PPK/S Reliability

Jgreen

I have been a big fan of the .32 cartridge. I purchased a PPK/S, Stainless, in .32, and it was a treat (although not as good as my old Colt).

Everything was fine, but one day, the slide wouldn't stay open after the last shot. It would stay open if I put an empty mag in, but that was the only way. No big deal, but sometimes, it wouldn't grab a cartridge when I racked the slide. I woudl have to use an empty mag to hold it open, drop the mag, and put in a loaded one, and then it would take the cartridge. These problems happened with all three factory mags that I have.

Anyone else ever have such a problem? Are Walther PP/PPK/PPk/s known for this?

v35

Sounds like there's not enough power in your ammo or the spring is too stiff. You may have the .380 spring installed.
If it's a new gun, let Walther make it right otherwise try Wolf Springs for a lighter slide spring.

rsnyder55

When you pull back the slide on an empty magazine, you should be able to see the follower push up on the slide lock. It is possible you have a dirty mag, a weak magazine spring, or (and I have seen it) a magazine that has a ding or dent on the slide that is stopping the follower.

JudgeColt

I disagree with v35. If this problem were limited to only failure to lock back the slide on an empty magazine, it could be some dirt in the wrong place that is preventing the slide stop from working.

However, when the slide will not pick up a round out of a loaded magazine, it could be one of two things that come to mind.

First, it could be that the inside of the magazines has gotten dirty or the ammunition is dirty, or a combination of the two, to the point where the resulting drag on the follower will not allow the magazine spring to push the ammunition column up far enough to be picked up by the slide. For all the magazines to do this kind of all at once, I suspect this is the probable cause. Another possibility is reloaded ammunition that is too "fat" causing additional drag inside the magazine.

While I think it unlikely that the springs on all the magazines became weak all at once, the problem could be the magazine springs are too WEAK to push up the magazine follower far enough and strong enough to activate the slide stop. Failure to push the ammunition column up far enough would account for the slide not picking up the top round out of a fresh magazine as well. This problem would have nothing to do with the recoil spring being too strong or from a .380. Apparently the gun functions fine otherwise, which it would not if the recoil spring were at fault.

I am assuming the magazines are all factory, and are undamaged. Correct? If so, I suspect dirty ammunition and/or magazines as the most likely cause.

Any other ideas?

v35

The Judges' diagnosis is improbable in assuming all three magazine springs are too weak or are sticking from dirt or fat ammo to operate the slidestop. Since the slide can be locked back using an empty magazine, the magazines and slidestop do work. The indications are that the slide doesn't travel far enough rearward for the slidestop to engage during recoil or for the slide to sometimes not pick up a round. The gun needs to be examined for a proper determination.
I have never seen a modern gun so fouled with dirt that it failed to function.
Let us know how you make out.

JudgeColt

v35 should review my post again. I said it was very unlikely that all magazine springs could weaken at once. (I really think it would be impossible.) That is why I suggested that dirt in the magazines, which could happen all at once if range conditions were particularly nasty (I cannot imagine how nasty that would have to be, but blowing sand, etc. could be a factor some places), or, more likely, from being dropped in the dirt, etc..

The reason the slide stop will work if the dirty magazines are empty is because there would be no drag from the dirty cartridges preventing the follower from pushing up on the slide stop.

Again, the original poster says the pistol will not pick up a round from RACKING the slide, not during firing. That means it has nothing to do with the recoil spring, because the slide is being operated by hand, not by recoil. It is not a "short recoil" situation.

Obvioulsy, it is difficult to diagnose a malfunction this way. I offered some ideas to try. I would not have offered them if I did not think they were worth trying. If v35 disagrees, that is fine. Try those suggestions too.

Let us know what it turns out to be.

Nighthawk

I am far from being a expert on the walther but I do know they are usually very reliable guns. I would almost bet it is in the magazines. Yes all three of them. Its quite possible that if you bought the gun used that maybe the person you bought it from got the mags mixed up and sold you .380 mags instead of .32 acp. If you bought it new I still say its in the mags. Send it back to walther and Im sure they will make it right.Hope you get your gun fixed.

Good Luck.

Rugster

CS8161

I had two American made PPK pistols and neither one of them was reliable enough for me to trust it as a carry weapon. They would jam even with FMJ ammo! They are all sharp edges, uncomfortable to shoot and if not for James Bond, they would not be nearly as popular as they currently are. If I were to go with a 380 pistol for carry, my first choice would be the Sig 232. (just my opinion)

Chris8161
Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!

PotatoBob

I used to own one,and while uncomfortable in my big hands,it was very reliable.Never had a problem out of it.

gundummy

I would suspect the mags. The only way it's not going to strip a round during a manual rack is ammo is not all the way up which means that "something" is preventing it after mag is loaded.
I would give mags a good cleaning and light lube job. If it was working before, may someone spilled a drink on mags, wiped the outside, but left inside all sticky. Just a thought. GD

Jgreen

To clear up some of the questions, 1. The gun is new, but a "factory demo". 2. The magazines are all new Walther .32 mags. 3. It would not chamber a round when it was racked by hand, but would do so once fired. 4. The gun is clean lubricated. 5. The ammo is all high quality, factory rounds, Usually Winchester. 6. I did not have any jamming problems at any time.

The gun was sent back to Interarms, and it is being sent back with a diagnosis. Apparantly, it has been repaired, but they couldn't tell me on the phone what it is that they did. I'll let you know

ref44

This sums up my experience with 20-25 Walthers over the years:

I have never had a .32 that jammed. I have never had a .380 that didn't jam.

nikiblue

Hello,
I have recently purchased a walther ppk/s by interarms from a private seller in California. The pistol was brand new when I purchased it (according to the seller). It has been about 4 month. I'm currently experiencing a jamming problem about 25% of the times. I have about 350 rounds thought it and I use American eagle ammo. It seems to me that the ramp is at the wrong angle, and the bullet gets stuck going into the chamber. I have heard horror stories from one of the owners at the shooting ranges I go to. The owner stated that some of the ppk/s owners had the ppk/s completely rebuild and the gun still jambed. I was trying to contact www.waltherusa.com but their e-mail does not work. Have anyone sent out their watlher ppk/s for warranty work? Any suggestions/reply/outcomes greatly appreciated.