Walther Bite

[Moose63845]

Ok here's the thing, I have a Walther PPK/S in .380 that I get slide bite from. I used to only get it from the left side of the frame but had it smoothed out and now I get it from both sides. I really like this gun and want to shoot it but I can't since it hurts a lot, I have a large web that eats the grip and is why it happens. Does anyone know what I need to do to fix this? I get the same thing on my dad's Walther P-38 too and have never had this problem with any other gun I've fired.

[John]

Well, I fully sympathize with you, I had a stainless PPK/S also, and the darn thing was eating my hand every chance it got (whenever I fired it). Two ways to go, if it is blue, a gunsmith can weld an extension at the frame tangue and create some sort of beavertail, which will prevent your hand for getting bitten. The other option, is to sell it and buy one of the latest models (I think made by S&W now), which has such a beavertail from the factory.

[103]

Maybe a dumb question, but have you tried adjusting your grip? I had a similar problem with aother pocket pistol. I changed how I help it just a little and no more pain--just an akward shot... Otherwise, John is right, the new model PPK/S by S&W is great. I've not gotten bit once through a few hundred rounds.

[Joni Lynn]

Short of adding a spacer to the grip tang where it sticks out so as to force you to have a lower hold on it I know of no cure short of getting the newer S&W version, it has more area there. My Walther lloks exactly like a Sig 232 and never bites. (it was the only cure for bite I could find)

[Moose63845]

Well I guess I have to buy the S&W, I just wish they had blued versions and not the duo tone things. But the Stainless is nicer to carry due to sweat, etc.

[103]

Couldn't you have the blued slide put on a blued S&W frame? I don't know the internal differences, but I would assume the rails would need work?

[Moose63845]

Couldn't you have the blued slide put on a blued S&W frame? I don't know the internal differences, but I would assume the rails would need work?
I'm just gonna get a stainless one much better for carry than blued.

[jacobtowne]

If you don't mind a slightly larger, PP sized pistol, I highly recommend the SIG Sauer P232. It has an aluminum frame, at least mine does, and is lighter than the steel PP.
The two are so close in size, my PP (1943 vintage) fits perfectly in the Don Hume belt holster I use for the 232.
JT

[Walt175]

Somewhere I have an old Guns mag that had an article about a customized PPK in stainless. It had several things done to it for reliability as well as comfort. One of them was to have a beavertail welded on and then shaped and polished. It looked more like an older Wilson beavertail rather then the current S&W version. When it was finished, it looked like it was factory made. I always wanted to have the same done to my PPK, but couldn't afford it at the time. Now that I could probably afford it I can no longer find the magazine and don't know where it was done to inquire about pricing. :(

[geneinnc]

my wife got bit once. i figured that would ruin her for that gun. she got a bandaid & kept on shooting. I haven't been bit yet, but did notice a bit of redness. I dunno, but I do keep a very much lower than normal right hand grip. I saw some grips that covered the backstrap, but they sure look out of place on the gun. They kept the same style since, what, 1920? it must work for some people.

[warmrain]

Walt175,
I saw the same article and have lusted for that modification too... I think though, that a new S&W version may be in my future.

Geneinnc,
You can reduce the severity by breaking the knive edges on the slide, but I suspect you know that...