.22 P-38, reliable and accurate?

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NIGHTLORD40K

NIGHTLORD40K

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Have a line on an honest-to-goodness rimfire Walther P-38, NOT the zinc Erma lookalike. Early 60's production- seller believes its steel framed. Im sure going to confirm that as it makes a significant difference to the value.

These go for a pretty penny, so before I drop about 20,0000 of them, Id sleep better knowing they actually run- nothing annoys me more than a picky, jam-prone auto.

Accuracy is secondary to me, but it'd be nice if they could hold their own at the range as well.

Anyone have/ had/ love/ hate the small-bore P-38?
 
There was more than one version. The dedicated P38 in .22 l.r. and the conversion. Both work well and will give you less trouble than the average S&W 41 or High Standard Citation but at a slightly decreased accuracy, mostly because of the sighs. Mags cost a small fortune.

This is a conversion:
Walther-P38-22-LR.jpg
 
Well....I got to see the gun in person this afternoon. Its a scrubbed and refinished wartime production steel frame with a conversion slide- the one that uses a barrel sleeve. I was hoping it was one of the actual factory built rimfires, despite the steep price they command.

I told the guy I wasnt really interested. Oh well, sometimes a unicorn is just a horse.
 
You can always call Simpson or check their site, he keeps a good stock of P38s and might just have something to lighten your wallet.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well....I got to see the gun in person this afternoon. Its a scrubbed and refinished wartime production steel frame with a conversion slide- the one that uses a barrel sleeve. I was hoping it was one of the actual factory built rimfires, despite the steep price they command.

I told the guy I wasnt really interested. Oh well, sometimes a unicorn is just a horse.
Click to expand...

Indeed. Sometimes a unicorn is just a donkey with a an ice cream cone for a hat. Been down that road many times in this wacky gun hobby.
 
Nightlord,
I would recommend to get a good post war P-1 or P38 and find a conversion unit. The cost for a conversion unit, barrel insert, slide and one magazine can be expected to be over $450 but the P1 is as accurate in 9mm as it is in .22 l.r.
Walther_P38.jpg
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Well....I got to see the gun in person this afternoon. Its a scrubbed and refinished wartime production steel frame with a conversion slide- the one that uses a barrel sleeve. I was hoping it was one of the actual factory built rimfires, despite the steep price they command.

I told the guy I wasnt really interested. Oh well, sometimes a unicorn is just a horse.
Click to expand...
.

Good call ! I had a 70 s Interarms one and it ran well and sold it to my son's wife's mother as her first gun 10 years ago for $500 which was less than the going rate , it was in factory box with one extra mag . I shot it under 1000 rounds, It liked round nose profile only , high speed ammo. It was not a target gun, pBut was above average accurate
 
My 9mm civilian/police P38 is one of my favorite shooters. What is the appeal of one in 22lr? Just curious?
 
Gordon said:
Hurry , bid last 5 minutes . Looks like a $959 gun to me ! Also GB has an Interarms era factory one for $1300 in box ect.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/913623816
Click to expand...

That's a conversion, i.e. if the 9mm barrel is in good condition, a 9mm slide and mag will convert it back to 9mm and they cost less than the box is worth. Those hideous grips cause eye cancer when you look closely!
 
MikeInOr said:
My 9mm civilian/police P38 is one of my favorite shooters. What is the appeal of one in 22lr? Just curious?
Click to expand...
I have a weird fascination for .22 versions of full size guns- M1922, M17, DW22, Colt OMM, DSM22- would love to find a .22 SMLE and rimfire Webley someday.

Honestly, I was just kinda excited that one was available locally as they are somewhat rare. I dont know that I would seek one out- not enough to register for Gunbroker anyway. I wasn't actually all that impressed with the last 9mm P1 I had.

Im sure that one will go higher. Since they mucked up Armslist, Im probably going to have to get registered with GB anyway......
 
Then this conversion might be interesting you, as well. Parker Hale:
S-W-PH.jpg
S&W_P_H_conversion.jpg

I have a Bienlein conversion but the Lothar Walther conversions are much more common:
ConversionII.jpg
cyl_barrel.jpg

I can even shoot .22 out of my 12 gauge
Lothar_Walther_12.22_1.jpg

When even the recoil of a .22 l.r. becomes unmanageable, there is still the 4mm M20. Ammo costs a fortune!!!

Lothar-Walther-4mm-M20.jpg
 
PzGren said:
Then this conversion might be interesting you, as well. Parker Hale:
View attachment 1033421
View attachment 1033422

I have a Bienlein conversion but the Lothar Walther conversions are much more common:
View attachment 1033423
View attachment 1033424

I can even shoot .22 out of my 12 gauge
View attachment 1033425

When even the recoil of a .22 l.r. becomes unmanageable, there is still the 4mm M20. Ammo costs a fortune!!!

View attachment 1033426
Click to expand...
Nice!

When I win the Powerball, my first purchase will be one of the 10 or so actual factory-special .22 Pythons.......:D
 
The Bienlein conversion is a neat curio and quite accurate but the POI is quite different from the centerfire host's POI and it changes with each installation. Loading the conversion cartridges is a hassle, too. It would be no fun to shoot a brick through it in one range session.

Talking about bricks. I saw some 300 rd brick at Walmart Federal HV, or so, for around $35.
 
PzGren said:
The Bienlein conversion is a neat curio and quite accurate but the POI is quite different from the centerfire host's POI and it changes with each installation. Loading the conversion cartridges is a hassle, too. It would be no fun to shoot a brick through it in one range session.

Talking about bricks. I saw some 300 rd brick at Walmart Federal HV, or so, for around $35.
Click to expand...
Always thought it would have been neat if the M53 had been built on the S&W large frame- then one could have a N-22lr with the cartridge converters, lol.
 
PzGren said:
The Bienlein conversion is a neat curio and quite accurate but the POI is quite different from the centerfire host's POI and it changes with each installation. Loading the conversion cartridges is a hassle, too. It would be no fun to shoot a brick through it in one range session.

Talking about bricks. I saw some 300 rd brick at Walmart Federal HV, or so, for around $35.
Click to expand...
Of course, if you had donor guns, parts, and the skills you could take a cylinder, hammer, and firing pin from a .22 Trooper and a barrel from a .22 Diamondback and assemble them on a Python frame, ha!
 
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Not just a high $ start auction but with a non serialized frame it is also a potential hazard. Even if it has no importer mark, which personal imports do not require, without the import paperwork it is just a problem.

A solid P1 or P38 can still be found around $600 and a very good conversion for another $500 to 600 and this is the route that I went and would recommend.
 
PzGren said:
Not just a high $ start auction but with a non serialized frame it is also a potential hazard. Even if it has no importer mark, which personal imports do not require, without the import paperwork it is just a problem.

A solid P1 or P38 can still be found around $600 and a very good conversion for another $500 to 600 and this is the route that I went and would recommend.
Click to expand...
I aasume you mean a legal hazard, not a safety hazard?
 
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