Steel Frame
As the name suggests, this handgun is a standard 5-inch PDP, but instead of a polymer receiver, it has one made of steel. In addition, it comes with Walther’s Dynamic Performance Trigger and a flared magazine well.
Competitors asked for a steel-framed gun specifically for the added weight. It weighs 41 ounces compared to the 27 ounces of the polymer PDP Match. This added weight gives it the recoil impulse closer to the guns that dominate these competitions, namely double-stack 1911s and metal CZ competition pistols. Heavier guns have more mass to absorb energy.
It is not just about recoil, though. Balance is improved as well. Generally, I feel polymer-framed guns are a bit nose-heavy, which is true of the standard PDP Match. The steel frame gives this gun a more neutral weight distribution. It sits better in the hand and swings nicely from target to target.
The slide has identical features to most other PDP pistols, including great serrations and a decorative Browning-type cut that I really like to use for slide manipulations.
Features
The optics cut is Walther’s improved 2.0 design. It’s a plate system with lugs, so the optic is not solely secured by the screws. This new cut is a good improvement over the old system, which did have some problems.
Unfortunately, the PDP doesn’t come with any optics plates. You get a voucher for one free plate from Walther, but you have to order it. I wish they came with the gun. There are reports that plates go out of stock, so keep that in mind.
One of my favorite features is the Dynamic Performance Trigger, considered one of the best striker-fired triggers on the market. It’s crisp and breaks at around 3 pounds with a short reset. You can work this trigger fast.
Other than the weight of this gun, the grip shows the biggest change from the standard PDP. The Steel Frame grip is fatter. The shape is almost the same as the standard PDP, but it fills larger hands better. In addition, the grip panels are removable, which is not the case on other PDPs.
Personally, I like the Steel Frame’s grip shape and texture, which extends high up the grip to help lock in the support hand. The removable panels give you the option of adding different grip panels with even larger profiles and more aggressive textures. Lok Grips even makes brass panels, if the steel frame is not heavy enough for you. You can customize this grip to exactly what you need for competition.
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Barrel Length: 5 inches
- Weight: 41 ounces
- Trigger Pull: ~3 pounds
- Overall Length: 8.37 inches
- Height: 5.75 inches
- Magazine Capacity: 18 or 20; 3 mags included
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Frame: Steel
Shooting Experience
The PDP Match Steel Frame is very accurate on the range, thanks in large part to the outstanding trigger. Accuracy and trigger feel really do rival a 2011. The gun is flat-shooting, and drills and mag changes flowed easily. It only took me a few magazines to get dialed into this gun.
I was a bit surprised that even though the gun didn’t flip much, when it returned to zero, it was a little unstable. What I mean is when the gun tracks back after tilting up from recoil, it doesn’t settle back easily but is somewhat bouncy. I found myself having to use the takedown lever as a gas pedal. Thumb pressure from my support hand helped stabilize the gun and sped up my shooting.
I think the recoil spring was returning the slide into battery so forcefully that it was shaking the gun. Many competitors feel that PDPs are over-sprung from the factory, and there is a trend to install reduced-power recoil springs to soften the impulse.
I have two other nitpicks. This pistol seems to get abnormally hot. Now, this is not scientific, as I didn’t take temperatures. Maybe it’s because it is all steel, but it seemed to heat up faster than most guns.
Secondly, Steel Frame PDPs are not fully compatible with standard PDP holsters. Some PDP holsters work, but many do not. Note, though, that magazines are completely interchangeable.
Pros & Cons
