walther p1/p38

[dvp]

Anyone have/bought on of these? Did a search and didn't come up with much. thinking of getting a couple. im a shooter/ survivalist, not a collector. any thoughts?

[klustgarten]

I have a P1. It isn't a bad shooter. If you can pick it up cheap get it. Otherwise newer pistols are a better option. The P1 is limited to standard ammo, no + p's. I like mine as a target pistol but for concealed carry it is rather large, I carry a Smith and Wesson 642.

[azb]

A p38 saved my life, so it will always have a special place in my heart and in my safe.

But compared to modern pistols, it's heavy, low capacity, and not as reliable.

But anything is better than nothing.

Az

[drobs]

I snagged one off of gunbroker.
Look for one that has a pin in the aluminum receiver... supposedly those will handle hotter ammo.

Mine does not have the pin but I don't plan on shooting anything hot +p in it.

It's a fun to shoot gun.

Check out the ones at www.wideners.com

Here's my review:
http://www.survivalistboards.com/sho...d.php?t=188879

And another good review here:
http://www.survivalistboards.com/sho...d.php?t=206478

[whirlibird]

It all depends on what you're trying to do.

Some P-38's (P-1's also) can be very accurate, some not.
Some are utterly reliable and will feed JHP's, many will not.

They are heavy in comparison to a Glock or the polymer guns but that also helps keep the recoil down, especially the steel framed P-38.

The German Army went with the P-38 for a reason, they work. They stayed with the P-38 after the war for a reason, they work.

They're slower to reload than a "Luger" style release, but then you also don't lose as many mags in the thick of it either. Low capacity also means that it fits a wider portion of people. My 11 yo daughter and 9 so son can shoot mama's P-38 fine unlike the Taurus 92 it replaced.

The cross-pinned P-1's are less prone to cracking than the earlier versions but the earlier ones are just as reliable but for that.

Personally I've shot a number of P-38's and would have no problem packing a good or even a decent one on a dark and stormy night. I prefer the steel framed P-38 as it balances better to me.

For @$300, the P-1 is a very good choice for a low budget survivalist, and loading them with the Cor-Bon Pow'r-Ball ammo, they're utterly reliable and you have hollowpoint effect with ball reliability.

[BlueDuck]

I have a p-1 and I like it a lot. Mine is very accurate.

[Sweeper80]

Granps brought one of the P-38's back with him, I shot that thing all the time when I was a kid, doesn't hold a lot of ammo, but still fun and reliable anyways........

[panoz77]

I have wanted one for a long time, just never found one local for a price I wanted to pay. All my handguns are 9mm so the P1 fits the bill and I just love the "milsurp" look of them.

[rice paddy daddy]

All you ever wanted to know you'll find at - http://p38forum.com/
I have a P1 as part of my milsurp collection because I could not afford a P38.

[white avenger]

I have the old P-38 that my uncle liberated back in WW2, have shot a truck load of rounds of every manufacture and configuration that I could find through it, and it's never failed to feed reliably. I'm in no way a fan of the 9MM round, but this one has always impressed me with its dependability.