Walther P99C .40 S&W Pistol

The P99c is a great...

The P99c is a great carry gun. The AS action (anti-stress) is an excellent design that utilizes a traditional DA/SA striker-operated handgun. When the slide is racked, chambering the first round, the trigger stays in the DA position (with SA weight), yet the striker is cocked. A gentle pull on the trigger will set it to SA length, or the gun can be decocked, putting it in DA. The DA pull is long and heavy, acting as the gun's main external safety. The ergonomics on the P99 compact is second to none. With the grip extension, nearly any hand size will fit comfortably on the grip. There is a striker indicator that tells the shooter whether or not the striker is cocked, and a loaded chamber indicator on the right side of the slide (the extractor arm is pulled into the slide, revealing a red stripe, as well as being able to be felt without visual confirmation). The P99 is reliable out of the box, but the trigger tends to be gritty until 500 rounds or so, at which point it smooths out. There are four included front sights for elevation adjustment, and the rear sight is adjustable for windage. The .40S&W is a snappy round in the compact version, so less experienced shooters should heavily consider the 9mm as it exudes much lighter recoil than its .40 brother. The only drawback to the P99 compacts are availability of aftermarket parts and holsters. Overall, a great gun, but the magazines are expensive and night sights, if available, are hard to come by.