Help Me Decide Between These Three

Choice 1: Walther P99 9mm
Choice 2: Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm
Choice 3: H&K P30 9mm

For me to spend the extra money on the HK it needs to blow these two competitors out of the water. If it doesnt, then I might as well go with one of the cheaper ones...right? Anyway, I cant decide which one I like better aesthetically. If I end up with the P99 will people think Im a Bond "wannabe"? Anyway, thanks for your input.

Oh, main use for this gun will be practice shooting and home defense. I wont be carrying it concealed anywhere.

The P30 feels better, is inherantly more accurate, can be adjusted for your likes in the grip, Has a true hammer which is a benefit for some shooters who like to have the hammer, has a better finish that is more durable, and has a recoil buffer so the recoil is very mild.

P30 is my vote

1. HK
2. Walther
3. Beretta

I would agree that the P30 would be the best of the three. However, I do not think it to be worth the money over a P99, and probably the Beretta as well (don't know for sure on the B, as I've not used one). I certainly wouldn't mind having a P30, but I have no useful purpose for one, especially since I already have a P99 and it's been an absolutely wonderful pistol.

If money is no object, then get the HK. You certainly can't go wrong with one. I love my P7.

I think the only people stupid enough to consider a P99 buyer to be a "Bond wannabe" will most likely not know anything about firearms to begin with. And too, I don't see much reason why you should care about what others think about your handgun choices anyway. I know I sure wouldn't, which would be evident if you ever saw my handgun collection...:mrgreen:

PhilR.

From your orignial post I would not suggest the HK. The Beretta and Walther are both excellent guns. So is the HK. Bottom line is all three are excellent and therefore the HK does not blow the other two out of the water. I believe you stated that's what it would take to pay the premium for the HK.

The P99 is available in two differing trigger actions (AS and QA). So is the PX4 (DAO and DA/SA). The trigger you you like best may be the final decider of which gun you buy.

Check out the Beretta and Walther forums (if you haven't already) and see what others think of those two guns. If you see some posts by Shipwreck (or PM him) - he knows a lot about Beretta and Walther, especially about the triggers on the Walther.

I'm sure you would be happy with either one.

It really comes down to preference Mr. Bond - Mr. James Bond. :mrgreen:

Let us know what you decide.

Go to a range and rent to shoot if possible. I haven't seen to many ranges with an HK to rent though. But just the same go look feely touch each one and decide then. You might find that the feel of a certain handgun will defeat aesthetic looks every time. Unless it's going in a display case. Good luck with your search.:smt023

Thanks for the responses everyone. They have helped in my decision. I am 95% sure I will be getting the Walther. I have held one before and it seemed like it was molded special for my hand. I will go 9mm AS probably. Where is a good place to buy one? How is the Walther's trigger compared to a USP's? Thanks.

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Originally Posted by D-Rock

Thanks for the responses everyone. They have helped in my decision. I am 95% sure I will be getting the Walther. I have held one before and it seemed like it was molded special for my hand. I will go 9mm AS probably. Where is a good place to buy one? How is the Walther's trigger compared to a USP's? Thanks.

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A Walther P99 trigger is kind of like a Glock. Not exactly the same, but it's a striker fired gun. The P30 is a standard hammer fired gun with a DA/SA or TDA action. It's meant to be carried in double action mode and the first shot has a heavy and long pull (the safety of the gun is the long heavy pull btw) and every other shot will be single action.

Single action is far superior to a striker fired gun's trigger action. It will be lighter, shorter, and faster.

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Originally Posted by Dredd

Single action is far superior to a striker fired gun's trigger action. It will be lighter, shorter, and faster.

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How do I use this knowledge to better my choice? Noob question...

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Originally Posted by D-Rock

How do I use this knowledge to better my choice? Noob question...

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Well, try them both. Go to the shop and handle a TDA (DA/SA) gun and also a striker fired gun such as the Walther P99. Observe the trigger travel on the first shot, rack the slide and observe the travel.

