never have I had a pistol that felt so perfect in my hand (with the 7 round mag) and we just put 100 rounds through it today and for me it’s an absolute tack driver. Bore axis, I don’t care about no stinking bore axis.
Beauty is as beauty does! It shoots great. Even though I might be considered a 1911 guy we think Glocks are pretty and Ballistol smells good.
To say I am thrilled with it is an understatement.
One other comment. I noted the author was wearing what appears to be fairly tight fitting jeans and showing the PPS M2 wouldn’t fit in his pocket without some of the grip showing. Not that I would pocket carry it but It fits in my cargo style
Pants pocket with the 7 round magazine and doesn’t extend out of the pocket opening but if I were pocket carrying I have a couple other 9’s that fit deeper in the pocket or even more inclined for ankle carry.
Is it as accurate as the m1/ classic pps?
I have never shot a PPS M1. I shoot
Several times a week and now have 400 rounds through the M2. It’s an accurate and comfortable shooter for me.
Tell me again what the point is on having the CCP and the PPS M2? Pick one Walther, no need for both. The little nuances of them might be a bit different but they are both super sub compact, single stack 9mm. Its like they released a gun to compete against its own gun. Imagine if Smith and wesson released a gun called the sword, to compete against its sheild and they were literally, the same gun, for the same market? Thats kind of what walther did. It makes no sense to release the new pps m2 only a year or 2 after they put the ccp out, which was supposed to be the pps, only with softer recoil, better trigger and more ergonomic than the pps. This just plain makes zero sense from a business and marketing standpoint. I guess they figure if they dont like the ccp, they will buy the pps m2, and vise versa. And jesus christ Walther……could you have made a thicker, high slide the a sub compact. Its approaching highpoint stautus for ridiculous looking slide.
I can only assume the release of this gun must mean the death of the CCP? Common sense and logic would make one come to that conclusion. Again, perplexing on why they would have 2 single stack 9mm on the market at the same time. Yes mechanically they differ. But the average person could care less about the operating system. They just see 2 guns that look, feel and fire the same round, by the same company.
Well, the CCP and PPS M2 are still two different guns that connect to two different kinds of shooters. Also, Walther kind of started the whole “carry” gun market nearly 100 years ago. So, they probably like to have multiple guns to fit different kinds of shooters. The CCP is a great gun for people who need help racking the slide or need a little less recoil. But, still want the ammo availability and power of a 9mm. It also has an external, frame mounted safety, that a lot of women actually prefer so they can carry in their purse with some ease of mind. While also having a gas piston driven system and a fixed barrel. The PPS M2 is a more common style single stack gun (which they started also), that has the nice Ulm proof marking, browning tilt barrel, and trigger safety. Which is more of a gun that can handle extreme use. We shouldn’t have to “settle” with a style gun that only fits a couple of a persons needs. I like the variety. My wife loves the CCP, I love the PPS and my mother likes the PK380. Consumers like choices.
Well, the CCP and PPS M2 are still two different guns that connect to two different kinds of shooters. Also, Walther kind of started the whole “carry” gun market nearly 100 years ago. So, they probably like to have multiple guns to fit different kinds of shooters. The CCP is a great gun for people who need help racking the slide or need a little less recoil, while still maintaining the ammo availability and power of a 9mm. It also has an external, frame mounted safety, that a lot of women actually prefer, so they can carry in their purse with some ease of mind. While also having a gas piston operated system and a fixed barrel. The PPS M2 is a more common style single stack gun (which they started also), that has the nice Ulm proof marking, browning tilt barrel, and trigger safety. Which is, more of a gun that can handle extreme use. We shouldn’t have to “settle” with a style gun that fits the “majority” crowds needs. I like the variety. My wife loves the CCP, I love the PPS and my mother likes the PK380. Consumers like choices. Why does Chevy make a Colorado, 1500, 2500, 3500? They are all trucks. But, people pick the one that fits their needs.
so what is the price?
What a horribly annoying writer. Hard to believe anyone could be as bad as Patrick Sweeney.
I agree.
re “Unlike the Bond girls, the Walther PPS M2 is unlikely to inspire obsessive not-to-say onanistic adoration”
Everyone but the author knows that the more you talk about sex, the less you are actually getting.
I looked at one of these at my LGS, and the one they have has a terrible trigger. I was wondering if that was an exception. Based on your experience, the one I tried must be an anomaly.
