Ahern Under the Gun - Dillon Precision 2007, Paladin Press (paladin-press.com) re-published the...
1
26 By Jerry Ahern Photos by Sharon Ahern In 2009, it will be 80 years since the first com- mercially successful double action semi-automat- ic pistol ever designed was released to the mar- ketplace. The year was 1929 and the handgun was the Walther PP, the letter designation stand- ing for “Polizei Pistole.” The new pistol’s caliber was .32 ACP (which sounds much more formida- ble than 7.65mm Browning). The PPK of James Bond lore is much more famous, to be sure, PPK standing for “Polizei Pistole Krim- inal,” the weapon shorter in overall length and overall height than the PP. The PPK was intend- ed for use by under- cover or plainclothes personnel, the PP for uniform duty. During World War II, of course, both handguns were used by the Nazis as belt pistols. Although the PPK is a little smaller, the PP is not exactly huge. Length overall is just over six and one-half inch- es, weight of the all-steel pistol is 23 and one- half ounces. Barrel length is just under four inch- es and magazine capacity, in its original .32 ACP chambering, is eight rounds. Height is four and one-quarter inches, sans magazine, with stan- dard floorplate and finger-rest extension maga- zines both available. “Why are you sounding so excited about an eight decades old pistol in .32 Auto?” Good question. The PP’s a proven design, albeit a bit more complex than guns engineered these days, has the cache of German origin (although various firms have been licensed to make Walthers over the years), the guns tend to be accurate and – here’s the impor- tant part – Century International Arms (centuryarms.com) is importing German police turn-in Walther PPs in beautiful condi- tion (except for some honest hol- ster wear) which are priced to retail somewhere between $425 and $450! “What a deal!” You’re darn right. .32 ACP is nothing to scream about ballistically, of course, but it’s no better out of my Seecamp, Sharon’s North American Arms Guardian, or someone else’s Kel-Tec or Autauga. Actually, with the longer barrel found on the PP in .32, both accuracy and perform- ance should, logically, be better than in the smaller vest-pocket-size pistols. According to the Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow ballistic performance figures, 71-grain .32 ACP Winchester solids have a 50-percent one-shot stop rating, while the Winchester Silvertip 60- grain bullet has a 63-percent rating. If you acquire one of these superb little Walther pistols and it doesn’t handle hollow points (I recommend experimenting with the Winchester and the Federal variants), take it to a competent gunsmith. But, if you’re stuck with the .32 ACP solids, you could do a lot worse. Keep in mind that the longer sight radius, the basic but ade- quate sights and – usually – a smooth trigger in DA and an easy trigger when fired single action all add up. When people complain about smaller calibers, I have this all but irresistible urge to ask them if they are prepared to volunteer to be shot with one of these lighter calibers. I don’t bother, because I already know the answer I’d get. The .32 Walther PP from Century International Arms is a fantastic buy. If the .32 caliber issue both- ers you, just tell yourself that it’s really 7.65mm Browning! Sounds much better, doesn’t it? Not quite as long ago as the Walther PP’s introduction, Colonel Charles Askins first pub- lished Texans, Guns and History. That was 1970. In 2007, Paladin Press (paladin- press.com) re-published the work, including a new introduc- tion by Askins’ son, William, as The Gunfighters: True Tales of Outlaws, Lawmen and Indians on the Texas Frontier. Both Sharon and I agree that it’s a sensational read. Askins was always a great storyteller and never known for pulling his punches. Back in the early to mid-1970s, when I was associate editor of Guns Magazine, I edit- ed a lot of Charlie Askins’ arti- cles. I found him at once fun to read, obsessed with stirring up controversy and exceptionally literate, despite his reputation for the rough and tumble side of things. This book from Paladin, which reads like an adventure novel or a classic western, is something no one Ahern Under the Gun Ahern Under the Gun …continued on Page 51 Askins’book is an exciting read cover to cover. Right profile of the gently used Walther PP .32 ACP. August 08 Blue Press 20-37 copy 6/13/08 1:51 PM Page 26
Transcript of Ahern Under the Gun - Dillon Precision 2007, Paladin Press (paladin-press.com) re-published the...
