Walther PPQ
Encyclopedia
The Walther PPQ is a semi-automatic pistol developed by the German
company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm
for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a potential replacement for the Walther P99
. It is available in either 9×19mm Parabellum or .40 S&W
chamberings.
Due to product evolution the PPQ maintains compatibility with both P99 sights and P99 second-generation magazines and other accessories.
The main innovation of the PPQ over the P99QA and P99 RAD is its 'Quick Defense' trigger.
cam-lock system adapted from the Hi-Power
pistol. The PPQ has a glassfiber-reinforced polymer frame and steel slide assembly. It can be broken down into its main parts or field stripped with a take down catch without the help of tools.
and many other striker fired pistol designs. The PPQ trigger pull is entirely due to the trigger and disconnector springs. The PPQ has a trigger travel of approximately 9 mm (0.354330708661417 in) with a relatively short trigger reset of 2.5 mm (0.0984251968503937 in) and a trigger pull of approximately 25 N (5.6 lbf). Unlike many other trigger systems preset internal strikers have a let-off point and trigger pull that remains unchanged from the first shot to the last and requires no decocker. It should however be noted that the striker of the PPQ variant does not protrude from the back of the slide, as the firearm is in a constant cocked state.
Due to its trigger characteristics the PPQ pistol is marketed by Walther in Germany as a special forces pistol and not as a police duty pistol. For obtaining a German Police
duty pistol certification a first shot trigger pull of ≥30 N (6.7 lbf), a trigger travel of ≥10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) and a trigger reset of ≥4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) are required.
Ergonomics and fully ambidextrous controls were a key focus in the design of the firearm, and as a result, three interchangeable grip backstraps are included (small, medium and large) to accommodate various hand shapes and sizes; this feature permits most shooters a comfortable and efficient grip on the firearm.
The injection molded
grip frame contains 4 steel guide rails for the slide: two at the rear of the frame, and the remaining pair above the front of the trigger guard. The trigger guard itself is squared off at the front and textured. The polymer grip has a non-slip surface on the sides and both the front and rear straps and a slightly funneled magazine well to aid magazine insertion. The hollow cross pin that secures the lower end of the backstrap was designed to function as a loophole for attachment of a lanyard. Under the dust cover the grip frame has an integrated mounting MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail for attaching accessories, such as a tactical light
or laser pointer.
The slide and other metal parts of the pistol are Tenifer treated (a nitriding process also used on Glock
pistols). The Tenifer finish is between 0.4 mm (0.015748031496063 in) and 0.5 mm (0.0196850393700787 in) in thickness, and is characterized by extreme resistance to wear and corrosion; it penetrates the metal, and treated parts have similar properties even below the surface to a certain depth. The Tenifer process produces a matte gray-colored, non-glare surface with a 64 Rockwell C
hardness rating and a 99% resistance to salt water
corrosion (which meets or exceeds stainless steel
specifications), making the PPQ particularly suitable for individuals carrying the pistol concealed as the highly chloride-resistant finish allows the pistol to better endure the effects of perspiration.
PPQ pistols are delivered in a polymer pistol case containing; the pistol, 3 backstraps of different sizes, 2 magazines, magazine loader, instruction manual, warranty papers, factory test target showing 5 shots fired at 15 m (16.4 yd) distance and an envelope with the case of the proof round fired during the proof test
at the C.I.P. accredited Beschussamt Ulm (Proof House Ulm).
with lands and grooves. The stabilization of the bullets is achieved by conventional rifling
, using lands and grooves.
(trigger safety, firing pin safety and disconnector safety) of which the external integrated trigger safety inner lever mechanism contained within the trigger serves as an additional passive drop safety.
The pistol has a loaded chamber indicator
in the form of a the extractor on the right side of the slide that gets recessed in the slide when a cartridge is present in the chamber. When the extractor is recessed a red coloured indicator at the end of the extractor also becomes visible.
The standard staggered-column PPQ magazines weigh 80 g (2.8 oz)
After the last cartridge has been fired, the magazine follower exerts upward pressure on the slide
stop causing it to engage the slide stop notch thereby holding it in the "open" position.
The slide stop release levers are located on the left sand right sides of the frame directly beneath the slide and can be manipulated by the thumb of the shooting hand. When a cartridge is present in the chamber the pistol can be fired without the need of having a magazine inserted in the weapon.