I’ve had mine about 3 weeks and I couldn’t be happier. Price out the door was $459.95 plus state sales tax. I’ve never shot a PPS M1 and about the only other 9mm I can compare it to would be my full sized 9mm Beretta 92 FS Centurion. I know, I know that’s not a real apples to apples kind of comparison. But the quality, the fit & finish and the feel of those two weapons, especially while they’re…in use are indisputable, if you ask me. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I agree with Rod & Jim who said it was both a good looking and original looking too. My main complaint is with the amount of strength required to pull back the slide. While it’s no problem for myself, honestly I don’t know of any women that could or would want to. Maybe that’s why Walther made the CCP – it’s a little higher quality & feature rich that the person who buys the PPS M2 is specifically looking for or more importantly wants to pay for. Complaint number 2 would be that this pistol is not a pocket gun by any stretch of the imagination. It’s too big for that. I don’t carry every day and sometimes a holster at least hanging on me isn’t possible. On those occasions is when I prefer a smaller true pocket pistol. Something that actually fits in a mans front pants pocket that’s not too heavy. .380 would work though another 9mm would be preferable. I had a .22 Beretta auto Model 21A that was the perfect pocket size. Too bad it was a .22 and so finicky on the ammo it preferred – Stingers and Mini-Mags over Federals and Winchesters. So from the Centurion to the PPS M2 to something even smaller than that, while I couldn’t be happier owning my new Walther, I’m also looking forward to shopping for and then buying that new smaller gun that fits in my front pocket in the not too distant future as well. On a side note I went to a huge gun show last weekend at the Washington Arms Collectors event in Puyallup Washington and while there’s a LOT of guns at a show like this both new and used, there’s not very much difference between new and used prices either unless you’re talking about the rimfire category. I was surprised about how expensive used guns were versus how inexpensive new guns seemed, if that makes sense. Anyway, IMO that new Walther PPS M2 is the best single stack sub compact 9mm I had the pleasure to shoot (and I shot a LOT of them before buying)…especially for well under $500 and for what it is, I’m very happy with my purchase.
I already had a Shield 9, but just bought a PPS M2 9. I guess beauty and fit are in the eye of the beholder. The PPS M2 fits my hand better than either the Shield or the Glock 43 and it holds much tighter groups too.
I did a 25 yard test off a rest and found the Shield and PPS M2 both did the best with 147 grain ammo. The Shield came in at a 5 inch group average, whereas the PPS M2 got 2.5 – 3 inch groups, which is extremely good for a gun of this size. A friends loaned my his Glock 43 and that did about the same as the Shield.
I am impressed and feel I made a very good choice with the PPS M2 9.
As for pocket carry; all my pants are Calela’s 7 pocket hiker pants and have bellows pockets. The PPS M2 hides very nicely in there and is very easy to draw with the 7 round magazine in place.
Just got the PPS M2 LE on Sunday and hit the range today. Cleaned and lubricated it the moment I got it but shot 100 Federal 115gr rounds without a problem and some Federal HST 124gr too. Ergonomics were great, very comfortable. Even the undercut was nice. The 7 and 8 round magazines were best for the range. 6 round magazine was great and didn’t effect accuracy, I just don’t prefer it for my sized hand.
I don’t consider it snappy at all. The heavier weight of the slide helps absorb a ton of the recoil. The trigger is excellent and has a very good break with a very short and audible reset.
Definitely a step above the Shield and Glock 43. I didn’t like either of those after shooting them.
No thanks, my shield Rocks!! AND ITS MADE IN AMERICA!!
I haven’t shot the M2 yet but it certainly seems promising. I really like my PPS M1. Does anyone know if there are any interchangeable parts between the two? I was going to order an extra recoil spring assembly and extractor just to have on hand. I suppose I could just call Walther and ask…
I will never understand this “it’s ugly” thing. Are you buying it to come to your rescue in a potential life and death situation, or are you looking for a date? Of all the criteria for choosing a defensive gun, looks are at the BOTTOM of the list.
And you are absolutely correct. It won’t fit in a standard jean pocket. But then neither will an XDS, which is the exact same length as the PPS M2. Nor will a Glock 43, which is also the same size. Even the Shield is only .2 of an inch smaller. If you want a pocket gun, buy a pocket gun.
