WWII P38 question ...

Hook686 · May 24, 2005, 10:12 PM

... My dad brought back a Walther (4800 h AC) P38 from WWII. He gave it to me. It had a broken magazine holding latch. I took it to a local gunsmith and asked him if the pistol was shootable. For a 1944 production P38 showing the signs of combat useage, he thought it was in very good condition, and that I could shoot it, pass it on to my son ... he could shoot it and pass it on to his son. I guess he thought a lot of Walther. He never mentioned any loads to shoot though.

My questions after reading many posts on 9mm loads, standard and +P, is:

1) What would be safe loads to fire through this WWII weapon ?

2) What are loads to avoid firing in this WWII weapon ?

3) What are loads to, under no circumstance, fire in this WWII weapon ?

Thankyouy for any input.

Hook686

Jim Watson · May 24, 2005, 11:09 PM

I would stick to standard 9mm ball ammo.
Even though European 9mm ammunition is a bit hotter than US, I would not push a wartime gun with +P. And I would not count on it feeding hollowpoints. It might, but don't count on it.

mete · May 25, 2005, 06:32 AM

Because of it's age I wouldn't use any load hotter than necessary to operate the gun. They do like full loads and because of the long mag to chamber distance they like long bullets.I f you're using it for plinking 124 gr FMJ like WWB should work fine.

DnPRK · May 25, 2005, 10:04 PM

Did you get the mag catch fixed?

James K · May 26, 2005, 09:11 PM

Walther QC remained good almost to the end of the war, and I see no reason not to shoot that P.38. The "ac" was the code for Walther; other makers were Mauser and Spreewerke).

It was made for standard 9mm Parabellum (9x19 or 9mm Luger), and should be good with any U.S. or European commercial ammo. Avoid any +P or unknown ammo.

Jim

Hook686 · May 27, 2005, 04:13 AM

yes the gunsmith got a replacement part (took almost two months) and bottom line cost was $25. The P38 shoots very nicely, even if limited to standard 9 mm ball annunition. I enjoy shooting with it.

Happy Shooting !

Hook686

BillCA · May 27, 2005, 08:26 AM

Dunno why it took months to get the part.
Gun Parts Corp has P-38 parts - a magazine catch is $26.95.

Lawyer Daggit · May 27, 2005, 08:05 PM

' showing signs of combat usage' -what do you mean? wear on a military gun does not necessarily spell combat usage.

Hook686 · May 30, 2005, 10:10 AM

RE:' showing signs of combat usage' -what do you mean? wear on a military gun does not necessarily spell combat usage.

My dad flew gas into Patton's Division ... the air fields he said were captured German, He swapped a bottle of Gin for the P38 with a G.I. It was in with his old WWII flight gear (leather/lamb high altitude suit). The P38 has three rounds in the 8 round magazine, and numerous nicks and scratches on the frame. Yes I am speculating it is a P38 used in combat.

Lawyer Daggit · May 30, 2005, 06:05 PM

Sounds like a nice acquisition. At the expense of being termed a pedant can I suggest 'carried in Combat' rather than 'used in Combat' though as there appears no evidence it was used in combat.

r.w. schrack · June 5, 2005, 04:19 AM

one thing to remember about p-38 after about 43 never i repeat never drop the slide with the weapon on safe, it has a potential to become a fully auto pistol, late war production thay did a differant cut in the safety sear and it will cause a slam fire i have three holes in den wall due to this and i knew better thank god it bottlenecked and jammed or i would have eight. outside of that little problem its a darn fine weapon. schrack

XavierBreath · June 5, 2005, 04:45 AM

Hook,
Here's your P38 Forum. You will find true experts there.

I think it would be wise to just fire brass cased 9mm hardball. There realy is no reason to fire anything else. Enjoy that pistol, but care for it too. There won't be any more of them.

May 24, 2005, 10:12 PM	#1
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	WWII P38 question ... ... My dad brought back a Walther (4800 h AC) P38 from WWII. He gave it to me. It had a broken magazine holding latch. I took it to a local gunsmith and asked him if the pistol was shootable. For a 1944 production P38 showing the signs of combat useage, he thought it was in very good condition, and that I could shoot it, pass it on to my son ... he could shoot it and pass it on to his son. I guess he thought a lot of Walther. He never mentioned any loads to shoot though. My questions after reading many posts on 9mm loads, standard and +P, is: 1) What would be safe loads to fire through this WWII weapon ? 2) What are loads to avoid firing in this WWII weapon ? 3) What are loads to, under no circumstance, fire in this WWII weapon ? Thankyouy for any input. Hook686

May 27, 2005, 04:13 AM	#6
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	P38 magazine catch yes the gunsmith got a replacement part (took almost two months) and bottom line cost was $25. The P38 shoots very nicely, even if limited to standard 9 mm ball annunition. I enjoy shooting with it. Happy Shooting ! Hook686

May 27, 2005, 08:26 AM	#7
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,117	Dunno why it took months to get the part. Gun Parts Corp has P-38 parts - a magazine catch is $26.95. __________________ BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

June 5, 2005, 04:19 AM	#11
r.w. schrack Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2005 Location: Delaware Posts: 327	heads up one thing to remember about p-38 after about 43 never i repeat never drop the slide with the weapon on safe, it has a potential to become a fully auto pistol, late war production thay did a differant cut in the safety sear and it will cause a slam fire i have three holes in den wall due to this and i knew better thank god it bottlenecked and jammed or i would have eight. outside of that little problem its a darn fine weapon. schrack

June 5, 2005, 04:45 AM	#12
XavierBreath Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2002 Location: North Louisiana Posts: 2,800	Hook, Here's your P38 Forum. You will find true experts there. I think it would be wise to just fire brass cased 9mm hardball. There realy is no reason to fire anything else. Enjoy that pistol, but care for it too. There won't be any more of them. __________________ Xavier's Blog

May 24, 2005, 11:09 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	I would stick to standard 9mm ball ammo. Even though European 9mm ammunition is a bit hotter than US, I would not push a wartime gun with +P. And I would not count on it feeding hollowpoints. It might, but don't count on it.

May 25, 2005, 06:32 AM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Because of it's age I wouldn't use any load hotter than necessary to operate the gun. They do like full loads and because of the long mag to chamber distance they like long bullets.I f you're using it for plinking 124 gr FMJ like WWB should work fine.

May 25, 2005, 10:04 PM	#4
DnPRK Senior Member Join Date: August 24, 2001 Location: LC, Ca Posts: 1,917	Did you get the mag catch fixed?

May 26, 2005, 09:11 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Walther QC remained good almost to the end of the war, and I see no reason not to shoot that P.38. The "ac" was the code for Walther; other makers were Mauser and Spreewerke). It was made for standard 9mm Parabellum (9x19 or 9mm Luger), and should be good with any U.S. or European commercial ammo. Avoid any +P or unknown ammo. Jim

May 27, 2005, 08:05 PM	#8
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	' showing signs of combat usage' -what do you mean? wear on a military gun does not necessarily spell combat usage.

May 30, 2005, 10:10 AM	#9
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	RE:' showing signs of combat usage' -what do you mean? wear on a military gun does not necessarily spell combat usage. My dad flew gas into Patton's Division ... the air fields he said were captured German, He swapped a bottle of Gin for the P38 with a G.I. It was in with his old WWII flight gear (leather/lamb high altitude suit). The P38 has three rounds in the 8 round magazine, and numerous nicks and scratches on the frame. Yes I am speculating it is a P38 used in combat.

May 30, 2005, 06:05 PM	#10
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	Sounds like a nice acquisition. At the expense of being termed a pedant can I suggest 'carried in Combat' rather than 'used in Combat' though as there appears no evidence it was used in combat.