Walther’s SSP History … The Readers Digest version

Guys over at the Vintage Fporum asked for this summary and thought you fellas may find this of some minor interest.Dates are approximately … commentary is sort of reliable. Jim
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LGR – (1976 through 1988)

1st match rifle single stroke pneumatic air rifle. Revolutionized 10 meter international shooting buy reducing lock time, reducing recoil and shattering both world records within a few months. First SSP to win Olympic Gold Medal (1984 LA Games – men’s 10 Meter Air Rifle). Put FWB 300S models/shooters in a race for 2nd place. 550 to 570 fps. Compression stroke toward front. Loading breech in front of action … maybe best SSP ever made for mounting a scope dur to loading breech location. Long production run saw improvements to sights ultimately reaching the 20-clicker anti-glare tube rear sight and anti-glare tube front sight. Solid walnut or solid beech stocks. Came in a variety of stock models including standard LGR, LGR Match, early and late model LGR Universal, a Junior (or Mini) LGR Match version, and two different Moving Target (more commonly known as Running Target) models. Dedicated left hand and dedicated right hand models available for most models although I have not seen a left hand moving Target version.

LG-90 – (1989 to 1991)

Upgraded LGR design to emulate FWB 600/601 and Anschutz 2001 SSP models introduced in the mid-1980’s. These revisions included the use of the short barrel with the standard length bloop-tubes to decrease lock time. Dry fire capabilities. Compression stroke toward front. Came in solid beech or walnut stock models. Came in Right hand and right/left ambidextrous versions. Only SSP I am aware of to utilize stainless steel action.

LGM-1 – (1991 to 1992)

Very short production run and thus not too common. Only significant change from the LG-90 was to the loading breech design which finally replaced the LGR-type flip-up breech to a modern sliding version. Modernized trigger design with duel trigger bar posts. Stainless steel not used. Beech and walnut stocks.

LGM-2 – (1993 – 1998)

First of the laminate stock match air rifles from Walther’s … some solid beech models also produced. Awesome accuracy and function. Won 1996 Olympic Gold. Came in Running Target and Junior (Mini) models (Junior was an ambidextrous design).

Junior LGM-2

LG-210 – (1998 to ~ 2002)

Last Walther SSP ever made. Pretty much like the LGM-2 but (I think) with a recoil absorber like its competitor FWB 603.