Walther Pistol Kompakt: PK380 .380 ACP
Walther have scaled up the P22 pistol and produced the PK380, a .380 ACP chambered pistol.
The PK380 features:
- 8+1 capacity
- polymer grip, steel frame and slide
- 3.66" barrel
- Overall length of 6.5"
- Picatinny-style rail
- Ambidextrous mag release and safety.
- Drift-adjustable rear sight.
- Unloaded weight: 19.4 ounces
- Width is 1.2"
Four models will be available:
First Edition: a limited series model with "First Edition markings", holster and two mags. Two tone: nickel-plated slide. Standard: All black Laser model: Standard model with laser
They should be available later this year.
Photo Copyright Ken Lunde. Used with permission.
From the press release:
For 2009, Walther® has once again exceeded expectations with the introduction of the new PK380. Engineered on one of Walther’s most popular platforms, the P22, the PK380 delivers .380 power into a lightweight, ambidextrous pistol. Versatile, comfortable and nearly the same size as the P22, the Walther PK380 continues the company’s longstanding tradition of German innovation and technical expertise.
What’s the point? If you’re looking for a .380, there are much, much smaller pistols out there, and if you can carry something the size of this gun, you could easily find something in 9mm or .45 ACP. Way too big for the puny cartridge it fires.
Well, I can see someone who is very intolerant of any sort of recoil wanting a heavier pistol in a lighter round. Does the Bersa Thunder sell well enough to want to get into that market? This gun is almost the same size/weight.
Nathaniel has a point about how smaller .380’s are available, and that would certainly be the choice for the average shooter. But guy also has a very good point about how people with reduced physical capabilities might want a heavier handgun chambered for a less punishing cartridge.
I decided to chime in because an elderly student of mine found herself in a similar situation. Arthritis made the shock of firing a handgun painful, and she opted for a Beretta 86. That particular .380 weighs 23 ounces instead of 19 like the Bersa or Walther mentioned in the post above, but having a heavier gun to make shooting more comfortable sometimes is sometimes very important when choosing a firearm.
guy asked if the Bersa .380 is selling well. I don’t have any hard data, but they are extremely popular with my students, as well as many women shooters. They are reasonably priced as well, with the SRP around $310 USD.
James
thanks for your insight. One notable Bersa user is gun blogger Breda:
http://thebredafallacy.blogspot.com/
I like this idea. I wish it was nine mm but .380 will do for now. This may mean the of the zinc slide p22 which would very welcome indeed
That’s a very good point I hadn’t considered, James. You learn something every day!
I like the idea of a reasonable defense caliber in a pistol that feels and handles just like my .22lr plinker. Yeah, there’s more concealable stuff out there, but I put hundreds of rounds through my P22 every month, so the muscle memory is there for all the controls and aim.
Plus it’ll probably be cheaper than a PPK, but still says Walther on the slide so I’ll feel right when I’m wearing my tux if we ever get CCW in WI…
James, I’m completely agree with what you’ve said. My mother has rheumatoid arthritis and we’ve been trying to find her a carry gun that she can manage in a caliber that won’t break her wrists. She can fire an S&W K-frame with ease but they’re too large or her to carry and the J-frames are too small for her to control. We’ve been looking for a pistol in .380 but most of them “are too small and don’t feel controllable” to her. We’ll have to give this a shot when it hits stores.
This is a great idea from a great company. I just visited a gun show today and picked up every polymer handgun there. I did not find many pistols that I liked personally. Kahr, SA XD’s, Glocks, Taurus, KEL TEC, H&K, S&W sigma or M&P, and Sig Sauer all have something that poses a decisive factor in ones choice. Whether it is price, quality, comfort, reliability, warranty, looks, etc… something just was not right. There is something for what you want out there you just have to find it. Mousegun .25 cal to pimp-cannon desert eagles find what is right for your needs or desires.
There is a market for the PK380 and yes it would be nicer in 9mm or .40cal , but the P99c and the PPS have that covered for Walther. I also love reading about how the .380 is a crap caliber but how many people have been shot with one and turned around to write how puny the caliber is. If you want to stop a train from a mile away get a Barrett. The .380 is for close range defensive protection not battlefield warfare or hunting.
