Walther PDP
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Walther PDP
| image = Walther PDP Compact 4".jpg
| caption = Walther PDP Compact grip frame and 4" barrel length slide
| origin = Germany
| type = Semi-automatic pistol
| is_ranged = yes
| manufacturer = Walther Arms
| used_by = See Users
| design_date = 2021
| production_date = 2021–present
| variants = See Variants
| cartridge = 9×19mm Parabellum
9×21mm
| feed = 15 round detachable box magazine (compact)
18 round detachable box magazine (full size)
| sights = Three dot iron sights
| length = 8.5 in (full size)
| part_length = 4, 4.5, or 5 in
| weight = 23.8 oz (full size, without magazine)
26.9 oz (with empty magazine)
| width = 1.34 in
| height = 5.7 in (full size)
| action = Short recoil operated, locked breech
| unit_cost = $649
}}
The Walther PDP (Performance Duty Pistol) is a 9×19mm Parabellum semi-automatic pistol designed in 2021 by Walther Arms as a replacement for the Walther PPQ.{{Cite web |last=Flanigan |first=Eve |date=2021-03-02 |title=Walther Rolls Out New Performance Duty Pistol (PDP) Line |url=https://www.alloutdoor.com/2021/03/02/walther-pdp/ |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=All Outdoor |language=en-US}}
History
The first pre-production PDPs were distributed in 2020,{{Cite web|last=Poole|first=Eric R.|date=2021-04-01|title=Walther PDP 9mm Pistol: Full Review|url=https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/walther-pdp-9mm-pistol-full-review/388834|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Guns and Ammo|language=en}} and the final design was released in February 2021.{{Cite web|title=New for 2021: Walther PDP Full-Size Handgun|url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2021/2/16/new-for-2021-walther-pdp-full-size-handgun|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Shooting Illustrated|language=en}}
The PDP has been designed to be more modular than previous Walther handguns, and has been described by Walther as their flagship handgun.{{Cite web|last=B|first=Eric|date=2021-02-23|title=New Flagship Handgun from Walther Arms: Performance Duty Pistol (PDP)|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/02/23/walther-performance-duty-pistol-pdp/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US}}
Design
The PDP is a striker-fired, recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum,{{Cite web|date=2021-04-06|title=NRA Gun of the Week: Walther Full-Size PDP 4.5|url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/nra-gun-of-the-week-walther-full-size-pdp-4-5/|website=American Rifleman}} with a longer grip and larger magazine capacity than the previous Walther PPQ design.
The PDP grip uses a custom texture, which makes acquisition of the red dot easier, and improves handling of the pistol in adverse weather conditions.{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Seth|title=Unboxing the New Walther PDP Pistol|url=https://www.guns.com/news/2021/02/16/unboxing-the-new-walther-pdp-pistol|access-date=2021-07-30|website=Guns.com|language=en}}
The slide on the PDP is milled,{{Cite web|title=New for 2021: Walther PDP Full-Size Handgun|url=https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2021/2/16/new-for-2021-walther-pdp-full-size-handgun|access-date=2021-08-02|website=Shooting Illustrated|language=en}} allowing it to accept red dot sights without prior modification,{{Cite web|last=Flanigan|first=Eve|date=2021-06-16|title=Walther's New PDP 9mm: All It's Cracked Up to Be?|url=https://www.alloutdoor.com/2021/06/16/walther-pdp-9mm/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=All Outdoor|language=en-US}} and the slide contains serrations above the surface, making it easier to operate.{{Cite web |last=Martens |first=Jake |date=2021-05-25 |title=Review: Walther PDP |url=https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2021/5/25/review-walther-pdp |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=Shooting Sports USA |language=en}}
The three-dot iron sight line features the same mounting method that is used on Glock pistols, meaning the PDP can accept aftermarket Glock iron sight lines.
The trigger is cross-compatible with the PPQ, but is lighter due to a shortened takeup. It has a trigger pull of approximately {{convert|25|N|lb-f|1|lk=on|abbr=on}}.
