The Walther P99 is a classic, sometimes underappreciated, handgun. Its awesome grip, innovative two-stage trigger, and flush de-cocker button make it a great pistol even today. But times change, and the P99 is two generations out of date, behind the PPQ and the current PDP line. So, Walther is sending the old girl off in style with the P99 Final Edition. It hearkens back to the original P99 while keeping all the upgrades implemented since the gun’s 1997 introduction.
I’ve been running the gun for a while now, so it’s time to share my opinions on the P99 Final Edition. Did it meet my expectations? Read on to find out. Let’s begin with the gun’s specifications.
Walther P99 Final Edition Specs
- Caliber: 9mm Luger
- Capacity: 15+1
- Barrel Length: 4 inches
- Overall Length: 7.1 inches
- Height: 5.3 inches
- Width: 1.3 inches
- Weight: 24 ounces (Empty)
Missed Opportunities
The Glock Revolution left Walther behind. Gaston Glock’s P80/G17 emerged while Walther was still relying on the P5 as its frontline service/duty pistol offering. Now, I love the P5. Love it. But as good as it is, the P5 was still essentially a suped-up P38. It was the same basic gun, just with an updated frame, slightly better ergonomics, and more modern manufacturing processes. It was literally a decades-old design that was expensive to manufacture.
Walther responded with the steel-framed P88, which was another nice handgun. But Walther didn’t grasp two key components to Glock’s success: affordability and reliability. The P88 cost more than twice as much as the Glock, and the tolerances were too tight, causing the guns to fail military mud tests. Not to mention the fact that the test guns’ frames cracked after 7,000 rounds. The P88 ultimately failed.
Walther P99 Final Edition Features
Ergonomics
The P99 drew immediate attention for its superior ergonomics. The molded grip, with raised dot stippling, was perhaps the most comfortable grip on the market at the time. But the cutting-edge feature in 1997 was the interchangeable backstraps, something we all but take for granted now. The P99 Final Edition stays true to that concept, and why not? Twenty-seven years later, it’s still one of the best grips I’ve ever run. And the interchangeable backstraps are still included. The stippling isn’t nearly as aggressive as most other pistols these days, but I like that better. Honestly, as much as I like Walther products, I don’t own a PDP because I don’t like the sandpapery grip texture. I like the grips on my PPQ and this P99 much better. I’m very happy that the Final Edition brought back the original OD green grip frame.
The contoured slide was (and is) sleeker than the Glock’s, but let’s be honest, what isn’t? The Final Edition has larger and deeper slide serrations than the original P99, taken from the 2004 Second Generation P99. The slide is engraved “P99 AS Final Edition.” The trigger guard is also Second Gen. The original P99 trigger guard had a strange hump near the bottom of the trigger. No idea what that was for. The Second Gen eliminated it. The First-Gen trigger guard’s front also had a cool futuristic-looking angle that I still like. The Second Generation P99 squared that off a bit.
The Final Edition features a Weaver-style accessory rail with a single Picatinny slot, which it also inherits from the Second Gen P99.
Controls
Let’s start with the trigger.
Trigger
Like many others, the P99 was a response to Glock’s much-deserved success. The Glock Safe Action trigger spawned many copies, which are still popular today. Walther originally equipped the P99 with a standard single/double action trigger. But in 2004, the company introduced the Anti-Stress (AS) trigger, which adds a two-stage aspect to the SA/DA function.
The P99 AS featured this trigger, as does the Final Edition, whose full designation is “P99 AS Final Edition.”
When the P99 AS is cocked, the trigger is set to an Anti-Stress condition. The trigger is fully forward but pulls lightly for 0.6 inches to an audible and tactile “click.” It can be pre-staged there for fast use or be pulled another 0.4 inches to the 4.5 lb. break, firing the gun. The break is crisp and clean. The reset is a short 0.1 inch. If the striker is decocked (more on that momentarily), the DA pull is 9 lbs. with a long, 1-inch travel distance. The point is to allow the user to carry in AS mode without the heavier DA pull if desired.
I like the AS trigger, but it takes some getting used to. It feels strange at first after carrying a 5-lb. single-stage trigger for years. If I were to carry the P99 AS, I’d want plenty of practice to master that trigger. And I’d probably commit to it being my only carry gun because it’s so different from everything else I own.
De-Cocker
Now for the decocker. I wasn’t sure whether I’d like it at first, but I quickly grasped that I don’t have to use it. I converted my Beretta 92FS to a decocker-only “G” model, but that’s a hammer-fired gun, and I prefer DA to “cocked and locked.” The P99 is striker-fired. The decocker is flush and doesn’t get in the way. It requires enough force to engage that I don’t see any danger of accidentally pushing the button. My strong hand thumb can reach it easily if I want to use it, though lefties will have to work harder since it’s not ambidextrous. And unlike a safety catch, the gun will fire in DA mode when it’s decocked. I just use it as a safety feature, though I would not carry it decocked.
Like all P99s, the Final Edition has a red-tipped “cocked” indicator that sticks out from the back of the slide, similar to the old P38 line. It’s very visible and can be verified by touch, in darkness or low light. The gun is cocked if you see or feel that rod.
Mag Release
The ambidextrous magazine release is a big deal for me. I still have a PPQ M1 because I prefer the European-style trigger guard-mounted paddle release to the American button release. I instinctively hit it with my trigger finger, and it’s very positive. I’m so glad Walther never changed that feature on the P99. As with other features, the Final Edition has the longer paddles that were introduced with the Second Gen P99.
Shooting the P99 Final Edition
The grip doesn’t lie. This gun is an absolute pleasure to shoot. It feels great in the hand and is dead accurate. The sights are standard 3-dot, though Walther includes both steel and polymer sights, along with a tool for swapping them if you desire. The rear sights are windage-adjustable. I rang steel all day with this gun. I learned the AS trigger quickly enough, but it’s not that big of a deal since it’s only the first shot.
The magazines are sturdy and reliable. No wonder, since they’re built by Mec-Gar, who makes other Walther mags as well. We’ve run several hundred rounds of 115 and 124-grain FMJ and a box of 124-grain JHP through the gun with no malfunctions. Not that I expected any. I lost count of the exact number of rounds, but it was a lot. They were a mix of Federal American Eagle, Sellier & Bellot, Belom, and Fiocchi. This gun is fun to shoot.
Final Thoughts on the Final Edition
I love the P99 Final Edition. I’ve occasionally been disappointed by guns I’d looked forward to running, but not this time. I’m so glad I decided to order this gun. The first time I held it, I told my son that I thought it would soon become one of my favorite handguns. I was right. It’s just a lot of fun and super cool. Even James Bond gave up his PPK for a P99 a few times, so that coolness cannot be denied.
So, if you’re looking for a cool gun with a proven track record, maybe check out the P99 Final Edition. It’s a sweet commemorative gun without a commemorative gun price. But this gun is built to run. And that’s exactly what I intend to do with it.
