NRA Gun of the Week: Walther Full-Size PDP 4.5"

by
posted on June 4, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

From the gun’s excellent dodecahedron-style texturing to the SuperTerrain slide serrations, to the its 18-round capacity magazines, the Walther Performance Duty Pistol (PDP) is dressed to impress. Over the last decade, we’ve been witness to Walther’s modern focus on ergonomics, and this latest market entry is nothing short of exemplary.

black pistol handgun metal plastic gun left side with text noting make and model "walther arms pdp full size 4.5""

 

The Walther Arms Full-Size PDP 4.5” is a user-friendly, ergonomic pistol made for the modern era, chambered for 9 mm Luger and enhanced by engineering to accommodate pistol optics. Even though the striker-fired PDP can be traced back to the company’s PPQ and Q Series guns, it is most certainly a different gun that is designed to help the shooter optimize his/her performance on the range.

black pistol in hand shooting guns green shirt

 

With the PDP Full-Size 4.5” model, you get a duty-size pistol that measures 5.7" tall with an overall length of 8". Empty weight of this model PDP tips the scale at 22.3 ozs., add in an empty 18-round magazine and the weight jumps up nearly three ozs.

gun pistol parts pieces modules black plastic handgun

 

All of our tests with the Performance Duty Pistol concluded that this recoil-operated semi-automatic is a feature-rich design and provides a lot of features for the money. The addition of optic plates to customize the pistol to your style of red-dot optic is a worthwhile feature in a market that is increasingly more saturated with optic-ready options.

right side pistol handgun black outdoors sticks leaves wet

To learn more about the Walther Arms PDP Full-Size 4.5” pistol, watch our NRA Gun of the Week video above.

Walther Arms PDP Full-Size 4.5” Specifications
Importer: Walther Arms
Manufacturer: Walther GmbH (Germany)
Action Type: recoil-operated, center-fire, semi-automatic pistol
Chambering: 9 mm Luger
Barrel: 4.5”
Slide: carbon steel
Frame: polymer
Sights: polymer, three white dot with adjustable rear
Trigger: striker-fired; 4-lb., 8-oz. pull
Magazine: 18-round detachable box
Height: 5.7"
Length: 8"
Width: 1.34”
Weight: 22.3 ozs. (empty)
MSRP: $649

Latest

Crates Of Cartridge Curiosities
Crates Of Cartridge Curiosities

Rifleman Q&A: Crates Of Cartridge Curiosities

"I have in my possession two interesting wooden boxes containing two sealed ammunition cans each. I initially assumed the cartridges to be corrosive-primed and marked them as such with a paint pen, but lately I am not so sure."

Preview: Spyderco Police Model

The all-stainless-steel Spyderco Police Model folding knife is an instantly recognizable design that, according to the company, “was developed in the early 1980s to meet the demanding needs of law-enforcement professionals.”

The TriStar Arms APOC: Familiar & Affordable

Glock-inspired handgun designs have become one of the most popular corners of the firearm market, and TriStar Arms is the latest to throw its hat into the ring with the affordable APOC.

Preview: Linos Sheathworks Custom Kydex Knife Sheaths

Shown here with a TOPS Apache Falcon knife, Linos Sheathworks’ custom Kydex sheaths are available to fit a wide variety of popular fixed-blade and folding knife models from other major brands—all without the need to ship the host knife to the company.

Gun Of The Week: Ruger LCP MAX Manual Safety

Ruger introduced its LCP MAX in 2021, but in recent years, the company has expanded the line with new models, including this two-tone version equipped with a manual thumb safety.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 28, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.