June 23, 2020
By J. Scott Rupp
The Walther CCP M2 is one of the great all-around defensive pistols on the market. It’s a good carry gun (CCP stands for Concealed Carry Pistol, after all) and a good home-defense gun for people of just about any experience level or physical condition.
The CCP operates via SoftCoil, a delayed-blowback design. A gas port forward of the chamber bleeds ignition gases into a cylinder below the fixed barrel. A piston is mounted at the forward part of the slide, and firing gases expanding into the cylinder retard the piston’s ability to travel down the cylinder until the bullet has left the barrel.
Once that occurs and pressures drop to a safe level, the slide cycles. The result is the CCP can use a lighter slide and a lighter recoil spring for easy slide operation.
The CCP M2 offers tool-less takedown. To disassemble, drop the eight-round magazine (two are supplied) and open the slide to ensure there’s no round in the chamber. Close the slide. Unlike the 9mm version, the .380 has a magazine disconnect safety, so insert an unloaded magazine into the gun, point the muzzle in a safe direction and pull the trigger to decock the striker.
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There’s a small serrated tab just below the nicely visible red cocking indicator that protrudes from the rear of the slide. Push in and slide the tab to the right to release the locking block and striker-spring cover. On the 9mm CCP I tested a couple years ago, the tab moved easily. On this sample the tab was initially difficult to operate, but it smoothed out after disassembling the gun a couple times.
The CCP is set up for carry with a small, protected slide-lock lever and an unobtrusive safety that’s very easy to use. The magazine release is reversible. Pull back slightly on the slide until the extractor is free, then lift up the back of the slide. Push in on the firing pin safety to free the striker/spring assembly.
Be sure to clean the chamber area well, and Walther supplies a small brass brush for cleaning the gas cylinder hole. The only tricky part to reassembly is ensuring the piston is aligned with the cylinder hole so you can move the slide into position.
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The CCP M2 .380’s slide features nicely sharp cocking serrations on the front and back. The slide on my sample was black; it’s also available in stainless and Angel Blue.
The rear sight has two white dots and is adjustable for windage. In addition to the white-dot front sight on the gun, Walther supplies two additional sights so you can get the gun to shoot to point of aim with your favorite ammo.
The installed sight measures 0.20 inch high, and the other two measure 0.18 and 0.22 inch. My sample shot high with the ammo I tested, so if this were my gun I’d switch to the tallest sight. Walther provides the necessary Torx wrench to remove the sight screw and a tiny metal rod to help push the sight out of the slide. It’s easy to do, but because the sight screw is tiny, I’d advise changing sights at home instead of the range so you don’t lose the screw.
Walther pistols have excellent grips, and the CCP is no exception. The Hi-Grip texturing and the undercut behind the trigger guard contribute to terrific control. The frame has a three-slot rail, and the front of the trigger guard is squared and serrated while the rear is undercut for a high grip on the gun.
Controls include a small slide-lock lever that’s surrounded by a raised portion of the frame to ensure the lever won’t snag on clothing. The reversible magazine button likewise has a small raised shelf to prevent accidentally dropping a mag, and for me it also provides a great reference point so my thumb can find it easily. The elongated safety is easy to work with the firing-hand thumb in both directions. I think it has a Goldilocks-right amount of tension.
I own two Walthers, and I don’t think anybody makes a better grip. I love the feel and fit, and the Hi-Grip texturing keeps the gun locked in your hand. I can get all three fingers on the gun, even without the magazine’s small finger extension.
When I tested the 9mm version I was impressed by how soft-shooting the gun was, and the .380 is even easier to control. The gun points like a dream, and anyone with even a modicum of experience will be able to handle it well.
The pistol employs a delayed-blowback piston system for an easy-to-work slide. Two additional front sights come with the gun. Accuracy from the bench was great, especially considering those are 25-yard results from a short-barreled gun. Hits at speed on a six-inch plate rack at 12 yards came readily, and functioning was 100 percent. The trigger has some take-up and is a bit gritty, and pull weight on this sample was six pounds—no competition trigger but perfectly fine for defensive uses.
Walther promotes this as a concealed-carry gun, and it does carry and conceal quite well. Additionally, with its accessory rail for a light or laser and 8+1 capacity it makes a terrific home-defense option as well. The fact that it is so easy to operate and easy to shoot makes it a great all-around gun for just about anybody.
Walther CCP M2 .380 Specs Type: Delayed-blowback semiauto centerfire
Caliber: .380 Auto
Capacity: 8+1
Barrel: 3.54 in.
OAL/Height/Width: 6.4/5.1/1.2 in.
Weight: 19.4 oz.
Construction: Black steel slide (as tested), black polymer frame
Trigger: 6 lb. pull (measured)
Safeties: Single-side thumb, firing pin, magazine disconnect
Price: $469 (as tested)
Manufacturer/Importer: Walther Arms,
WaltherArms.com Walther CCP M2 .380 Accuracy Results Notes: Accuracy results are averages of four five-shot groups at 25 yards from an MTM pistol rest. Velocities are averages of 10 shots recorded on a Pro Chrono placed 10 feet from the muzzle. Abbreviation: JHP, jacketed hollowpoint Buy it now. Log on to GalleryofGuns.com , select this firearm, pay a deposit and it will be at your local gun store in two days. When purchased from GalleryofGuns.com, Davidson’s guarantees to repair or replace this firearm for life.
