Here's an odd question for pistol shooters. I am interested in purchasing a Walther P99 for a fun gun to enjoy at the range for cheap, yet also protect the wife at home. Upon reading, I find it comes with different shaped back strap pieces to change

[Bo]

First of all, let me give you some of my background and why I believe what I do. I was a medic on a recon team overseas many years ago, back in the early 70's. I carried a 1911 government model.45. I know what that caliber can do. After I got out of the Army, I went to nursing school and then spent more than 30 years working in various ERs. I bought into the 9mm craze shortly after I got out and as soon as I started seeing some of the failures of the round, I sold it and went to a bigger round. I will tell you that in my experience, the 9 mm can be more dangerous to the shooter than to the shootee. I have seen very few fatalities from the 9mm round and have seen more than one person who received a head shot, one guy was shot 3 times in the head with a 9 and lived, (Fouled Up Beyond All Repair or FUBARred) but he lived. I have seen more than one person who was shot center of mass and still was able to hurt the shooter. I would recommend at least a .40 for self defense carry gun. Anything less is just something less and may end up being a fatal decision on the part of the shooter because it doesn't work as well as it should. I have talked to a number of recent veterans who hated the 9mm that the Army switched over to more than twenty years ago. There is a reason that some of the SEALs, Special Forces and Force Recon prefer .45 caliber. As for me, my personal choice is a Smith Pro Series Sub Compact. Love that gun

[huntfishtrap]

I'm not positive, but I believe their rear sights are fixed(can not be adjusted up or down), so the different front sight heights are for different distances of anticipated shooting. Accuracy should not be a problem if you throw on some fiber optic/night sights.

I'd say it's an attempt to give the owner a bit more flexibility, while not going to the cost of putting fully-adjustable sights on the gun. Just a guess...

[Kody]

I don't think I would describe the Walther P99 as cheap as in inexpensive, it is an relatively expensive 9mm and may not come with some of the extras provided by the competition. That should in no way detour you based on something being lacking. It is a quality gun and I am sure you have already made yourself aware of its features. I have owned one in the past and found the sights to be very good and the trigger to be not so good.

Hello Officerdom1987, I am not much of a pistol guy to be giving anyone advice. I sold the gun not because of its deficiencies, I need a longer sight plane or barrel to shoot a handgun worth a darn. I liked the sights and did not look to upgrade them. I am the weak link in this particular chain so I was unable to have it perform well regardless of the sight. Give me a 44 Mag or a .22 revolver in S $ W with a longer barrel and good trigger. Sorry I could not of been of more help.

[JM]

I'm not positive, but I believe their rear sights are fixed(can not be adjusted up or down), so the different front sight heights are for different distances of anticipated shooting. Accuracy should not be a problem if you throw on some fiber optic/night sights.

Marketing, maybe? Trying the next new thing? Make people think they are getting more for their money? Is it really any different than any other gun with a removable sight that you want to replace? Just some thoughts, idk.

[officerdom1987]

I'm not positive, but I believe their rear sights are fixed(can not be adjusted up or down), so the different front sight heights are for different distances of anticipated shooting. Accuracy should not be a problem if you throw on some fiber optic/night sights.

JM, very valid points, but why do you think other manufacturers don't make this option available on their pistols as well? I can take a two of similar style pistols and predominantly shoot the same with both, and I never have to swap sight posts that are higher or lower. I just find it a very strange concept.

[officerdom1987]

I don't think I would describe the Walther P99 as cheap as in inexpensive, it is an relatively expensive 9mm and may not come with some of the extras provided by the competition. That should in no way detour you based on something being lacking. It is a quality gun and I am sure you have already made yourself aware of its features. I have owned one in the past and found the sights to be very good and the trigger to be not so good.

Kody, let me clarify that might last few firearm purchases have been over the $1,000 range so to me, $500 is more "manageable". Seeing as you had owned one, did you find yourself changing the front sight on it or did you just use the one that it came on it factory? I have studied this firearm thoroughly and this front sight discussion is the only thing that is keeping me from purchasing it at this moment.

[huntfishtrap]

I think JM is right. I wouldn't worry about it. It might actually be a positive selling point for me.

[jhjimbo]

I agree with JM, if the rear sight is not adjustable for elevation, the front sight is how you make the adjustment. Plus, if you vary from light target loads to full power loads you may want to change the front sight height. A low power load will shoot high and a full power load will shoot low.
If you get an after market front, you would get one of the same height as what you are using.

[Kody]

I don't think I would describe the Walther P99 as cheap as in inexpensive, it is an relatively expensive 9mm and may not come with some of the extras provided by the competition. That should in no way detour you based on something being lacking. It is a quality gun and I am sure you have already made yourself aware of its features. I have owned one in the past and found the sights to be very good and the trigger to be not so good.

[JM]

I'm not positive, but I believe their rear sights are fixed(can not be adjusted up or down), so the different front sight heights are for different distances of anticipated shooting. Accuracy should not be a problem if you throw on some fiber optic/night sights.

[officerdom1987]

Here's an odd question for pistol shooters. I am interested in purchasing a Walther P99 for a fun gun to enjoy at the range for cheap, yet also protect the wife at home. Upon reading, I find it comes with different shaped back strap pieces to change out; that's all well and good. But it also comes with 3 other front sight posts of different sizes. So I thought that it meant maybe the dot was different sizes, so I asked Walther, and it's actually the post itself. Question: Why is this even an option, companies like Glock, HK, Sig Sauer all never do this. Do you think this is a red flag not purchase based on accuracy issues? What if I put on night sights say from Trijicon, will they work as good because there is other options of front sights for different heights? I'm hesitant on this, and never heard of this before. Some opinions would help sway me would be appreciated.