Does the P-99 Suck?

Any of the Gunnutz have breakage issues? If they're TSE's range guns then they're probably subject to more abuse than usual. Someone here probably shot IPSC with one, how'd it hold up?
 
redleg said:
All of our range guns suffered from broken ejectors almost immediately, however the gun often continued to function. It is part of a complete assembly and fairly costly to replace. We also suffered broken slides and barrels at intervals that I thought we shorter than reasonable. The rear sight was very susepable to damage and accidental movement.
They are popular guns, but in my opinion they are suitable for light use only and over priced for what you get.
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Mind sharing with us your experience with range guns? By that I mean the ones that give you trouble, break down easily, and the ones that keep going and going a la energizer bunny. I'd rather get a gun that's not going to crap out on me.
 
happydude said:
Mind sharing with us your experience with range guns? By that I mean the ones that give you trouble, break down easily, and the ones that keep going and going a la energizer bunny. I'd rather get a gun that's not going to crap out on me.
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They all break eventually. The best (longest lasting) from my experience to date are the Kimber 1911s and SIG P226. However if we factor in price to the mix, the CZ75B, SA XD series, and Glock are all very good value. Note that this does not take into account the reliability of the guns. Alot of folks have stoppages with some of the range guns for various reasons, and we track only enough detail to determine if there is a part failure.
 
This is a review I did of the P99.

The real Achilles heel of the gun is the magazine release, I think I could get used to everything else about it with enough time, but the mag release is crap. Great for cops who don't want to accidentally dump their mags but not good for target shooters.

I think the most telling point about the P99 is that it was designed to compete for the German interior ministry/state police contracts and no-one has yet bought it, they've all gone with the SIG Pro or H&K P2000. You have to wonder why that is.

New Jersey State Police adopted the Smith & Wesson 99, (same frame, slide and barrel made by S&W) and dumped it very shortly after they bought it, because of durability issues.
 
Thats funny. That mag release is a major plus for me! I went to epps yesterday, and handled the sig, walther, G-17, XD-9, Steyr, CZ, HK, and a few types of 1911's. The only ones I could drop the mags from without an excessive amount of hand movement were the P-99 and the HK. I have really small hands, and just can't reach the "button style" mag releases with my thumb!

On another note...here's a ? forya: Why are pistols so friggin much $$$?
Seriously! I could EASILY drop 1500 on a regular bare bones semi pistol, yet if you look at what 1500 will buy in a rifle.........It's gonna be nice. It's obviously not materials costs, and as far as quality goes....1500 will put you on a Sako, AR/HB or a nice double SG......so why are the pistols so much?

Ryan
 
Wrong Way said:
Thats funny. That mag release is a major plus for me! I went to epps yesterday, and handled the sig, walther, G-17, XD-9, Steyr, CZ, HK, and a few types of 1911's. The only ones I could drop the mags from without an excessive amount of hand movement were the P-99 and the HK. I have really small hands, and just can't reach the "button style" mag releases with my thumb!

On another note...here's a ? forya: Why are pistols so friggin much $$$?
Seriously! I could EASILY drop 1500 on a regular bare bones semi pistol, yet if you look at what 1500 will buy in a rifle.........It's gonna be nice. It's obviously not materials costs, and as far as quality goes....1500 will put you on a Sako, AR/HB or a nice double SG......so why are the pistols so much?

Ryan
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Of those two pistols, there isn't really a choice; any version of the HK is a better option than any P-99. In the next year or so you will possibly see a version of the USP under a different model designation that retains the reliability and ambi controls of the USP with all the different trigger modes AND the option of changing grips similiar to a P-99 or P-2000/3000/ P30, etc...
Not unlike what occurred with the USP, which started out as a .40, and then became available in 9mm, the new HK45 will no doubt be made in .40 and 9mm version. it will hopefully have the same characteristics of the Hk45 which sits slightly lower in the hand than a regular USP, and has better sights, and a cooler slide.
 
I think the Walther is really over priced for what you get. If you want cheaper than HK, have you considered a GLock with a factory mag extension button? A very cheap fix for people with small hands..
 
