P1/P38 accuracy, thoughts from owners?

M

Makembite

CGN Regular
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Location
Yorkton Saskatchewan
I own a walther P1, and despite my best efforts tend to only produce dinner plate sized groupings. I purchased it from more guns supply quite a while ago, and I don't shoot it often. I spoke to a former German soldier, who said they were junk, that shot all over the place. Mine isn't shot out, or beat.

And before I get an online shooting training session, my groupings with my other pistols, everything from a glock 21 with original sights, to the desert eagle in .44, to my absolute favourites, my cheap foreign made 1911s, I can shoot much tighter groups. I'd like to hear from other owners about their experiences with their P1/P38s. Did I just get a dud?
 
My P1 hasn't been fired in a long time, but it used to give groups of 2" to 3" at 10m. I always thought that was reasonable for a combat pistol. I have pistols that do a lot better, but I always liked the P-38 design and was quite happy with the groups I got with the P1. It is a French-built pistol from the post-war years.
 
My P38 is every bit as accurate as newer pistols I own. It has post-war P38 parts on a wartime frame.

What distance are you shooting dinner plate groups with your P1? At 25m I'm happy to hit a dessert plate on a good day. Your pistol may simply need to be re-crowned, which is cheap and quick and usually an excellent investment when done by a good gunsmith.
 
"While P38 pistols were in some aspects revolutionary in design and concept, their post-war P1 versions were less than popular in the Bundeswehr, deserving the unofficial description of “eight warning shots plus one aimed throw”."

They weren't known for target shooting. Mine was OK. Single action trigger was nice. Double action - blech.
 
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I've heard mixed reviews on these. The P1's were built shortly after the war ended into the 50's or later. They were issued to police and military units and I suspect, like most surplus, that they are hit and miss as far as condition goes.
I nearly got one from Moreguns as well but they were shut down before I had cash in hand.
 
I got one from Tradex a while back when these first came in, refurb Bundeswehr piece. The frame showed lots of use, but the top end looked new and unfired. It shoots quite well.
 
I don't shoot my wartime one that well. Consistent with what others are saying. The bore on it is not great and the rear sight was loose when I first got it, something to watch out for.

I have a "new" P1 with the fat slide and hex pin but haven't managed to shoot it yet.
 
My wartime one is a "pattern gun". that said, it's not fair to judge by that as the bore is good at best, rough at worst. It will shoot 6-8 inches at 21 yards, maybe a bit better, most of my other pistols shoot 2-3" at the same range. I've never tried one of the post war pistols so no comment there. I'd love to sometime though.

"deserving the unofficial description of “eight warning shots plus one aimed throw" ROFLMAO i like that
 
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