German
Guns
Gun's World Logo


 PPK Home


Firing the Walther PPK


There are two ways to fire this pistol - double action and single action.

For a quick first shot when fine accuracy is not necessary, point the pistol at the target, push the safety lever to "OFF SAFE" and take aim. To fire, pull the trigger all the way through the full length of its travel. This cocks and releases the hammer, and fires the pistol, all in one motion.

After the first shot the hammer will be cocked and all shots will be single action. If you wish to fire the first shot single action also, point the pistol at the target and move the safety to "OFF SAFE." Keeping you finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger, hold the pistol firmly and carefully cock the hammer by pulling it all the way back. In single action the trigger is much further back in the trigger guard and the trigger pull is much shorter and lighter.

WARNING: The single action trigger pull is much lighter and shorter than the double action pull. Before you put your finger on the trigger, be sure you look at the trigger or hammer to see if you are in single or double action.

WARNING: If a shot sounds unusual...not loud enough or too loud...or if the recall feels different, CEASE FIRE, put the safety on, take out the magazine, unload and check the barrel. It could be plugged by a bullet from a defective cartridge. DO NOT FIRE AGAIN until the obstructed barrel is unblocked. If you do fire again the gun might BLOW UP AND KILL OR INJURE you or others, or the gun could be damaged.

DON'T SHOOT AT A HARD SURFACE, OR AT WATER. Bullets can glance off hard surfaces like rocks, glass bottles, or the surface of water. When fired at shallow angles, they can even skip off the ground. Such ricochets travel in unpredictable directions and can cause injury far away.

TO CLEAR A JAM:

  • Keep the pistol pointed in a safe direction.

  • Put the safety "ON SAFE."

  • Take out the magazine.

  • Pull the slide open and clear the jammed cartridge.

  • If it is necessary to lock the slide open, put an empty magazine in the pistol and pull the slide open, then take the magazine out again, and clear the jam.

WARNING: Do not let live ammunition fall onto a hard surface, sharp or pointed objects. It could go off.