Walther PDP Pro-E

Walther has been making some of the best polymer-frame striker-fired pistols on the market, but they’ve been largely ignored. That’s changing with the PDP, as Walther has thrown its back into the gun and pushed it hard into the concealed carry, competition, and duty world. Today, we are looking at one of the latest models, the PDP Pro-E.

Walther PDP Pro-E

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The PDP – Walther Goes Mainstream 

Walther has always advanced the basic idea of the polymer frame striker-fired pistol. The P99 and PPQ were innovative and successful pistols, but their success was overseas. In the States, they weren’t reaching the same level as the Glock or M&P series. The PDP changed that, as Walther launched the gun with full force.

The PDP is an evolution of the PPQ series. The frame and slide have been revamped, but you’re still getting the same excellent ergonomics and trigger you expect from the PPQ with the PDP. What the PDP does differently is that it’s the first gun built from the ground up to be used with optics. According to Walther, they designed the gun around using optics, including the grip, to make it easier to find the dot and get on target. 

The PDP series has continually evolved, with more SKUs than you could shake a stick at. Today’s example is the PDP Pro-E, which adds a few extra features to push the PDP into the next level of ergonomics. The main draw for many shooters will be the flat trigger shoe, which is admittedly quite nice and my preferred trigger design. 

Additionally, the Pro-E comes with an enhanced magwell for quicker reloads. Speaking of reloads, you’ll be reloading less often since you get three 20-round magazines. These are 18-round mags fit with aluminum magazine extensions, which are quite nice. The Pro-E could be fielded for duty use or competition, but it’s a bit big for concealed carry.

PDP Pro-E Features

1 Optics Ready

2 Accessory Rail

3 Flat Faced Trigger

4 Ambidextrous Slide Release

5 Large Magwell

The PDP Pro-E -Flat-Faced Rules 

I’ve learned that trigger pull doesn’t matter nearly as much as people make it out to be. It doesn’t do all that much to affect accuracy, but a nice trigger is still easy to appreciate. The PDP Pro-E trigger feels good, breaks cleanly, is ultra smooth, and resets with an audible and tactile click. While a nice trigger doesn’t help all that much with overall accuracy, with an experienced shooter, it can still help with shooting fast. 

Ultimately, the PDP Pro-E delivers when it comes to accuracy. It puts rounds right where I want them and stacks them up. At 25 yards, with focused, slow fire, I can put round after round into a B8 target. Engaging a C-zone piece of steel at 50 yards is super easy. What helps a good bit with accuracy is how well the grip is designed. It allows for a nice solid grip that’s consistent and easy to control. 

The Walther PDP handles shooting quickly like it was made for it. The grip design works in its favor and allows for a high grip and aggressive thumbs-forward grip. The recoil is a bit more than you expect from a 9mm. It’s an odd recoil impulse that falls into the snappy category of a full-sized pistol. Please keep in mind that it’s snappy for a full-sized gun, but ultimately, it’s fine. 

The problem is tied to the 18-pound recoil spring Walther insists on. Lowering the spring weight to 15 pounds eliminates that snappy recoil impulse. Some guys have even gone down to 13-pound springs and reported good results.

Banging PDPs 

Walther’s long-conquered ergonomics. Other manufacturers could learn a thing or two from Walther. You’re not just gripping the gun; it’s greeting your hand like an old friend. Your hand can get nice and high on the gun, and it feels natural. You’re not pushing your hand up. It just rides high naturally. 

The ambi slide release is a work of art. Not only do my thumbs not pin it down, but it’s quick and easy to manipulate to drop the slide. The levers are huge and have a lot of leverage, so it doesn’t take much pressure to send the slide slamming forward full steam ahead. 

The magwell acts as a funnel to feed the magazine to the gun. It makes reloads quick and helps eliminate some of that human element. The magazine release is large, in charge, and doesn’t take much hand movement to reach and engage. 

The gun also seems to be completely fine with feeding the cheapest, crappiest ammo I’m willing to feed it. That ammo is steel-cased, Turkish-made Monarch. It doesn’t care. It also doesn’t care if it’s exposed to sand in the magazine either since my range is completely sand, and I ran plenty of reloads without a problem. 

