German commandos get an extremely modern new handgun

The German Army’s Special Forces Pistol System program has ended, and Walther’s P14 and P14K won the day. The P14 and P14K are more than premier combat handguns – they are high-tech weapon systems.

Based on its PDP (Performance Duty Pistol), Walther has created one of the most capable service pistols fielded by a modern military force.

The P14 and P14K will replace the Glock 17 and the HK P30 and standardize the handgun option among the German KSK (Special Operations Forces) and the KSM (Naval Special Operations Forces Command), as well as the military police’s specialized forces. 

The Walther PDP – The modern option 

Walther’s latest handguns, the PDP series of pistols was released in 2021 and evolved from the PPQ series. The PDP are 9mm striker-fired handguns with a double-stack magazine. They use micro red dots and were built to be optically enhanced pistols from the ground up.

It’s been a slow growth, but more police and military forces have adopted mini red dots on handguns. American special operations units have used pistol red dots for a few years. The M17/M18 series of handguns that are now the standard handguns of the United States military are optics-ready as well. 

Walther built the PDP to offer shooters an optics-ready gun with grip ergonomics designed to facilitate optic use. The most noticeable ergonomic change is at the bottom of the grip which is hooked somewhat inward and designed to allow pinky pressure to align the dot with your vision better as you present the gun. 

Beyond the optics-ready design, the PDP series has been praised for its excellent ergonomics. The aggressive grip texture, oversized slide lock, and large magazine release make the weapon easy to handle and shoot. I’ve handled the Walther PDP compact in two shooting classes and have been impressed with the weapon’s accuracy, ergonomics, and overall design. I’ve found it to be somewhat snappy compared to other guns, but the difference is minimal. 

Related: These are the absolutely worst military small arms of the modern era

The P14 and P14K 

The P14 and P14K are more than the Walther PDP. Sure, the PDP makes up the core of the system, but there’s more to it. The P14 is the full-sized variant of the PDP. The P14 has a barrel 4.5-inch barrel while the P14K features a four-inch one. The P14 has a full-length grip module and the P14K has a slightly shorter grip. 

The P14 integrates a threaded barrel and appears to come standard with a compensator. Compensators redirect gas from burning gunpowder. This redirection of gas pushes the barrel downward and reduces muzzle rise. The threaded barrel can also accept a suppressor. 

The P14 and P14K are both equipped with the Aimpoint ACRO 2 optic. This second generation of the ACRO offers shooters a premium tier enclosed emitter optic for the highest level of reliability. Both guns also feature suppressor height sights that act as backups in case the red dot fails. 

Both guns feature magazines with extended base pads. The P14 appears to have a long base pad and while it’s not completely clear yet my estimate would be a magazine capacity between 19 and 22 rounds. The P14K has a slightly shorter extension and I’d estimate the capacity is between 17 and 20 rounds. 

Both guns come with a flared magazine well. This adds what’s basically a funnel to the bottom of the gun allowing for faster reloads. The guns have rail systems and can accept a light or laser aiming device. 

In summary, they are rich in features and are very similar to what we’d see champion-level shooters wielding at practical pistol matches. Most military handguns are rarely at the cutting edge, but the P14 and P14K are the exception. 

The contract 

Walther is providing 3,200 P14s and 3,300 P14K handguns to the German special forces. The contract also stipulates for nearly 2,000 training pistols in both formats. The contract has a seven-year framework for the manufacture and supply of pistols.

In my opinion, the German special forces will be very well armed by the P14 and P14K from Walther. The entire system is extremely progressive and well thought out.

Feature Image: German Special Operations Forces. (Bundeswehr/SOF)

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