Walther P38/P1 questions...

Chuck3436

Chuck3436

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
111   0   0
Location
Vancouver, BC
So......after sitting on my RPAL application for 2 years...its finally submitted...CFC called references and myself...so very soon it will be in the mail.

Now I have loved the look of the p38/P1 forever, and with their low prices am seriously considering getting one. However, I have run into a few facts that need clarification.

Tradex P1's - Are these the heavy slide versions with the reinforcing pin?
After some research, these seem to be a requirement if you want your gun to last a while.

Longevity - I have read a few things claiming that P1's have a very short service life, maybe only a few thousand rounds? Or is this dependant on the slide and reinforcing pin? Seems very short for a military firearm, especially a german engineered war pistol.

Springs - Is it necessary to upgrade the recoil spring? Seems I have seen alot of people who have done this. Why and is it necessary?

Ammo reliablity - A real bummer seems to be the fact that these feed only 115g and 124g FMJ reliably. Do 147g FMJ not feed reliably?

Hollow Points - The biggest bummer is that P1's supposedly hate HP ammo...BUT...How are these with round nose styled HP? Such as Remington golden sabres or UMC 115g HP (Generic cheapo HP supposedly designed to feed in these older guns Part # L9MM1)
Anyone else have any luck with ANY brand of HP?
Thanks for the info...
 
My Tradeex P1 had the "fat" slide and Hex pin.

Apparently the early P1s were just like the alloy framed P38 but later got the thicker slide and pin. Another friend's Tradeex P1 had the lighter slide, and I can't recall at the moment if it had the pin. If you call them, I'm sure that Anthony can confirm the status of any pistol you'd want to order from them.

So far I've shot my P1 a couple of times and am really surprised at the accuracy that I get out of it. I certainly hope that the longevity is there. It's a good German design, though for whatever reason they decided to make the post-war P38/P1s with an alloy frame.

I shoot 124gr FMJs, don't know about how the other bullet weights will shoot.

Good Luck,

Frank
 
I have a French P1 without fat slide or hex pin. I don't think I've fired even one thousand rounds, but whatever the number, I've had no problems and enjoy shooting it. If I were serious about shooting, say a couple hundred rounds a month, I'd definitely opt for the reinforced slide or the hex pin. The duraluminum frames have a history of cracking when those pistols are fired a lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom