Walther PPQ M2 Review: Excellent Handgun On- or Off-Duty

If the new polymer frame Walther PPQ M2 (Police Pistol Quick Defense) looks familiar, it should. Its form, fit, function and finish is an outgrowth from the Walther P99.

The PPQ M2 differs from the modern PP in trigger function in that, after the chamber is loaded, it has a “constant trigger pull” (Walther’s terminology). Translated, this means its striker is fully cocked. The PPQ M2 lacks a double-action mode.

As to how this trigger pull performs, Walther certainly is understating the effect of it, saying it “….make(s) it very easy to shoot accurately.” The trigger movement is short after the initial take-up, as is the reset of the striker for the next shot. After the initial shot, the “press to bang” movement is really short! In my range work, with three other shooters also on the gun, the PPQ M2 is simply a pleasure to shoot. Using a Chatillon trigger pull gauge, my sample’s trigger pull weight measures a shade over five pounds, close to what the Walther specifications call for at 5.6 pounds.

A Keeper

The Walther PPQ M2 is also one accurate pistol! We all had great groups. Referring to the trigger pull, one asked, “Is that out of the box?” The other noted, “Great trigger!” and “This gun can shoot!” My first five shots using 147-grain JFP COR®BON Performance Match ammo had three rounds in a one inch ragged hole, with the last two making it a final +/- 1.5″ five shot cluster, similar to the accompanying factory test fire target. Using the same ammo, one of the guys shot a fist-sized cluster in the head box of a Warren IDPA Tactical Training Target, one-handed and standing. The other shooter duplicated this using 115-grain JRN Remington® training ammo, but used two hands to do so. With the PPQ M2, if you’re not shooting well, you are not shooting well. It’s not the gun or the ammo. By the way, the PPQ M2 is rated for +P, but not +P+ loads.

As for the PPQ M2 proper, for me, it’s a comfortable pistol to hold, manipulate and shoot. The slightly ramped and grooved front sight and the square notch rear sight use the three white-dot system. Curiously, this time, the white dots didn’t interfere with my precision shooting. (I usually black them out.) The front sight is elevation adjustable by using replacement sights of varying heights which are an optional purchase. Windage changes are done on the rear sight by using the click adjustable, slotted, right side mounted screw in its base. Removal instructions are provided in the very thorough instruction manual.

Walther PPQ M2 Features

The top of the slide is longitudinally grooved between the front and rear sights. Forward leaning and widely spaced grasping grooves are front and rear on the slide. The wide spacing helps keep the usually narrow grooves from abrading clothing and holster or collecting debris. A spring-loaded and beefy extractor is located at the center right rear of the large ejection port. When the chamber is loaded, the rear of the extractor is depressed into the slide, exposing a red rectangle. These, then, give visual or tactile notice of the chamber’s status.

Internally, the slide contains the barrel and recoil spring. The latter is captive on a polymer guide rod. The rear end cap is colored blue and the front end cap is rounded and black in color. A passive firing pin safety is just to the rear of the breech face. Worth noting is the fact that the cartridge pickup rail is stepped, with a narrow rail on the top right side of its larger body. I think this is done to help prevent the rail tip from striking a live primer when unloading or when clearing malfunctions. This thinner part is also beveled on its top and outboard area. It is certainly worthwhile!

Personalize It

The magazine catch with a grooved head is at the left rear of the trigger guard and is reversible, with detailed instructions for doing so in the manual. The catch is partially protected from accidental depression by a molded ridge extending rearward on either side of the frame. The ridge can also serve as a thumb rest. The polymer frame has finger grooves on its front strap and a rather unique combination of half circle ridges and raised dots afford a solid, but not “grabby,” surface treatment in the normal gripping areas, including the changeable backstrap. Three of these are included – sizes small, medium and large – with the medium size preinstalled. One shooter made mention of how high a grip he could take thanks to the shape of the medium backstrap. The largest backstrap also extends up to the top of the frame.

This Walther PPQ M2 is fitted with the extended 17 round magazine.

To change from one to another, you drive out the roll pin which is at the lower rear of the grip. Since this is a roll pin, be sure to use a proper-sized roll pin punch. The backstraps are notched at their bottom rear which allows the retaining pin to also serve as an attaching point for a lanyard. The base of the backstrap overhangs the magazine, providing an aid to inserting the magazine.

Removing the backstrap insert disclosed an open and raised slot on the inner wall of the frame. Marked on the left side of the slot is “transponder” and on the right side is “kennung” – translated, this is “identifier.” The slot appears to allow a computer card to be used for location, inventory and loss prevention identification.

The ample-sized trigger guard on the Walther PPQ M2 has a vertical – squared off – front face which is horizontally grooved for those who favor using the guard with a two-handed grip. The curved and smooth faced trigger has an also curved center part which is one of two drop safeties. The other is within the slide and prevents the firing pin from snapping forward if the gun is dropped on its forward face. A projection on the trigger bar neutralizes this when the trigger is completely pulled.

Mounting Rail

The dustcover has a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) accessory mounting rail on which I easily installed and removed SureFire® and ITI lights, along with a LaserMax laser.

The long, ambidextrous slide stop lever is grooved for two thirds of its length, including the projecting portion which is normally used to operate the lever. Forward of this is the takedown crossbar (more on this in disassembly description). The pistol is serial numbered on the slide, barrel and at the top rear of the frame. This last number is on the metal body containing the trigger and other parts of the operating system. It is visible through a window in the frame.

Two metal body 15 round magazines having orange colored polymer followers and black polymer removable base plates are furnished, along with a sturdy magazine loader. Cartridge witness holes numbered “4” to “15” are on the rear wall of the magazine body. While the instruction manual mentions a +2 base plate, this is not listed on the Walther USA Web site.

Disassembly of the PPQ M2 is simple and follows that of similar – and familiar to many – polymer handguns. After insuring the pistol is empty, dry fire it, then push or pull down the ample and grooved takedown latch and, while holding it in this position, push the slide forward and off of the frame rails. Compress the captive recoil spring and remove; then the barrel can be lifted out and to the rear of the slide. Reassemble it in the reverse order.

Bottom Line

In review, the Walther PPQ M2 lacks any annoying sharp edges and is simple to operate. And, with the gripping area designed as it is, the gun’s “feel” is second to none. In fact, one of the shooters commented, “My hand seems to naturally take a good shooting grip.” In addition, the single-action striker trigger is close to the best of – if not the best of – any of the striker-fired triggers I’ve pressed. And, two of my “helpers,” who are top rated in action shooting competitions, agree!

If the PPQ M2 lies within an organization’s or your personal requirements and limits – with an MSRP ranging from $599 to $699 – it’s worth a long, hard look. As a new model, albeit developed from the well tested and accepted Model P99, it lacks extensive end user testing and abuse, but, from what I experienced, the PPQ M2 will be more than satisfactory!

About the Author: Upon receiving his BS degree from Carnegie Tech and completing service as a Special Agent in U.S. Army Intelligence, Walt Rauch was a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service and an Investigator with the Warrant Unit, First

Judicial District, PA. Rauch is also a writer and lecturer in the firearms field. He is published regularly in national and international publications.