Walther PPS M2

The PPS M2 shown in the new Blackhawk! Tecgrip Ambi IWB holster.

Some other features that I enjoyed were the omission of a magazine drop safety. I have always found this to be a hindrance. Should my finger slip or my magazine get released in a struggle I want to have at least one round to fire, not a paper weight. In my humble opinion, if you need a magazine drop safety to not have an accidental discharge, you may want to consider training, or at the very least a rigid practice schedule to ensure that removing that last round in the chamber becomes habit. The slick slide was also very comfortable against bare skin and left very little to snag against during the draw.

The PPS M2 is offered with three separate magazines: a flush-fit 6-round, a “mid” 7-round and “large” 8-round (flush and mid shown).

The PPS also has a loaded chamber view port. This is the simplest solution to ensuring a round is in the chamber. Call me crazy, but being able to actually SEE the cartridge provides me more comfort than an external indictor. This also allows for one handed chamber checks, should you be carrying a flashlight in the middle of the night.

Other notable features include fixed, low-profile, 3-dot sights with the rear sight being drift adjustable for windage, front and rear slide serrations, and a Tenifer coating on the barrel and slide that resists scratching and corrosion. The 9mm LE edition comes with phosphoric sights and three magazines (6-, 7- and 8-rounders). The .40 S&W version is identical in weight and dimensions, but gives you one less round in each size magazine.

The PPS M2 ran flawlessly with both premium carry rounds and inexpensive steel-cased practice ammo. Downrange Precision also left nothing to complain about.

Range time was very impressive. For our test we fired both Hornady’s 124-gr. XTP American Gunner and 115-gr. FTX Critical Defense rounds. In addition, I fired some steel-cased 115-gr. FMJ Wolf Military Classic rounds, my preferred practice round. Accuracy was excellent with all brands and bullet weights, printing 5-shot groups at seven yards of less than two inches. The Hornady Critical Defense performed exceptionally well, giving our smallest group of just 1.25 inches—far more than accurate enough for its intended use. The PPS also digested magazine after magazine of the steel-cased Wolf fodder with flawless function and ejection, even when the barrel was too hot to touch.

Overall I was very impressed by the new PPS M2. It met and exceeded my expectations. As mentioned above it has a very similar feel to my full size PPQ that I compete with. I have always found that to be paramount, because when the chips are down all you are left with is muscle memory. Suggested retail for the PPS M2 is $426, and it comes with Walther’s Legendary Lifetime Warranty. See it at your gun shop, or contact Walther Arms, Inc., Dept OT; Tel.: (479) 242-8500; Web: www.waltherarms.com