Walther P 38's for practical use

[Steve C]

The P38/P1 will do fine for defense, its not the gun, its the shooter that makes the weapon effective.

Recent polymer guns have some advantages, mostly in capacity but revolvers designed in the late 1800's and the 1911 designed over a 1/4 century before the P38 all are still effective self defense guns. The P38/P1's where commercially manufactured into the 80's and could still be in production today if Walther would have adapted a hi cap magazine to it and put an accessory rail on it. The reality is there's cheaper ways to make guns using plastics so the metal frame semi's are on the decline except perhaps for 1911's and that's a niche market.

 

[PX15]

JMOfartO:

I'm a big Walther fan, period.. In the past I've owned a PP/P1/P5/P99c/P99.. All were excellent.... The P99c/AC was amazingly accurate, but all were very reliable.

But since you were asking about the P38 (P1) specifically, I'd say FOR ME, the P38 is just too large and bulky for personal use when there are so many better, modern, options.

I think any gun nut (such as myself) should have the "opportunity" to own, or at least shoot a Browning HP, 1911 Colt, Walther P38 (or P1), HK P7.. These pistols are just "classics" and yes, I'm owned, or at least fired one of each.

I still have a P7.

If you just want a neat WW2 era classic, the Walther P1 is a good choice.. Plenty available, price is right, and they ARE fun plinkers.. I liked the P5 a little better, but they are less available and more costly.

I'm fortunate in that in my old age I can afford to carry pretty much whatever pistol I want, and you know my preference in 9MM?

Ruger LC9...

Why?

I have owned Ruger firearms for over 4 decades, with so far, nary a bad one in the bunch...(KOW)..

The Ruger LC9 is light and slim, amazingly accurate at self defense range, and has been, as have all of my Rugers been, absolutely reliable.

$365.00+tax...

As good as the old P38 (P1) is, it's just too large and bulky for much other than perhaps a fun casual plinker, or in a pinch, a home defense choice.. (and not the best for that duty)..

Great guns of the past... It's just that there are "greater" guns available which offer more "bang for the buck"..

Just my personal opinion, no offense to anyone, 'specially the P38 fans..

Jesse

 

[Jim NE]

Goon said: "My contention was just that in spite of their age, I'd use one if it was reliable. But the only way to really know if your specific example is going to be reliable is to shoot it - which usually comes only after you buy it."

Of course, you're very correct. I'm starting to think that because I've always wanted one, I should probably buy one. The determination as to whether it'll be a practical defensive weapon or a conversation piece will come after I use it a while. If I approach it from that mindset, I won't be profoundly disappointed by it's deficiencies.

The gun that I've found that I like is a late 70's P1. I don't like it's parkerized finish, and I prefer the look of the ribbed grips of a WW2 era gun, but I like the fact that it's newer. It's an ex German cop gun. I believe it's also less money than a WW@ era gun.

 

[mgmorden]

I believe it's also less money than a WW@ era gun.

By quite a ways. The current crop or surlpus P1's tend to go for about 1/3rd or so the price of a WW2 era steel P38. Same general gun - just an alloy frame over the steel one. As a matter of fact post-WW2 there were P38's manufactured for the civilian market that were identical the to P1 production - alloy frame and all. The only difference was that P1 was the police designation whilst P38 was the civvy designation (much like the SIG P6 was the SIG P225 in it's civilian form).

One cool tidbit if you do get the P1 - CDNN currently has used factory magazines for it for around $12 each. Hard to beat those prices for stocking up on mags. The one I bought only came with 1 so I got 3 more from CDNN.

 

[leadcounsel]

Great antiques. Certainly deadly and *could* get the job done. But as others noted there are much better designs and materials for roughly the same money. And the mag release is clumsy on the P1/P38.

 

[rcmodel]

Cabala's sale flyer today has Surplus P1/P38's on sale.
Gun, two mags, and a holster for $359.99.

They say they have aquired 700 of them somewhere.

rc

 

[KodiakBeer]

The first shot is the one that counts. Do you really want to rely on a 64 pound trigger pull for that first shot? For home defense, maybe, since you can probably cock thumb-cock it first. Not for carry!

 

[legion3]

a 64 pound trigger pull

 

[PRM]

a 64 pound trigger pull

I can understand not liking a particular model or brand of pistol ~ but, this is close to the extreme of bashing. I like to see some documentation with that statement.

 

[1KPerDay]

It was obviously an exaggeration with humorous intent. Let's not get our panties in a bunch.

I WOULD like to get a trigger pull gauge on my P38. I'm guessing the DA trigger has got to be close to 15-20 pounds.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Maybe he meant 64 ounce.........

 

[Jim NE]

PRM, your P1 looks excellent! I haven't seen any that clean on the net.

rcmodel, thanks for the heads up on the Cabelas sale, and mgmorden for the mag source.

And thanks for everyone else's opinion. I will say it's kind of odd to hear so many comments about the limitied capacity, though. The idea that the effectiveness is compromised because it holds 8 rounds. I wonder how many 5 shot revolvers S&W, Ruger and Taurus/Rossi have sold in the last 10 years because of the booming concealed carry market?

 

[KodiakBeer]

I can understand not liking a particular model or brand of pistol ~ but, this is close to the extreme of bashing.

Oh, lighten up! The P38 is a terrific and historic pistol, just not a great carry choice for the reason I pointed out - a poor DA trigger pull.

 

[harmon rabb]

Did I get a freak P1 or something? The DA trigger on mine is not bad. Feels like maybe 10-12lbs.