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P38

linthicum
What do you think of these firearms, for just plinking at the range or what ever.
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  • jbc23060
    quote:Originally posted by linthicum
    What do you think of these firearms, for just plinking at the range or what ever.


    If it's a true P38 as in WWII vintage, you could do a whole lot better for plinking and cheaper, too. The newer P1 version with the alloy frame handles a bit nicer and is less than half the cost. If you want something collectable, buy the P38, but I wouldn't put many rounds through it.

    For pure fun, cheap ammo and a pretty big bang, I like the CZ52. Replacement parts are readily available and inexpensive. The 7.62x25 ammo is cheap and it's fun to shoot. You can get them for under $150 and they're C&R elegible.

    Try these.

    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=74318911
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=74318916
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  • linthicum
    Its not a true P38 its a p1 and looks unfired. And I have been told to watch out for the 7.62x25 ammo. I've heard people say they have bought rounds that where miss marked and where to hot and damaged there pistol.
    They where machine gun ammo. For what its worth, I don't know.
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  • jbc23060
    I haven't heard any of that, related to the ammo. I have two of the CZ52s and love them. There is a fair amount of surplus corrosive ammo out there. I haven't used any of it and prefer the new stuff. There is nothing wrong with the P1. They, too, are inexpensive and solid. Saw a couple of them on the auction side for about $200. Enjoy.
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  • 11echo
    .I hadn't fired the P1, but I've fire about 3 war time production P38s ...varying years early to late. I have always been favorably impressed with the accuracy of these weapons! ...Even the late year production, which was quite different from early production, but only in aesthetics. True 9mm ammo is more expensive then say .22LR, but that is a plus or minus only for the guy that has to purchase it. And war time production weapon "like" hot 9mm ...as does the Luger and war time German weapons. The only thing I don't like about the P38 is the trigger pull .in double action mode only ...IT TERRIBLE!! My $0.02 anyway, Good Luck!
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  • linthicum
    Thank for the input gents.
    11echo you say p38 like the hot 9mm, The p38 has the metal frame. I've also been told (not sure if it is true.) That you should use 115g for the p1, And that the hotter ammo may crack the frame due to it being aluminum. Has any one that you know of cracked a frame on a p1 from using hot ammo?
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  • zipperzap
    I have some P38s and a P1. As far as handguns go, they aren't very accurate.
    They were designed to hit man sized targets out to about 50 yards and they
    can do that. For target shooting/plinking you can't best a good .22 or if you
    want something a little bigger, a .45 ACP will do nicely

    Believe it or not, I have a C96 (Broomhandle) chambered in 9mm that is very
    accurate and a hit where ever I shoot - everyone wants to shoot it. It's one of
    the most popular handguns I have - the other is the S&W .50/4".
    [:D]
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  • 11echo
    As I remember the P1 was first manufactured in France after the war to produce a handgun that was used for the police forces and paramilitary units, for service in Europe. I would suspect that they are capable of handling the European "hot" ammo ...HOWEVER I'm not a 100% on that, so that would require some checking. I have heard of aluminum framed handguns cracking ...SW M59 was one I have read about that displayed this problem, but this happened during some duration type shooting.
    As far as accuracy, every P38 I picked up (not many as I stated 3 each) hit what ever I was aiming at 25 yd.s, and I'm no expert pistol shot either ...I CAN hold my own though! *G* ...Again as stated the weapons I fired were both early, mid-production, & late war time production, and ALL seemed to be able hit where I was aiming. I was especially surprised by the late war product. It was really "rough", but again seemed to be able to deliver very good accuracy! Now I'm not suggesting your going to your going to win any match shooting with one, but you should be able to hit a std. size paper plate at 25 yd.s. AGAIN my $0.02! .Good Luck!
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  • bigtire
    I have a WWII P38 that my dad brought back from Germany in 1945. We used to fire it occasionally until the firing pin broke. Got it fixed and have not fired it much since then. After he died I put it in a shadow box with his picture and some of his other military things.
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