So then why make a slim, light, single stack gun that won’t go in your pocket? Because most double stack compacts can’t be easily concealed without wearing a shirt that fits like a potato sack. And after a few hours, you start to feel like you are carrying a boat anchor. I can carry my PPS M2 comfortably all day in an IWB holster. And it’s invisible while wearing a shirt that actually fits me.
I find the grip to be very comfortable, and the recoil is in line with other similar sized guns. I find it’s more accurate than the XDS or the Shield, with any ammo. And mine is 100% reliable and eats anything I put in it. What more do you need in a defensive gun?
I’m kind of late to the party here, but I just read this and thought I’d write up something for the uninitiated here. I’ve been carrying the PPS M2 9mm for near two years, getting it when it first came out. I carry it almost always with the 8 round magazine, and almost always IWB – except in the dead of winter while working outside. Then, the difficulty of being able to get to it through 3 clothing layers forces me to either holster it OWB – over one or two layers, underneath my outer coat – or just put it in a small Kydex holster in a large front coat pocket. Regardless, of how I’ve carried it, I have had no issues with it printing in more revealing and temperate weather with a barely larger than otherwise necessary T shirt or sport shirt, usually untucked, or under any type of sweater at all, and this is with that big 8 round magazine. This is because this gun is slim overall, certainly an artifact of its single stack build, but also because it’s actually pretty smoothly shaped and tapered where it counts, despite the undeniable “blocky” and less than attractive look of the gun with the 6 round mag. And, I sometimes do use that 6 rounder when I “dress up,” and then it always neatly disappears. But, heck, the gun is not a fashion accessory; after all, I’m TRYING TO HIDE IT FROM SIGHT, not show it off. However, as an added bonus, the gun does actually look pretty sweet with the 8 round mag attached.
I’ve run probably about 1,500 different range FMJ’s and self-defense hollow point rounds through it so far with absolutely no issues. It just fires when I press the trigger. It strips for cleaning with no tools, easier than pie, with a procedure that anyone who has cleaned a Glock would know by heart. I like the ergos very much; I think they’re considerably better than most other polymer single stacks, but, if there is anything about it that isn’t great, it’s that any slender single stack grip doesn’t feel as good to me as a fatter one. It’s very accurate for a small nine, with a very good (and improving with use) trigger and about average recoil for a light nine millimeter. It ain’t my 5 inch PPQ on the range, but, to me, it shoots a lot easier and more accurately than a friend’s Shield, a more apt comparison. I’m certainly not a marksman of any kind, but I can almost always keep my two handed shots, shooting quite fast for me (maybe 1 per second or just a little faster), within a 8 inch circle, with one or two near fliers out of 16 shots, at 10 yards, and when shooting slowly and carefully, within maybe a 5 inch circle with hardly ever a flier. I can only do better than that with my 4.25 inch 45 ACP or my 5 inch PPQ 9mm. For an easily concealed and comfortable carry gun, meant for close encounters of the worst kind, that is good stuff and more than adequate for me.
So my question is, what more do you want? And, then, how does this only get “3 stars?” Oh well, it takes all kinds, doesn’t it?
I know arguing over the best CC gun is pointless, unless a prospective new gun owner reads this. So it is to them I am writing. I have been involved with firearms as a career my entire adult life, starting with carrying a wheel gun. I have carried a number of backup weapons. If they make a better concealed carry than this I haven’t found it. I’m not saying I have tried all of them, but enough to know a great gun when I have it in my hands. Everybody who has asked my opinion and then tried the Walther fell in love with it. This is especially true for the women, sister and two nieces. It fits their hands, they can pull the trigger and manipulate the slide. The trigger is the most amazing thing about this gun, I’ve seen trigger jobs that weren’t this good. (Alright, not race guns, but for standard carry pistols) The accuracy is nothing to laugh at either.I have a friend who tried mine and then ordered one from another friend who has his FFL. Well when it came in the FFL guy tried it and immediately ordered one for himself. Enough said. Try it and you’ll buy it.
In the pic near complaining about the fit in your hand, you have the freaking magazine in the gun backwards. What an idiot.