Variants
The PDP was originally offered in full-size and compact grip frame variants.{{Cite web |last=Martens |first=Jake |date=2021-05-25 |title=Review: Walther PDP |url=https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2021/5/25/review-walther-pdp |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=Shooting Sports USA |language=en}}
In 2022, Walther released a new competition-oriented variant of the PDP at that year's SHOT Show, the PDP SD Pro, which includes a threaded barrel, reinforced optic cut, flared magwell extension, and an improved trigger.{{Cite web|last=F.|first=Benjamin|date=2022-01-17|title=[SHOT 2022] Walther Unveils PDP SD Pro|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2022/01/17/shot-2022-walther-unveils-pdp-sd-pro/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US}}
In late 2022, Walther released the PDP F-Series which features “reduced trigger reach, reduced grip circumference, and reduced force necessary to operate the slide and you truly have the perfect tool for those with smaller hands.”{{cite web | url=https://waltherarms.com/pdp-f-series | title=Series - PDP F-Series }}
In December 2023, Walther released the PDP Match{{cite web | url=https://waltherarms.com/walther-pdp-match | title=PDP Full Size Match 5" }} and PDP Match Steel Frame.{{cite web | url=https://waltherarms.com/pdp-match-steel-frame | title=PDP Match Full Size Steel Frame 5" }}
In May 2024, the PDP and its compact variants{{cite web |title=Walther wins German Special Forces Tender |url=https://carl-walther.com/defense/news/spezialkraefte-ausschreibung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522091314/https://carl-walther.com/defense/news/spezialkraefte-ausschreibung |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=carl-walther.com}} were adopted as the standard issue pistol for the German special forces, having won the "System Pistole Spezialkräfte" programme bid{{cite web |date=2023-01-31 |title=Bundeswehr schreibt System Pistole Spezialkräfte aus |url=https://soldat-und-technik.de/2023/01/bewaffnung/33875/system-pistole-spezialkraefte/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=soldat-und-technik.de |language=de-DE}} to supply up to 6,500 pistols to the Bundeswehr. {{Cite web |date=2024-05-10 |title=System Pistole Spezialkräfte: Carl Walther GmbH liefert neue P14 und P14K der Bundeswehr |url=https://soldat-und-technik.de/2024/05/sut-plus/38063/system-pistole-spezialkraefte-walther-pdp-liefert-neue-p14-und-p14k-der-bundeswehr/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=soldat-und-technik.de |language=de-DE}}
Users
:* Bundeswehr Special Forces - designated P14 (PDP Full-Size) and P14K (PDP Compact),{{cite web | url=https://carl-walther.com/defense/news/spezialkraefte-ausschreibung | title=Walther wins German Special Forces Tender | date=2024}} replacing the P8, P9, and P12 variants by Heckler & Koch)
::*Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) - Command Special Forces
::*Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine (KSM) - Marine Special Forces
::*Special Forces of the Military Police
- {{flag|United States}}
:* Pennsylvania State Police.{{cite web | url=https://www.police1.com/police-products/firearms/pennsylvania-state-police-selects-walther-pdp-as-official-duty-handgun | title=Pennsylvania State Police selects Walther PDP as official duty handgun | date=12 February 2024 }}
:* Brevard County Sheriff's Office (FL.){{cite web | url=https://www.police1.com/police-products/firearms/how-the-switch-to-9mm-got-even-better-for-this-florida-sheriffs-office | title=How the switch to 9mm got even better for this Florida sheriff's office | date=27 December 2023 }}
:* Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.{{cite web | url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/07/25/fdacs-adopts-walther-pdp/ | title=Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adopts Walther PDP | date=25 July 2023 }}
Reception
American Rifleman called the PDP an "excellent addition to the market that will allow Walther to compete strongly against the established leaders", praising its "best-in-class trigger, excellent controls and exceptional accuracy."
The author said that it outperformed other striker-fired pistols he had used in the past, and went on to call the PDP his "current choice" for striker-fired pistols.{{Cite web |title=Review: Walther Arms PDP |url=https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/review-walther-arms-pdp/ |access-date=2021-07-26 |website=American Rifleman |language=en}} Guns & Ammo described it as "the most modular and versatile pistol designed by Walther", also noting its accuracy and high quality trigger.
Guns.com called the PDP's ergonomics "revolutionary",{{Cite web |title=Walther PDP vs Beretta APX in a 15+1 Shootout |url=https://www.guns.com/news/reviews/walther-pdp-vs-beretta-apx-in-a-151-shootout |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Guns.com |language=en}} and named it as one of the best guns of the year.{{Cite web |last=Doerr |first=Annette |title=Best New Guns Released in 2021 |url=https://www.guns.com/news/2021/07/05/best-new-guns-2021 |access-date=2021-07-12 |website=Guns.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.carl-walther.de/uploads/media/manuals/285%2020%2004%20a%20PDP%20Intl.%20LR%20gesamt.pdf Official owner's manual]
{{Walther}}
Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2021
Category:Walther semi-automatic pistols
Category:Semi-automatic pistols of Germany