The price of the pk380 is just a attractive as the gun. The name on the side would suggest that it should cost more than it is advertised for. I like the fact that Walther is bringing a new .380 out with fresh technology and design. The PPK was great for years but time for a new dog with new tricks.
And then there are those of us who just love nice weapons, and can’t get enough of them!
This is an attractive piece! I may have to get one!
Hay,.
I am loveN the look of these guys (Walther in general)
I had the 22 and let it go becuse it was not as tough as the P99 I own.
But anyway would like to get one of these guys with the steel slide..( thought that would be Normal ,but not in the 22)
BUt why no slide lock …????
what is the benifet of not haveing one.???
Sorry for the long question ….Just a new guy who know Nothing>:)
I am pretty sure the PK380 has a steel slide as opposed to the P22 alloy (zinc?) slide. There were many reports of slide cracks in the P22 – especially the target model -at least as early as 2003. I hope they have addressed that. I just picked up my first P22 at a recent gun show. I think it’s my next purchase; probably followed by the PK380. (Virginia is very open-minded about Concealed Carry).
For those interested, Smith & Wesson (they market Walther in the US) has a VIP purchase program at significantly reduced prices and includes Walther. They are updating the application forms but should be posted soon. Check the web site/Customer Service.
I have a p-22 and I love it. I’ve had it for about 2 years and have not had a single problem with it. I plan on buying a PK-380 as soon as I can.
I can see why they would come out with this… The p22 looks cool, is cheap, and is a great starter gun w/ a lot of accessories. Now, if all my accessories fit on a pk380 and maybe it even fits in the same holster, it would be a great second gun. Plus, if the trigger pull is similar, you can practice most of the day on the p22, practice a little on the pk380, then carry the 380.
Graham, there is clearly a notch in the left side of the slide for a slide catch mechanism. I can think of no other purpose. On the P22 the magazine follower button engages the stop when the mag is empty. I’m betting the same here. Why no release lever? Hmmmmm? Pull and slingshot to release? Man if I had gotten my hands on one at a gunshow I would have had to have that slide off for a good look inside.
The PK380 has a steel slide, steel frame and barrel and steel front sight. Walther’s site lists them at $369 MSRP. I doubt that is going to happen when P22s are going for $450 around here.
The p22 here in Wy is starting for $300 and the dealers I have talked to say the PK380 will be the same from what information they have.
I think it will be great. I am a big guy with big hands and so the p22 is a bit awkward to handle along with other small frame pistols. I am looking forward to having a small caliber CCW that still fits in my hand. The biggest size differnce between the pk380 and the p22 is in the height or lenght of the grip.
The .380 auto is an excellent round. I think the pk380 is a great idea. I own a P99 in .40 which I carry but I would not hesitate for a second to carry a .380. I’m sure it will be a blast to shoot and very accurate for such a small gun. People worry too much about whether the .380 is powerful enough to stop someone. It’s been killing people for years, and with the advancements in bullet technology as offered by Double Tap and Magsafe I wouldn’t worry about it.
I’m glad Walther is now making a copy of the P22 in a .380 version. I like hammers on semi auto pistols. I feel they are safer to use. I own and love the 2 – P22’s I have. I have owned PP’s and PPK/S’s in .380. They were excellent weapons and definitely packed a punch. 92 grain, .380 bullets can pass through a railroad tie at 10 feet. (And keep going!) Referred to as “Short” 9’s they have the ability to stop an assailant. I also own an XD Sub in 9mm. No hammer. I like it too but don’t love it. It is exactly what they say it should be. But, in my opinion, it’s not a gun you can carry with chamber loaded. I don’t think all this talk of a pistol being “concealable” is going to last. If your going to carry a gun legally, with the permit and the training, why should it be totally concealable? What are we trying to hide? The P99 is also hammerless. If they make a copy of the P22 in 9mm and .40, I think I’ll be in line for that as well. By the way, I’ve put thousands of rounds through my P22’s and upon magnified examination of the slides during cleaning, no micro-fractures, some small wear, and I use “Synthetic Oil” for the plastic frame, not organic oil.