26By Jerry AhernPhotos by Sharon Ahern
In 2009, it will be 80 years since the first com-mercially successful double action semi-automat-ic pistol ever designed was released to the mar-ketplace. The year was 1929 and the handgunwas the Walther PP, the letter designation stand-ing for “Polizei Pistole.” The new pistol’s caliberwas .32 ACP (which sounds much more formida-ble than 7.65mmBrowning).
The PPK of JamesBond lore is muchmore famous, to besure, PPK standing for“Polizei Pistole Krim-inal,” the weaponshorter in overalllength and overallheight than the PP.The PPK was intend-ed for use by under-cover or plainclothespersonnel, the PP foruniform duty. DuringWorld War II, of course, both handguns wereused by the Nazis as belt pistols. Although thePPK is a little smaller, the PP is not exactly huge.Length overall is just over six and one-half inch-es, weight of the all-steel pistol is 23 and one-half ounces. Barrel length is just under four inch-es and magazine capacity, in its original .32 ACPchambering, is eight rounds. Height is four andone-quarter inches, sans magazine, with stan-dard floorplate and finger-rest extension maga-zines both available.
“Why are you sounding so excited about aneight decades old pistol in .32 Auto?”
Good question. The PP’s a proven design,albeit a bit more complex thanguns engineered these days, hasthe cache of German origin(although various firms have beenlicensed to make Walthers overthe years), the guns tend to beaccurate and – here’s the impor-tant part – Century InternationalArms (centuryarms.com) isimporting German police turn-inWalther PPs in beautiful condi-tion (except for some honest hol-ster wear) which are priced toretail somewhere between $425and $450!
“What a deal!”You’re darn right..32 ACP is nothing to scream
about ballistically, of course, but it’s no betterout of my Seecamp, Sharon’s North AmericanArms Guardian, or someone else’s Kel-Tec orAutauga. Actually, with the longer barrel found
on the PP in .32, both accuracy and perform-ance should, logically, be better than in thesmaller vest-pocket-size pistols.
According to the Evan Marshall and Ed Sanowballistic performance figures, 71-grain .32 ACPWinchester solids have a 50-percent one-shotstop rating, while the Winchester Silvertip 60-grain bullet has a 63-percent rating. If you acquireone of these superb little Walther pistols and it
doesn’t handle hollowpoints (I recommendexperimenting withthe Winchester andthe Federal variants),take it to a competentgunsmith. But, ifyou’re stuck with the.32 ACP solids, youcould do a lot worse.Keep in mind that thelonger sight radius,the basic but ade-quate sights and –usually – a smoothtrigger in DA and an
easy trigger when fired single action all add up.When people complain about smaller calibers, Ihave this all but irresistible urge to ask them ifthey are prepared to volunteer to be shot with oneof these lighter calibers. I don’t bother, because Ialready know the answer I’d get.
The .32 Walther PP from Century InternationalArms is a fantastic buy. If the .32 caliber issue both-ers you, just tell yourself that it’s really 7.65mmBrowning! Sounds much better, doesn’t it?
Not quite as long ago as the Walther PP’sintroduction, Colonel Charles Askins first pub-lished Texans, Guns and History. That was1970. In 2007, Paladin Press (paladin-
press.com) re-published thework, including a new introduc-tion by Askins’ son, William, asThe Gunfighters: True Tales ofOutlaws, Lawmen and Indianson the Texas Frontier. BothSharon and I agree that it’s asensational read. Askins wasalways a great storyteller andnever known for pulling hispunches. Back in the early tomid-1970s, when I was associateeditor of Guns Magazine, I edit-ed a lot of Charlie Askins’ arti-cles. I found him at once fun toread, obsessed with stirring upcontroversy and exceptionallyliterate, despite his reputation for
the rough and tumble side of things. This bookfrom Paladin, which reads like an adventurenovel or a classic western, is something no one
Ahern Under the GunAhern Under the Gun
…continued on Page 51
Askins’book is an excitingread cover to cover.
Right profile of the gentlyused Walther PP .32 ACP.
August 08 Blue Press 20-37 copy 6/13/08 1:51 PM Page 26
