anyone own a PK380

[Mariner]

Well I am considering changing to a Walther PK380 for my carry gun. I am downsizing from a 45 and already own a P22, and really like the
Walther. I want to drop down to the 380 as I need something small and gentler to my repaired shoulders. I was wondering if anyone had a PK380 and what they thought of it.

Thanks

[wileecoyote]

I have several, and have several friends with several. They are OK, work as advertised. I like the grip size and trigger reach, good for folks with medium or small hands. I like the slide which is easier to rack than many similar guns. I dislike the manual safety (bad if used for defense), the odd mag release (push down to operate), and the relatively cheap materials (lots of plastic and cheaper metal than the better brands). So I recommend it mostly for target work, and maybe home defense in special situations where the shooter isn't a good fit for other guns, but I wouldn't recommend it for carry or serious defense. Instead I'd look at the Kahr CW9 or 380 equivalent.

[Mariner]

Well I was about to buy the 380 and I saw a S&W 642 J frame. I am a wheel gun lover so I ended up getting the Smith J frame. I also bought a galco IWB holster and a box of critical defense 38+P for it. I know I may have been better off with a semi auto due to the number of rounds, but 5 will have to do, and I may purchase a speed loader or two. Can't deny my love for wheel guns no matter how out of date they may be.
Thanks for the advice wileecoyote, I saw it after my purchase as my internet was down. The PK380 actually felt good in my hand, and I have large hands, but the wheelgun won out anyways. I do see some of your points about the 380, although I am used to the push down magazine release as it is on the P22 also.

[The Man]

Good qquesti

 

Well I am considering changing to a Walther PK380 for my carry gun. I am downsizing from a 45 and already own a P22, and really like the
Walther. I want to drop down to the 380 as I need something small and gentler to my repaired shoulders. I was wondering if anyone had a PK380 and what they thought of it.

Thanks

Good question~~

 I used to carry a Walthers PPK stainless .380 as a CCW for many years.  It was heavy and I did have a jamming problem.  I eventually found that the Mag spring had lost it spring tension. I lost faith in it as a CCW and decided to go a little lighter and  being a ;wheel man; from way back, moved over to a Taurus Ultra Lite 5 rd mdl 85 loaded with  +P hollow point  defense ammo.  GREAT gun for pocket carry and basically jam proof..  Carried it for about 5 years but I felt that I was under gunned by 3-4 rds,  I recently became  aware that 'everyone and their Uncle' were carrying 9 mm's , when I started to do  more & more gun range shooting.  Empty 9 mm brass all over the place.   It got me thinking if the good guys are carrying 9's , what are the bad guys carrying.  Now the .38 has been around a long time and is an excellent handgun in my opinion, but still 5 rds vs 10 rds or more~~~well I decided to explore the world of 9's. I decided on a S&W M&P Shield  in 9 mm.  It's about as heavy as my .380 and has the same  mag capacity (7rds) and 1 in the tube  for 8 rds but I believe it has much better stopping power than the .380.  I feel that  I've come full circle with carry handguns and will stick with the Shield for a CCW.  Just my opinion.

     So, I'd suggest that if you're looking at a .380, take a little bigger step up  and go for a  'Shield ' type handgun in 9 mm.  I don't think you'd feel sorry with that decision.    

[leroy]

I don't own one; but i simply cant imagine a Walther PK380 being a "bad gun"... In my experience, Walther simply doesn't do that... All that bein said; i understand that some are made on "friday and monday" and may have problems; but Walther will quickly fix that... I think the Gunblast guys did a review of the PK380 when it came out....

 

For what it's worth; i tote a SIG 238 all the time and keep a big gun handy in the car and in the home... I like the 380 and i think the PK380 is a locked breech pistola...  The old blowback operated pistols (...think PPK here...) were hard to rack to eject a bad round...  I also like the Glock 42; but i bet the Walther is a lot easier to find....

 

PS-- I like the Smith "Shield" and Kahr stuff too...

 

leroy

Edited March 26, 2014 by leroy

[hipower]

Shield!! All the way.

[musicman]

Ditto all the Shield love. I was seriously amazed the first time I shot mine, and still am newly impressed every time I take it to the range. It's an easier shooting gun than most compact 9s that weigh 50% more. I really don't know how Smith engineered that. My wife, a beautiful, delicate lady, has no trouble racking the slide and shoots it well.

Incredibly accurate gun, too. Nothing given up vs the full size guns but round count, imho.

[The Man]

I'm glad I'm not alone on my decision. I love the way my Shield fires. Of course, the guy behind it has a lot to do with it too.  The recoil is easy to take and with my Crimson Trace Laser, it's amazingly accurate. It breaks down very easily and is a sweetheart to clean.  

[tnguy]

I have a PK380. It's OK but I want my P99 back (40S&W)

 

Mags are hard to get for the PK380 but they do show up from time to time so don't go paying $70 on ebay like some do.

Edited March 28, 2014 by tnguy