Empty magazines are released by depressing ambidextrous magazine release levers incorporated into the trigger guard
.
are made of steel. The rear sighting element is adjustable for windage
by a screw and the front sighting element can be adjusted for elevation
by exchanging the front sight. For this Walther offers front sight elements in four differing heights. The standard sights have 3 high-contrast dots which serve as contrast enhancements and have been painted with afterglow paint to aid target acquisition under unfavourable lighting conditions.
The sight radius is for 156 mm (6.1 in) for the PPQ 9×19mm Parabellum models and 158 mm (6.2 in) for the PPQ .40 S&W models.
may affect the wear characteristics of the PPQ pistol or exceed the margin of safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may according to Walther result in the need for more frequent service.
Walther recommends against the use of “Plus-P-Plus” (+P+) overpressure ammunition in Walther firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated.
s, magazine flashlight adapters, holsters, magazines, magazine loaders, grip extenders and a suppressor
kit with a 118 mm (4.6 in) barrel, protective cap for the muzzle threads and a sound suppressor of the Impuls II-A product line made by Brügger & Thomet
are offered as factory accessories.
For the recording of weapon specific data, a passive RFID transponder may be integrated into the backstrap of the pistol. The stored data can be read via an external unit.
These pistols are delivered with a standard staggered-column magazine and a second magazine with a +2 baseplate that add 2 rounds to the magazine capacity
The PPQ TACTICAL NAVY SD is the same pistol as the PPQ TACTICAL NAVY with the addition of a 118 mm (4.6 in) long special barrel with a threaded muzzle for mounting a suppressor.
.
The PPQ RED GUN is a pistol identical in design and operation to the actual service weapons. All functional elements, dimensions, weights and trigger characteristics are the same. However, PPQ RED GUNS do not allow loading or firing of ammunition.
The PPQ BLUE GUN is a plastic pistol intended for holster training.
Cutaway models are available for technical training and demonstrations.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a potential replacement for the Walther P99
Walther P99
The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol developed by the German company Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen of Ulm for law enforcement, security forces and the civilian shooting market as a replacement for the Walther P5 and the P88...
. It is available in either 9×19mm Parabellum or .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...
chamberings.
Product evolution
The Walther PPQ is not a true de novo pistol design. It shares its engineering principles and main features with the Walther P99QA variant of the P99 pistol that was introduced in 1996. Many modifications compared to the Walther P99QA like the re-designed grip, trigger guard, slide with forward (big) serrations and extended magazine release levers made their combined appearance in 2008 in the Walther P99 RAD, a P99 variant made in Poland and marketed as a military sidearm proposition.Due to product evolution the PPQ maintains compatibility with both P99 sights and P99 second-generation magazines and other accessories.
The main innovation of the PPQ over the P99QA and P99 RAD is its 'Quick Defense' trigger.
Operating mechanism
The Walther PPQ is a short recoil-operated locked breech semi-automatic pistol that uses a modified BrowningJohn Browning
John Moses Browning , born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world...
cam-lock system adapted from the Hi-Power
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized...
pistol. The PPQ has a glassfiber-reinforced polymer frame and steel slide assembly. It can be broken down into its main parts or field stripped with a take down catch without the help of tools.
Features
The internal preset striker 'Quick Defense' trigger of the PPQ is a departure of previous Walther pistols and has been developed for the PPQ. When the trigger is pulled the trigger bar engages a disconnect lever, which props up a sear hook, which releases the fully pre-loaded striker assembly, firing the pistol. Pulling the trigger does not partially load the striker spring as with the GlockGlock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...
and many other striker fired pistol designs. The PPQ trigger pull is entirely due to the trigger and disconnector springs. The PPQ has a trigger travel of approximately 9 mm (0.354330708661417 in) with a relatively short trigger reset of 2.5 mm (0.0984251968503937 in) and a trigger pull of approximately 25 N (5.6 lbf). Unlike many other trigger systems preset internal strikers have a let-off point and trigger pull that remains unchanged from the first shot to the last and requires no decocker. It should however be noted that the striker of the PPQ variant does not protrude from the back of the slide, as the firearm is in a constant cocked state.
Due to its trigger characteristics the PPQ pistol is marketed by Walther in Germany as a special forces pistol and not as a police duty pistol. For obtaining a German Police
Law enforcement in Germany
Law enforcement in Germany is constitutionally vested solely with the states, which is one of the main features of the German political system. Therefore, unlike France, Italy, the United States, Canada or many other countries, Germany has no federal police force comparable to the Italian...
duty pistol certification a first shot trigger pull of ≥30 N (6.7 lbf), a trigger travel of ≥10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) and a trigger reset of ≥4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) are required.