I JUST PURCHASED A WALTHER PPKS 380 AND WAS DISAPPOINTED
THAT I HAVE TO SEND HER BACK FOR RECALL PROBLEM .S/W TELLS ME IT WILL BE ABOUT 16-18 WEEKS BEFORE I GET HER BACK IN MY POSSESSION. I WAS THINKING IN THE MEAN TIME TO PURCHASE THE NEW PK380 THIS GUN IS ABOUT .4 INCHES LONGER, .4 INCHES WIDER,BUT YET ITS WEIGHT IS ABOUT 3 FULL OUNCES LIGHTER IT ALSO HOLDS 9 ROUNDS VERSES 7 ROUNDS. WONDERING IF THIS IS AS GOOD AS MY PPKS 380. HAS ANYONE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NEW GUN.
RATHER HEAR FROM GUN OWNERS VIEW THAN A S/W DEALER.
If you have ever owned a Walther P22 as I do, then you know why the 380 is highly desired and I eagerly await its availability. My P22 is the smoothest shooting, most accurate, and smallest 22 I have ever shot. I am confident that the PK380 will be as sweet. Can’t wait !
I own a Walther P22 & a P99QA. I love both guns & I’ve never had a single problem with either gun. The P22 is a bit more of a pain in the ass to put back together than the P99 though.
I’m looking forward to purchasing a nice plain black PK380 to go with my OD Green P99QA & my Damascus / Stainless Slide P22. This new Walther just might be the perfect combination for concealed carry.
I have two questions regarding Walthers: I have a PP (Interarms Imported) number 702XX and a TPH (non Interarms) 292XXX can anyone tell me a year of manufacture please?
The point most of you are missing is that it isn’t a 9mm if you do the math a 9mm = approx. .350″ bigger bullets mean bigger holes for you carrying 9mm and think this is ok. I would want to see the balistics before making stupid opinions, everyone seems to have one of those. And for those that don’t like the looks, did you say that to yourself out loud. Are you going to compare it with a mugger before you use it? I like the tactical look in a controllable size for conceal carry. Bazookas will get the job done too, but they aren’t concealable and neither are most full size 45’s. I like the price and the fact that in the pictures with the laser it looks like it will still fit in a holster and it looks like it was molded right into the gun. I will wait to see what kind of personal protection ammo is shot through it for the ballistics reports.
Puny? Let’s see if Nate describes a 380 ACP as puny after being shot by one or 8+1. I own a PPK/S in 380 nobody makes fun of it but I can’t hit a barn door with it. My P 22 is a pleasure to shoot because its light and I can hit with it. I own 9mm and 45 Rugers that I don’t carry cause you need a saddle to tote them around. I look forward to owning a PK 380 by Walther, being sure I can hit and stop a booger man without needing to wear suspenders.
I like the concept for this pistol. I’ve been a proud owner of the popular Walther P22 for for several years (since their first release) and I’ve found it to be an extremly light, agile, good shooting and durable weapon. Its often my first choice for concealed carry (and for dis-believers who think a .22LR round is too small for a self defense round, talk to the Israeli Mossad, they have carried .22LR chambered personal defense weapons for undercover weapons for a long time with great success).
I like that the pistol has the similarities of the P22 because I’m well versed in using and shooting that weapon. It would be a painless transition. Additionally, I also carry a wonderful Kimber .45 and from carrying that what I’ve noticed is that the smallest pocket pistols that are chambered for a medium to large caliber have weight and “heft” to them that can make it hard to conceal on a smaller framed individual.
Walther makes an excellent weapon. If the tradition lives on in the PK380, a consumer would be hard-pressed to find a more reliable, consistant and easy to shoot weapon – and when the adrenaline is running and your motor skills go out the window – easy is good.
this handgun is orginally made for the GERMAN market, where 32 and 380 are much more popular. I have a P22, great plinker, I do dislike the mag release on the P22, but then it is of German design and not for defense like say a Glock. I do like the exposed hammer like on the P22, which is exactly wht I bought the P22
Some of these size arguments are irrelevant. The US 0.38 cartridge is referred to in Europe as the 9mm Kurz (9mm short). It is essentially the same ball ammo in a shorter cartridge.
“The .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since. Other names for .380 ACP include .380 Auto, 9mm Browning, 9mm Corto, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Short, and 9×17mm.
