For those looking at the Walther P99!

[timitim]

I recently purchased the Walther P99 with the purpose of conceal and carry. I retired my colt 1911 because it was just too heavy to carry after about 3 hours of packing it around in public. My sister and I would always go to gun shows, every month sometimes, and would see the walther on display. We had to feel the pistol in our hands because it felt so nice to hold.

I did alot of research on the pistol and it was a tie up between the walther P99 and the H&K P2000. Both in the 40 S&W, but walther was cheaper. The deciding factor was local gun dealer that had one on stock when I had the money so I bought it.

I have put over 500 round through this gun and I have not had a jam. Not one. It is a very smooth shoot, much to my suprise considering its light wieght.

The only complaint that I would have about this pistol is the fact that it is Double Action/Single Action. I have become so accustomed to the Single Action only that my first shot is horrible. Not good if I am concealing and carrying.

I am working diligently on this minor flaw of mine and if you are interested Email me for further updates.

[e-mail]

[davegior]

I just bought a P99 (2004) in .40cal and absolutely love this pistol. My only fault is the crappy Mec-Gar magazines. I have blown off the 2 original plastic butt plates after shooting only several factory Winchester 180gr loads. I contacted Walther America (Smith & Wesson) and they acknowledge a problem. They sent me 6 replacement butt plates (New and improved) that looked exactly the same as the originals. Well, I blew all of them off also. I contacted them again and they sent me 5 S&W butt plates which they say never failed. I haven't shot them yet but they look exactly the same except they are stamped S&W instead of Walther P99. Let see what happens. My friend also just purchased a P99. His date stamp says it's a 2003. He also broke about 5 butt plates. I can't trust these magazines in a situation. What good is it if the ammo is on the floor and not in the gun. Should I stop and say to the intruder "Don't shoot yet, I need to pick up my bullets off the floor and pop on a new butt plate"?
Anyway, when S&W tells you that they have bags of Walther P99 butt plates laying around the office and they send several to replace two, what does that tell you? We both bought 2 ProMag magazines. The problem with them is that the follower is cut differently from the Mec-Gars which cause the slide to close after shooting the last round. I contacted them and they say they will send me different followers. I haven't yet blown any butt plates off of the ProMags. Neither has my friend.

[davegior]

Update on my Magazine Problems:
The New S&W butt plates that Wather America sent have held up after shooting several hundred rounds. Yesterday at the range my friend who has received 9 replacement Walther butt plates broke the last of the 9 clean off.
The new followers that Pro Mag sent are exactly the same as the ones that came with the mags. They still do not allow the slide to stay open after shooting the last round although occassionally it does stay open.
I have contacted Mec-Gar and they refuse to answer my emails. I will NEVER buy a Mec-Gar product. Their quality control stinks as well as their public relations and tech support. Unlike Walther America (S&W) and ProMag who are more than willing to answer my questions and try to help fix a problem.

[DoubleAction]

Dave; I symphathize with your problem with the base plates, I had one pop off with me some years ago with a 1911, but that was easily remedied.
I had trouble with the Mecgars about ten years ago when I began substituting them for the German factory mags on my .45 acp Sig 220. Seems that the Mecgar tubes were not fitted well enough to remain locked on the mag catch when shooting, causing the mag to release. That happened ten years ago with the blued tubes, but the stainless seems to work, still, I use the stainless Mec-Gars in the 220 only for practice.
I had brought this up, and issues, concerning substituting aftermarket mags for the factory German mags on the Sigs before this forum took a nose dive, and was informed that Mecgar was tooting their horn about making the factory mags for Sig, true to some extent. Mecgar manufactures the magazines for the newer 226 in the .40 S&W and the 239, which I also own. There is a big difference in the rigid construction of the German Factory mags, and those manufactured by Mecgar; It leaves alot to wonder about with quality standards in Italy.

[MLB]

I've had similar problems with the Mec-Gar mags on my P99. Walther first sent replacements (they didn't last long), and then sent the S&W plates. They are holding up just fine so far.

I bought a set of Promags too. I don't trust the ones from Walther for carry just yet...

Take a look at the handgun forum below. This one is a bit dead.