Some folks might have an issue with the price. The Pro-E costs a fair bit more than most striker-fired polymer frame pistols. At around 750, it’s a smidge pricier than the competition. There is also a little annoyance that Walther doesn’t include plates with the gun. You have to write to Walther, and they’ll send you an optics plate.

PDP Pro-E Pros and Cons

Report Card
Shootability	The snappy-ish recoil is an easy problem to solve, but who wants to solve problems when you spend $750 on a gun?	B+
Reliability	No problems to report!	A+
Ergonomics	I can’t get over how much I love this gun’s ergonomics. They are absolutely brilliant.	A+
Accuracy	It performs quite well, with engagement out to 50 yards and iron sights being easy to see. I think I could take it even further.	A+
Value	While it’s a great gun, it’s a bit pricey, and the optics plates aren’t even included. However, I do appreciate getting three magazines.	C+

Walther PDP Pro-E

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Our Grade

B+

Reviewed by Dave Chesson

Reader’s Grade

A+

Based on 1 Reviews

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Walther PDP Pro-E Ammo

Winchester White Box

Marketplace	Cost
Ammunition Depot

Walther PDP Pro-E Upgrades and Accessories

1. Do-All Outdoors Steel Resetting Target		Rated For . 38 – . 44 Caliber Pistols High Visibility Targets Reset Without Walking Down Range	Check Amazon
2. Safariland 6354RDSO ALS		Level 1 Retention  QLS Fork Included  Comes In Various Finishes	See on Optics Planet
3. C&H Precision Walther PDP Red Dot		No Plate Needed Side-Loading Battery Shake Awake	See on C&H
4. Streamlight TLR-1 HL X		Great In-Ear option Custom molded – super easy and comfortable NRR: 31 Ultimately, the PDP Pro-E delivers when it comes to accuracy. It puts rounds right where I want them and stacks them up. At 25 yards, with focused, slow fire, I can put round after round into a B8 target. Engaging a C-zone piece of steel at 50 yards is super easy. What helps a good bit with accuracy is how well the grip is designed. It allows for a nice solid grip that’s consistent and easy to control.    The Walther PDP handles shooting quickly like it was made for it. The grip design works in its favor and allows for a high grip and aggressive thumbs-forward grip. The recoil is a bit more than you expect from a 9mm. It’s an odd recoil impulse that falls into the snappy category of a full-sized pistol. Please keep in mind that it’s snappy for a full-sized gun, but ultimately, it’s fine.    The problem is tied to the 18-pound recoil spring Walther insists on. Lowering the spring weight to 15 pounds eliminates that snappy recoil impulse. Some guys have even gone down to 13-pound springs and reported good results.   Banging PDPs    Walther’s long-conquered ergonomics. Other manufacturers could learn a thing or two from Walther. You’re not just gripping the gun; it’s greeting your hand like an old friend. Your hand can get nice and high on the gun, and it feels natural. You’re not pushing your hand up. It just rides high naturally.    The ambi slide release is a work of art. Not only do my thumbs not pin it down, but it’s quick and easy to manipulate to drop the slide. The levers are huge and have a lot of leverage, so it doesn’t take much pressure to send the slide slamming forward full steam ahead.    The magwell acts as a funnel to feed the magazine to the gun. It makes reloads quick and helps eliminate some of that human element. The magazine release is large, in charge, and doesn’t take much hand movement to reach and engage.    The gun also seems to be completely fine with feeding the cheapest, crappiest ammo I’m willing to feed it. That ammo is steel-cased, Turkish-made Monarch. It doesn’t care. It also doesn’t care if it’s exposed to sand in the magazine either since my range is completely sand, and I ran plenty of reloads without a problem.    Some folks might have an issue with the price. The Pro-E costs a fair bit more than most striker-fired polymer frame pistols. At around 750, it’s a smidge pricier than the competition. There is also a little annoyance that Walther doesn’t include plates with the gun. You have to write to Walther, and they’ll send you an optics plate.	See on Gun.Deals

Caring for your Walther PDP Pro-E

It’s critical not only to keep your guns secure, but also to understand how to care for your firearms properly. We’ve located a fantastic video below on this subject.

Important Links and Manuals

• Walther PDP Pro-E Video Manuals
• Walther Recalls