I really like the P99's release.......
I really like the gun overall, and it is the best gun i've shot( tightest grouping at the range, for me!!)
 
cybershooters said:
I think the most telling point about the P99 is that it was designed to compete for the German interior ministry/state police contracts and no-one has yet bought it, they've all gone with the SIG Pro or H&K P2000. You have to wonder why that is.
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Mtl Police adopted the QA P-99 in 9mm. Quebec city Police adopted the P-990. The Quebec police academy (Nicolet) uses the P-99 to teach to new recruits. Mostly good comments from all of them except for the occasionnal P-990 trigger spring that used to break (was corrected by Walther) and difficuties for women to qualify with the long and hard double action only trigger.

I have tested both and enjoyed the Quick-Action trigger. I totaly despised the long and heavy double action only trigger of the P-990. I also tested the TDA model and enjoyed it but would not recomend it for the guys and gals who only shoot during their annual qualification. Other than that, it's fine for regular and disciplined shooters.

I also tested the HK P2000 in DAO and LEM trigger configuration. Same feeling as Walther for the DAO model. However, the LEM trigger is one smooth shooting machine and was my overall favorite in both 9mm and .40 S&W.
 
I had one in .40 cal too... but wasn't using it much...
so I have effectively sold it... my very first firearm...
feels like I just gave up my child for adoption...
anyways... fabulous firearm, small, light weight and shoots accurately and reliably. I had no problems at all with my Walther P99 .40cal.
 
Still enjoying mine (.40). If we had CCW, it would be my carry gun. Takes quite a while to break it in, but has been solid all the way. IMO much easier gun to handle than 1911 style. My CZ75b is more of an art gun (two tone nickel/blue with walnut grips), but the double stack makes the standard release layout difficult. I can clear mags faster out of the P99 than I ever can out of 1911 style release. It is a polymer gun, and it may not hold up to a constant run and gun life, but then it wasn't designed for that either.
 
In my opinion, I'd stay away from all poylmer guns (except the XD). All the ones that I have seen (Glock, H&K, Walthers) that have had more than 10000 rounds through them seem to have lots of problems. Be it springs, or the frame rails, (or at worst) I've seen some of them blow up. (Two Glocks, one Walther, and one HK). Steel guns are the best in my opinion. I prefer 1911's and obviously the CZ's as the two best. If you get a Walther, I'd say get rid of it before you reach 10000 rounds. I hope this helps.
 
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CZ Man said:
In my opinion, I'd stay away from all poylmer guns (except the XD). All the ones that I have seen (Glock, H&K, Walthers) that have had more than 10000 rounds through them seem to have lots of problems. Be it springs, or the frame rails, (or at worst) I've seen some of them blow up. (Two Glocks, one Walther, and one HK). Steel guns are the best in my opinion. I prefer 1911's and obviously the CZ's as the two best. If you get a Walther, I'd say get rid of it before you reach 10000 rounds. I hope this helps.
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I, on the other hand, have never seen a reliable out-of-the-box CZ, and have had nothing but reliable service from my Glock, at 30,000 rounds and counting. In the time I owned an HK, it never had a single malfunction, and even my P-99, which I hated, never had a malfunction.

Heck, my Glock started to finally get broken in at 20,000 rounds.

Forgive me, but you seem to be beating a tired and... well... discredited drum, here. You know, the whole "steel is better than polymer" thing. In fact, what you've said above matches nearly exactly what I hear from ignoramuses at the guns store who are almost entirely without experience of that which they speak.
 
WHAT!!

:eek:

I have over 15,000 rds in my G17, I have fired 3,000 rds before cleaning it. I have never had a gun induced malfunction. Try doing that with a CZ or 1911...

BTW, i have seen more CZs break than Glock. Heck, even Angus told me factory CZs are spoty.

;)
CZ Man said:
In my opinion, I'd stay away from all poylmer guns (except the XD). All the ones that I have seen (Glock, H&K, Walthers) that have had more than 10000 rounds through them seem to have lots of problems. Be it springs, or the frame rails, (or at worst) I've seen some of them blow up. (Two Glocks, one Walther, and one HK). Steel guns are the best in my opinion. I prefer 1911's and obviously the CZ's as the two best. If you get a Walther, I'd say get rid of it before you reach 10000 rounds. I hope this helps.
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