De-Cocking a PPQ

[MistWolf]

As we all know, the PPQ is a striker fired weapon which, short of dry firing, makes it impossible to de-cock as the PPQ does not have a de-cocking mechanism. Or does it?

I was reading through some threads in the Walther Forums going back to the 2011 SHOT show when the PPQ was unveiled for US sales when I came across a post the mentioned something about one of the P99s being de-cocked by simply pressing the slide back a short distance. It made no sense to me, but sometimes I just don't get German engineering!

After a bit of fooling around with my new PPQ, I found that, when cocked, if you press the slide back until it just starts to meet resistance, press the trigger and hold it while releasing the slide, the pistol will de-cock. The pistol can be cocked again by simply pressing the slide back again just a short distance.

If the trigger is pressed too soon, or the slide move too far or not far enough, the pistol will not de-cock. You have to find the right spot and sequence or it will not work. It must be deliberately done. With a little practice, it becomes easy. Of course, when practicing this, be sure your PPQ is unloaded

[Hart]

Cool, could you verify that with a round in the chamber? Let us
know how it goes.

Sorry, had to say.
Don't think I would try that one unless out in the open somewhere,
not in the kitchen.

Great gun to shoot though, enjoy mine greatly.

[DJK]

Why would I want to de-cock my PPQ?

[MistWolf]

When the slide is in that position, the striker is not even cocked. It's the last half inch of travel or so that cocks the striker. The striker actually de-cocks every time the slide is pulled to the rear

[F-Trooper05]

Why would you do this? It's dangerous and was not what the engineers had in mind when they designed it. If you want a gun that decocks, get a P99.

[MistWolf]

Why would I want to de-cock my PPQ?

Maybe because it needs to be de-cocked before you can remove the slide? Maybe it gives you another option? If you don't want to know, move along, there's nothing for you to see here. If you'd like to learn more about how the PPQ works, stick around.

I like to know how things work.

In this photo, we see the trigger sear as it sit's in the frame


Here is the striker sear which is in the slide

When the slide is closed, the two engage each other and cocks the striker. When the slide is retracted, the two sears disengage one another, relieving all spring tension on the striker, de-cocking it. When the slide is partially retracted to this position, the spring pressure is completely relieved. The pistol is de-cocked

It is only in this position that the trigger can be depressed to lower the trigger sear so that it will not engage the striker sear when the slide returns forward. The PPQ cannot fire in this condition. For this photo, the main spring has been removed. The striker spring spring prevents the slide from closing without the main spring. If you push the slide closed, the striker spring will push the slide rearward again without the main spring to hold it closed

[AKDoug]

Interesting. I didn't realize that the PPQ had a fully cocked striker after every slide cycle.

[MistWolf]

The trigger is a two stage single action with a very short reset. With the exception of the first stage being a little too heavy and has a bit of stacking, I like it very much.

What surprised me, is that the striker completely de-cocks as the slide moves to the rear

[gtmtnbiker98]

Decocking a PPQ outside of the original design is pointless.

[t15]

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.

"...For this photo, the main spring has been removed. The striker spring spring prevents the slide from closing without the main spring. If you push the slide closed, the striker spring will push the slide rearward again without the main spring to hold it closed..."

This makes perfect sense, clear as day!