The .380 ACP is compact and light, but has a relatively short range and less stopping power than other modern pistol cartridges. Even so, it remains a popular self-defense cartridge for shooters who want a lightweight pistol with manageable recoil. It is slightly less powerful than a standard-pressure .38 Special and uses 9 mm (.355 in) diameter bullets. The heaviest bullet that can be safely loaded into the .380 ACP is 115 grains (7.5 g), though the standard has long been 85, 90 or 95 grains (5.5, 5.8 or 6.2 g). The .380 has had somewhat of a recent upsurge in popularity, as have the compact and inexpensive pistols that make use of it. Popular pistols chambered in .380 ACP include the Walther PPK, Bersa Thunder 380, Ruger LCP, and Kel-Tec P-3AT.”
i have owned a P22 for several years now and put a couple thousand rounds a summer threw it. although it is picky about it ammunition, simple CCI Mini Mags make it an almost flawless shooter. i only experience a miss fire maybe once every 3 or 4 clips. sometimes i believe its just a bad round. i said from the first day i shot me P22.. “man i wish they made this in a .380″. this is deffintely on the top of my wish list.
as to the belief that .380 and .22 are underpowered..lol. the .380 caliber and been effetively in use for over 100 years!!! a slower moving projectial is actually more damaging then a fast moving projectial. a slower moving projectial is more of a shocking hit to the body and does more internal damage due to the fact the round will mushroom sooner and slowly tear its way to a hault. .380 hardball ammunition has more then enough power to shoot threw doors and walls of most any home, if the situation presents itself. federal laws says anything over 21 feet is not self defence. so how much muzzle velocity do you need at 21 feet or less?? ask federal air marshals why they carry .380 caliber sidearms. because a 9mm .40 .45 just might kill the 1 or 2 people standing behind the intended target, not to mention the walls of the airplane. so what will you do when a burgler is standing between you and your loved ones and all you have is a moose cannon that will most surely go clean threw a perp at 10 feet?? part of owning a firearm is being responcable for the lives around you, not just yours!!!
as far as the .22… all i have to say is 4:1 rate of fire….i will have 4 .22’s center chest before you even think about a second shot with your hand cannon.
“shoot a man with a .45, he never knew what hit him…shoot a man with a .22, you get to look him in the eye and talk shit while he dies”
I am an older fellow and new to defense with guns. The Ruger Mark III started things out well and the Walther P22 was a did well for me in an advanced course. I did find I need to load the mag slower than the other fellows because it tended to jam when doing it fast and hard. I was hitting the target better than most of the other fellows with much more experience. The P22 is a great gun and I look foward to the PK380. My Sig P232 is a great gun too. I think the P232 with laser handle grips and the Walther PK380 with green laser on my ankle will make a great defense team with my two 20 lb JRTs (dogs, those little fellows spot trouble and often turn it away, may never use the guns, thank god!).
Like a lot of others I’m thinking about getting the new PK380. This has been an interesting threat with a lot of good info. I do have one question for Boris. While you made some good points, can you tell us what federal law or court ruleing says that “anything over 21 feet is not self defense”. If someone is shooting at you from, say 25 ft., are you not in danger of serious bodily injury or death? Just wondering where your info came from, but then again considering the logic of our federal govt. I wouldn’t be too supprised.
Steve
SteveR,
I think that the 21 foot rule originated from the “Shooting inside the Domicile” as it used to be the prosecutors weren’t very fond of you shooting at someone trying to beat your kids to death out in the street 40 feet away. The 21 feet came from immediate deadly threats from inside your residence. We’ve had a case here in our city where an elderly man walking his way home from grocery shopping, shot and killed a teenage mugger with a CCA in his wallet. It was ruled justified and he took a pretty good beating prior to his use of defensive force. Our laws here have changed substantially with respect to CCA card carriers. And our “Castle” laws have been updated for the good of the homeowner protecting property and the lives of his family. I’ve a number of peace officers who have told me the prosecutors are aligned with the home owner who virtually empties the clip as it shows a decided sign of “Panic” rather than a clean shot to the heart.
Steve,
I am a police officer in Texas and have been to the DEA school as well. I have never heard of any court case or law that says you cant defend your self at any range. I think what Boris is refering to is “the 21 foot rule”. “The 21 foot rule” is a study by the FBI in the 80’s that stated that a man that knows what he is doing with a knife can kill you faster than you can draw your gun and shoot from 21 feet or closer.
