Ok are they worth it...

Deaf Smith · 01-29-2013, 20:45

Spotted a S&W PPK .380, stainless. $399 is asking price along with Uncle Sam's tacked on tax.

Also a Colt Cobra, nickle, 3ed gen (last ones) for $500, flat.

So are they worth it? I know about the S&W PPK callbacks but is it a reliable piece?

Thanks,

Deaf

countrygun · 01-29-2013, 20:52

If it were me, I'd buy the Colt and tell myself that it paid for itself with the money I didn't spend on the PPK. 30 years ago my friends and I tried out the PPK and figured it to be one of the most over rated guns of the day. That is not just the S&W issue, but design wise. Accuracy was mediocre, hammer and slide bite were too easy to arrange, etc. today there are better .380s and other choices in the same genre.

The Colt is a better gun.

vantage · 01-29-2013, 21:46

Mine has been perfect, easily worth $400.

RJ's Guns · 01-29-2013, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

If it were me, I'd buy the Colt and tell myself that it paid for itself with the money I didn't spend on the PPK. 30 years ago my friends and I tried out the PPK and figured it to be one of the most over rated guns of the day. That is not just the S&W issue, but design wise. Accuracy was mediocre, hammer and slide bite were too easy to arrange, etc. today there are better .380s and other choices in the same genre.

The Colt is a better gun.

I agree with all of your points.

I have a nickel-plated Cobra and it is a very nice revolver. If I could replace it easily, I would carry it in my coat pocket, instead of an S&W J frame.

I would pass on the PPK.

RJ

Glock40man · 01-30-2013, 00:06

The S&W PPK that I had, was 100% reliable and, very accurate. But, I'd probably buy the Colt.

Berto · 01-30-2013, 01:28

Deaf is a Colt agent kinda guy....I can't see you getting a PPK.

**DustyJacket** · 01-30-2013, 01:31

I'd buy both.
I carried a S&W PPK for years. 100% reliable.

The older Interarms PPK/S were jamb-o-matics (at least the 2 I had were).

However, I have reverted back to my days in the 70s and 80s, and now carry a revolver.

ence my answer for both.

bac1023 · 01-30-2013, 01:36

My S&W PPK has been 100% reliable, but nowadays I'd only buy a German model built by Walther.

ca survivor · 01-30-2013, 10:29

My S&W PPKs has been reliable.

ancient_serpent · 01-30-2013, 10:33

Have a S&W PPK/S .380, only have about 300 rounds through it or so. Been reliable for the time I have shot it...

fnfalman · 01-30-2013, 10:43

I'd say yes to the Cobra and if you don't want it, PM me the shop's contact info.

bignuglyone · 01-30-2013, 11:25

I wouldn't even consider the PPK. I've had too many bad experiences with the Interarms guns. The short butt Cobra can be fitted with Agent stocks making it as much a pocket gun as a J Frame Smith.

Give the Cobra a thorough look for frame cracks. I traded off a really nice nickel Cobra with the shrouded barrel a couple years ago. Big mistake. $500 is about $100 less than the going rate assuming it's a nice gun. There's a little confusion about the number of gens. in my mind. I'm thinking a 3rd gen Cobra would be a short butt with shrouded barrel while a comparable DS would be a gen 4? Some say that DS's actually have 5 gens, with a minor change around 1950.

vtducrider · 01-30-2013, 11:53

I liked the PPK/S before it was made by Smith and Wesson. That being said, it lost the appeals to me when I finally got a Seecamp in 380. But that's just me. There is a big following for this classic gun for sure. So I would get the Colt Cobra if the choices were presented to me.

Deaf Smith · 01-30-2013, 17:51

Ok game plan.

The Cobra seller will meet with me soon. I'll inspect it very carefully! No flaking nickle, tight, locks on all chambers, no scratches. Yea then I'd spring for it.

I have the S&W PPK callback list and if it's one of those I'd pass. If on second look it looks good (it DOES have scratches) then I'll offer less and see if they bite. I've owned several PPKs and PPs and yes they bit the hand that fed them. But the S&W has a good long tang and it looks like it won't bite me.

I do have the cash so I can maybe get a good deal done by this weekend.

Now I have a 2nd gen Dick, factory nickle, and it sleeps in the safe. And I also bet the Cobra is NOT TO BE SHOT WITH +P! So I'll make an investment out of it (hahaha you know what my wife thinks of that, right?)

And the PPK I can take all the scratches out with my combo superfine steel wool and stainless polish. I'm also pretty sure I can't make that DA pull lighter, and that is why the 'James Bond' shtick has always been stupid to me.

Find out in a few days guys.

Deaf

deputy tom · 01-30-2013, 17:59

Deaf, you do what you want but I'm a dyed in the wool James Bond fan. A Walther,yes but that S&W doesn't cut it IMHO. Between the two I'd buy the Cobra. YMMV. tom.

donmor53 · 01-30-2013, 19:42

Buy the Colt.

If it's in good shape it's the only one that will appreciate in price if properly cared for.

PPKs are vastly overated IMO unless you have really small hands. We bought my wife one and initially it was great. That is until the first time the slide got her when she didn't pay close attention to her grip position. With that...out the door it went...

wilsoni91 · 01-31-2013, 11:33

I carry a PPK/S and I love it. I only paid $270 for mine and think it was a deal and a half. I have not had a single problem with mine since the day that I brought it home and carry it every day at work.

***FullClip*** · 01-31-2013, 11:39

I've had a few jams with my S&W made Walther, but think it was due to the cheap ammo. (PMC Hardball) No problems with the Hornady loads I use for carry. I don't reload for it (yet...

) but not a bad pistol.

However...given the choice...I'd go for the Colt for sure.

Pier23 · 01-31-2013, 11:54

It took me three tries to get a properly functioning SmithWalther, but it works well.

If you are interested in the PPK, it is because of the beauty of the weapon, the Bond mystique and that not that many people have one.

Arguably, the Sig P220 is what the PPK should be.

Get the PPK if you want a PPK.

Deaf Smith · 01-31-2013, 17:03

Ok the PPK was one of the first call backs and has the strike on the inside of the tang showing it was repaired.. Will think about it as I tried a Beretta Nano (about same price) and hey, they are good.

The Colt Cobra had some nickle flaking at the grips edge so I passed. It had high serial number and one of the last ones made.

Deaf

Wurger · 01-31-2013, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

If it were me, I'd buy the Colt and tell myself that it paid for itself with the money I didn't spend on the PPK. 30 years ago my friends and I tried out the PPK and figured it to be one of the most over rated guns of the day. That is not just the S&W issue, but design wise. Accuracy was mediocre, hammer and slide bite were too easy to arrange, etc. today there are better .380s and other choices in the same genre.

Really? Over the years I've owned numerous Glocks, S&W revolvers and semi-autos, Springfield 1911, SIGs, Rugers.... Even so my West German made PP is still one of my all time favorites to shoot. Accurate, reliable, never (not once) have I ever had the dreaded 'hammer bite'. It is an extremely well engineered and made firearm. Each to their own but.....

countrygun · 01-31-2013, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wurger

Really? Over the years I've owned numerous Glocks, S&W revolvers and semi-autos, Springfield 1911, SIGs, Rugers.... Even so my West German made PP is still one of my all time favorites to shoot. Accurate, reliable, never (not once) have I ever had the dreaded 'hammer bite'. It is an extremely well engineered and made firearm. Each to their own but.....

We tried it out along side a number of guns of it's original era, the Mauser HSC, Savage, Colt, Remington and a few of our day, Astra Constable most notably. We found most of them to be equal or superior to the Walther, the Colt and the Savage were not as "pointable", but the Remington was far superior in that regard The Mauser was sadly about on a par with the Walther. That is why we concluded it was overrated. Several of us got either hammer bite or slide cuts from quick deployment of the gun.

MinervaDoe · 01-31-2013, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

30 years ago my friends and I tried out the PPK and figured it to be one of the most over rated guns of the day. That is not just the S&W issue, but design wise. Accuracy was mediocre, hammer and slide bite were too easy to arrange, etc. today there are better .380s and other choices in the same genre.

One of the guys I was in a weekend shooting class with told me that he used to own a PPK and it had harsher recoil than his Kahr MK9. ..... fast forward to my experience ..... I find that my MK9 kicks harder than my Ruger LC9. Both guns are accurate, but have long trigger pulls which require some range time to master.

My take on the whole PPK thing is why would you want a gun which is chambered in a less powerful cartridge, but kicks harder than a 9mm?

If I wanted a .380, I'd go for a Ruger LCP. If I wanted a 9mm, that was the same size, more accurate and managed recoil better than the PPK, I'd go for an MK9, or an LC9.

If I wanted the gun that is in all the Bond movies, I'd go for the PPK.

Wurger · 02-01-2013, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

We tried it out along side a number of guns of it's original era, the Mauser HSC, Savage, Colt, Remington and a few of our day, Astra Constable most notably. We found most of them to be equal or superior to the Walther, the Colt and the Savage were not as "pointable", but the Remington was far superior in that regard The Mauser was sadly about on a par with the Walther. That is why we concluded it was overrated. Several of us got either hammer bite or slide cuts from quick deployment of the gun.

Although I really don't like the phrase, I'll have to use it anyways, 'we will have to agree to disagree'.

It is interesting to note that of those pistols you note having tested side by side with the Walther, namely:

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

... the Mauser HSC, Savage, Colt, Remington ...

the only pistol that was and still remains to this day a commercial success is the Walther PPK.

Each to their own but unfortunately, more individuals, law enforcement agencies and military establishments agree with me.

While not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, the Walther PPk (or PPK/S) is still used and carried by quite a few people in this day of the polymer pistols while the Mauser HSC, Savage, Colt and Remington period pistols you mention are primarily collector items that reside in someone's safe.

.....and before anyone mentions it, I really don't care what Bond uses in the movies. Pop culture is almost always a poor source of wisdom to determine any choice we make here in the real world.

countrygun · 02-01-2013, 23:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wurger

Although I really don't like the phrase, I'll have to use it anyways, 'we will have to agree to disagree'.

It is interesting to note that of those pistols you note having tested side by side with the Walther, namely:

the only pistol that was and still remains to this day a commercial success is the Walther PPK.

Each to their own but unfortunately, more individuals, law enforcement agencies and military establishments agree with me.

While not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, the Walther PPk (or PPK/S) is still used and carried by quite a few people in this day of the polymer pistols while the Mauser HSC, Savage, Colt and Remington period pistols you mention are primarily collector items that reside in someone's safe.

.....and before anyone mentions it, I really don't care what Bond uses in the movies. Pop culture is almost always a poor source of wisdom to determine any choice we make here in the real world.

Well the Remington started out as a design for a full sized military pistol but its features and design were too expensive for that. It was then scaled down for the pocket pistol market in the US but was hit hard by the depression. Unlike the Walther it did not have the benefit of the European military and police that felt the .380 or .32 was sufficient. That is what kept the PP series alive pre war. civilian sales in the US and abroad were not impressive. That is why pre-war civilian models command high prices, they weren't that popular. If popularity means so much, don't try looking at the sales figures for the PP series today vs the high-point pistols, or about any of the current crop of .380s for that mter. The Bodyguard and others are doing fine

BTW I didn't buy this one as a "safe queen"