MOST reliable PPK/S

[P99AS9]

Between the Interarms PPK/S and the Smith and Wesson PPK/S, which would you rather rely on in a life/death situation? Which is a better quality gun as far as reliability?

 

[HisSoldier]

I own a PPK by Interarms, but haven't fired it. It would have to be really something to be better than my S&W PPK/S which is very reliable.

 

[Nanuk]

I had a very early PPK/S imported by Interarms. I carried it for years as a back up gun. It was flawless and accurate. Today you can get 9mm's and 40's the same size and lighter.

 

[NightSleeper]

Interarms. Owned it for 3 yrs. now, over 1000+ rounds, flawless!

 

[SouthpawShootr]

My father bought an Interarms PPK/s NIB sometime in the early '90s. He shot it a bit, maybe 150 rounds or so, then sold it to me. I wouldn't get through a single mag without jamming. When I got it, I gave it and the mags a good cleaning, then fired a few hundred rounds with pretty much the same results. This was my first .380 and I bought a 500 round case of ammo to go with it. I think by the time it smoothed out and functioned reliably, I had less than 100 rounds left out of that case. They take a break-in before they work. After I got it working, he wanted it back. So, we traded for something else he had that I wanted. I like the Interarms better b/c it conforms more to the classic lines of the design, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Smith either.

 

[denfoote]

My Ranger made PPK/S is as reliable as a machine can get.

 

[twhidd]

Maybe I'm off base, because I've never owned a PPK. But I've read that the PPKs in .32 caliber tend to be more reliable than the .380s. Generally speaky.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

BTW, forgot to mention. My most reliable pistol of this design, one that hasn't given me a bit of trouble, is a 1930-something Walther PPK in .32. The American guns don't come close to touching it.

 

[mhuegerich]

I've got a Manurhin PPK/s, that couldn't go a magzine with out a failure to feed. Really had problems getting the first round from the magazine to chamber.

I polished the feed ramps, and it's been flawless ever since. In loooking at the way the bullets feed from the magazine, you can see that the rounds transition at a very steep angle while being chambered. Any little issue with the feedramp looks like it will cause feeding issues.

And since I like posting pictures...

 

[randyc74]

In the 1970's I carried a German made (Interarms) imported PPKS. It was a great gun. I sold it and later purchased a Interarms manufactored PPKS in the mid 1980's. That one never did function properly.

 

[michael t]

I have a old Interarms (Ranger made) and its been perfect. I shoot the hottest 380 ball I can find . I think that more the trouble than the pistol Its a German design and their 380 in Europe is hotter than ours . Mine loves Corbon HP and that my carry load. Couldn't give me a S&W to many problems and terrible tang they added . Every one of the New ones my dealer has sold has been traded back some a couple times . I can't find a used Interarms in my area but can S&W . That tells me something

 

[sils79]

I love my interarms ppk, have not had any issues with it. It's very accurate and reliable. I don't know about the S&Ws, but I too hate the tang.

 

[JJE]

Which is a better quality gun as far as reliability?

Since they're both licensed versions, they are probably equivalent. The way the owner cares for a particular gun probably makes the biggest difference in reliability. Mine doesn't always feed right when it's dirty.

 

[ISP 5353]

I have carried my Interarms PPK/S almost every working day since 1984. In that time it has fired at least 500 rounds per year. That is a lot of rounds and it has never failed or jammed. I am sure the S&W is fine too, but I have trusted my life to my Interarms one for a long time and have complete faith in it.