Video review of the Walther Q4 steel frame pistol, for tabletop and range shooting

By Graham Baates
YouTube personality Graham Baates gives us a video review of the Walther Q4 SF pistol.

Graham Baates with the new Walther Q4 SF

The latest evolution of the PPQ line is out, the Walther Q4 Steel Frame (SF) pistol. Walther’s PPQ series of pistols redefined what consumers should expect from a handgun. A fit and finish that was ready to go, ergonomics that took the human hand into consideration, and a striker-fired trigger that inspired other manufacturers to fix the nasty triggers we’ve all come to expect. When Walther released the Q5 Match Steel Frame, they bucked the trend toward lightweight and instead focused on the benefits of a heavier pistol. Those benefits centered primarily around reduced perceived recoil, and the effects can be seen in this quick comparison video of the Walther Q4 TAC and Walther Q4 SF fired quickly by two different shooters.

Walther Q4 #ad Steel Frame Pistol

When I first heard about the Q4 SF, I wondered why and how. Why would anyone want the weight of an all-steel rifle if it wasn’t just for competition purposes? How did Walther do it? Was it simply a cut-down of the Q5 Match SF? I learned that it was NOT a cut-down, and in fact, involved rebalancing the frame. Was it necessary? No, but did Walther take the opportunity to further advance the design? Yes. Check out the video walkthrough below to get a better idea of the engineering and manufacturing that went into the Q4 SF.

By building the frame from a block of steel, the Q4 Steel Frame is over 50% lighter than a standard polymer frame pistol. Ergonomics, in my very subjective opinion, have also improved. Perhaps more attention was paid to design, or perhaps the engineers were able to go further since the frame is CNC machined from a block of steel rather than simply injecting polymer into a mold.

Whatever the reason, the Q4 TAC is a true work of art. Just as a German sports car is premium because it delivers premium, the Q4 Steel Frame promises that too.

We hit the range with the Walther Q4 Steel Frame for our standard battery of tests. Full-Mag +1, “What’s For Dinner?” and some practical accuracy. With the drastic weight change from your standard 4″ pistol, we were curious to see how the Q4 SF would handle the various “What’s For Dinner?” loads. We didn’t expect any reliability issues, but we definitely wanted to find out what it’s like to shoot a 4″ pistol that weighs nearly 40 ounces. See the results below.

The Walther Q4 Steel Frame Pistol specifications below were taken directly from the product webpage:

Walther Q4 Steel Frame Pistol

MODEL: 2830019
CALIBER: 9MM
BARREL LENGTH: 4″
Trigger Pull: 5.6 lbs
TRIGGER TRAVEL: 0.4″
CAPACITY: 15 RDS
TOTAL LENGTH: 7.4″
HEIGHT: 5.4″
SECURITY: 3 AUTO
WIDTH: 1.3″
EMPTY WEIGHT: 119.16 g

The weight may not be the most appealing for concealed carry, but as a duty or competition model, I could see the Q4 steel frame really shining. If you’re comfortable carrying a little extra weight, we’ve proven that this pistol won’t let you down. I can even see some 1911 traditionalists converting to the Q4 steel frame and there’s no reason they wouldn’t. The weight and feel of an all-steel pistol and the crisp trigger and reset that 1911 fans have come to love, but with increased capacity and ergonomics. Did Walther just take on the 1911 market with a double-stack, striker-fired pistol?

About Graham Baates

“Graham Baates” is a pseudonym used by a 15-year Army veteran who spent most of his time in the tactical side of the intelligence community, including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. After leaving the Army, Graham spent some time in the local 3-Gun circuit before becoming a full-time NRA-certified defensive handgun instructor and now works as a professional writer while running a YouTube channel on the side. Visit Graham on YouTube.