I'm Back! - Good Bye Maryland! Hello Walther PPQ!

After a brief few months of being busy with work related activities, it appears that everything has calmed down enough that I can start writing again. And with new things to write about!

Officially, I'm now a Georgia resident which means carry permit and access to good gear. YAY freedom! I'll start off with that I have officially started building a new AR. I traded in the Savage Axis XP .308 for a stripped lower and parts kit at one of the local gun shops. I will start putting together the bits later on and depending on how things go in a few months I will buy an upper from Model 1 Sales and good scope. Hopefully, I will have this thing running by this Summer.

In the meantime, I have something else to talk about and that is the Walther PPQ M1 9mm. Below is a short review about my brief time with my new sidearm.

Free Plug! - No I'm not getting any kickbacks or whatever for this. If your in the Buford, GA area, Dead Center Indoor Gun Range has a fantastic range and shop with good people and great prices. http://www.deadcenterrange.com/

Short Brief - Walther PPQ M1

So far, I can say that the PPQ M1 is currently my new favorite modern polymer-framed compact sized handgun (out of the short list that I have experience with). I chose it over the H&K VP9 for the main reasons of price and a specific cosmetic detail (the rear slide plate) that the VP9 has that I didn't like and over the Glock 19 because I just didn't want another Glock. Only time will tell if I've chosen the right gun.

I won't go into a full review tonight but I will say that the short time I spent at the range with the PPQ has me liking the trigger (which is phenomenal) and the ergonomics. I chose the M1 over the M2 specifically for the paddle-style mag release but I can say that the M2 button-style mag release was very easy to access/manipulate and would have been a good choice. Note that the difference between the M1 and M2 is the mag release and that magazines are specific to each model. Magazine capacity for both versions is 15 rounds for the 2 mags you get in the box but they have a 17 round magazine that uses the same 15 round mag body but with a +2 baseplate. I have ordered a Desantis thumb break leather belt holster for the gun and I intend to carry it when I go hiking this year. The gun is light weight and the recoil is pretty snappy but it isn't jarring or unpleasant. The only thing I can say I need to change with the gun is the sights. The 3 dot, white sights will need to be replaced with tritium sights, ASAP.

So far, I've got a good feeling that the Walther PPQ M1 will replace my XD-40 Service as my go-to general use handgun. BTW, I'm considering starting a new long-term series where I search for what I think is the perfect modern handgun based on the experience I've had with different guns I've owned. It should be a long running series with entries every few years. The Hunt for My Perfect Handgun.