I like new guns. I am a gun nerd and always have been. I wait patiently for the newest, latest and greatest guns to come out, and I eagerly look forward to watching YouTube videos, reading reviews, and looking at those glossy full-page spreads in the gun mags.
I would love to purchase every gun that comes out and have it in my hands to find out the truth behind the new gun hype, but my budget does not allow such excess. But when a company I love comes out with a new product, I tend to sell a gun or two to make room for something I’m really excited about.
The Walther CCP was one such gun. I love Walther firearms, and think they offer an excellent product for a competitive price point. Nothing against Glocks, but not even the most dedicated Glock fan can say a Walther looks bad, and no one will ever confuse a Walther for a Glock, or even a Smith & Wesson. Walthers stand by themselves as unique pistols, from the PPK series to the uncommon P5, and even the modern polymer PPQ.
The Walther CCP came along at a very convenient time for me. I was looking to take a step down in size from my Glock 29 for the coming summer months. (Which is roughly March to September in Florida.) I do not care for the ultra-micros like the S&W Bodyguard 380, or the Ruger LCP (just too small and too puny of a caliber). So I decided I wanted a compact gun in 9mm, with a single stack magazine, and lightweight if possible. I followed the CCP for a while, but never heard of a solid release date.
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However, a few weeks ago I get a text from my local gun store, the owner letting me know he had a CCP and was putting it away for me. A quick sale of one of my full-size SIGs and I had the CCP in my anxious paws.
First Impressions
The Walther CCP comes in a standard plastic case, which is quite heavy duty. It comes with two shiny little eight-round magazines, some small accessories, including a takedown tool. The weapon features Walther’s unique styling, giving it an understated level of uniqueness. It’s not another block of black plastic. Its slide features front and rear serrations, with the front serrations broken up by Walther’s very attractive roll mark.
The weapon is superbly comfortable in the hand. The grip features a single finger groove, more like a speed bump than anything. The grip is aggressively textured in a unique alternating path of serrations. The weapon features:
- Ambidextrous magazine release. However, it’s push button and not the paddle style. I prefer the paddle in all honesty.
- A frame-mounted safety. Similar in placement to a 1911.
- Short Picatinny rail.
- Three different front sights.
I have large hands; the Walther allows me just enough grip space to fit my entire hand. (No hanging pinky.) The Walther is quite thin and nice and lightweight, which makes it nice and concealable.
The Bang Bang
Shooting the CCP is quite pleasant, but this is where we see our biggest flaw. The trigger on mine was somewhat disappointing when compared to the absolutely wonderful PPQ trigger. The trigger pull feels gritty, but is no major hang-up. The trigger is longer than most striker fires, but shorter and lighter than most hammer-fired compacts. (Think LC9).
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It has been solid now for 300 hundred rounds (including an instructor’s course) with one odd hiccup. I was ejecting the magazine and clearing the weapon to reset my targets. As I ejected the magazine, a round was stripped from it. It’s the only time it’s happened.
The barrel is fixed, like the Walther’s of old. So what does this do? Well, it helps in the accuracy department, which is something most small guns lack. I actually used this weapon along many full-sized duty weapons during my course and scored right alongside the bigger Glock 17s, 22s, and S&W M&Ps. The sites were dead on for me out of the box; the number 1 site is the default. Oh yeah, the recoil was nil, so let’s go into that.
What Makes The CCP Different
The CCP uses something Walther calls the soft coil system. This is basically a gas-retarded system that reduces recoil, and keeps the weapon from cycling until the round has left the barrel. Some H&K fans may remember that this system was used in the P7, aka squeeze cocker. This system reduces the recoil typically associated with a blowback pistol. For the weapon to maintain its fixed barrel, it has to be blowback.
This gas-retarded system works wonders to improve accuracy and reduce recoil. Typically small and lightweight 9mm pistols tend to have a bit of slap and snap when it comes to recoil. The CCP, however, is very light in the recoil department. The muzzle flip is minimal as well, both feeling as if they belong to larger, heavier pistols. The CCP doesn’t beat your hand up when firing it, which makes it more comfortable to train with over long periods of time.
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Something else that makes the CCP stand apart is the ease in racking the slide. When the striker is de-cocked, pulling the slide back is ridiculously easy. In fact, the first few times I racked the weapon I was expecting so much more resistance that I surprised myself. My petite wife can rack it without issue, and she can hardly manage an LC9, or even a Glock.
The low recoil, and easy-to-rack slide make the weapon perfect for smaller shooters, newbies, and even those faced with disabilities like arthritis, or underdeveloped muscles. The CCP is a wonderful little weapon for all age groups.
The Ugly
The Walther CCP is a superb weapon, works wonders, is functional, reliable and comfortable, and outside of the gritty trigger is a joy to shoot. So what’s the downside? Well, the takedown procedure. I mentioned a takedown tool before. The weapon requires the use of such a tool to disassemble. This is a major problem in my opinion, and I believe Walther needs to get rid of it in future versions. (If such a thing will exist.) Luckily, the tool isn’t proprietary, and even the manual says a screwdriver can be substituted.
Price Of Entry
Walther priced the weapon just right. They squeezed it low enough to compete with established subcompacts. The MSRP is $485, but I paid $390 for mine. Right now the pistol seems to be going right at MSRP online, but once the initial hype is over I expect the price to drop to a more realistic street price.
The CCP is an excellent pistol, and anyone looking for a subcompact 9mm will not be disappointed with it.
Have you had any experience with the CCP? If so, share your thoughts in the section below: