[rappjd]

I got a German manufactured Walther .40 S&W P99 QA made in 2000 (date code AA) from a friend of mine last week. He had already exchanged the clips for new ones before I got it (he had the orange-follower clips with feed problems - documented elsewhere, replaced with the latest blue factory clips for free).

I was out for the second time shooting with this today, and had 2 clips break on me. The first was while my friend was shooting, bottom broke out after 8 rounds, left one in the chamber and the last round dropped on the ground.

Another broke on me while I was pulling it out of the 2-clip mag holder (friction hold), the whole bottom broke off in my hand and the spring flipped out!

I put 100 rounds through it on an indoor range a few days ago, and we put 100 through it today. Didn't drop the clips on the ground either time. When I got home, I inspected the other ones (I have 8 clips total), and found another that has a crack in the plastic around the base where the other two broke .

I researched on the Internet for about 30 minutes and didn't see any other posts about clips breaking. Anyone else have problems??

Thanks...

 

[TAZ]

I read somewhere that the reduced cap i.e 10 round 40 cal mags had problems. Based on your description it sounds like these are what you have. Are you in a location that has cap. limits still? If not, you may want to consider upgrading to the hi cap/standard mags. I have not read of any issues with the standard mags. Wonder if one of my machinist froends could whip out afew hundred in Al and I could make some cash to cover the cost of the new gun.

 

[mambro]

I had two 10 rd 40 cal mags whose floorplates cracked as well. Simply call or email Smith & Wesson customer support and they will take care of you. Mine were also blue replacements for the orange follower mags... S&W sent me two 12 rd mags free of charge.

 

[rappjd]

Quote[/b] (TAZ @ Nov. 20 2005,21:49)]I read somewhere that the reduced cap i.e 10 round 40 cal mags had problems. Based on your description it sounds like these are what you have. Are you in a location that has cap. limits still? If not, you may want to consider upgrading to the hi cap/standard mags. I have not read of any issues with the standard mags.

Yes, I have "reduced cap" 10-round mags. I live in Idaho, so have no limitations. From what I read, it looks like they originally had 12 round mags, then Walther redesigned them to 11 to deal with a design issue.

Plan to contact them to get them replaced.

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[stunksinatl]

My 12 rounders have been perfect since I got em.

Just the other day I got a little package from "SAW," open it up and what do I see?

3 brand new 12 round magazine buttplates!  Too bad they won't work on your 10 rounders.  I guess that I've got extras when the 12 rounder plates decide to break  

-stunks

 

[mambro]

As for the magazine capacity...

"Carl Walther apparently made this magazine capacity change due to the difficulty by some users to insert a full magazine into the pistol with the slide closed."

http://www.gunfaqs.org/P99FAQ/III/6.html

 

[TerpsAlum]

I can add the same frustration with the 10 round floor plates cracking and breaking and mags parts flying.  It is a design problem with the 10 round floor plate, it cannot handle hot loads.  I shoot WinClean ammo in the 10 rounders and load Gold Dots in the 12's and have not had anymore problems.

When it first happened, I called Walter USA (S&W) and they sent me new floor plates that broke too, and never heard of such a thing, but I had already heard otherwise from various readings and conversations with dealers.  Then I wrote Walther in Germany directly and had a good volley going back and forth and even had some 12 mag parts sent to me after the ban, but try finding a 12 round clip after the ban.

Simply, if you look at the design of the 10 round floorplate verses the 12 round, you can see the problem with "plastic", how it fits, etc. and what Speer Lawman ammo do not have in common.  Again, shooting lower power loads like WinClean has not been a problem for me.  I even shoot my P99 SA/DA-AS in Defensive Pistol competition locally using my 10 round mags and WinClean.  I used Lawman once, but too much recoil to get back on target properly.

If I want to shoot the hot stuff, I'll pull out my Beretta 96 Elite II or my S&W 610.  Must admit, those Beretta mags are "tough".  Walther should have sent a spy to the Beretta factory.

On shooting, I shoot circles with the P99 around my 96, sad, but true.  Not sure if it has something to do with the three dot sights verses the Novak or what.  Maybe it's a glitch in my shooting style or something <smile>.

Wish we never had to speak ill of Walther, but we do on this 10 round mag issue.

