Walther P99 Review
A very detailed review of the Walther P99 pistol has been post on the PAFOA forum here. It also includes some beautiful photos of the P99.
So, the real verdict, how does it shoot? Well, for me, it shoots better than any gun I have ever fired, which includes an impressive list of what’s what in the realm of combat handguns (custom or otherwise). I shot 365 rounds (300 of various FMJ rounds and 65 HP’s) today, and I find that I can rapid fire the center out of a 8×10 piece of paper at 10 yards seemingly all day long regardless of what stance or grip I use. Hell, it didn’t matter whether I used the sights, used a threat-focused approach at near eye level or shot from the hip at 4 yards, I was still on paper and in the scoring ring for all but 10 errant shots. I also got to shoot 150 rounds with my Streamlight TLR-1 attached (20 of them in complete darkness aside from the light) and as a bonus, not only is the light useful, but the extra weight up front allowed for faster follow-up shots; never a bad thing. My concentrated accuracy test involved shooting the staple at each corner of my last target to see if I could hit them and thus drop the paper from the target stand. At 10 yards, it took me a mere 6 shots, with both of my misses being less than a few centimeters too low. That’s good enough for a combat or carry gun, it’s certainly good enough for my standards and I doubt I could have done that with any other handgun I own. It’s inexplicable to me why this gun just shoots so much better in my hands than anything else, though everyone that ever shot with me when I had my previous P99 laughs and tells me I should have never sold it, that was the one gun I shot like a pro. Well, here’s to renewing relationships with old friends, this P99, like her predecessor, has earned her rightful place in a holder tucked inside my waistband.
More here.
The P99 is probably one of my favorite pistols. I absolutely love firing this one. Its a great weapon.
I owned a P99 in 40S&W it was a confortable fit but it had problems with not shooting the round right and the bullet would have verry deep rifleing marks.I also had it jam quite a few times.This is why I sold it and got a Glock 22.For target shooting the P99 is fine but I would not trust my life to it as a carry pistol.
I have a P99 original in 9mm. It has 3000 rounds through it without any problem whatsoever. Shoots any ammo from FMJ 115gr to Gold Dot +P. A little more recoil than a Sig P226, but it is a lighter, more compact pistol. Carry it in a Fobius tactical paddle holster and you hardly know it is there. Really love this gun.
I too have the Walther P99 only mine is in Quick Action, I love it, all though
I have been neglecting it lately (not going shooting with it) I still hide it under my bed so if I hear a bump in the night I greet that noise with some German Weaponry! I have fired around 2000 rounds through mine, and so far I have had three problems. One isn’t really a problem with the gun its more with the ammunition, damn cheap ammo, Winchester 9mm 115grain. One of problems with my gun I experienced a while ago back in April of this year. My extractor pin was going bad and was causing an increase in brass shavings building up in my internals. I clean my gun the same day, if I shoot over 100 rounds, if I don’t I kind of wait till I feel like doing it. But Walther was definitely awesome about it. Walther took my gun fixed it and had it back to me within less than two weeks. No charge whatsoever, it was also within its one year warranty. The last and rather smaller issue was with the front sight. In May, after I got my gun back from Walther, I took it out shooting. On the last two clips worth of ammo I noticed that the front sight was missing. I searched the range high and low and did not find it. I called Walther and they sent me a whole new set of front sights and an allen wrench and two set screws! I was so thankful. I don’t know of many other gun companies that would go that far for a customer. But I love my Walther P99 9mm QA!
Nathan, thanks for the review!
I’m currently shopping around for another carry pistol. I have a Springfield, and I’m thinking about purchasing a Walther. I’ve always enjoyed shooting them. I just wanted to say that your review helped a lot.
Thanks for your comments. I just purchased a used p99QA . I have been looking for a 9mm for a while and didn’t know much about the kind of gun I wanted. My brother has a glock and recommended it to me. When I went to look at them, I was not impressed with the feel in my hand. It just didn’t feel comfortable. I tried the P99 and it fit like a glove so I bought it. I’ve been looking at some other websites and thought maybe I made a mistake in buying the P99. That is until I read your post. Thanks for confirming my initial feeling of comfort in holding the 99. I’m taking it to the range this weekend.
The only problem with the walther that Ive found is being able to obtain reasonably priced high capacity (15) round magazines for it. The walther marked ones tend to run anywhere from $40-$65 US new. The smith and wesson SW-99 mags, which also fit it, are somewhat less costly, but since the November presidential elections, are hard to find, People are buying the mags before they are legislated out of existence.
I was fortunate to pick up two from Midway.com for $33 US, but that was all they had…two.
Lawrence
West Virginia
I bought my walther p99 4 years ago, i truley love this gun. I have probably put about 4000 rounds through the gun over the years. The gun shoots straight and true untill now. I was shooting a match and the gun started shooting in three to four round bursts! I still haven’t figured out what caused that but I am sure walther will take care of this problem. I still love this gun and wouldn’t trade it for any other gun in the world!!
Hi guys,
What do you think of the mag release? I havn’t handled the P99 myself, but have been told it is a bit out of the way.
I love the P99 mag release.
With severe arthritis, carpal tunnel, torn rotator cuff, etc.; I really need ambi mag releases.
H&K uses a very similar mag release.
Ruger P95, P944, P90, etc. have a slightly similar mag release.
SR9, XD, XDM, and G21SF, use frame mounted ambi mag releases in the 1911 location.
I have yet to fire one but have handled and inspected, a used one it was already showing wear.
This is hard to believe because it is supposedly coated with tenifer just like a glock. “lower case is not an error just a statement”
The weight is very low and at first glance it feels ergonomic, but this gun tries to be way too many things it has a new da/sa mode.
I dislike this feature but it gives to trigger pulls out of the box.
The worst problems I have are it’s a glock with less actual functionality.
It most likely has the same unsupported barrel, meaning it is not safe for +p ammo.
And foremost it has less safety than a hi point!
yeah I am serious look it up if you don’t believe me.
I really cannot see the problem with safety. It seems to me to have the same sort of safety that the glocks have.
Mine is also thinner and at least to me seems to be easier to conceal.
Of course, your mileage may vary…Im having excellent luck with mine.
yeah safety wise I am a locked and cocked kinda guy, I was just summarizing the features to try and understand how it could cost so much.
Either the one I used was damaged internally or the Safe trigger was considerably different from a glock.
I have carried extensively urban some but mostly in the woods, I carry a Desert Eagle .44 Mk1 locked and cocked it can withstand a 10 ft drop and not fire or even be damaged.
So you know my bar and hopefully why I feel the need for active safety.
I also like the Springfield Xd, which is funny as it has it’s own safe trigger, out of the box I prefer single action.
A fine tuned double is fine but a long two stage safe trigger is not my cup of tea.
It is rather interesting they seem to have done away with the sada model, for a shorter pulling dao so I am not the only one who did not approve.
not trying to be argumentative just like to state my opinion and facts I have gathered.
:> peace man!
Hey I just got my cw permit and I got a P99QA I tried prob every gun in the shop this gun just felt so good in my hand not square and bulky like all the rest . I and I am a lefty and great job walther for the mag release .
most hand guns I pic up I got to change hands to remove the clip not with the walther . Great job to them on that . Not fired it yet but will soon think my next gun will be a more compact walther .
ROBERT