I first shot the Walther PPQ quite a many years ago and I was immediately amazed at how good the factory trigger was. At the time, it was, undoubtedly, the best striker-fired factory trigger available. The ergonomics of the grip and controls were also excellent. The PPQ, which was the predecessor to the PDP, was the first striker-fired gun that just seemed somewhat different.
Even after so many years, I remain devoted to the Glock platform, the G19 and G26 being my primary handguns. The main reason is simply that I believe in investing in a “platform” of handguns, because magazines, parts, holsters, etc…, can interchange. I am so invested into the Glock 9mm platform that it does not make much sense to do otherwise. However, for me, the only gun to come along that seems to offer a modernization over the Glock platform, making it stand out from the many other striker fired pistols, is the Walther PPQ series, which has now transformed into the PDP.
The (Performance Duty Pistol) is an updated and enhanced version of the earlier Walther PPQ. The guns are very similar, the dimensions being almost identical, and the magazines being inter-changeable. However, the PDP has better grip texture, perhaps an even better trigger, and the slide looks a lot cooler with the large serrations that the PDP has become well-known for.
I admit that I don’t own a PDP, though I am familiar with it. I do, however, have a Walther Q5, which is an enhanced version of the PPQ. The PDP is, essentially, an updated version of the PPQ family. I also must declare that I prefer the Q5 over the PDP or the predecessor PPQ due to the competition oriented enhancements, but for a duty gun or carry gun the plain versions make more sense.
I think the Walther PPQ/PDP is the apex of the polymer-framed, striker fired pistol at this point. What makes it so? Simply the excellent trigger (much better than any Glock or M&P) and the better grip ergonomics. The newer PDP is also, by default, set up for adding dot sights with a good optic cut and plate features that are better than most out of the box solutions.
The PDP is accused of being more snappy then Glocks or M&Ps, a result of the stepped chamber and higher bore access. I find it a non-issue as the gun tracks superbly. If I were just getting started, and was interested in primarily shooting red dot handguns, I would probably go with the PDP as my main platform.
Otherwise, what is different with this gun? All such pistols are, essentially, Glock-alikes. Will the PDP prove as reliable and have the longevity that Glocks do? Only time will tell. I can say that the Q5 I have has never missed a beat and eats any ammo I feed it. However, my old man had a PPQ that cracked its slide after only 7k rounds. This was quite a few years ago, so any such weaknesses may have been addressed, but that is an example of one. I have not heard of any such issues happening with the PDP, and there are plenty of serious shooters using them who have far more than 7k rounds through the gun. Still, it simply takes time and many rounds, among many users, to truly vet the overall reliability and longevity of a particular gun.
I judge guns based on what I have come to expect. My current, main training Glock 19 has 50k rounds through it, and the only thing I ever had to replace was an extractor. And, the extractor probably only broke not because of the shooting, but because of my constant bashing on the gun when teaching how to clear malfunctions. It took me five minutes to put a new extractor in the gun that night. That is what I believe any modern variant should be able to do, and the majority of supposed improvements on the Glock have simply not delivered in that regard. The PDP seems incredibly well built, but only time will tell if it can hang with the champion for longevity and long-term reliability.
While ergonomics are important, there are still many top competitive shooters who still use Glocks, finding they can shoot them even slightly better then the PDP. The difference in any such gun will be only slight among good shooters, and ergonomics and shoot-ability become very personal. Therefore, despite all the modernization and enhancement, it remains clear that there is only so much that can change among the poly guns. At this point there are many good ones, and the majority seem to be reliable. I do, however, still recommend Glock or M&P, but I am becoming inclined to recommend the Walther, especially for optic use.
The primary downside that I see with the Walther PDP line, currently, is that it is a rather large gun. Even the “compact” version is the size of the Glock 17/M&P Full Size, yet packs only 15 rounds rather than 17. There is no PDP the size of a Glock 19/M&P Compact, and certainly no sub-compact G26 size option. The PDP F Series, which offers a thinner grip for people with smaller hands, is still just as tall as the regular PDPs, and the very smallest gun in the line is still G17 size in height. No issue, but that simply means the PDP is competing in the duty gun and competition market, and most concealed carriers will find it too big to carry. Sure, many larger guys carry them, but the majority of concealed carriers will not.
If I were in a position where I had the choice of my own gun for some kind of duty use, I would seriously consider the PDP. For example, if I were a resource officer in a school, I would want a PDP with a good red dot on it. Why? Because the trigger is excellent, yet the PDP offers the reliability and robustness of a striker-fired gun rather than a 1911/2011 platform. If in a position where long shots down corridors might be necessary, this is the gun. Sure, 1911/2011 single-action triggers are even better, but they necessitate more maintenance.
We live in a golden age of firearms. While I still fall back to recommending the tried-and-true Glock or M&P platforms to those who want to get started with defensive striker fired pistols, I think there is a lot going for the Walther PDP series. If you are looking for a duty pistol, home defense pistol, or great competition pistol, the PDP is excellent.
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