Walther CP88 Review

Overall Rating

Excellent design, 99% all metal, German engineering and manufacture. feels excellent to hold with realistic weight. Super simple, strong, and durable in operation. Powerful (400+ fps)....single action (when you pull back the hammer) is noticeably stronger than double/semi-auto action. Accurate for the length of barrel and does not need much sight adjustment.

This pistol is the most compact of those umarex-type models in its class of quality. The other comparable ones are the beretta 92fs, the colt 1911, and the cp88 competition (6 inch). These are guns that will last and last without need for replacement or hardly any. the extra price is worth it if you want top german quality and reliability like i do.

The CO2 loading system is precise, reliable, convenient, and easy. The CO2 can be placed inside and the screw tightened without piercing the cylinder, with the power lever sticking up. The pistol can be left like this until power is needed and within seconds you can pull it out and close the lever, charged and ready to fire. The lever tskes a little effort to push, so it wont close unless you purposely do it. This will keep your gun from sitting around charged or wearing on your CO2 seals.

The only problem i had with this pistol concerned the lever to open the pellet breech/slide where the magazine goes. The lever was extremely difficult to press unless pressure was put on the slide in the direction of closing it. i had read about this problem in other reviews, and it seems to be on some but not all cp88s. I almost returned it due to this simple flaw, but looked around online and found a simple fix that made the gun to operate perfectly....so much nicer than before, and now it is perfect and im 100% happy with the cp88! See below if you want to read about the easy fix.

This gun is excellent in every way. Many upgrades and accessories are available to increase power and accuracy and the quality is unmatched. Accessory rail, 4 to 6 inch barrel extension, match sights are available to upgrade or improve versatility.

Sometimes-sticky pellet breech release lever is easily fixed to smooth and perfect operation--if you have just 1 ounce of mechanical sense- by opening and easily removing the slide (1 screw on the front [this gun is made of just a few pieces of solid metal, not many small parts, and not complicated at all--very very easy to put back together!]) These are all things you'd have to do to switch out your barrels anyway if you want the 6 inch extension. You just need some smaller-size screwdrivers because the full size is way too big and dont lose the screws!

Just glance at the way things fit together-anyone can do it. Then clean off all parts where the slide, body, and latches contact and catch each other. Its really simple operation. Remove the old grease , if present. Burrs, errant metal pieces, or rough spots may be present from imperfect moulding/finishing/manufacture causing sticking.

Remove one small screw on side of breech and pull out the barrel assembly. Compare the body and slide so you see how it works. When you move the lever, two catches/latches move up and down to block or release the slide. Basically the two metal sides that contact each other on slide and moving metal latches should be flat and smooth with slightly rounded corners and edges.. Take a small nail file and very gently go over the critical sides/edges on the slide where the slide catches the latches, especially any rough spots, burrs, or flashing you see or feel. Gently file the front sides of the slide catches and front corners and edges of the catches so the sharp corners become just the slightest bit rounded and smooth. do the same gentle filing on the sharp corners and edges where the latches catch on the slide.

Now you are done! clean everything off with a little SILICONE oil and put a little new SILICONE grease back everywhere the slide contacts the body and latches. Put the barrel and slide back on the way they were when you took them off, close and lock the slide, and replace the screw.

Some cp88s never need this, but if your lever sticks this will make the gun like perfect and better than brand new without any hassles of return etc! For this price they should be finished better, but this will make your lever action near perfect and make this the perfect gun it was designed to be should you get one with a rough edge.

basically the gun is perfect in every way, well made, and may only need this slight cleaning/smoothing procedure on a few but not all new ones. Otherwise if you dont mind getting something bigger and heavier get the beretta, or if you dont mind the grip safety you can get the colt 1911. But the cp88 4inch is the most compact, powerful, and versatile, because you can achieve the highest power, accuracy, and ergonomic feel with the cp88 if you get the extended barrel.

On the chrono cp88 4inch gives an average speed of 371 fps. Colt 1911 gives an average of 403 fps. Beretta 92fs gives an average of 408 fps....But cp88 6" gives an average of 418 fps! Single action (when you cock the hammer) will be stronger for all of the above. So cp88 4inch with the 4 to 6 barrel extension gives a combination of compact versatility, light weight, and power/accuracy option with the barrel extension option in your kit.

It is also worth mentioning that the beretta 92 fs has the nice laser that attaches right under the barrel...made especially for the gun...The colt 1911 is beautiful but long, and the smith and wesson revolvers have 10 shot capacity with long accurate barrels... but i wanted something smaller and versatile so Im really happy with the cp88. all these upper-end umarex pistols are uber-awesome!

So shoot safely and be kind and compassionate to wildlife: shoot at targets cans and bottles with appropriate backstop and dont hunt animals just for fun.

Members' Comments onGerman Collector's Review

• German Collector on 18th Aug 2008

  I have a small correction for the sticky latch fix i posted above. I wrote:
  
  "Gently file the front sides of the slide catches and front corners and edges of the catches so the sharp corners become just the slightest bit rounded and smooth. do the same gentle filing on the sharp corners and edges where the latches catch on the slide."
  
  It is actually the BACK edges and corners of the moving catches that should be gently smoothed with the file, not the front...so, as you can probably figure out...on the SLIDE it is the side/edge that faces the FRONT of the cp88...on the CATCHES that move up and down, it is the side that faces the REAR of the cp88.
  
  You see, this is where the friction and catching happens when the lever is pressed. I also neglected to mention that this is all powered by one big spring at the front of the slide...so if there is roughness or sharp edges it causes it to stick. It is all very very easy to put back together so dont be intimidated by my over-detailed expalnation. the fix I read elsewhere online was kjust a simple sentence or two, but I tried to explain it in painful (excruciating) and largely unedited detail on a late night so forgive me :-)
  

• tattoo58 on 23rd Sep 2008

  I found this review helpful because...I agree with the review,it is the closest to the real deal I have in my collection,beautifully weighted and accurate.

• gecco on 23rd Oct 2008

  If you prefer not to fool around with cumbersome rails and sights on top of the pistol, I would recommend the Crosman Trigger Mount Laser Sight, which has an excellent fit. (... and if you don't like the momentary pressure switch cord, you can buy the AimSHOT On/Off button for $5.00)