P999 or the S&W 99

fastshotivy · January 29, 2009, 09:20 PM

I like to hear the good and the bad on these pistols? What will be a good price for one used? 40 s&W only.

Thanks

David the Gnome · January 29, 2009, 09:25 PM

$349 at Centerfire for a 40S&W SW99.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SW99.aspx

I have the 9mm version with night sights and it's one of my favorite guns to shoot. I actually like it so much that I'm going to get the P99c for a daily carry gun.

ranburr · January 29, 2009, 09:51 PM

Funny you bring this up. I asked the same question yesterday on another forum. Check them out side by side and you will see that the Walther has a much better trigger. The downside to the Walther is the fact that my trigger finger drags on the trigger guard evertime I squeeze the trigger. So much so that I developed a raw spot after a few minutes of dry firing. The SW has just a different enough frame that this doesn't happen. But, as I said, the Walther trigger is much beter out of the box. Another thing that surprised me is that if you take these guns apart, there are a lot more than just cosmetic differences.

ranburr

tom234 · January 29, 2009, 10:23 PM

S&W has reportedly a lifetime warrantee and Walther's has probably aready run out..... I've heard no "bad" things about the SW99 and IMHO the SW99C is a great carry piece.

fastshotivy · January 29, 2009, 11:11 PM

Did you buy one from them? Shoot nice? REcoil bad? Is it Ammo picky?

Chris D · January 30, 2009, 01:42 PM

I have the Walther and would not buy the smith version...

I do have three S&W guns, so I'm not against them at all. I just think the walther to be a bit better of the two. Plus the S&W is a "copy of it".

I did hear the frirs run of the smiths were not 100% reliable, but I could be mistaken...

NGIB · January 30, 2009, 02:11 PM

I own both and they are the only plastic guns I have - nuff said...

fastbolt · January 30, 2009, 03:24 PM

In the P99 series the Walther-made trigger bar and sear housing block rest in a Walther-made frame and function a Walther-made striker assembly which operates in a Walther-made slide.

In the SW99 series the same Walther-made trigger bar & sear housing block rest in a Walther-made frame and function a Walther-made striker assembly which operates in a S&W-made slide.

I don't have the time to dredge up the various comparisons I've previously written in other postings but there are some differences in some of the components (barrel design, slide-stop lever spring, magazines & heat-treating of slides & barrels, for example) in addition to some of the ergonomic & appearance changes S&W requested of Walther in the frames provided.

There have been some changes and refinements within the 99 series models as produced by both companies as time has progressed, too.

The 'standard' extractor spring used has changed in some of the SW99/990L models, including the orientation used in its installation. The optional heavier extractor spring listed for the full-size 9/40 models is 'standard' on the compact SW99/990L's chambered in 9/40 and the .45 ACP model, and S&W sent out an armorer bulletin to reverse the orientation of the spring as inserted into the slide's extractor spring hole in its licensed models (it's larger on one end than the other).

The original closed-end slide stop lever spring used in the P99 series was sent out for use in some LE SW99 guns when a small number of agencies were reportedly apparently unable to get their folks to stop catching and bending the longer (stronger) slide stop lever springs used in S&W models which ended in an exposed 'hooked end'. Inattention during cleaning practices could sometimes result in the exposed end of the open/hooked spring being snagged and potentially bent by the user. The closed end lever spring is ordinarily less likely to be caught and bent by an inattentive user during cleaning. I've only come across a couple of them that had become caught and bent by folks and had to be replaced, though.

Both are good quality guns.

I've had to repair examples of both. I've had to replace Walther-made parts in both.

The longer warranty offered on the S&W models, even on the Walther-made parts in the licensed SW99/990L models, did seem to be a bit of an advantage, although I've learned of S&W taking steps to handle some problems on P99 guns which occurred long after the Walther warranty had expired (at their expense).

I would imagine price would be affected by local market influences.

#1 Moses · January 30, 2009, 10:07 PM

For the price of that used one @ center fire You cant go wrong! Buy It Now!

fastshotivy · January 30, 2009, 11:23 PM

Well trying or going to check and see if CDNN still have them. I thin there a little cheaper there than that.. I just am looking for something to shoot 40's s$w in. I know a round here that all you can find in the stores are 40's S$W ammo....Thats the only reason I am looking I getting one..

January 29, 2009, 10:23 PM	#4
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	S&W has reportedly a lifetime warrantee and Walther's has probably aready run out..... I've heard no "bad" things about the SW99 and IMHO the SW99C is a great carry piece. Last edited by tom234; January 29, 2009 at 10:28 PM.

