Just thought I would share some info about the Walther PPQ. It has quickly become my favorite pistol.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...category=43326
The PPQ is new pistol, but it is almost entirely based on Walther's P99 and the foreign-only released RAD. The P99 has been around for over 15 years. Basically, you are getting a pistol that has already had the bugs worked out. The PPQ's changes to the P99 are largely cosmetic. The one real difference is the trigger system.
The PPQ trigger will immediately remind people of the Glock trigger. But, this is what the Glock trigger should have been. The trigger is smooth, short, weighs about 5 pounds, and has the shortest reset of any trigger I have ever fired. We are talking .1 inches to reset.
The frame is ergonomic and feels great. 3 interchangeable backstraps came with the pistol. I use the medium backstrap. The frame is textured and hand fitting.
The PPQ uses a different magazine release than most people are used to. The magazine release is an ambidextrous lever at the bottom of the trigger guard. I have grown to love this feature, but some people will consider this a bug. I use my trigger finger instead of my thumb to release the magazine.
The pistol is very thin in many spots. It is roughly a tenth of an inch thicker than a glock 19, but that doesn't really tell the story. The PPQ is thinner in every regard, except for the slide lock lever which sticks out a little bit.
I've been using the PPQ to compete in USPSA pistol competition, and it is performing very well. I've fired 1700 rounds through the pistol, the vast majority of which are my own lead reloads. The pistol is nearly flawless. I've had three stoppages total, and I would blame all three on ammunition. The 9th round I ever fired throughp the pistol was a squib (winchester white box, factory ammo). I've also had one dead primer that would not ignite. The round would not fire in a CZ 75 or Glock either. The PPQ made a firm strike in the primer. The third stoppage was also ammo related. I forgot to crimp one of my reloads, and the bullet separated from the casing in the magazine. Fluke.
I chose not to clean the PPQ for the first 500 rounds. It held up well and showed no parts wear or damage. Since, I've cleaned the PPQ roughly every 200 rounds. The PPQ is showing no holster wear, damage, or any other signs of problems.
I have the 9mm version. It uses 15 and 17 round magazines.
I paid $525.00 for the PPQ and it has quickly ratcheted to the top of the service pistol heap. I highly recommend it.