Steel Frames
Last year, Walther introduced the PDP Match Full Size Steel Frame, meant to be the ultimate competition gun. For 2024, Walther is adding to the Steel frame family with a PDP Compact Steel Frame and PDP Full Size Steel Frame (non-match version).
The Compact has a 4-inch barrel and retails for $1,699, as does the Full Size with its 4.5-inch barrel. The Compact and the Full Size don’t have the Performance flat trigger and the magazine well of the Match Steel Frame, but otherwise they are similar, just smaller.
I got to shoot all these at the SHOT Show Industry Day at the range. They all feel weighty and very nice in the hand. Before polymer was a thing, guns were steel and heavy. There is just something satisfying about a steel-framed gun. And they all shoot fantastic – even the standard PDP trigger is excellent.
PD380
I was blown away by this little .380 ACP. The gun barely moves, and it’s an absolute pleasure to shoot. At an MSRP of $469, I think this is one of the best deals of the show.
The PD380 is a single-stack 380 with 9+1 capacity. It looks like a small PDP with the same slide serrations and grip texture, but Walther added a fully ambidextrous paddle-style magazine release.
This pistol is a double-action hammer-fired gun; both the double-action and single-action trigger pulls are excellent. It also has an easy-rack slide and slide-mounted safety lever. Finally, it takes Glock-style sights.
This gun is built for new shooters or shooters with weaker hands, but I think it will be popular with anyone who wants a small and concealable gun that’s also fun to shoot.
