Walther’s Modern 9mm Handguns

Walther has a long and interesting history in manufacturing quality firearms. An innovator in double action first shot firearms with the tremendously influential P 38 today Walther manufactures top quality striker-fired polymer frame handguns. Walther firearms are reliable, that is the baseline, but also feature a superior trigger to most modern striker fired handguns. I currently own and use two Walther handguns on a regular basis. My favorites among the Walther types are the Q5 Match and the PDP 5 inch barrel version.

Top-Walther Q5 with a Vortex Viper red dot sight and Streamlight TRL8 combat light. The PDP, lower, features a Hologun optic and Streamlight TRL1

Q5 Match

The Q5 Match is a match winning pistol in some forms of competition but also useful as a carry gun. It isn’t small but it is light and handles extremely well.  This pistol provides a heft and balance that makes for easy shooting. While it may be used in quite a few types of competition, I find the pistol to be an ideal personal defense tool as well. A handgun that handles this quickly, is completely reliable, and more accurate than most, is clearly a good defensive handgun. Hand fit is extraordinary in most ways and recoil pleasant even for a 9mm handgun. This handgun is based on the proven PPQ handgun. There are certain improvements in sight radius. The trigger action of the Q5 is superb. The hand and grip interface is good for most hand sizes. The pistol is optics ready and features a modern frame rail. A modern light rail is part of the package.

Walther handguns are simple to field strip and maintain

Walthers mechanism is smooth rugged and simple

The slide features 16 weight-saving cuts. While the balance of a long slide pistol is maintained this expedient lightens the slide. The slide is black Tenifer while the frame is molded black. The trigger is a bright blue. A high visibility fiber optic front sight compliments the fully adjustable rear sight. For my tastes I added a Vortex Viper red dot sight. My first quality pistol mounted optic was a Vortex Viper and I continue to count the Viper as a trusted carry optic. This sight allows real speed with the Walther 9mm handgun.

Walther Q5 rides in a Falco Talonguard

Please be certain to order and optics ready holster when choosing the Viper red dot sight. The Q5 uses PPQ and PDP 15 round magazines.  Walther’s  Quick Defense trigger is crisp and sharp- quite different in feel from the Glock and most striker fired trigger actions. A blade type safety lever is set into the trigger action. Take up is less than one half inch. Reset is sharp and rapid.  The trigger action originally broke at just under five pounds. After years of use the trigger now registers 4.7 pounds on a trigger compression gauge. That is a good break in.

Note the Falco foot attachment for use when the holster is worn in the appendix position. This prevents roll out

Walther Q 5 Specifications

Slide finish:	Matte black Tenifer
Barrel:	5 inches, match-grade, Tenifer finish
Frame:	Textured black polymer with interchangeable backstrap
Accessory rail:	3-Slot MIL-STD-14.9 913 Picatinny
Front sight:	Red fiber optic
Rear sight:	Fully adjustable
Trigger:	Quick Defense with integrated safety
Trigger pull:	4.9 pounds
Barrel length:	5 inches
Overall length:	8.7 inches
Height:	5.3 inches
Slide width:	1.1 inches
Grip width:	1.3 inches
Weight:	27.2 ounces
Capacity:	15+1
Twist:	1:10” RH
Accessories:	Three optic mounting plates with tools and hardware, three grip inserts, three magazines, magazine loader, hard case, lock, owner’s manual

The PDP

I have enjoyed good results with the PDP in several variations including the PDP F with it’s smaller grip frame. The pistol illustrated is the five inch barrel version. This compares nicely to the Q5 in balance and feel. I will cut to the chase- the PDP has proven as reliable as any handgun and equals or exceeds the Q5 in most areas.

This is the Walther Q5 in a Falco Airflow holster

The Walther PDP exhibits excellent performance

You may change out either pistol’s grip straps for better hand fit. The magazines interchange, the PDP features a compact version in the line up. The PDP has a wider slide with Super Terrain cocking serrations. The grip is superior to the Q5 although certain shooters may not agree, it fits my hands better. The trigger action on the PDP is almost as good as the Q5- it takes a good shot to perceive the difference. Lets look at specifications for the Walther PDP and get to the firing tests.

This is a modern Airflow optics ready holster

Streamlights TRL 1 light is service grade

Walther PDP 5 inch specs

 The PDP is wider but lighter than the Q5. The Q5 is being phased out of Walther production from what I understand.  I will be perfectly happy to purchase a new PDP if I ever need another Walther. The PDP is offered in a seldom seen Match version.

These optics ready handguns are actually very similar in performance and handling. Note Streamlight combat lights

So how do they shoot? First I added a Holosun 507 to the Walther PDP for sighting. Widely available, durable, and useful, this sight offers good service at a fair price. I collected a number of loads from Black Hills Ammunition. This removed all doubt as to ammunition quality. Here are my results from a solid bench rest firing position at a long 25 yards.

Walther pistols often demonstrate match grade accuracy with good quality ammunition

The difference in performance is slight- almost insignificant. Carrying the pistols wasn’t difficult. I know a maker that supplies some of the best holsters on the planet! The Falco holster A911 Talonguard is a hybrid holster that allows carrying not only an optics ready handgun but a handgun with a combat light. This is a Hybrid holster that is very well put together. This construction of leather and Kydex makes perfect sense although it isn’t simple to get the materials to come together correctly. Falco got it right. I mounted a Streamlight TRL8 light on the Walther Q5 and slipped it into the Talonguard holster. A strong steel belt clip holds the holster secure to the gun belt. The draw is sharp. If not properly designed a light bearing holster will allow the flashlight to drag. Not with this holster. The draw is sharp and the reverse presentation or re-holstering the handgun is smooth. I like this holster very much.

PDP and leather

Falco offers good quality leather holsters for the PDP. However, I did not have one on hand when I first obtained the PDP five inch. I remembered my first Falco holster. Many years ago I obtained a simple Nylon holster with a steel belt clip. I have never worn it out although the finish has worn on the steel belt clip. This holster is about twelve to fourteen years old and still useful. I sometimes carry the standard compact PDP in this holster. I used a modern Airflow light bearing/optics ready holster with the PDP. This is a good set up. Comfortable, affordable with a strong belt clip, the Airflow works well. Plus, it offers a sharp draw. If you need an affordable holster that fits more than one handgun the Airflow is a great choice.

This decade old Falco holster still has much utility

The PDP is fast into action and reliable

The PDP feels better in the hand than most polymer frame handguns