Notice that when in SA, the DA/SA guns typically have a lighter pull weight and shorter travel. Not too sure about the reset as the P99 is different than my Glock which has a short reset, not quite 1911 short but good.

It's not very easy to explain, but SA is superior when you talk about speed. That's why 1911s are so good. They are SA only. Having said that, the P99 will have a consistent trigger pull from first shot to last shot. Like a Glock, this is a good thing for some shooters. There is no need to learn 2 trigger systems.

Anyway, handle both if you can and observe the different systems.


Oh and the P30 has ambidextrous controls.

I still vote for the P30 I owned one, but I'd buy a Glock before any of these choices anyhow so I guess what I'm trying to say is just feel each.

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Originally Posted by D-Rock

How do I use this knowledge to better my choice? Noob question...

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Honestly, one is not better than the other. It really come down to preference.

I have a Beretta 92FS which is a DA/SA gun. The first shot is a longer, heavier trigger pull similar to the pull of a double action revolver. After the first shot the action of the slide cocks the gun so for all subsequent shots the gun then fires in single action mode which is a much shorter lighter pull.

Striker fired guns such as the Glock have what has been referred to as a safe action trigger (this is Glock's term). The pull is somewhere in between DA and SA in length and resistance, probably a little closer to single action than double.

The advantage of a DA/SA gun is the single action trigger. DA first shot allows the gun to be carried with the safety off.

The advantage of the safe action trigger is the consistency of having the exact same trigger for every shot. Some people strongly prefer having the exact same trigger feel for every shot rather than a DA first pull with SA after that. Safe action triggers also have a reset so the trigger does not have to be fully released after the first shot in order to get off the next round. It takes a lot of practice to get good at mastering the reset. Additionally, using the reset creates a difference between the first shot and the subsequent shots, at least in length of pull if not weight, so there really is no longer a consistent trigger from first shot on.

I prefer the DA/SA. I don't mind change in pull after the first shot. Also, I don't carry so in a home defense situation I likely may have time to simply cock the hammer thus eliminating the DA first shot. So now I have a consistent SA trigger for all shots.

But again, it's personal preference.

That all makes sense. But can you help me apply this to the Walther. Correct me if I am wrong... The P99 AS is pretty much a DA/SA and the only way to replicate cocking the hammer for a SA shot is by pulling the trigger slightly locking it into SA mode place? Is the P99 QA more like a glock? AKA the same pull every time?

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Originally Posted by D-Rock

That all makes sense. But can you help me apply this to the Walther. Correct me if I am wrong... The P99 AS is pretty much a DA/SA and the only way to replicate cocking the hammer for a SA shot is by pulling the trigger slightly locking it into SA mode place? Is the P99 QA more like a glock? AKA the same pull every time?

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Depends...you have the P99AS which stands for "anti-stress mode"

The anti-stress trigger makes the P99 one of the world's safest firearms by preventing unintentional "reflex" firing in stressful situations. The decisive innovation: When the slide is racked completely to the rear upon loading, the trigger remains in the forward position for the first shot; not only in the double action trigger mode, but also in the single action mode. The trigger travel is .551" long in the anti-stress mode (at 4.4 lbs. trigger force), preventing inadvertent firing. On all subsequent shots, the trigger travel is reduced to .314" (at the same trigger force) and this permits firing in rapid sequence, due to the quick reset of the P99 trigger.

The P99QA or "quick action"

The Quick Action trigger system: The striker is partially pre-cocked and when the trigger is pulled, the striker is fully cocked and released, firing the pistol. The trigger travel is approximately .31 inches with a trigger force of approximately 8 lbs. This short pull with its quick reset provides quick shot delivery especially in competitive situations.


The QA system is like a Glock, but Glocks typically have about a 5lb pull weight.

of those 3 i'd go for the walther P99