January 30, 2009, 01:42 PM	#6
Chris D Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 1999 Location: MA Posts: 187	I have the Walther and would not buy the smith version... I do have three S&W guns, so I'm not against them at all. I just think the walther to be a bit better of the two. Plus the S&W is a "copy of it". I did hear the frirs run of the smiths were not 100% reliable, but I could be mistaken... __________________ "Improvise, adapt and overcome"

January 30, 2009, 03:24 PM	#8
fastbolt Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2002 Location: northern CA for a little while longer Posts: 1,965	In the P99 series the Walther-made trigger bar and sear housing block rest in a Walther-made frame and function a Walther-made striker assembly which operates in a Walther-made slide. In the SW99 series the same Walther-made trigger bar & sear housing block rest in a Walther-made frame and function a Walther-made striker assembly which operates in a S&W-made slide. I don't have the time to dredge up the various comparisons I've previously written in other postings but there are some differences in some of the components (barrel design, slide-stop lever spring, magazines & heat-treating of slides & barrels, for example) in addition to some of the ergonomic & appearance changes S&W requested of Walther in the frames provided. There have been some changes and refinements within the 99 series models as produced by both companies as time has progressed, too. The 'standard' extractor spring used has changed in some of the SW99/990L models, including the orientation used in its installation. The optional heavier extractor spring listed for the full-size 9/40 models is 'standard' on the compact SW99/990L's chambered in 9/40 and the .45 ACP model, and S&W sent out an armorer bulletin to reverse the orientation of the spring as inserted into the slide's extractor spring hole in its licensed models (it's larger on one end than the other). The original closed-end slide stop lever spring used in the P99 series was sent out for use in some LE SW99 guns when a small number of agencies were reportedly apparently unable to get their folks to stop catching and bending the longer (stronger) slide stop lever springs used in S&W models which ended in an exposed 'hooked end'. Inattention during cleaning practices could sometimes result in the exposed end of the open/hooked spring being snagged and potentially bent by the user. The closed end lever spring is ordinarily less likely to be caught and bent by an inattentive user during cleaning. I've only come across a couple of them that had become caught and bent by folks and had to be replaced, though. Both are good quality guns. I've had to repair examples of both. I've had to replace Walther-made parts in both. The longer warranty offered on the S&W models, even on the Walther-made parts in the licensed SW99/990L models, did seem to be a bit of an advantage, although I've learned of S&W taking steps to handle some problems on P99 guns which occurred long after the Walther warranty had expired (at their expense). I would imagine price would be affected by local market influences. __________________ Retired LE - firearms instructor & armorer

January 29, 2009, 09:20 PM	#1
fastshotivy Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Posts: 66	P999 or the S&W 99 I like to hear the good and the bad on these pistols? What will be a good price for one used? 40 s&W only. Thanks

January 29, 2009, 09:25 PM	#2
David the Gnome Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,092	$349 at Centerfire for a 40S&W SW99. http://www.centerfiresystems.com/SW99.aspx I have the 9mm version with night sights and it's one of my favorite guns to shoot. I actually like it so much that I'm going to get the P99c for a daily carry gun.

January 29, 2009, 09:51 PM	#3
ranburr Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,278	Funny you bring this up. I asked the same question yesterday on another forum. Check them out side by side and you will see that the Walther has a much better trigger. The downside to the Walther is the fact that my trigger finger drags on the trigger guard evertime I squeeze the trigger. So much so that I developed a raw spot after a few minutes of dry firing. The SW has just a different enough frame that this doesn't happen. But, as I said, the Walther trigger is much beter out of the box. Another thing that surprised me is that if you take these guns apart, there are a lot more than just cosmetic differences. ranburr

January 29, 2009, 11:11 PM	#5
fastshotivy Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Posts: 66	Did you buy one from them? Shoot nice? REcoil bad? Is it Ammo picky?

January 30, 2009, 02:11 PM	#7
NGIB Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2007 Location: Ft Stewart, GA Posts: 932	I own both and they are the only plastic guns I have - nuff said...

January 30, 2009, 10:07 PM	#9
#1 Moses Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2008 Posts: 114	For the price of that used one @ center fire You cant go wrong! Buy It Now!

January 30, 2009, 11:23 PM	#10
fastshotivy Member Join Date: November 18, 2008 Posts: 66	Well trying or going to check and see if CDNN still have them. I thin there a little cheaper there than that.. I just am looking for something to shoot 40's s$w in. I know a round here that all you can find in the stores are 40's S$W ammo....Thats the only reason I am looking I getting one..