Walther Collection includes:  PP, PPk (queen), 2-PPK/S (one is queen, P5c (queen), P88c (was a queen, I hate to shot it, but I love too!), 2-P99 Titaniums SA/DA-AS(9 and 40- queens), P99 SA/DA-AS Black, P99c and P22 (tack driver)

 

[lhduce]

Happen to me last week...My wife was shooting my gun at the range she put 3 rounds threw at and the mag just fell apart......Seeing how i just got the p99 two weeks before i was a little upset...After calling S&W they sent me out the 2 back plates.... Model 40ca AD.....

Also has anyone had problems with there pro mags...not de cock on the last round??

 

[Jake Starr]

Quote[/b] ]Also has anyone had problems with there pro mags...not de cock on the last round??

I do not have Promags simply because I have read too many negative things about them...

 

[ShipWreck]

Quote[/b] (TerpsAlum @ Nov. 21 2005,20:08)]I can add the same frustration with the 10 round floor plates cracking and breaking and mags parts flying. It is a design problem with the 10 round floor plate, it cannot handle hot loads. I shoot WinClean ammo in the 10 rounders and load Gold Dots in the 12's and have not had anymore problems.

When it first happened, I called Walter USA (S&W) and they sent me new floor plates that broke too, and never heard of such a thing, but I had already heard otherwise from various readings and conversations with dealers. Then I wrote Walther in Germany directly and had a good volley going back and forth and even had some 12 mag parts sent to me after the ban, but try finding a 12 round clip after the ban.

Simply, if you look at the design of the 10 round floorplate verses the 12 round, you can see the problem with "plastic", how it fits, etc. and what Speer Lawman ammo do not have in common. Again, shooting lower power loads like WinClean has not been a problem for me. I even shoot my P99 SA/DA-AS in Defensive Pistol competition locally using my 10 round mags and WinClean. I used Lawman once, but too much recoil to get back on target properly.

If I want to shoot the hot stuff, I'll pull out my Beretta 96 Elite II or my S&W 610. Must admit, those Beretta mags are "tough". Walther should have sent a spy to the Beretta factory.


Wish we never had to speak ill of Walther, but we do on this 10 round mag issue.

What kinda rounds you are shooting should have no bearing on whether or not the mag bottom will break. The rounds are the same size.

 

[MLB]

The promags I have often do not lock the slide back properly, but they don't break either. I get the occasional ftf with them too. Not bad for range use, no good for carry. I bought them while waiting for replacement floorplates for my broken Mec-Gars. (.40 cal 10 round magazines)

 

[P99OD]

I started with the original 2 mags that came with my pistol. I live in MA  so that is all I can legally own. The 10 rounders that is. One of the mags broke, I called Walther and they send me a new one. I purchased an extra 10 rounder and while playing the "pushing game" with my daughter in a parking lot she hit the spare mag on my hip just right, and you guessed it.. 10 rounds of Hydra-shoks rolling around in the parking lot. The next day at the range another one broke. I called Walther the next Monday morning and 2 new mags arrived on my porch. Long story short, I now have a total of 9 10 round mags, and just this week I got a package in the mail with 9 spare floor plates. I replaced the broken ones and now I have 9 mags. No questions from them on the phone other than "Where do you live" answer "Mass" "Oh too bad, otherwise I would just send you out some free 12 rounders...

DAMN MA SUX!

Anyway, here is some porn.

Only 8 mags shown because I'm an idiot and forgot one on the shelf before I took the picture.

 

[Get Some]

Does anyone know if the floor plate design problem has been cured in newer magazines (2005+)?

Or are all magazines the same after the OEM capacity reduction?

 

[rappjd]

Thanks for the info. I haven't called Smith or Walther yet to complain about the broken mags (just complained here...go figure

)

Guess I need to call them tomorrow. Any suggestions - smith or walther - and a good number?

Thanks...Jeff

 

[rappjd]

Just sent an email to Walther America Customer Service. We'll see what happens.

Jeff

 

[rappjd]

Prompt volley of emails back and forth from Walther. They are sending me three new buttplates. I kind of wish they would send me 12 rd mags since I have heard bad things about the 10 rd ones (and had bad experiences), but they didn't take the hint I dropped. Maybe too subtle?

Oh well...I am getting replacement for the broken parts as I asked.

Let you know how long they take to get here.

Jeff