Walther Offers Try Before You Buy Program

Walther is so sure you’re going to love their PPQ series of handguns they’re inviting you to try one—free of charge.

By Joseph Albanese | Published Feb 20, 2019 9:48 PM

Range Life

The Walther PPQ Classic with the original paddle-style magazine release. *Walther*

Walther is so sure you’re going to love their PPQ series of handguns they’re inviting you to try one—free of charge. As part of a new program that began Feb. 15, you can pick up a PPQ and shoot it for 30 days without spending a dime. Or, you can buy one and return it for a full refund—including sales tax—within a month, but Walther is confident that won’t happen.

The program, which is fairly unique in the gun world, is running until June 30, 2019.

“This program will drive sales of Walther PPQ’s for our dealers to a whole new level. We’re excited to the first manufacture in our industry to offer a program that builds confidence in our brand via a 30-day money back guarantee and a try before you buy,” said Chris Carlberg, VP of Sales for Walther Arms, Inc.

Try Before You Buy

To take home a PPQ for 30 days with no money down, look for a participating dealer on the Shoot It. Love It. Buy It. website, and apply for a voucher. When you apply for a voucher, Walther will pre-authorize your card for $1,000. This is not a charge, only to make sure you have a valid card. Once this happens, you will be emailed a voucher number.

Take the voucher number to the closest participating dealer near you, pick out the model PPQ you want to try out, and give the dealer the voucher number.

Of course, you still need to fill out the standard 4473 paperwork and pass a National Instant Criminal Background Check before the gun can be transferred to you.

Once completed, take home your choice of PPQ and shoot it as much as you like! If you love the PPQ, just hold on to it and your card will automatically be charged the dealers sales price 30 days after you picked it up. If you don’t love it, return the gun back to Walther through the ShootItLoveItBuyIt.com portal and your card will not be charged.

30-Day Money Back Guarantee

Wherever you decide to buy a new PPQ, online or in-store, it is covered with a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don’t love it within 30 days, visit ShootItLoveItBuyIt.com and go through the “return your gun” process and Walther will provide the shipping label to have it sent back. Once received at Walther and inspected, they will issue a check for a full reimbursement of what the buyer paid for the PPQ, even tax.

Below are the models you can choose from, and as you’ll see, there’s something for everyone in the PPQ pistol line.

The Full Walther PPQ Pistol Line-Up

Walther PPQ Classic

The PPQ was the successor to the iconic P99 (which is still in production), which was the company’s first polymer pistol.

The PPQ is the successor to the P99, Walther’s first entry in the world of polymer pistols. The Police Pistol Quick featured a “Quick Defense” trigger that delivered a consistent pull weight somewhere between 4.8 and 5.6 pounds with only 0.4 inches of travel, which quickly drew adulation as the best trigger on a striker-fired polymer pistol.

Perhaps the only drawback to the PPQ for U.S.-based shooters is the paddle-style magazine release on the trigger guard, which is quite common in Europe, but not favored as much on this side of the pond. But, with a little retraining, magazine swaps are just as fast.

Walther PPQ Classic Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 4″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 15 Rounds
Length: 7.1″
Height: 5.3″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 24.5 oz. (empty)

PPQ M2

The Walther PPQ M2 is similar to the original PPQ, but with a push-button magazine release instead of the more European style paddle release.

The M2 eliminates the perceived flaw in the Classic—the mag release, swapping it out for a more familiar paddle-style that is reversible to suit user preference. Equipped with standard and large interchangeable back straps, adjustable sights, polygonal rifled barrel, fully ambidextrous controls, and the renown trigger, the M2 was well-received by militaries and police forces the world over. The M2 comes in a number of different configurations in both 9mm and .40 S&W, including a long-slide version with a 5-inch barrel and models with colored frames (FDE and OD).

Walther PPQ M2 9mm Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 4″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 15 Rounds
Length: 7.1″
Height: 5.3″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 24.5 oz. (empty)

The PPQ 45

The PPQ 45 is a scaled up version of the original pistol, chambered for .45 ACP with a 12-round capacity.

It’s fairly common for handgun manufacturers to introduce a new pistol in 9mm because the round is so popular with shooters, and wait to see how well it sells before introducing larger calibers. In the case of the PPQ, it only took a little while for American shooters to embrace the polymer pistol, so Walther rolled out the larger bore, with all of the features of the M2 models.

The PPQ 45 is simply a scaled up version of the PPQ in 9mm and .40 S&W, with slightly larger dimensions all around and a 4.25-inch barrel. An SD model is also available with a 4.875-inch threaded barrel that’s suppressor ready.

