Walther PDP F-Series for Women
The “pink it and shrink it” mentality is common in the gun world and has led to some less than stellar handgun offerings for women. Some companies understand the assignment better, though, and Walther Arms has proven itself to be at the top of the marketing game for female shooters. The respected gun maker’s line of handguns includes the Walther PDP F-Series which they say is designed specifically for women. And it isn’t pink, it’s black.
Walther Arms released the following statement regarding their PDP F-Series:
The same engineering passion, precision workmanship and innovation that made Walther’s PDP a groundbreaking achievement in firearms is now tailored specifically to Female shooters with the PDP F-Series pistol. The new F-Series elevates the next evolution in world class ingenuity for pistols to meet the demands of female shooters like never seen before. Accounting for precise structural differences, Walther has completely reengineered the ergonomics of the grip to be designed for the exact biomechanics of women’s hands. Featuring a new patented operating system resulting in a reduction in slide rack force paired with all the performance duty features of the PDP, the F-Series pistol is the elite choice for all women.
There are currently two handguns in the PDP F-Series line, one with a 4.0-inch barrel and one with a 3.5-inch barrel. Walther Arms states they fine-tuned these models to better suit women who shoot in the following ways:
- Reduced trigger reach for improved trigger control and finger placement
- SuperTerrain serrations are designed as raised areas rather than cuts for easier slide manipulation
- Reduced slide force is required with a 20 percent reduction in how much power must be put into racking
- Performance duty grip texture in a tetrahedron design for an aggressive yet comfortable feel
- Changed ergonomics through reduced grip circumference
- Optics-ready thanks to a removable slide plate
- Modularity through two different frame sizes and three options for slide length
A great deal of research and attention to detail went into the creation of the Walther PDP F-Series. The gunmaker involved several well-known competition shooters in the process including Walther Shooting team member, Olympian, and Firearms Instructor Gabby Franco. She made the following statement about the new guns:
The PDP F-series is the result of a revolutionary approach to creating a pistol with female shooters in mind. Walther Arms took the difficult task of developing a mid-sized frame handgun that offers high ammo capacity with a smaller grip, shorter trigger, and excellent ergonomics like no other. The F-series is the best tool in the market for self-defense, law enforcement, target shooting, and competitive shooting. It makes me proud to be part of a project to bring a pistol that contributes to many women’s quests to become better shooters!
Walther PDP F-Series Specifications
Manufacturer: Walther Arms
Model: PDP F-Series 4-inch (also offered in 3.5 inch)
Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum
Color: Black
Slide Material: Steel
Frame Material: Polymer
Overall Length: 7.25 inches
Slide Length: 7.0 inches
Width: 1.34 inches
Height: 5.4 inches
Barrel Length: 4.0 inches
Sight Radius: 6.4 inches
Trigger Reach: 2.56 inches
Grip Circumference: 5.5 inches utilizing medium backstrap
Weight Without Magazine: 21 ounces
Weight With Empty Magazine: 24 ounces
Magazine Capacity: 15 +1
Magazines Included: 2
Trigger: PDT-F
Safeties: 3-Auto
Trigger Pull Weight: 5.6 pounds according to the manufacturer
Trigger Travel Distance: 0.24 inches
MSRP for the 4.0-inch barrel and 3.5-inch barrel models is $699.00.