The P99 was primarily chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, a widely-used and accepted German-originated pistol cartridge the world over. Magazines were internally springloaded and each cartridge was fed through the grip handle while magazines then being ejected via an ambidextrous release system found on the trigger ring. The standard P99 model (9x19mm) initially held 16 rounds in its magazine while the .40 S&W model fed from a 12-round magazine. In time, magazines were revised to feed from 15 and 11 round counts respectively. Magazine counts of 17- and 20-rounds eventually appeared - all magazines completed of sheet metal construction.
The P99 was offered in three distinct trigger group versions: Double-Action Only (P99DOA), Quick Action (P99QA with preloaded internal striker) and Anti-Stress (P99AS with decocker). The P99 was additionally sold in two major frame versions - the base full-sized P99 and the P99C, a compact variant with reduced magazine capacity and maximized concealment in mind. The P99C has been further offered in the three listed trigger actions (DAO, QA and AS) as well. The P99Q became a special police-market variant. The P99 ultimately evolved across three primary generational forms known simply as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation. 2nd Generation models appeared in 2004 mainly saw updates to their slide detail. 3rd Generation models were given longer magazines with another slide revision and squared trigger ring. Training versions have also become available form Walther.
Various police forces of the world have gone on to accept the reliable P99 in their inventory including Canadian, German, Dutch, Finnish, Malaysian and British (Nottinghamshire Police) city police forces. The Finnish Army has adopted the type as well. Special units of the Irish An Garda Siochana use the P99C. The Iraqi Army has been handed the P99 in considerable numbers.
The P99 is produced under license in Poland by Radom as the P99 RAD. The American concern of Smith & Wesson markets the P99 as the SW99 with barrels and slides manufactured stateside. Unlike base P99s, the SW99 is also available in a .45 ACP form.
The most modern form of the P99 family of sidearms is the PPQ, first unveiled in 2011 developed for German law enforcement.
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