I love the PPS M2. I carry it in the 1:00-2:00 position IWB. Usually with one in the chamber and the 7 rd mag. It is extremely accurate and absolutely deserves a 5* rating for a compact 9mm. The 6 rd mag is awkward for me because I have rather large hands, but the 7 rd mag gives me just enough real estate for my little finger to rest nicely on the grip. I have had no printing issues, and I can carry it as aforementioned comfortably all day. I hate carrying any gun in my pocket (a hostile environment for any piece of metal) and almost exclusively carry IWB. PLEASE don’t judge this book by its cover, before you talk about how “ugly” it is, take it to the range and get a feel for it. It’s a great gun that will perform at all times regardless of the situation. Walther has been on the cutting edge of pistol technology for ove 130 years, thee know how to build a reliable, concealable, and fun to shoot gun.
First you beat the sh*to out of it, it’s ugly, blocky, looks like a Hi Point, finger grooves are terrible.. Then you back hand praise it, make up your mind. I have one, 400 rounds in, not one ftf or fte , all kinds of ammo. Snappy, not for me. Heavy? A little more weight in that slide than its brethren in class, but that in fact helps mitigate recoil. Solid build, solid reputation, great price, better rebate than the Shields. 6 round mag is useless to me, 7 rounder is my reload, I love 8 plus 1 is nine, in CT 10 Rounds max is the law. You don’t like the grip, you’ve got little girl hands, when I grip it my middle finger covers the P on the logo, and by the way the mags in backwards,
Good review on this firearm. I just ordered one and waiting for it to come in. However, one comment in regards to pocket carrying. You basically have to “dress” for pocket carry with some of the “bigger” pocket pistols. Take a Kahr CW380 for example, there would be no problem with dropping that into the pocket of the pants that you have in the picture and it “disappearing”. It is super small and barely fits in most normal hands because of how small it is. However, I’ll bet that a S&W M&P Shield (9 or 40, your pick since they are the same frame) wouldn’t fit in those exact pants pocket either, just as you are showing the PPS not fitting. Actually, the Shield 40 (original) is 6.1″ overall and 4.6″ in height. I pocket carry it all of the time in a DeSantis SuperFly holster. No problem. I just wear different pants when I pocket carry. The PPS M2 is 6.3″ in overall length (just a mere 0.2″ longer) and 4.4″ in height, actually 0.2″ shorter than the Shield. So, in actuality, if the PPS won’t fit in those jeans pocket, there is no way the Shield will either. So, it is kind of misleading and there are a quite a few people that pocket carry the Shield. Heck, the same with the Glock 43 as well.
So, my only point is, I wouldn’t necessarily agree with you regarding the pocket carry and knocking a point off there because of that. You dress for what you are carrying. Just like some people have to buy a size bigger in pants to carry IWB for a double stack. Some don’t. It just depends on the carrier. 🙂 Otherwise, it was a very good review.
Although I do find it funny how a lot of people kill or crush other manufacturers when they produce a slide or frame that is “blocky” yet Glock is always praised like it is the end all, be all of firearms and their slide has always looked like a hunk/block of steel laid on top of a plastic frame from day one. I don’t think they have changed it since its inception. Yet, not one person mentions that in a review, but if another manufacturer makes one similar (as one person mentioned in a comment here that the PPS is “a Glock look a like”), then people tear it apart that it looks like crap and has no style to it. Hmmm…I’ve never understood that at all. (shrugging shoulders)
But anyway, all in all, a good job with the review and I appreciate the info. One of the reasons I read your site/blogs/info here. (thumbs up)
I have this gun.
I hate this gun.
I’ve had it for less than six months and I’m already planning to sell it. The thing I hate about it most is that after ~20 rounds it make my index finger numb. I have very small hands (my trigger finger is less than 3” long). I don’t know if that makes a difference. I do know that, as I am a jeweler and spend my professional life bending metal with hand tools, my hands are strong. I’m not limp-wristing and my grip is secure.
The PPS isn’t a target pistol, but I intended it to be my CCW, and as such I’m obliged to practice with it. Practicing with it blows.
For now I’m toting around my 1911, because I love it and I trust it completely, but it presents issues because there’re a lot controls sticking out, and I worry that something will get tangled as I pull it out of my bag. Because you guys wanna talk about the PPS not being a pocket gun? Cry me a river. The pockets on my jeans aren’t even big enough for my entire hand, let alone any gun I’ve ever met, and that includes those mini-revolvers from North American Arms.
You do some pretty decent reviews they would be less words to read if you would eliminate you lame attempt at this humor, sort of a pita like most stand up comedy
If you love to wear polyester fabric jackets? so check Salt N Pepa Jacket which is a most selling outfit in our store, Shop now and get amazing discounts and offers.
Comments are closed.