Walther PDP: The Most Underrated Striker Fired Handgun

Is The Walther PDP The New Best Striker-Fired Pistol On The Market?

Big, bold, and loaded with features - this just about sums up the Walther PDP series of pistols. Known for its phenomenal trigger and exceptional ergonomics, the PDP has quickly become one of the most popular striker-fired handguns for duty and concealed carry alike.

Walther PDP FS Semi-Automatic Pistol 5" Barrel 9mm 18 Round - Optic Ready - 2844001
Walther PDP FS Semi-Automatic Pistol 5" Barrel 9mm 18 Round - Optic Ready - 2844001
$549 99 $629.99

Like most modular handguns, the PDP is available in a variety of configurations from the factory. Shooters can choose from a full size 5" barrel duty pistol or a compact variant with a 4" barrel for EDC. Walther even created the F Series specifically for female shooters and those with smaller hands.

Walther PDP F-Series Semi-Automatic Optic Ready, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, 3.5" Barrel, (2) 15 Round Magazines - Black - 2849313
Walther PDP F-Series Semi-Automatic Optic Ready, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, 3.5" Barrel, (2) 15 Round Magazines - Black - 2849313
$549 99 $629.99

Specs

  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Barrel Length: 5" (Full Size), 4" or 4.5" (Compact), 3.5" (F Series)
  • Capacity: 18+1 (Full Size), 15+1 (Compact), 10+1 (State Compliant)
  • Trigger: Performance Duty Trigger
  • Sights: Three Dot Sights (Glock-Style FS)
  • Optics Ready: Yes

All PDP pistols feature aggressive SuperTerrain slide serrations for improved handling, even when wearing gloves. Moreover, the PDP is optics-ready out of the box, and the factory three-dot sights can be upgraded with virtually any set of tritium night sights or suppressor-height sights you desire.

Best of all, Walther's Performance Duty Trigger provides a clean, crisp break at around 4-5lbs on average. This combined with the PDP's soft recoil impulse makes for an incredibly fast and accurate defensive handgun. It's easy to get rounds on target and make quick follow-up shots until the threat is stopped.

PDP with Holosun SCS and Streamlight TLR-1

Performance

After firing hundreds of rounds through various PDP handguns, we can confirm that the Performance Duty Pistol lives up to its name. We've been able to consistently group shots center mass (all within the 9 ring, most within the 10 ring) and have yet to experience a malfunction that wasn't shooter-related.

Walther PDP Pro Enhanced Optic Ready Semi-Automatic, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, 18 Round Magazine, 4" Barrel - Black - 2884976
Walther PDP Pro Enhanced Optic Ready Semi-Automatic, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, 18 Round Magazine, 4" Barrel - Black - 2884976
$719 99 $819.99

The PDP fits the hand naturally and is a pleasure to shoot. It does feel different than other duty pistols on the market and in many ways, it feels better. The Performance Duty Trigger is perhaps the best striker-fired trigger to ship on a factory gun and really makes a difference when shooting fast.

While we did find the bore axis to be a bit higher than some other pistols like the Glock 17, it's only something you'll notice if you shoot several different striker-fired pistols side by side for comparison. Overall, the Walther PDP is an excellent defensive pistol and is, in many ways, an upgrade over its contemporaries.

Walther PDP Pro Optic Ready Semi-Automatic, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, (3) 18 Round Magazines, 4.6" Threaded Barrel - Black - 2844176
Walther PDP Pro Optic Ready Semi-Automatic, Striker Fired, 9x19mm Compact Pistol, (3) 18 Round Magazines, 4.6" Threaded Barrel - Black - 2844176
$799 99 $899.99

Walther PDP Vs. Glock 17

It should come as no surprise that in a discussion of the best striker-fired pistols, we compared the Walther PDP against the original polymer frame duty gun, the Glock 17. Watch our video with UFC fighter Kenny Florian to learn more!

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