Yes, this is larger than most standard .380’s. Yes, it is a bit heavier than most standard .380’s as well. But this weapon has some added advantages that most standard .380’s don’t. Due to this added weight and size, it allows for added control and a reduction in muzzle rise and quicker recovery time, all of which are major issues when seconds count and your life is on the line. Yes, there are alot of smaller standard .380’s out there but some times smaller is not better!
An added note: In actuality, the Walther PK380 is lighter than the Walther PPK, and is just a slight bit larger than the Walther P22.
I noticed something missing while reading this thread. Although this affects a small percentage of people, I’m one of them. The main reason I’m going to buy a PK380 is I’m left handed. All of the other guns mentioned in this thread are great guns and I’ve looked at them all, but none of them are truly ambidextrous. I want a gun that I can take off the safety, release the clip and release the slide without having to put it in my other hand. The fact that the PK380 is an excellent weapon in other areas is just a bonus to me.
I already have a deposit at my local gunshop, really like my p22. My carry gun is a Kel Tec PF9, about the same size as my p22. but the PK380 just looks and sounds cool. I do have questions about the slide lock or lack of.
I talked to Walther on Friday, I was told the with the August Holidays in Germany we may not see them till December or even next year.
Not what I wanted to hear…
I have carried a Walther PPK/S since 1974. With Corbon 90 gr. DPX ammo
I KNOW it will keep me safe anywhere I decide to go!
Note to Walther, for how many people have the P22 and love it, I think you’re on track w/ the PK380, only a few things.
1. Make it a true ambi-pistol and make the slide release ambi.
2. Offer additional calibers like .357 sig and 9mm like the PX4.
3. Offer color options that are currently available for the P22 line for any collectors that have a P22 and would like a matching PK380.
4. Offer a threaded barrel connector like the P22 for us slient folks.
Just some thoughts and have a great day.
Hi all:
Interesting discussion on this site – I am glad I can share my opinion. Friend of mine has Walther P22 and it seems to be great gun. Small, accurate, easy to carry and conceal. I wanted to buy the same gun, but I ended up buying conversion kit for my Beretta 92FS. However, my Beretta seems to be big when I want to carry it concealed in a public. So I wanted to buy something smaller for every day carrying. I found the Walther PK380, and I think this gun has a lot of potential. I still don’t own the gun, but my name is first on the dealer’s list. So as soon as it arrives I am getting the first one.
Once I am done testing it, I will stop by again, and let you know how it went. We all have different preferences, but my preference in buying guns is to stick with good names – Walther is one of them
Mike
I’ve decided not to wait for the PK380. Last I heard it would be December or even next year before they’re available. I get my CHL next month and need something now. I went with the Ruger LCP (380 cal). Great pistol, I love it. It’s a little harder to aim than my Walther P22 because of the small size, but its super light weight (less than 10 oz) and easy to conceal. I can barley tell I’m wearing it when I have it in my boot or waistband. It’s very accurate too. It’s not too bad for a lefty to handle (see previous comment). A price tag of $350 was nice too, and that came with two carrying cases, two clips and a pocket holster! I know a lot of CHL holders don’t carry because of the discomfort or hassle of carrying a larger, heavier firearm. I think I now own a weapon that I can carry on a regular basis.
Codeman,
Ruger LCP look nice, but did you know about recall on this pistol? Here it is to learn more:
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/LCPRecall/index.html
Good luck,
Mike
The recall on the Ruger LCP only affected first year production. Any new LCP purchased today would have the recall corrected such as mine does.
S&W has announced that they are shipping the PK380!!!!
Steve,
that’s great news. I hope I will get my PK380 in next few weeks,
Mike
Walther started shipping the PK 380 at the end of Sept. I was able to buy one online for 314.00 and picked it up the Friday. I like the way it fits my hand and hope to get to the range this week to see how it shoots.
I own a Kel-tec p3at and a couple of j-frame S&W .38 revolvers so I don’t think I’ll buy one of these Walthers. However, should one of my CCW students ask, and I’m sure they will, I’d say that the pistol looks good. While the Kel-tec will do everything the Walther will do, and in a smaller package, it really isn’t a lot of fun to shoot. If I only had one concealed carry handgun and little experience, I’d want a gun that I enjoyed shooting. I expect my students to maintain proficiency and I think that they are much more likely to do so with something the size of the Walther or Bersa.
In my opinion the .380 with modern high-quality ammo is an excellent concealed-carry choice. Much better to shoot a .380 well, than a .40 poorly.
Reese,
I am surprised that your mother has trouble with a j-frame, I assume that she has tried one with improved aftermarket grips. How about a Beretta Tomcat? It’s not my favorite self-defense cartridge, .32 acp, but the tip-up barrel is popular with older ladies, and others, who have trouble pulling the slide back on autos. If she practiced enough to maintain reasonable proficiency, she can be confident in the capability of the .32 acp. It was the issued pistol cartridge for General officers in the US Army until, I believe, the early 1980’s.
Just my two-cents worth. Best of luck.
I just finished cleaning my new PK380. Bought it yesterday and have had a chance to put more than 100 rounds of .380 through it. This pistol is as sweet as a jar of honey or fresh homemade pie. It will seem light in your hands if used to a heavier gun. I shoot cal .45 in both a S&W model 1950 and a 1911 Colt commander. I have a 9mm, .two S&Ws capable of .38 or .357. I have a Berreta .32 and a .22 LR. I had just recently sold a PPK/S. The ergonomics were wrong. Anyway after putting more than 100 rounds through this beauty, it has become the gun of my choice for CCW. Some one mentioned safties. It has two, one manual and one automatic. On your initial magazine load, pull back and chamber one round. The hammer is back. JUst move the safety to safe and pull the trigger. Nothing more happens than the hammer moves forward. I tried on the range today to see if I could get it to fire accidentally. No such luck. This is the first Walther I have enjoyed, even beating out my P38.
Picked up a PK380 last week. Quite impressed. Very Very comfortable in the hand. There is no thumb release for the slide so it only locks when the mag is empty and to release it back in to battery you have to drop the mag or put in a loaded one. Not a big deal. When i reload i use my left hand to grab the slide and release it rather than using my right thumb so i don’t have to move it. seems to be more accurate and faster for me. however most of these models only come with one mag so once again not having a thumb release on the slide isn’t that big of a deal. It’s a back-up gun for something like a P99 or whatever you choose.
Hey richard where did you find this gun for $314 would love to get one ?
I GOT MINE YESTERDAY. I’ve been asking the guys at my shooting range every week if they’d gotten one in, and two days ago one of them told me they were expecting one in yesterday. I gave them my name and number and they called me when it arrived. It’s one of the First Editions so it came with an extra magazine and a holster (right handed only of course). It came in a nice hard case that was surprisingly large. (Easily three times the size of the case my P22 came in).
This thing shoots very smooth with very little recoil. My first shot was a bull’s eye at 7 yards. I was shooting 95 grain full metal jacket rounds. I shot 100 rounds though this thing right out of the box without incident.
The only trouble I had occurred while I was cleaning the PK380. The gun oil it shipped with was pretty thick and took some time to get cleaned off. Also, the spring and guide pin are a little fun to get back in place during re-assembly. I found using the guide pin assembly tool that came with my P22 made the job a lot easier. Finally, the tolerances seem very tight. After assembly, the gun felt tight. I disassembled it again and oiled it more heavily, but it still felt tight. I worked the slide back and forth several times until it loosened up. I think after a few hundred more rounds are run though; it should loosen up a little and be smoother. I look forward to doing just that.
Brian,
Bought it online from Bud’s Gun Shop. There out of stock now and have changed the price to 399.00. Check out the Cop Shop to preorder
http://dealerease.net/catalog/product.asp?pid=66490&ret_id=1009665
Richard
I just sold a PPK/S a couple of weeks back. I never liked it. Ergonomics and the force required to bring the slide to the rear. I was just disappointed with the whole pistol. So I began looking for a ca. 380 replacement. I looked and looked. Finally I walked into a local gun shop and spotted a BK380 First Edition in the case. The salesman handed it to me and I KNEW. The ergonomics of the grip design were like molded for my hand. The weight felt well distributed with poly grips and steel slide (no zinc) and barrel unit. It came with a second magazine and a take down tool. That’s the screwy thing. On the left side of the slide is a hole in which you insert this tool and turn 135 degrees counterclockwise. Pull down on the slide release lock and the pistol is in two parts. What I don’t understand, Walther’s thinking on this little tool. As it is so important, why only one? OK, took one hundred rounds out to the range plus a few extra by different manufacturers. At 40 yards I was hitting the torso or scaring the hell out of him. Not one jam, misfire, feeding or other problem. I did have one, strictly my fault. I have had a Walther P38, PP, the PPK/S and now my PK380. It is now my basic concealed carry weapon of choice. I have since run another 100 rounds through, again, no hang ups. If it allows me to do at 40 yards; at 15 feet you are dead. I have my right (shooting) shoulder packed with arthritis. No problem. The weight is minor but picks up any recoil. AS someone said, ” this is a defensive weapon, NOT a combat, war zone design, or caliber designation”.
