I have been a fan of Walther Arms for years, so when I was invited out to the range at Elm Fork Shooting Sports on a recent trip to Irving Texas I knew I wanted to test the Walther PPQ .45 caliber. At first glance, the PPQ looks much like the older P99, however, the PPQ is a whole new firearm which resulted in the PPQ .45 taking home the NRA American Rifleman’s Golden Bullseye Award for Handgun of the Year (2017).
The first thing you notice about the PPQ is how natural and comfortable it feels in your hand. The grips give you exceptional control and even comes with three easily interchangeable backstraps that allow you to dial in a more customized fit.
The slide stop and mag release are ambidextrous and easy to use, the intuitive design makes it easy to get comfortable with the PPQ. The low-profile 3-dot sites are some of the best in the industry and allow the shooter to quickly take aim and put rounds on target. After just a few rounds I was able to produce some tight groupings and was impressed with the lack of recoil, considering most .45 caliber handguns can be somewhat unwieldy. It is easy to see why this handgun has become a sidearm of choice for many in military and law enforcement.
While it is a bit pricy at $699, the ease of use, accuracy, and confidence it inspires make it well worth that price.
Walther PPQ:
Model: PPQ45
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 12
Barrel Length: 4.25”
Overall Length: 7.4”
Height: 5.8”
Width: 1.3”
Weight: 28 oz. (Unloaded)
MSRP: $699.00
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