Name : Walther P99
AKA : Walther's Tupperware Wonder
Caliber : 9x19mm Parabellum, .40 Smith and Wesson
Capacity : 16 Rounds (9mm) 12 (.40) 10 round magazines are common too.
Weight : 22.5oz or 630g (9mm) 23.1oz or 655g (.40)
Length : 7in or 180mm (9mm) 7.25in or 184mm
Action : Double Action Semi Automatic, Browning-Petter Locking Block
Origin : Germany
Horst Wesp started designing the P99 pistol for Walther in 1994, Wesp who had previously worked for the two largest firearms producers in his native land of Austria, namely Glock and Steyr, finished design and testing in 1996 when the P99 hit the market. The P99 was primarily produced for the Law Enforcement community but has found widespread acceptance in sporting and personal protection circles, and the latter two are by far its largest consumers. Some have speculated that the P99 came too late and at a too higher premium to compete with the likes of Glock, in spite of this some German Law Enforcement have chosen to adopt it.
As with all Walther products it is produced to a very high standard, incorporating some very desirable features into an aesthetically pleasing package. The pistol is of double action design, where by the pistol can be de-cocked, removing spring tension on the firing pin, creating a long first shot trigger pull which cocks the firing pin, all subsequent shots are in a lighter trigger pull single action mode. The decocker is nicely positioned on the top right hand side of the slide, all that is required is a reasonable pressure to depress the button. The trigger pull on the P99 is 8.25 pounds in double action and 4.5 pounds in single action. Locking on this pistol is an improved browning type where by the chamber port locks into the ejection cut out in the slide instead of lugs around the barrel. The frame of the P99 is made from polymer which reduces weight and allow for very ergonomic designs, the grips were designed by Italian Cesare Morini who produced specialty grips for pistols used in the Olympic shooting section. These grips are very comfortable with three replaceable backstraps that come supplied with the pistol. The magazine release is of European type built into the trigger guard and is ambidextrous.
Variants of the P99 are :
P99 Military - Standard P99 with a green polymer frame
P990 - Double Action Only
SW99 - As above but only the slide is made in the U.S. by Smith & Wesson
P99C - Compact model with standard action
P99 Duder - Standard P99, Engraved Slide, Wooden Backstrap
P99QA - The firing is always half cocked, this would be the start point the PPQ
P99RAD - Made by Radom in poland, as above with inner trigger safety
As with most pistols these days the P99 comes in "generations" of production evolution, of which the P99 has three. The second generation had a revised trigger guard that became rounded at the front and removed the triangle protrusion from the bottom of the guard. The original accessory rail in front of the trigger guard was of a type exclusive to Walther, in the second generation it was changed to be of a standard weaver type. The third generation had minor internal changes to aid overall smoothness of the action and a squarer trigger guard, longer magazine release and revised slide serrations.
INTERESTING FACT : Walther pistols are synonymous with Ian Flemmings character James Bond, in the 007 Movie "Tommorow Never Dies" James bond trades his Walther PPK for a P99 and continues to use it even with the change of the man playing Bond. To celebrate this change to the P99 Walther produced a limited edition "M.I.6." version of this pistol with the Coat of Arms engraved on the slide. However as of "Quantum of Solace" James Bond has gone back to his PPK.
PRO's : Accuracy, Reliability, Quality Manufacturer, High Capacity, Best Grips
CON's : Some magazines were dubious,
COOL FACTOR : 9/10
AKA : Walther's Tupperware Wonder
Capacity : 16 Rounds (9mm) 12 (.40) 10 round magazines are common too.
Weight : 22.5oz or 630g (9mm) 23.1oz or 655g (.40)
Length : 7in or 180mm (9mm) 7.25in or 184mm
Action : Double Action Semi Automatic, Browning-Petter Locking Block
Origin : Germany
Horst Wesp started designing the P99 pistol for Walther in 1994, Wesp who had previously worked for the two largest firearms producers in his native land of Austria, namely Glock and Steyr, finished design and testing in 1996 when the P99 hit the market. The P99 was primarily produced for the Law Enforcement community but has found widespread acceptance in sporting and personal protection circles, and the latter two are by far its largest consumers. Some have speculated that the P99 came too late and at a too higher premium to compete with the likes of Glock, in spite of this some German Law Enforcement have chosen to adopt it.
As with all Walther products it is produced to a very high standard, incorporating some very desirable features into an aesthetically pleasing package. The pistol is of double action design, where by the pistol can be de-cocked, removing spring tension on the firing pin, creating a long first shot trigger pull which cocks the firing pin, all subsequent shots are in a lighter trigger pull single action mode. The decocker is nicely positioned on the top right hand side of the slide, all that is required is a reasonable pressure to depress the button. The trigger pull on the P99 is 8.25 pounds in double action and 4.5 pounds in single action. Locking on this pistol is an improved browning type where by the chamber port locks into the ejection cut out in the slide instead of lugs around the barrel. The frame of the P99 is made from polymer which reduces weight and allow for very ergonomic designs, the grips were designed by Italian Cesare Morini who produced specialty grips for pistols used in the Olympic shooting section. These grips are very comfortable with three replaceable backstraps that come supplied with the pistol. The magazine release is of European type built into the trigger guard and is ambidextrous.
Variants of the P99 are :
P99 Military - Standard P99 with a green polymer frame
P990 - Double Action Only
SW99 - As above but only the slide is made in the U.S. by Smith & Wesson
P99C - Compact model with standard action
P99 Duder - Standard P99, Engraved Slide, Wooden Backstrap
P99QA - The firing is always half cocked, this would be the start point the PPQ
P99RAD - Made by Radom in poland, as above with inner trigger safety
As with most pistols these days the P99 comes in "generations" of production evolution, of which the P99 has three. The second generation had a revised trigger guard that became rounded at the front and removed the triangle protrusion from the bottom of the guard. The original accessory rail in front of the trigger guard was of a type exclusive to Walther, in the second generation it was changed to be of a standard weaver type. The third generation had minor internal changes to aid overall smoothness of the action and a squarer trigger guard, longer magazine release and revised slide serrations.
INTERESTING FACT : Walther pistols are synonymous with Ian Flemmings character James Bond, in the 007 Movie "Tommorow Never Dies" James bond trades his Walther PPK for a P99 and continues to use it even with the change of the man playing Bond. To celebrate this change to the P99 Walther produced a limited edition "M.I.6." version of this pistol with the Coat of Arms engraved on the slide. However as of "Quantum of Solace" James Bond has gone back to his PPK.
PRO's : Accuracy, Reliability, Quality Manufacturer, High Capacity, Best Grips
CON's : Some magazines were dubious,
COOL FACTOR : 9/10
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