I started target shooting seven months ago and got my carry license in July. I had trouble finding a gun that felt comfortable for me until I found the P-22. It is a wonderful gun for a beginner, especially for a woman. After about three months I bought a Glock 19, which I also love, but it is a little more difficult for me to handle. I’m getting better with it, but I don’t want to carry it. When the PK380 was advertised, I was thrilled. Couldn’t wait to find one. I bought one a week ago and have been to the range with it twice. It is a pleasure to shoot. The recoil is light and it feels very much like my P-22. I think this will be my favorite pistol, and the one I will want to carry.
Does anyone know if Galco has a holster that will fit the PK380. I though that maybe it would fit in the same holsters as a Glock 25,26, or 27, wasn’t sure though. I’m hoping someone who reads this has found some holsters that work for this gun. Please let me know if anyone has found any that work. Thanks
Yes, they do make at least 3 variants:
1. Galco Yaqui Paddle YP202 (belt holster).
2. Galco SUM 250 Summer Comfort (IWB holster (also works for the Sig P229).
3. Galco SOB 250 (small of the back holster).
If you’re interested in these options plus more info on the Walther PK380, check out the lastest copy (Feb 2010) of “Combat Handguns”, it’s in the Gun Tests section.
Thanks Ken. I’ll have to check that out. That issue of “Combat Handguns” with come out in January, right?
Thanks Again.
Ben
Ben,
No, it came out this month, a week or so back but it’d tagged as Feb. 2010. The article on the Walther PK380 is on page 50, the holsters I mentioned are on page 54.
Happy Shooting,
Ken
WARNING: If you own the Walther PK380 and the Walther P22 and clean them at the same time, make sure you keep track which guide pin and spring go to which firearm. It is very easy to mix these up; I’ve done it twice already.
The P22 takes the longer guide pin and the shorter spring, the PK380 takes the shorter guide pin and the longer spring.
Installing the wrong guide pin in the PK380 is no big deal and it is obvious after reassembly due to the pin protruding out the front of the slide. Installing the wrong spring in the PK380 is not so obvious. Your only indication is the slide will not always return due to the spring being weaker. (I did this during my first cleaning and thought that the weapon was “tight”, see previous blog. Luckily it occurred to me what I’d done the next morning and I fixed it before going out to the range.)
The wrong spring in the P22 will probably cause a jam, but the wrong guide pin is a nightmare. I almost had to take my P22 to a gunsmith, but was eventually able to disassemble and correct the mistake.
Neither firearm was fired with the incorrect components only because I do a thorough inspection of the weapon after reassembly; working the slide, hammer, trigger and safety multiple times.
FYI for you left handers out there, if Ken is correct about the Galco Yaqui Paddle YP202 fitting the PK380, then the left handed version is the YP203.
I hope you’re right Ken as I just ordered a YP203 today.
For holsters for the PK380, check DeSantis and Don Hume. My PK380 is nestled in a Hume otb and very comfortable and with my sports coat buttoned, invisible. DeSantis has the inside the belt and pants in several different configurations. Also has on the belt. The Hume on the belt is made specifically for the PK380. The DeSantis is not individually crafted.
Hi all:
I am so excited about my PK380 that should arrive next week. I am looking for a holster. What are your recomendations? I read Dave O. comment – is there a way you can provide item number for the Hume otb holster Dave- thx?
Do ppk and pk380 feet the same holster?
Thanks all!
In response to the lucky PK380 owner reference Hume holster. First I must make amends by saying that it IS NOT by Hume. It is DeSantis and the model number is 002TAP1Z0. I don’t know why I had it in my head it was from Hume. Now this holster is molded strictly for the PK380. Every handgun you own should be fitted with an individual holster rather than one size from four makers and 4 models of each. But we know that money talks. So we are fortunate with out PK380.