Is the Carl Walther P-99 as good as a Glock-17?

Teapot

Teapot

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Thinking about getting a P-99 after Carl-Walther GmbH dealt so quickly with my son's P-22 problem. I mean they were on it really fast as in within a week.
So how does the James Bond pistol compare to the Glock 17 which I mention as a sort of standard? Their P-38 was a great leap forward compared to other pistols of it's day. The same firm that produced the P-38 must have talent.
 
I'm of the belief that the P99 is not a durable as the Glock. I base this belief on the reports of employees at indoor ranges with rental guns. They've stated that the P99 isn't that durable when it comes to a high volume of rounds being fired. Apparently the Glock is much more durable. I know the Glock is durable. I have nearly 100,000 rounds through my Glock 22 over the past 10 years. I replace my recoil spring every 5000 rounds or so and shoot "light" reloaded ammunition which probably makes a difference.

The Glock factory reportedly has a Glock 17 with over a million rounds. I don't know if it's true or not but I think it's possible. The owner of the indoor range in my area (Port Coquitlam, DVC Ventures) has a Glock 19 with more than 120,000 rounds through it. He mentioned that the barrel goes on Glocks somewhere around 110 to 120 thousand rounds. He shoots 40-60 thousand rounds a year amongst his pistols so I tend to believe him.
 
Having owned both, I eventually sold the Walther (an AS model). It does have a bunch or really cool features, like the short reset, the DA/SA trigger, and the decocker, but I shot better with the Glock. It was also easier to find holsters for it. Plus, the Walther felt a little snappier than the Glock.
 
I own both a Glock 17 and a P99 AS.

We all know what the Glocks are like. I love my Glock. It feels natural for me and I shoot very well with it. They're the Volvo of handguns. Take care of them, (or don't), and they'll just keep running. (The Glock also happens to look like a 1982 Volvo wagon.)

The Walther P99: I like this gun. It fits my hand PERFECTLY and I love all the features. SA/DA with a decocker and the ability to recock without emptying the chamber. Cocked indicator and loaded chamber indicator. My model has the extended ambi-mag release. I love the position of the mag release.

The Walther is definitely snappier than the Glock. The frame alone is extremely light (lighter than the Glock) and the slide assembly is quite heavy. (Heavier than the Glock.) This contributes to the snap each time you fire. It's far from unmanageable though and I equate it to someone who's used to firing a .22 moving to a 9mm. They're just different. One's not necessarily better or worse. Just because the 9mm has more snap doesn't mean it's uncontrollable. You really need to try both to see what works for you.

I shoot well with the P99. I can't speak for its long term durability as I haven't put tens of thousands of rounds downrange with it. I enjoy shooting it and I shoot well with it. I usually shoot better with my Glock but that's probably because I shoot the Glock much more.

Having said all that, if you told me that the zombies were outside right now and I had to choose between the Glock and the Walther, I'd take the Glock in a heartbeat. I've never had a failure with the Walther but there's something to be said for just knowing the Glock will go bang every time. Accessories are everywhere for the Glocks too and are typically cheaper. Plus there's the initial cost to factor in.

I also feel the need to state that I owned the Walther and a couple other lesser owned pistols before I decided to get a Glock. I really wanted to not like the Glock because I was very happy with what I had. I was at the range with a friend who had just bought a G17 and I asked if I could put a mag downrange. After the 10 rounds, never having fired a Glock before and all shots in a three-inch group at 25 feet, I said out loud, "Ok, I'm getting one of these", and the rest is history.
 
I love my G17, it's fun to shoot, easy to clean and 100% reliable

P99 is ergonomic and fun to handle, but much like the P22; it's not built very strong. If the Glock's a 10, the Walther is a 6 IMO
 
Glock or P99

Having owned both in the same calibre, I would choose the Glock over the P99. I liked the P99's features, but I found the trigger pull long and "squishy" compared to the Glock. I also found the recoil to be "snappy," as others have already mentioned, but not in the leat unpleasant. The grip did fit better on the P99, though, so I didn't find any difference in accuracy.

My only real big complaint with the P99 was the plastic bottoms on the short, 10-round magazines. I fired two rounds, and the bottom shattered, spilling my rounds all over the range. Changed magazines, and the same thing happened. I ended up having to buy two new aftermarket mags (the high-capacity mags limited to 10 rounds) with a different bottom to get the darn thing to function. I don't know if they've corrected this problem or not, but it really irritated me with a brand new gun.

Erik.
 
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