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

SW 1854 30 30 01
SW 1854 30 30 01

Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Now Available In .30-30 Win.

Smith & Wesson expanded its Model 1854 series of lever-action rifles with several .30-30 Win.-chambered variants, just in time for deer season.

Preview: Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket

In Making The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket, author Peter Smithurst details the tools and processes used to produce this historically significant firearm.

Gun Of The Week: Charter Arms Double Dog

For this Gun Of The Week episode, we’re on the range with a convertible wheelgun from Charter Arms, and it’s one that goes from .357 Mag to 9 mm Luger quickly and easily. Welcome to the Double Dog.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 17, 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.

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.