Why The Walther PDP Compact Optic-Ready Semi-Auto Is A Perfect CCW 

Make Mine A Walther PDP Compact 9mm 

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Say the name "Walther" in the firearms community, and images of quality and performance will come to mind. Walther Arms has been renowned worldwide for its innovation since Carl Walther and his son, Fritz, created the first semi-automatic pistol in 1886. Today, the innovative spirit of its founders lives on as the company celebrates 125-plus years as one of the world’s leading premium manufacturers of sporting, defense, and competition firearms. 

Today, the PPQ, P99, and PPS handguns continue to be trusted choices for law enforcement agencies around the globe. Meanwhile, the Walther Arms lineup of competition target and specialty firearms delivers quality and performance that is second to none. One gun that stands out in their lineup is the PDP Compact Optic-Ready. I believe it is a perfect CCW gun. 

Walther PDP Compact OR Details 

Walther’s PDP Compact Optic-Ready models are built around what I consider to be the future of handguns. Pistols that are designed around the use of a red dot optic. All the new PDP versions come optics ready with various mounting plates to fit just about any major optic on the market. However, Walther goes much further than that and designs the gun according to what they describe as “Red Dot Ergonomics.” This boils down to a design that enables the shooter the ability to maximize the benefit of utilizing a red dot on their pistol. This ergonomic design addresses that and helps us get the dot on the target more quickly. Most notable for me was the excellent feel of the grip on my hands. 

Walther PDP Compact’s Perfect Fit 

Walther has designed the PDP Compact Optic-Ready with a more profound sweep at the bottom of the mag well and included deeper thumb depressions on the sides of the gun. They have also designed noticeable palm swells on the grips and flattened the back of the grip out slightly. The PDP comes with what Walther has dubbed “Performance Duty Texture” on the grip. I found it to be a good balance between grip and grief. I was able to maintain a solid purchase of the gun, but it was not so aggressive that it chewed my hands up. It is a modular pistol with three different backstraps to fit most shooters’ hands. While this seems to be a more familiar design feature, it is much appreciated by customers who can truly make the gun fit their hands without a trip to the gunsmith. 

Walther PDP Compact Slide & Sights 

The slide has a unique look as Walther has gone with serious serrations on the gun. Called Super Terrain Serrations, they are aggressive and come above the surface of the slide. This benefit is an absolutely positive grip as you manipulate the slide. There is no slipping whatsoever. Walther bowed to the fact that many people would install their own sights, so they used Glock template sight cuts. The sights on the gun I received were a three-dot system with the rear adjustable for windage and elevation. At the time I am writing this, Walther is making various mounting plates to support several popular red dots on the market. 

Walther PDP Compact Range Impressions 

Performance-wise, the gun is a shooter. The trigger breaks at just about 4.8 pounds. Walther is using their Performance Duty Trigger, and I liked it. The “wall” that we hit in the press was much easier to push through, and as such, I got much more trigger control. My first impression of the gun was possibly a little less than professional and sounded like, “Hell yeah!” Shooting ragged holes was effortless, and follow-up shots during pedal-to-the-metal drills were fast. 

The PDP Compact Optic-Ready is built with the future in sight. This is a pistol dedicated to being optics-ready. Some other companies have dipped their toes into the red dot world but have yet to commit with the heart that Walther has with the PDP. The PDP is more than just a red dot-ready blaster, though. It checks all the boxes needed for an exceptional CCW/EDC gun. It is slender, light and very easy to carry with no harsh edges. Walther has done a great job with their subsequent evolution, and by including a variety of sizes, it is sure to be a hit. 

For more, visit waltherarms.com. 

SPECIFICATIONS: Walther PDP Compact 4” (Optics Ready) 

CALIBER: 9mm 
ACTION: Striker-fired semiauto 
BARREL: 4 inches 
OA LENGTH: 7.5 inches 
WEIGHT: 21.4 ounces (empty) 
GRIPS: Textured polymer 
SIGHTS: White dot front, adjustable rear 
FINISH: Black stainless 
CAPACITY: 10+1, 15+1 
MSRP: $649 
URL: waltherarms.com 

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