Walther PK380 Pistol
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Walther has introduced the PK380 pistol: a new .380 ACP handgun based on their very popular Walther P22.
The polymer framed PK380 is not a micro-gun like the Ruger LCP or Sig Sauer P380. Rather, it is a polymer framed compact handgun offering 8+1 rounds of the mild-shooting, but reasonably useful .380 ACP. Weight is under 20 ounces (unloaded), and it sports a 3 2/3″ barrel.
Unlike many of the micro .380’s, the Walther PK380 has very usable sights in a three-dot configuration. The sight radius is a respectable 5.4″. Also, the sights are steel, not plastic.
The new Walther pistol does have a slide-mounted, manual safety. Like the magazine release, the safety is ambidextrous.
Initially, there are three configurations of the PK380: the black, the two-tone, and the black with a laser. A limited-run “First Edition” also will be available for a short time. Limited to only 2000 units, the “First Edition” ships with a nylon holster and is marked as “First Edition” on the slide.
The Walther PK380 features:
- Lightweight Polymer Grip
- External Hammer
- Ambidextrous Magazine Release
- Ambidextrous Manual Safety
- Picatinny-Style Accessory Rail
The handgun only ships with one magazine, a significant drawback in my opinion. The “First Edition” model ships with a second magazine, but sets you back an additional $63.
MSRP is $362 for the black PK380.
11 Comments
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
I think you mean the Sig P238, not P380. Kahr offers a new model named the P380, which is a very small gun.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Thanks for catching that. Obvious error on my part.
–Richard
October 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I just picked up a PK380 last Thursday. The quality of the gun is outstanding, but having bought it sight unseen I now regret doing so. I read reviews that said it was slightly bigger than a P22, but in reality it is about as large as a compact P99. The exposed hammer spur and the pinky finger groove on the magazine make it entirely too big for concealed carry using a pocket holster. Unless you plan on using a belt slide holster for concealed carry look for something else.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Actually, this gun fills my hand slightly more than my Walther P-22. I’m very pleased with mine, and I didn’t buy it for maximum ability to conceal it. It’s substantially bigger than, say, a Ruger LCP. I haven’t set mine down next to the new Sig-Sauer 238 (a .380 caliber 1911 style mini-pistol) to compare them, but it seems shorter than the older Sig 232. While it isn’t the smallest possible concealable package, it is a nice medium-size gun. It’s extremely accurate in my hands, even better than my P-22 (I have small hands). It isn’t the kind of gun you slip into a pocket holster and then slip both into your pocket, no. But in my hands, it’s vastly more accurate than something smaller. I love my PK380, it’s exactly what I was looking for.
January 13th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Everything I expected. I can practice with my P-22 and same ammo expense and get almost the same feel when I switch to the new PK-380. Just exactly what I had hoped it would be. Now, if I could only find plenty of ammo. 380 still hard to get around mid-Tennessee.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Just got my pk380 today. Had to go to a seperate shop to get ammo and more mags. In middle TN, the outpost armory outside of murfreesboro usually has tons of every kind of ammo. They had lots of 380 ammo, defensive and target, where walmart and all of the other shops in town didnt. I have huge hands and the pk 380 fit in my hand perfect. I chose it because I have 2 walther p22s, and wanted a bigger caliber. If it shoots anywhere near as well as my p22, then I’ll be more than happy with it.
March 1st, 2010 at 7:50 pm
How is the recoil? I’ve only shot .22 handgun in the past and the sales rep said that this is very comparable, so I bought it. Haven’t shot it yet but liked that the grip was small enough for my hands, as well as the slide was easier to operate than my husbands 9mm Beretta.
March 4th, 2010 at 12:11 am
I got my PK380 a few days ago. I didn’t even get to shoot it, my wife took it and loved it. She shot about 50 rounds,while I shot my glock 22. She would have shot more but ammo is hard to find. Field stripping it for cleaning is a little difficult you have to use this key that comes with the pistol to brake it down and you can use this same key to lock it, were it will not shoot, if you have kids in the house for safty. All in all it was a good buy
March 6th, 2010 at 8:47 am
I got this for my wife. She likes how easy the slide pulls back. It fits both of us very well. She likes how it handles when she fires it. The break down key and fixed sights are the only draw back that I have found sofar. we are well pleased with it. Ammo is a little hard to get. We plan on reloading.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
just got mine and really enjoy shooting it. question: how do you insert the spring during reassembly? have difficulty with that aspect.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
John: i have the same problem sometimes with my pk380. the best way i have found to get the spring and rod to compress together is, put both pieces together and put the spring in first while holding the cap of the rod with 2 fingers. hold the spring and rod at a slight angle, with your other hand, use 2 fingers to hold the spring as straight as you can and push the rod through the hole, still at an angle and just lower it onto the barrel. i hope this helps but by now im sure you have accomplished this feat.