Walther P38/P1 ammo question

[vladimir]

Just a quick question.

Anyone have luck getting one of the (NOT a WWII vintage)police trade-in P38/P1's to fire HP ammo? Years ago I had an old steel frame "mix-master" from the war that disliked anything but ball ammo. Just wondering if the aluminum framed police guns from the 70's and 80's are better at HP's.

Thanks,
Vlad

 

[dfariswheel]

Some of them will handle HP ammo, but you may have to do some experimenting to find a brand/type your specific gun "likes".

Also remember, the post-war aluminum framed Walther's were built for 124 grain STANDARD power ammo, NOT hotter ammo.

The guns will usually operate with 115 grain ammo, but shooting hot ammo can and likely WILL cause cracked frames and slides and other damage.
Some people figure they can install "extra power" recoil springs and this will "pad" the recoil and allow hot ammo to be used.
In fact, this causes the frame to crack and break through the take-down lever hole.

While the extra strong recoil springs may pad the recoil on the rearward movement of the slide, it greatly increases the FORWARD force of the slide, and literally hammers the frame until it cracks.

So, buy an assortment of standard power 115 to 124 grain HP ammo and experiment until you find one that works in THAT gun.

 

[Onmilo]

I use GECO 124 FMJ and have tried some Federal 115 JHP in my P1.
Both fed just fine.

 

[cocojo]

I own a Walther P-1 and I shoot 147 HP's in my gun. It shoots very tight groups with this ammo and never jammed on me. I use ranger T loads. My pistol has the cross pin. I also have a P-5 that shoots the same ammo without a problem and both these guns are designed the same.
Try different ammo but my choice is the 147 standard velocity. Both my guns have wolf 8 lb recoil springs in them.