I have been looking at these pistols and am wondering what is differet about them. sights perhaps?

Mag release. The M1 has the European paddle style where the M2 has the more common button style.

I am an M1 kinda guy but it’s kinda a “Religious” thing for most shooters and if I were to GUESS you would be more happy with an M2.

The mag release is different on them. The M1 has the flip/flap paddle style, the M2 has the push-button "American" style type.

The thought behind the paddles is that you retain you grip with releasing the mag...if I were a lot younger I would go with that, but I'm an old dog who is a one trick pony.

Thank you so much for the information. The paddle is somewhat like the HK releases. I could go with either one I'll just check availablity for the choice.

The M2 feels a bit odd in my hand. I am annoyed by the very broad flat Walther created to- I guess- protect the mag release buttons. This shelf sits on the middle finger of your shooting hand. I strongly prefer the M1 paddle release setup of the M1. It lacks this shelf, and the M1 actually feels narrower than the M2, although a caliper would prove this impression to be false. I guess it's because the weight of the pistol sits on that finger and although it's hard to describe exacty, it feels like my finger is being...umm...smothered.

The PPQ M1 uses the very same magazines as the P99, the only differences being markings, surface finish treatment, and follower color.

The market has spoken and I ended up with a PPQ Q4. It has a threaded barrel and is optic ready. Too bad, I didn’t want either of those things but I can just ignore them for a while. It does have the great mag release and comes with 3 magazines. And, the trigger seems good.

Why is it that many of the great guns come with a friggen rail? Even the pocket size 365 comes with a rail. How many of these things do we need? I can understand that the night table gun should have a rail for a light but they are of no value on my other guns. Some manufactures have even started building 1911’s with rails. How ugly can you get? I have purchased 4 pistols in the last 3 months and every damn one of them has a rail. Not enough choices.

Rant over, I do like the PPQ.

quote:

Originally posted by msfzoe:
LH shooters will prefer the paddle release on the PPQ M1 and P99.

The M2's mag catch is reversible.

The PPQ M1 (that also for a brief period was called the 'Classic' by Walther) has been my preferred configuration. Even being a righty, I like that I can use my trigger finger to drop the empty magazine and still leave my hold on the grip more or less unmoved and intact, which is also why I like the non-button release VP9 so much. With the button guns I always have to shift my grip in order for my stubby thumb to reach the release.

I prefer the paddle release but 100% of my pistols have the traditional button so I have stayed with it.

One of my favorites is the PPQ 5” M2. I took that slide and put it on my M1 frame- love that combination. I just have to remember to bring the correct mags to the range.

I like the M1 and HK paddle releases.
I don't have to shift my grip at all for mag changes. And just wanted to say that my girlfriend has a PPQ M1 made in 2011 that has the best trigger for a stock striker fired pistol I have ever shot.

Color me in the M1 camp. I carry mine daily since the summer riots started getting friskier. I generally had carried a single stack prior.

I also believe I can retain my grip better with this HK style release. Also I had no idea the M2 had a different grip feel till I read Para's earlier post. To this day, I have never picked one up.

One thing you never hear mentioned is that with the paddle release, it is impossible to release the magazine while holstered. I had no idea before purchase but now consider this to be one of the primary, favorite reasons why carry this style in the PPQ and PPS.

I have a couple of PPQ's in .40, both M2's with the button mag release.

I have paddle releases on my HK's. They work fine. I'd prefer a button mag release. I never cared for heel mag releases, or really, the paddle releases, or even the thumb decocker on the back of the slide. They're all useable, but consistency counts for a lot among firearms, and I like the release the same type among my firearms, and the same place.

The PPQ is a decent pistol.

I prefer the M1 variant with the bilateral mag release myself. Tight shooting pistol either way.

I'm fairly ambivalent about it.

Both styles of mag releases work.

I've gone through paddle phases and button phases. I think it's mostly a matter of training though I understand hand and finger size can play a role.

While both types work, I do think, if you want to shoot your best, you should pick a type and stick with it.

Muscle memory under stress and all that.

These days I'm using buttons. They work well for me and practically speaking, choices in paddle guns are getting more and more limited.