First Impressions
Walther always sends the gun in a nice box that you don’t feel silly taking to the range. I appreciate that. There were a few things I immediately noticed about the Pro-X when I pulled it from the box. One, it’s a long handgun. Granted, a compensator will always add length, but this Parker Mountain Machine compensator is a large one. While I AIWB carry my original PDP Compact all the time, I couldn’t see myself doing the same with this gun in hand.
The second noticeable feature is the oversized magwell that looks like all it wants to do is speed reloads. This XL magwell not only sucks in those mags but also acts as a stabilizing shelf for my pinky finger, which in turn helps mitigate recoil.
Related Review: Walther PDP – Thick in Size, Superb in Performance
The last new addition to this compensated model is the Dynamic Performance Trigger, which isn’t entirely new, but is new to me. I love the trigger on the old PDP, so any upgrade here is only a cherry on top of an already wonderful sundae. This new trigger is flat, as opposed to the curved trigger of the original, and adjustable. I didn’t find any need to adjust it out of the box and was eager to hit the range after a few dry-fire pulls.
The Pro-X PMM carries over a lot of great features from the original PDP. I’ve always thought the PDP grip feels a little thick, but in all the best ways. It’s only slightly wider than a G19 and welds to the hand nicely. I love this grip texture and wish more guns could apply the same feel.
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 18+1
- Overall Length: 8.5 inches
- Barrel Length: 4.6 inches
- Width: 1.4 inches
- Height: 5.7 inches
- Trigger Pull: 4.5 pounds +/- 1 pound
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Weight: 1.8 pounds
Comparisons
The most obvious comparison to the PDP Pro-X would be the original PDP, which I already own. The Pro-X adds length, obviously, but also a touch of width with the flared magwell.
Related: Home of the PDP and PPK – Factory Tour of Walther's German Plant
I recently reviewed the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield Plus Carry Comp, and you can see how the two compensated pistols differ in size. While I never attempted to carry the PDP Pro-X, I did carry the Shield Plus Carry Comp. It was comfortable enough that I could carry it every day in the AIWB position.
Initial Shots
From the moment I first shot the Pro-X, I loved it. I’ve never shot a gun so well on the first magazine. The gun is one of the flattest-shooting, lowest-recoiling pistols I’ve ever shot. The original PDP also handled recoil very well, but the Pro-X takes it to a whole new level, especially during strings of rapid fire or double-taps. You can thank the PMM compensator at the front of the barrel for aiding in that reduction.
I shot it without any optics first, and although it was immediately impressive, I felt the sights could be improved. These are a holdover from the original lineup, and while good enough for self-defense, they are simple sights. With everything else the gun has going for it, it’s a bit of a letdown to see such simple polymer sights. It makes sense for the original, but I was hoping the Pro-X version would offer an upgrade for those who don’t want to mount an optic. The good thing is that there is plenty of aftermarket support for the PDP lineup.
The trigger was also impressive right out of the gate. The PDP and PPQ series of triggers have been nothing short of spectacular, and I tell people all the time that my PDP is my most accurate gun. The Pro-X and the Performance trigger have since challenged that notion. I’ve never picked up a gun, shot one magazine through it, and immediately thought, “I want to go shoot a competition” – until now.
I’m by no means a competition shooter, either, but the Pro-X just has that feel to it. I wanted to find the nearest steel match and come in second to last – ok, last place; let’s be honest. If there is a gun that will push me into shooting competitions this year, it will be this one.
Running Up the Round Count
Because this gun makes me want to shoot a competition, I decided to add an optic. I went with the Vortex Defender-XL, a red dot sight that could find its way into an EDC holster or onto the competition circuit. Mounting the optic did require me to get a plate, since the optic has a Delta Point Pro footprint. After that, the process was simple. It has a giant window, which makes it quick and easy to pick up the dot on target.
It’s also shake-awake, but after one range trip I left the gun in my G*Outdoors Handgunner bag. Because the button was depressed, it killed the battery. The battery on this optic is easy to replace, though, and doesn’t require the optic to be dismounted, which lets you replace the battery anywhere.
I’ve fed this gun all sorts of ammo, mainly of the Federal variety. It dined on lots of Federal Syntech, Federal Punch, Federal Hydra-shok, S&B, and small amounts of Hornady Critical Defense and Blazer Brass 115-grain. The most common failure was a failure to lock back, which happened with some consistency. Of course, on my second to last range trip I experienced three stovepipes, which hadn’t happened in the nearly 1,000 rounds prior to that. When I told a buddy about it, he asked what kind of ammo I was shooting and if it was among the approved ammo listed on Walther's site. This caught me off guard, but sure enough, it turned out the Blazer 115-grain was behind the issues.
To push myself more, I shot a handful of “Dot Torture Drills.” The flared magwell is amazing for quick mag changes. I also did several double-taps and Mozambique drills as I was allowed at my range. The compensator was able to keep the groups on the chest much closer than the groups out of my older PDP.
If I keep the gun for competition, I will be sure to keep you updated on whether the issue is recurring. At this point, I figure it might be time for a cleaning. This brings up one of the possible downsides of the Pro-X, which is that the compensator is locked in place with Rocksett. It can be removed by soaking in hot water or having large enough muscles, but it wasn’t a step I was willing to take quite yet without committing to the purchase of the gun.
The compensator is building up a little bit of carbon toward the end of the barrel, but it should be easy enough to clean without a full disassembly. Overall, shooting this gun hasn’t really changed since I first picked it up. It remains a favorite of mine to shoot and one I want to take the range every time. It’s not just me, either. It is a hit with anyone I happen to be with at the range.
Pros & Cons