Ergonomics and fully ambidextrous controls were a key focus in the design of the firearm, and as a result, three interchangeable grip backstraps are included (small, medium and large) to accommodate various hand shapes and sizes; this feature permits most shooters a comfortable and efficient grip on the firearm.
The injection molded
Injection molding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...
grip frame contains 4 steel guide rails for the slide: two at the rear of the frame, and the remaining pair above the front of the trigger guard. The trigger guard itself is squared off at the front and textured. The polymer grip has a non-slip surface on the sides and both the front and rear straps and a slightly funneled magazine well to aid magazine insertion. The hollow cross pin that secures the lower end of the backstrap was designed to function as a loophole for attachment of a lanyard. Under the dust cover the grip frame has an integrated mounting MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rail for attaching accessories, such as a tactical light
Tactical light
A tactical light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low light target identification, allowing the marksman to simultaneously aim and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can be handheld or mounted to the weapon with the light beam parallel to the bore...
or laser pointer.
The slide and other metal parts of the pistol are Tenifer treated (a nitriding process also used on Glock
Glock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...
pistols). The Tenifer finish is between 0.4 mm (0.015748031496063 in) and 0.5 mm (0.0196850393700787 in) in thickness, and is characterized by extreme resistance to wear and corrosion; it penetrates the metal, and treated parts have similar properties even below the surface to a certain depth. The Tenifer process produces a matte gray-colored, non-glare surface with a 64 Rockwell C
Rockwell scale
The Rockwell scale is a hardness scale based on the indentation hardness of a material. The Rockwell test determines the hardness by measuring the depth of penetration of an indenter under a large load compared to the penetration made by a preload. There are different scales, denoted by a single...
hardness rating and a 99% resistance to salt water
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
corrosion (which meets or exceeds stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
specifications), making the PPQ particularly suitable for individuals carrying the pistol concealed as the highly chloride-resistant finish allows the pistol to better endure the effects of perspiration.
PPQ pistols are delivered in a polymer pistol case containing; the pistol, 3 backstraps of different sizes, 2 magazines, magazine loader, instruction manual, warranty papers, factory test target showing 5 shots fired at 15 m (16.4 yd) distance and an envelope with the case of the proof round fired during the proof test
Proof test
A proof test is a test wherein a deliberately over-pressured round is fired from a firearm in order to verify that the firearm is not defective and will not explode on firing. The firearm is inspected after the test, and if it is found to be in sound condition, then it is marked with a proof mark...
at the C.I.P. accredited Beschussamt Ulm (Proof House Ulm).
Barrel
The PPQ pistol has a traditional barrelGun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
with lands and grooves. The stabilization of the bullets is achieved by conventional rifling
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
, using lands and grooves.
Safety
The PPQ features three internal safetiesSafety (firearms)
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling....
(trigger safety, firing pin safety and disconnector safety) of which the external integrated trigger safety inner lever mechanism contained within the trigger serves as an additional passive drop safety.
The pistol has a loaded chamber indicator
Loaded chamber indicator
The loaded chamber indicator is a safety device present on many semi-automatic slide handguns intended to alert an operator that there is a round in the chamber...
in the form of a the extractor on the right side of the slide that gets recessed in the slide when a cartridge is present in the chamber. When the extractor is recessed a red coloured indicator at the end of the extractor also becomes visible.
Feeding
The PPQ feeds from staggered-column or double stack magazines of varying capacity. Walther also offers staggered-column magazines with a +2 baseplate that add 2 rounds to the magazine capacity at the expense of extending the grip and the pistol height by approximately 18 mm (0.708661417322835 in). For jurisdictions which restrict magazine capacity to 10 rounds, Walther offers single stack 10-round magazines. The magazines are made of steel for Walther by the Italian subcontractor MEC-GAR and have an anti friction coating for easy loading and anti-corrosion and witness holes to view how many rounds are in the magazine. A steel spring drives an orange coloured plastic follower.The standard staggered-column PPQ magazines weigh 80 g (2.8 oz)
After the last cartridge has been fired, the magazine follower exerts upward pressure on the slide
stop causing it to engage the slide stop notch thereby holding it in the "open" position.
