My new walther - RANGE REPORT IS READY!

Got my P1. It's a 1964 build with matching serial numbers. It does not have the hex pin upgrade or the "fat slide" hence it will not be as strong as the later (1970's) guns.

It is in great shape showing some frame wear and is well worth the $300.00. - a great piece of cold war history, also; a fantastic facsimile of the WWII issue German P38.

It is very light and relatively small/ svelte for a duty weapon.

I'd post pics. but I have no idea how.

Very satisfied.
 
You are the new Man from Uncle! I have to shoot one of these things one day!


I have a post-war P-38, and every few years I think I would be fun to truck it off to a gun smith to convert it to something out of the Man from Uncle. The funny thing is I've never actually ever watched the show.
 
Nothing wrong with it's accuracy!!!
And it defied my prediction by preferring hollowpoints...go figure.
I used Blazer Brass 115 gr FMJ and Winchester Ranger 147 gr SXT hollowpoints.
IMG_3363.jpg

I fired two mags of each, standing, at 15 meters. It took a couple of shots to get used to the trigger pull. Very heavy on the first shot. Very light on the subsequent shots.
IMG_3364.jpg

Then I fired one magazine of the 115 FMJ, standing, unsupported.
IMG_3366.jpg

I followed that with one magazine of the Rangers. No question that they group better out of this pistol.
IMG_3370.jpg

It definitely kicks harder than my Px-4 and it takes me a second to find that european style mag release. All in all a very fine firearm. Hard to beat for the money.
 
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I think your the first person I've ever read about using these things having luck with EITHER 147g OR Hollowpoints...

Nevermind 147g Hollowpoints!!! Everythign I've read about has people saying the p38/P1 will not feed HP of any kind...

Well this is news, the design seems to feed 147g SXT/Talons!

Might have to get one, since I have a small stash of that exact ammo.
 
How are the magazines feeding? I bought a spare and even after cleaning and lubricating 2 of the 3 jam regularly.
 
Magazines

How are the magazines feeding? I bought a spare and even after cleaning and lubricating 2 of the 3 jam regularly.

Well, I only fired a little less than 100 rounds but I didn't have a single jam, failure to feed, or failure to extract. Functioned flawlessly.
Second shot surprised the heck out of me, though; that single action pull is light and crisp. You feel a little resistance, squeeze and then it fires. No perceptible movement past that first resistance to the break. Makes for very precise control once you're used to it.
 
SXTs

I think your the first person I've ever read about using these things having luck with EITHER 147g OR Hollowpoints...

Nevermind 147g Hollowpoints!!! Everythign I've read about has people saying the p38/P1 will not feed HP of any kind...

Well this is news, the design seems to feed 147g SXT/Talons!

Might have to get one, since I have a small stash of that exact ammo.

Not just feeds them but seems to prefer them. Hopefully it holds true for other P-1s as well.
How about the rest of you guys who showed us your Walthers? Ever tried the Rangers? How do your's behave with hollowpoints?
 
i've got one from Tradeex ('79 with the fat slide) and i've run about 110 rounds through it (most of it American Eagle 115g, 1 magazine was UMC 115g).

it has shot 100% flawlessly and i absolutely adore this gun.

WaltherP102.jpg
 
Targets

In case anyone else is wondering...
The targets I used are Birchwood-Casey Shoot'N'See 12 inch bullseyes with the blaze orange aimpoints, which my son-in-law bought me for Christmas.
 
Interesting...

He was also feeding 147g winnie sxt/talons.

I'm curious what other rounds feed, the internet is still full of people with feed issues using HP in p1's. Maybe the SXT is the magic round to use in it!?
 
I think your the first person I've ever read about using these things having luck with EITHER 147g OR Hollowpoints...

Nevermind 147g Hollowpoints!!! Everythign I've read about has people saying the p38/P1 will not feed HP of any kind...

Well this is news, the design seems to feed 147g SXT/Talons!

Might have to get one, since I have a small stash of that exact ammo.




That ammo is collector-grade, almost! :dancingbanana:
 
Nah, Black talons are collectors grade...

SXT I still see around...the latest gen Talons are even more desirable but quite rare.

I have a few boxes of each of the entire talon family almost.....almost want to lock them away as they soon will be "Collectors" grade items like you say!
 
Nah, Black talons are collectors grade...

SXT I still see around...the latest gen Talons are even more desirable but quite rare.

I have a few boxes of each of the entire talon family almost.....almost want to lock them away as they soon will be "Collectors" grade items like you say!

Ranger SXTs are still available 'cause I went to qualify last week and fired all my issue Federal HSTs during the session. When I went back to work they issued me Ranger SXTs. I saw a couple of the other guys in the session issued the same. Frankly, I was a little disappointed. :(
 
Thanks for starting this great thread, gatekeyper. Just wondering though... I'm also looking into purchasing a P1 from Tradex... do you know what year your P1 was manufactured? Specifically, I just want to know if Tradex's stock is recent enough (post 1970ish) to have received the hex pin/slide upgrade.

Thanks a lot!
Sam
 
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