Luger P08 vs. Walther P38

[rs525]

I've been able to shoot a couple P-08s and owned a P-38. I liked shooting the P-08s but they seemed finicky. I thought the toggle was cool but used it way more than I should have. The P-38 was much more reliable and had better sights. I don't recall the trigger being that bad on the P-38, but I mostly had revolvers to compare it to. It did have a hard time feeding hollow point ammunition though.

Obviously I don't intend to shoot hollow points, only fmj

 

[starling]

Obviously I don't intend to shoot hollow points, only fmj

Just curios....What draws you to these two models? Investment? Movies? Gun Design Nerd?

 

[tark]

The C96 is neither reliable nor all that much fun to shoot and has a lousy trigger.

Gotta disagree with you on that one. I have two C-96s (bottom gun is unfired ) and the one I shoot has never missed a beat in the thousands of rounds I have run through it. Mostly Norinco and Polish surplus 7.62X25. The C-96 was the first auto pistol that actually gained a reputation for its reliability. If yours isn't reliable I would suspect something is wrong. If you are feeding it handloads, they have to be close to the maximum end of the scale or the gun just won't function. Not fun? Really? The only "not fun" aspect I can see is chasing empties all over hell's half acre. The trigger on mine is crisp and breaks at around 5#.

Further, I have never owned any pistol, revolver or auto, that draws so much attention at the range.

As to the OPs question, as a weapon, the P-38 is the obvious winner, because Lugers actually WERE pretty unreliable when they got dirty. As a collector, the Luger is the obvious winner because the average Luger is worth a lot more than the average P-38. I have never fired either gun so I don't know which one I would enjoy shooting more.

 

[tark]

The sights are possibly the worst combination I ever experienced on a handgun

Check out the sights on a T-series Hi-Power! Mine is a 1968 gun. The rear notch is too narrow and when held out at arms length, the front sight completely fills the notch, leaving no sight picture at all! I do admit I have long arms.

My biggest challenge with the P08 was finding one without stupid eagles stamped all over it.

Nice joke, I think?? Those "stupid eagles" greatly increase the value. I assume you are referring to Waffenapt ( hope I spelled that right ) markings.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Nice joke, I think?? Those "stupid eagles" greatly increase the value. I assume you are referring to Waffenapt ( hope I spelled that

Im rather glad my Luger doesn't have them, having served with the Imperial German Army, and later the Weimar Republic Police. German, yes. Nazi, no.

 

[PzGren]

Did you serve in the German Military and if so, why did they keep using the P1 until 1993 even after newer guns came out like Glocks, SIG Sauers, the Walther P5 and H&Ks? Did they really just love the P1 THAT much?

My son bought a High Point 9mm as a joke when he picked a gun up at his dealer. He just wanted to see if it worked.

A full magazine at 10 yards worked without any problem. Can you do that with your favorite pistol? Cold? The gun does matter very little in real life but a lot on the internet.

 

[rbernie]

Im rather glad my Luger doesn't have them, having served with the Imperial German Army, and later the Weimar Republic Police. German, yes. Nazi, no.

Both of my parents are of German lineage, and my mother was a Operation Barbarosa leave baby. Having my maternal grandfather (Ludwig Bopp) conscripted into the Wehrmacht makes me a little leery of anything that glorifies the Third Reich.

German, yes. Nazi, no.

 

[bannockburn]

I have had a fair share of P38s, P1s, and even a P4 (should have held on to that one as it was made by Manurhin), over the years and still have one P1: a Manurhin that was used by the West Berlin Police force. All of them had decent SA triggers and heavy but usable DA triggers. Nothing to make you give up your tuned 1911 but they still worked fine and were reliable and accurate enough for service pistols. No "hot" loads in my P1s; just a steady diet of WWB 115 gr. ammo.

Never owned a Luger. Always thought they were too much money, didn't care all that much for the grip angle or the sights, and understood them to be rather finicky with some ammo.

 

[tark]

Both of my parents are of German lineage, and my mother was a Operation Barbarosa leave baby. Having my maternal grandfather (Ludwig Bopp) conscripted into the Wehrmacht makes me a little leery of anything that glorifies the Third Reich.

German, yes. Nazi, no.

Well stated, Sir, and quite understandable.

 

[tark]

(Finest Military sidearm of all time P-35 Hi Power)

Really? May well be, but I am shocked the 1911 guys ( I'm one of them ) haven't tore into you with a vengeance by now. I submit they are the two best of all time.

( How's THAT for being diplomatic? )

 

[Slamfire]

Have P1's, one P38. The P38 is an improvement over the Lugar as a service pistol.

But I always wanted a Lugar. They look cool and it is a fun experience to see the toggle flipping up when the pistol is cycling.

Lugars were too expensive when I finally got around to wanting one. I wish I had the bucks in the 1970;s when Interarms brought in new Swiss made Lugars. They were beautifully made and very expensive.

 

[PzGren]

A little hazy about “better”; an iconic sidearm to cherish? P-08. An interesting pre-wartime compromise, P-38.
(Finest Military sidearm of all time P-35 Hi Power)

Especially for those that cannot afford anything better.

 

[rs525]

The poll is literally 50/50 as of this point. Like I said, I'll just go to my dealer and ask to handle both guns. It seems it ultimately just comes down to personal preference and which one feels better in hand and shoots better.

 

[film495]

I own neither, but if I had a chance to get one or the other it would be a Luger for sure. The prices also indicate the demand for them, which is why I'll probably never own one.

 

[Jimbo80]

If there’s any way for you to swing getting both you would be happier in the long run. As noted neither are getting any cheaper

 

[Nature Boy]

At the risk of being annoying and repetitive.

Get both.

 

[P5 Guy]

I voted for the P'38.
Personally, I'd buy neither.

 

[Bob Meyer]

I have both a 1945 vintage P-38 and a 1920 Commercial Luger.The P-38 is one of my favorite carry guns, and with Ken Waters pet P-38 load its really accurate (I don't remember the load off the top of my head.). I wasn't satisfied with the accuracy I got out of my 9mm Luger, but I put together another upper so that I can switch the gun to an 8" 30 Luger barrel. That outfit is really accurate. I've taken squirrels with it.

 

[rs525]

With the polls tied, I'm personally leaning torwards the Luger just because of it's iconic status, it felt good in my hand at a gun show, and apparently has a better trigger. Plus I don't own any other Walthers because I personally just don't jive with them even though they are well made. If I don't like the Luger I could always just sell it and get the P38 instead.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I love the look and feel of the P38.

 

[Patocazador]

I have a few lugers and 2 P38s. All of the Lugers line up to instinctive pointing due to the angle of the grip. The Walthers point at the ground. Both Walthers shoot inaccurately even the one with the pristine bore.

The most accurate one of the whole lot is a Swiss 06/24 Luger in .30 Luger caliber. No comparison in my book.