Walther PPQ 45

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel Length: 4.25″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 12 Rounds
Length: 7.4″
Height: 5.8″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 28 oz. (empty)

PPQ Q4 Tac

The Walther PPQ Q4 Tac with a Trijicon RMR mounted on the slide.

The Walther Q4 Tac builds on the features that have endeared the PPQ to owners, but adds an optics-ready slide that comes with adapter plates for the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, and Docter Optics sights, so you can mount your favorite reflex sight without a trip to the gunsmith.

The Q4 Tac features a fiber optic front sight and a standard LPA competition iron rear sight as well. A threaded barrel makes the Q4 Tac suppressor ready right from the factory. While the magazines hold 15 rounds of 9mm like other PPQ models, the mags for the Q4 Tac feature a larger baseplate for easier reloads.

Walther Q4 Tac Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 4.6″ – Threaded 0.5″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 15 Rounds
Length: 7.8″
Height: 5.3″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 25 oz. (empty)

PPQ .22

Walther offers a .22LR version of its PPQ platform so users can train inexpensively with, essentially, the same gun.

Walther took all of the features of the M2 series and put them in a .22 rimfire model so shooters could get some low-cost, low-recoil training in on their favorite platform—or just have a fantastic plinker for tin can fun. Like the others, a variety of configurations are available, with barrel lengths being the primary differences.

In addition to the standard version, Walther also offers the PPQ SD .22 Tactical model with a threaded, suppressor-ready barrel and a long-slide 5-inch barrel version with a fiber optic front sight.

Walther PPQ 22 Specs

Caliber: .22LR
Barrel Length: 4″
Trigger Pull: 4.85 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.16″
Capacity: 12 Rounds
Length: 7.1″
Height: 5.3″
Safety: 2 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 20.8 oz. (empty)

PPQ Sub-Compact

The sub compact version of the PPQ is designed for concealed carry and can accept full-sized 15-round PPQ mags as well as flush fitting 10-round mags.

All of the beloved features of its larger brethren are present, but in a smaller, easier to conceal size with the PPQ Sub Compact. Once again, the highlight is the superb trigger that makes hitting where you’re aiming simple.

The pistol fits the hand remarkably well for a downsized gun with a short grip, thanks mostly to the customizable fit of the included interchangeable back straps. Of course, the abbreviated mass helps eliminate printing. Available in 9mm only, the Sub-Compact comes in three different iterations including the PPQ SC w/ XS F8 Night Sights, and the PPQ SC LE deition with standard night sights.

The gun’s flush fitting magazines hold 10 rounds, but the PPQ SD will also accept full-size 15-round PPQ mags, meaning with a flush mag in the gun and two full-sized mags in a mag holster, carriers can have 40 rounds on board for a concealed carry setup.

Walther PPQ SC Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 3.5″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 10 rounds / 15 rounds
Length: 6.6″
Height: 4.4″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 21.2 oz. (empty)

PPQ Q5 Match

Designed for competition, the Q5 Match features a longer barrel with a ported slide, enhanced trigger, an adjustable rear sight, and mounts for red-dot optics.

I feel like a broken record, but the trigger really is that good. It’s so good that the PPQ was making its way around the competition circuit. Wanting to give the people what they want, Walther built the new Q5 Match for the production class competitive shooter.

The slide is optics-ready with mounting plates for Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, and Docter Optics reflex sights, but competition irons are also present, including an adjustable rear sight. The Q5 Match comes with an extended ported slide, striking blue trigger, a thumb rest on the left side of the frame, and match performance in a production-class firearm.

Walther Q5 Match Specs

Caliber: 9mm
Barrel Length: 5″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs.
Trigger Travel: 0.4″
Capacity: 15 rounds / 17 rounds
Length: 8.1″
Height: 5.3″
Safety: 3 Auto
Width: 1.3″
Weight: 27.9 oz. (empty)

Walther PPQ Q5 MATCH SF – Steel Frame

The competition version of the PPQ—the Q5 was previously only available with a polymer frame. The steel framed version was released at SHOT Show 2019.

The new Q5 Match from Walther is built for competitive shooters. Build on the PPQ platform, the Q5 Match SF has an optics-ready slide that comes with mounting plates for a Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, and Docter Optics, in addition to the standard competition iron sights.

The striking new addition to the Q5 Match family has a precision steel frame, adding extra weight for stability and recoil absorption. Walther says that with its ported slide, ergonomics, and signature blue quick defense trigger makes the Q5 SF the flattest shooting model to date.

Walther Q5 Match SF Specs