Gas-cylinder air pistol Umarex Walther PPS - compact and powerful model

Review of the Walther PPS air pistol

This pistol is produced by the German ] Umarex[/anchor], which is famous for the high quality of its products. The pneumatic analogue quite accurately copies the combat prototype with the exception of only a few details: the magazine eject button does not function, and instead of it, a “pencil” type lever is integrated into the trigger guard; the safety is made in the form of a button on the trigger; The bolt lock is not functional and is integral with the bolt.

The pistol itself is distinguished by its rather small size, light weight and width, just like the combat prototype. As a result, it is very easy to carry around. But due to its size, it is best suited for the fairer sex or men with a small hand. There is a rail on the lower part, which allows you to install a laser laser or a flashlight.

The bolt, like the combat prototype, is made of metal, which adds strength to the Blowback system. The frame is plastic and this also matches the original. The front and rear sights are marked with white dots for better visibility.

It can also be noted that the clamping screw is not visible at all, and the hex key for tightening is built into the cheek of the pistol grip.

The ball's ejection speed was about 125 m/s, which is very good for such a small size. The recoil is very pleasant, and the Blowback system has been strengthened and, as the manufacturer claims, does not waste extra gas. Accuracy, due to the short barrel, is very mediocre, but with a barrel of this length you should not count on more. After shooting all the balls, the shutter is delayed, thanks to which you can avoid empty shots.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of the Umarex Walther PPS air pistol:

• Compact size, light weight and fairly thin thickness;
• High level of copies;
• The presence of a blowback system, as well as a shutter stop;
• Metal bolt carrier increases recoil;
• Availability of rails for additional accessories;
• Built-in key for puncturing the cylinder;
• The Blowback system has been strengthened without increasing gas consumption;
• When creating an air pistol, the developers were based on a combat prototype with the largest magazine, thanks to which the pistol grip is large and the magazine is spacious;
• High power for a compact pistol;
• High quality workmanship;
• The entire structure is assembled on pins, which does not spoil the appearance at all, unlike screws.

The pistol grip is small and quite thin, which is why not every user will find it comfortable to hold the pistol. In addition, due to the short barrel, the accuracy of the model is quite low.

Photo of the Umarex Walther PPS air pistol

Purpose

This pistol is best suited for recreational shooting, as it is very easy to carry, it has fairly high power, and gas consumption is relatively low. The Blowback system will add entertainment and increase the pleasure of shooting.

The same Blowback system allows us to recommend a pistol for familiarization with the operation of firearms. And the structure, completely assembled on pins, will only add realism.

There is a misconception that air pistols are good for self-defense. Due to the light weight of the ammunition, its stopping effect is very small and shots will only anger the attacker.

Advantages and disadvantages of Umarex Walther PPQ

Undoubtedly, the pistol is made with high quality and skill. However, any product has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Umarex Walther PPQ is no exception.

So, the advantages of the Umarex Walther PPQ pistol:

• high-quality, thoughtful work, the barrel is especially well designed
• the clamping screw is securely hidden inside the gun
• it is possible to attach a laser pointer
• operation is completely safe (no accidental shots if the movable bolt is moved forward; the safety will not turn off unintentionally; the trigger will never be pressed if the drum axis is not in its place)
• material: the outside of the weapon is made of plastic, but all internal parts are metal
• good accuracy of fire, as the barrel has a large number of rifling
• The weapon is very comfortable to hold
• the most serious advantage of the model is the large number of shots: one 12 g can allows you to fire about 100 full shots

Disadvantages of the Umarex Walther PPQ pistol:

• 
  long trigger pull

• complex assembly
• The rear sight is not vertically adjustable
• short barrel
• both parts of the shutter have small gaps (although this defect is easy to correct)
• the use of BB balls as a charge is possible only for training purposes, because when shooting with balls, inaccurate shooting is possible and the accuracy of the shot is reduced

Specifications

Technical characteristics of the Umarex Walther PPS air pistol:

Cosmetics

The appearance of the pistol corresponds to... the aforementioned P38. The case material is “metal alloy”, the handle linings are made of plastic.

The magazine is a full-size metal magazine that holds 20 BB balls.

The cylinder, as in other Walters, is hidden under the handle pad. For screwing, unlike the same glaciers, the Umarex Walther P38 air pistol uses a hidden clamping screw with a swivel.

On the left side, as in the original, a two-position fuse is installed. A non-standard addition - the Walther P38 air pistol is equipped with a barrel lock, which is necessary for partial disassembly of the pistol.

The trigger mechanism is single action, so to shoot we use either the trigger or we pull the bolt. Further, self-cocking is supported by a blowback. As elsewhere, after emptying the ammunition in the store, the bolt stop is triggered.

Device

The gun consists of a frame to which the valve body is attached with pins. It consists of two parts and exits on two sides, supplying gas to the barrel and the Blowback system. The handle contains a pressure screw for installing the cylinder. The trigger mechanism is a trigger, which is connected to the hammer through a sear.

The barrel is not connected to the valve, since the magazine eye should fit between them. On the bottom of the bolt carrier there is a piston for the Blowback system.

All elements of the pistol are secured with pins inside, which makes complete disassembly difficult for an inexperienced user.

Description

The main purpose is recreational shooting (with a distance of up to 10 meters). The sighting components are the rear sight, which is only adjustable horizontally with a screw, and the front sight.

You can attach a flashlight or laser center to the pistol; for this purpose, the developers installed a Weaver rail on it. The fuse button is located on the right: a low position means that the fuse is on, a high position means it is off. Manufacturers have tried to make the weapon as safe as possible and to eliminate accidental shots: the trigger pull rod, when the safety is on, is pulled down so that it cannot cock the trigger by clinging to it. In turn, the fuse release button is placed on a spring, which allows you to turn off the fuse only by pressing the button first slightly forward and only then upward. This method prevents the weapon from being accidentally removed from the safety catch. Each position of the button is indicated by a specific letter: S (“save”, for the on position) and F (“fire”, for the disabled position). When the shooter releases the safety, a red dot appears at the bottom.

The pistol bolt consists of two parts. The main purpose of the rear, stationary part is to protect the weapon’s trigger from dirt and debris getting into it, and it is also where the rear sight is attached. The front part can move, it holds the drum, and the barrel is also attached to it. Pressing the shutter release button down will open the drum socket. When the bolt is closed, it is blocked by two stops. There are 12 grooves on the right side of the pistol barrel. The relatively short barrel length (only 85 mm) has a negative impact on its characteristics, although this is due to the design of the weapon (when the drum is removed, the barrel and the moving part of the bolt must move forward). The drum, made of metal, holds eight bullets. When the hook is released, it rotates clockwise using a special tooth under the valve.

The Umarex PPQ pistol has two types of charges: you can shoot 4.5 mm bullets or steel balls. The speed of the shot depends on the type of charge. When using bullets, it will be up to 110 m/s, and when shooting with balls – up to 160 m/s. It is important to note that when using balls, shooting may not be very accurate, and a barrel with twelve turns reduces accuracy. The USM of Umarex Walther PPQ operates in two approaches. A tooth located under the valve rotates the drum magazine when the shooter presses the trigger button, and the rod cocks the hammer until it breaks and hits the valve.

For shooting, you need a 12 g CO2 canister. To find a place for the canister, you need to open the heel of the pistol handle so that the hidden clamping screw appears. Then the back cover of the handle will also be released, opening a hole for the spray can, which you just need to hide there, tighten the clamping screw, and then close the back cover of the pistol handle so that all the parts are in their places. The weapon is supplied in a cardboard box. Inside there is the product itself, two drums and instructions for assembly, charging, and so on. Externally, the Umarex Walther PPQ looks like a Walther CP-99 pistol, but there are differences in some details.

Principle of operation

First, of course, you need to insert and puncture the cylinder, and then insert a loaded magazine. After this, we jerk the bolt to cock the hammer. Next, after pressing the trigger, the trigger hits the valve, thereby opening it. Some of the gas is released into the barrel for firing, and the valve itself pushes the ball forward, closing the rest in the magazine. And the other part pushes the piston of the Blowback system, due to which cocking occurs.

Walther PPS pistol operation diagram

Tuning

Upgrading air pistols can involve lengthening the barrel, making the trigger heavier, or boring the piston. In general, all these changes will only be unnecessary, since the elongated barrel will negate the compactness of the pistol. A bored valve and a heavier trigger will increase gas consumption, reduce service life, and also reduce accuracy, which is already not the highest.

We can only recommend servicing the gun on time and using it regularly, since the gas prevents the rubber seals from drying out.