The slide stop release levers are located on the left sand right sides of the frame directly beneath the slide and can be manipulated by the thumb of the shooting hand. When a cartridge is present in the chamber the pistol can be fired without the need of having a magazine inserted in the weapon.
Empty magazines are released by depressing ambidextrous magazine release levers incorporated into the trigger guard
Trigger guard
A trigger guard is a loop surrounding the trigger of a firearm and protecting it from accidental discharge.Some assault rifles can have their trigger guard removed or positioned as not to impair firing with gloves for example in Arctic conditions....
.
Sights
The standard iron sightsIron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
are made of steel. The rear sighting element is adjustable for windage
Windage
Windage is a force created on an object by friction when there is relative movement between air and the object.There are two causes of windage:# the object is moving and being slowed by resistance from the air...
by a screw and the front sighting element can be adjusted for elevation
Elevation (ballistics)
In ballistics, the elevation is the angle between the horizontal plane and the direction of the barrel of a gun, mortar or heavy artillery. Originally, elevation was a linear measure of how high the gunners had to physically lift the muzzle of a gun up from the gun carriage to hit targets at a...
by exchanging the front sight. For this Walther offers front sight elements in four differing heights. The standard sights have 3 high-contrast dots which serve as contrast enhancements and have been painted with afterglow paint to aid target acquisition under unfavourable lighting conditions.
The sight radius is for 156 mm (6.1 in) for the PPQ 9×19mm Parabellum models and 158 mm (6.2 in) for the PPQ .40 S&W models.
Overpressure ammunition
According to Walther “Plus-P” (+P) overpressure ammunitionOverpressure ammunition
Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to a higher internal pressure than is standard for ammunition of its caliber , but less than the pressures generated by a proof round...
may affect the wear characteristics of the PPQ pistol or exceed the margin of safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may according to Walther result in the need for more frequent service.
Walther recommends against the use of “Plus-P-Plus” (+P+) overpressure ammunition in Walther firearms. This marking on the ammunition designates that it exceeds established industry standards, but the designation does not represent defined pressure limits and therefore such ammunition may vary significantly as to the pressures generated.
Accessories
Factory accessories include: fixed metal 3-dot iron sights, fixed tritium night sights, adjustable sports iron sights, adjustable optic fibre iron sights, laser pointers, tactical lightTactical light
A tactical light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low light target identification, allowing the marksman to simultaneously aim and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can be handheld or mounted to the weapon with the light beam parallel to the bore...
s, magazine flashlight adapters, holsters, magazines, magazine loaders, grip extenders and a suppressor
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
kit with a 118 mm (4.6 in) barrel, protective cap for the muzzle threads and a sound suppressor of the Impuls II-A product line made by Brügger & Thomet
Brügger & Thomet
Brügger & Thomet AG is a licensed Swiss defense supplier specializing in the design and manufacturing of firearms and tactical components such as sound suppressors and rail systems. The company is located in Thun, Switzerland. B&T consists of a trading and manufacturing division...
are offered as factory accessories.
For the recording of weapon specific data, a passive RFID transponder may be integrated into the backstrap of the pistol. The stored data can be read via an external unit.
Variants
The PPQ TACTICAL NAVY is a variant which has a firing mechanism that has been modified for operations in and near water. A non-standard hole in the striker channel ensures sufficient water displacement if the weapon becomes completely flooded with water. Hydraulic resistance is offset by means of a stronger striker spring. In addition, special guides reduce the hydraulic resistance when the striker moves forward.These pistols are delivered with a standard staggered-column magazine and a second magazine with a +2 baseplate that add 2 rounds to the magazine capacity
The PPQ TACTICAL NAVY SD is the same pistol as the PPQ TACTICAL NAVY with the addition of a 118 mm (4.6 in) long special barrel with a threaded muzzle for mounting a suppressor.
Training variants
The PPQ SIMUNITION FX is available in a version for shooting 9 mm FX Force-on-Force System paintballs made by SimunitionSimunition
Simunition is a trademark for training ammunition produced by General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc. of Québec, Canada. Simunition encompasses many types of training rounds, the best-known being the FX Marking Cartridge....
.
The PPQ RED GUN is a pistol identical in design and operation to the actual service weapons. All functional elements, dimensions, weights and trigger characteristics are the same. However, PPQ RED GUNS do not allow loading or firing of ammunition.
The PPQ BLUE GUN is a plastic pistol intended for holster training.
Cutaway models are available for technical training and demonstrations.