Some guns enjoy brief fame and then fade away quickly. Newer models often arrive that are lighter, have more capacity, better triggers and other important features. A few lucky firearms eventually become “classics” and survive by the cult-like following that specific model.
The Walther PPS M2 may not have transversed into the prestigious classic category, but is it still worth considering today? Or is it simply a relic of a previous generation?
Today, we are looking at the once popular Walther PPS M2 and what it still has to offer.
The History of the Walther PPS M2
The original Walther PPS first debuted at the IWA Show (the European equivalent of SHOT Show in the United States) in 2007. Stefan Eith led the design team at Carl Walther GmbH in Germany.
The name of the pistol (PPS) stands for “Polizei-Pistole Schmal,” which translates to Police Pistol Slim. It was somewhat of a successor to the legendary Walther PPK. Walther wanted to replace the aging .380 designs with a modern 9mm.
The M2 version arrived in 2016 specifically for the American market. It replaced the European paddle-style magazine release with a standard button.
While the civilian market appears to be the biggest user of the PPS M2, various plainclothes police units have used it over the years. It gained a reputation for having “German precision” in a tiny, concealable frame.
Today, you can still find the PPS M2 at gun stores, but it’s not what I would call a hot seller. What appeals to me about this handgun is the price. Some handguns are made to sell as “budget” guns from the start. Others simply drop in price as they become an older model. When this happens, you can occasionally find a firearm made by a reputable company that retails for a low price. In this case, I was able to find the PPS M2 on clearance for $249.00.
Overview of the PPS M2
The Walther PPS M2 is a subcompact, striker-fired semi-automatic pistol. It has a slim profile, measuring only one inch wide. The frame is made of polymer and has that classic Walther look around the grip area.
It uses a single-stack magazine which is why the grip is so slim. Even though I typically like Walther’s grip on handguns, this one isn’t my favorite. But the idea was to make it slim, and they succeeded at that.
The barrel is 3.18 inches long and has a polygonal rifling for accuracy. This means instead of the sharp-edged “lands and grooves” found in traditional rifling, the bore uses a series of smooth “hills and valleys.” This creates a bore shape that looks more like a hexagon or octagon instead of a perfect circle with notches.
For a compact gun, the trigger isn’t bad, but it’s not the smoothest either. There is about a quarter inch of slack to take up before you feel pressure. Once you reach this point, there is about one-eighth of an inch where you can feel the trigger parts rubbing together before it releases the firing pin. It measured 6.1 LBS on my trigger gauge.
The PPS M2 does have a cocking indicator on the rear of the slide. This could be part of the movement I’m feeling before the gun goes off. Because most modern guns do not have this type of indicator, I’m not used to using it, but it’s still a nice feature to have.
Slide and sights
The slide is treated with a Tenifer finish which is great for corrosion resistance. This is important for handgun you plan to carry concealed during hot weather. Once thing you notice right away when holding the PPS M2 is the weight of the slide. Because the frame is so light, the slide makes it a bit top heavy.
Walther used some low-profile 3 dot steel sights on the PPS M2. I didn’t have any issues with these on the range. Some glow in the dark sights would be nice, but for the price, I can’t really complain.
Field stripping the PPS M2
Like Glock, Walther used a dual-tab take-down lever to release the slide. One thing I like about this one is that it’s just a little bigger than the one on Glock handguns. I often have to use my fingernails to grip the take-down lever on a Glock.
Once you have made sure the gun is unloaded, pull the trigger, pull the slide back just a hair and then pull down on the take-down lever before letting go of the slide.
With the slide off, you can see the PPS M2 has a dual recoil spring, which helps some with felt recoil.
Walther PPS M2 Technical Specifications
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Action: Striker Fired
- Overall Length: 6.3 inches
- Height: 4.4 inches (with flush magazine)
- Width: 1.0 inch
- Barrel Length: 3.18 inches
- Weight: 21.1 ounces (empty)
- Capacity: 6, 7, or 8 rounds (depending on magazine)
- Sights: Low-profile 3-dot steel sights
- Safety: Trigger safety and internal firing pin block
Range Testing
Overall, I thought the PPS M2 was a good shooting gun. It does have a little more kick than you would expect, but that’s not surprising with the heavier slide and light frame. After the first few mags, I also felt like the trigger reset was a little longer than most modern guns. I was still able to fire rapidly, but I had to get used to letting the trigger out just a little further.
I used some 115 grain Sellier & Bellot range ammo for the first part of the testing. AmmoToGo.com supplied this, so a big thanks to them. After a few hundred rounds, I switched over to hollow point ammo to see how it cycled. Because this was intended to be a conceal carry gun, it needs to cycle defense ammo without any issues.
For whatever reason, I have a coffee can that was full of random 9mm HP ammo. I think it was from a range day a few years ago that I mistakenly sat on a shelf and forgot about. But it was the perfect thing for this test. Glancing at a few of the rounds, I saw some Federal, Hornady, and Winchester HP and JHP rounds in the can. I’m guessing there were about 300 rounds altogether, so I fired them all.
Reliable but not the most comfortable
The good news is, I didn’t have a single issue. It cycled everything perfectly. But, between the recoil and extra thin grip, my hand was hurting just a little by the time I hit the 700-800 round mark. The feel of the grip reminded me just a little of the Beretta APX. Don’t take this as complaining, however, this gun wasn’t made to shot hundreds of rounds at a time on the range for fun. It’s a self-defense gun.
Holster options?
I was a little curious as to holster options for the Walther PPS M2 and did some checking. Of course, it would work in a number of generic size nylon CCW holsters, but I did find one by Safariland that it works with.
The 578 GLS Pro-Fit OWB holster is a paddle/belt loop combo that uses a grip locking system. This holster can be adjusted to fit multiple firearms (see holster listing for specific models) which is handy. Using the paddle makes it quicker to put on and take off, but the belt loop keeps it up against your side better.
Is it worth the money?
There are plenty of modern handguns that hold more ammo, are lighter, and have smoother triggers. But for a $249 handgun, you get a quality gun with Walther’s reliability.
This gun won’t be my daily CCW gun, but it’s a perfect gun for keeping in the house, or as a backup. I like to keep handguns spread throughout my home for quick access and this one is perfect for that. If you get a chance to pick one of these up for that price, I’d jump at it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the “PPS” in Walther PPS M2 stand for?
The name stands for “Polizei-Pistole Schmal,” which translates to “Police Pistol Slim.”
How does the PPS M2’s barrel design differ from traditional handguns?
Instead of traditional “lands and grooves” rifling, the PPS M2 features a 3.18-inch barrel with polygonal rifling. This design uses a series of smooth “hills and valleys” that create a bore shape resembling a hexagon or octagon rather than a notched circle.
What was this gun designed for?
The pistol was designed to be highly concealable due to its 1.0-inch width and slim single-stack grip.
How did the PPS M2 perform during the reliability and range testing?
The firearm proved to be exceptionally reliable, cycling through approximately 700–800 rounds, including a variety of random hollow point (HP) and jacketed hollow point (JHP) ammunition without a single failure.
Is the Walther PPS M2 still considered a good value in today’s market?
Yes, primarily due to its price point. While newer models may offer higher magazine capacities and better triggers, finding a Walther-quality firearm on clearance makes it excellent value. It’s a high-quality “budget” option for home defense or as a backup firearm.
