Walther Q5 Match, the Good, Bad and Ugly ?'s

[jcc7x7]

So I'm up here in the frozen NE USA!  What can a guy do but go look around at the gun shops.

So I go looking for a Walther Q5 Match, no one had one but a couple of shops had PPQ 5" guns so I get the basic look and feel and I think OK so it might be a good winter project etc.

I've read the other thread from beginning to end and looks like in general folks are happy.

SO I'm asking what y'all think 2 years in from the beginning of the other thread.

Is it an honest to goodness production/CO ready gun.

What are the major problems?

Is it any better than the other plastic fantastic that I already own?

OR

Will it just be a fun winter project gun and then go to the safe to live with the

10 year old M&P that I milled the slide on, and installed an old style Delta Point

Last years toy Glock 34 MOS etc etc etc

Don't want to be the R&D guy on these, at the age were I want to buy it tinker a "little" bit and shoot it

Thanks for your time and thoughts

[Single Stack]

I picked up a Q5 and started shooting it in November.  I am mainly a production shooter but set mine up initially for carry optics and then recently switched it back over to iron sights and have gone back to production in preparation for Area 1 which is in May this year.

 

For production (over the years) I started with a Glock 34, then transitioned to the CZ's (SP-01, Shadow, Accu-Shadow), moved on to the Tanfo's (Stock III, Stock II) and now am planning to run the Q5 thru the 2018 season.

 

The trigger has been well advertised as one of the best out of the box striker fired and I have to agree.  I went from a Stock II (with a Bolo setup) to the Q5 and really like the feel of the trigger.  It will definitely not hold anyone back.  From my side I am still getting used to the different trigger and working on my reset/prep but feel once I get dialed in with this gun I'll shoot it as well if not better than my Stock II.

 

For accuracy out of the box I have been pleasantly surprised.  I am using 147 gr Leatherhead bullets over 3.2 grains of TG loaded at an OAL of 1.15 and this combination is every bit as accurate as any of my Stock II's.  Stayed after today's USPSA match to practice a little as the sun came out and at 25 yards was shooting the plate rack 1 for 1 and at that same distance shot a 10 round group off hand into a USPSA head with little difficulty.  The gun will shoot as long as I do my part.

 

I did find with the factory recoil spring setup the gun was over-sprung for me.  From this I went to a fixed guide rod with the Wilson 13lb flat wire recoil spring and the setup works very well for me.  I have also changed out the fiber front sight to a thinner fiber front sight, added grip tape and am using the TTI +3 base pads (for production).  Pretty minor changes compared to what I did to my Stock II's to get them where I wanted them.

 

The one thing I do wish is the rear sight arrangement had a little deeper and slightly wider notch to allow in a little more daylight for ease of picking up the sights during the draw and transitions.  This is not a deal breaker by any means but just one thing that I feel could be improved.

 

The grip size is a little small (reason I am using the TT1 +3 base pads) as I have medium size hands so I can see this being an issue for someone with large hands.  As I am a LH shooter I active the magazine release with my trigger finger.  I am still getting used to this but again not a big issue.  The mag release button is large and for RH shooters I would think they would find it easy to activate.

 

I feel for the money the Q5 is a great value. 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2018 by Single Stack
change word

[Garmil]

The only bad I need to not buy another one..

 

 I’ve owned both and I don’t think it’s any better than a canik  Tp9sfx that costs considerably less.

[MemphisMechanic]

I think it’s ergonomically superior to any gun I’ve yet shot the snot out of in Production. That group consists of G34, M&P 9L, and Tanfoglio Stock 3. 

 

More accurate than the M&P or Glock too.

 

You’ll shoot the same score with any of them though. The gun is such a small factor in your scores - once you get enough practice with it - rhat it doesnt matter.

[jcc7x7]

4 hours ago, MemphisMechanic said:

I think it’s ergonomically superior to any gun I’ve yet shot the snot out of in Production. That group consists of G34, M&P 9L, and Tanfoglio Stock 3. 

 

More accurate than the M&P or Glock too.

 

You’ll shoot the same score with any of them though. The gun is such a small factor in your scores - once you get enough practice with it - rhat it doesnt matter.

Memphis, thanks and I appreciate you answering my PM a few days ago, KUDO's to you!

I know I knew this already but was trying to be in denial as an excuse for a new gun! LOL

BUT

I am glad it basically is a good to go gun so it's real high on my list of wants!!!

thanks again!

Edited January 7, 2018 by jcc7x7

[johes]

Great gun. Had mine for about 2 months. Only changes I made was Sprinco recoil system and thinner Dawson front sight. Hardest adjustment for me is changing from a nice heavy Shadow to a much lighter gun, but going to stay with it.

Edited February 12, 2018 by johes

[MemphisMechanic]

On 1/6/2018 at 5:16 PM, Single Stack said:

As I am a LH shooter I active the magazine release with my trigger finger.  I am still getting used to this but again not a big issue.  The mag release button is large and for RH shooters I would think they would find it easy to activate.

Swap the button to the other side.

 

The benefit to the Q5s ergos for a lefty is that it I feel zero need to shift my grip in order to work the slide stop or mag release.

 

They aren’t the slightest bit of stretch for my thumb to reach.

Edited February 17, 2018 by MemphisMechanic