Walther SSP

[Lane]

Does anyone have new information on the Walther SSP in 22 and 32? I know some of our European board members have had access to pre production units. Someone said that the guns would be on the American market this spring and cost in the range of the Pardini's. I'am holding off buying a 22 and a 32 Pardini till I read some feed back from our European friends concerning problems and shooting evaluations. Not crazy about the top loading mags. Never had a pistol that used this method, so it might be an unfounded concern. Got my fingers crossed that the Euro will continue to go down.

[Neil Foster]

I had just received an email the other day from a friend at Walther. They have not submitted a sample for approval to BATF as of yet. My friend indicated that the sample they will have at the Shot Show in Las Vegas will be the one submitted. Per his comment "I hope it works after the show". So it may be a while until the approval comes(if it still works :-) ).
Neil

PS I have a Pardini SP and love it...........

[David Levene]

Not crazy about the top loading mags. Never had a pistol that used this method, so it might be an unfounded concern.

Having shot top loading FAS pistols for many years, the only problem I found with the system was when I tried firing a single shot without bothering to put the magazine in. As the ejector is part of the magazine you can guarantee, or so it seems, that the empty case will fall down into the magazine well and get stuck under the magazine ejector spring.

This is not a problem with the gun, it is a problem of the "nut on the butt" not using the gun in the way it was designed.

[James Hurr]

The top loading mag makes for a near perfect grip. Grip loading mags usually compromise the grip, foward loading mags make for an over long pistol which does not work for me.

It can be a problem if you fumble ejecting a misfire, you can't then yank the magazine out from underneath to clear the resulting jam.

I did have one occasion when the firing pin broke, preventing the slide retracting, so one in the chamber, full magazine, no easy way to make safe or even safe-ish by removing the mag.

That said I liked my FASs and had been waiting for the SSP, which is already over six months late and of which there is no sign.
For some reason its equally hard to to get hold of a new FAS in Aus, so I went for an Izh35M which is great so far.

Just need to finish the 3D copy router and learn to shoot now....

[grillk]

I contacted both Walther Germany and Walther USA recently

From Walther USA they replied that they won't have it before 6 to 9 months.

Walter Germany hasn't replied yet.

But there is a spanish (Barcelona) armoury that seems to sell it

http://www.arminse.es/principal/frame1.htm

The list price is 1450 Euros .

[Neil Foster]

The only problem in bringing in a gun from a foreign country to the USA is the situation of no BATF approval. I do not know the law, but I suspect that on a non-approved handgun (I do not the situation on long-guns) you may not be able to import one.
Neil

[Ernie Rodriguez]

Neil is correct.It will take at least 3/4 months from the time Walther releases the pistol for export,until BATF gives it an OK for dealers to sell them.Earls Repair Svcs,Tewksbury,Ma -who is one of the dealer for Walther,says the SSP will not be released until Walther feels that the pistol is relatively trouble free.

[Luis Paz (grillk)]

BATF approval it's not an issue for me since i live in Europe (Portugal),and it would be relatively simple to get it from Spain since it's within the EU .
But if it's still unreliable, better wait a few months and make sure they troubleshoot it properly before buying, maybe it'll also become cheaper when more people sell it .
I'll keep an eye on the subject and post if i get more info on it.

thanks

[Luis Paz]

Just got the reply from Walther Germany, the ssp will be available
in Portugal around the end of february.

[Lane]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It looks like the submital gun is at the Shot show in Las Vegas and adding four months for BATF approvel. Mid summer is looking like the time frame before it will be on the market here in the States. With Europe getting the gun a few months before us. It will give some time for feed back as to it's plus and minuses.