Walther P38

I’m guessing brass life is good on .38 S&W found a local store selling ammo for 29.95 a box plus they have brass and projectiles in stock. Was thinking of buying a bag of brass and a couple boxes of ammo. How long will .38 brass last?
 
The brass will last just about indefinitely.
Many years ago, I shot a lot of hollow based wadcutters through a Colt Police Positive in .38 S&W. The hollow base took care of any groove diameter issue.
One of my favorite recreational shooters is a Smith M&P 4" in .38SP. Ex police gun.
These Smiths are tried and true, and very well made.
Among the British/Commonwealth issue S&Ws, some of the nicest are the pre-Victories. These were commercial pistols, and have the brilliant civilian bluing.
You might also consider one of the .455 Hand Ejectors purchased for service use.
 
I don't know if it would be possible to do, but maybe you could "convert" a tanker Enfield into a No.2 by replacing the hammer parts? Someone can probably chime in who's actually handled the pistols and is knowledgeable on their inner workings.
 
The action parts may not be all that available because many have been used to restore single action.
I had a couple of No.2s made in 1932. From the shooting standpoint, the S&Ws are superior.
 
Did any of the tankers ever have wood grips? I could go without SA but I don’t like the look of the later war black plastic grip

I am considering one of the S&W on the EE but waiting to hear back on my offer. There seems to be lots of sellers these days posting ads and only checking up on them once a month but fingers crossed
 
I don't know if any had wooden grips. All the ones I've seen are plastic.
From a shooting standpoint, the double action is horrible - and that's all there is.
 
tiriaq said:
I don't know if any had wooden grips. All the ones I've seen are plastic.
From a shooting standpoint, the double action is horrible - and that's all there is.
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Yeah based on my research I am on the hunt for 1940-1941 S&W pre-victory with Canadian markings. I really like the Canadian connection and the six inch barrel is neat looking.
 
Get yourself a p38, there is nothing wrong with shooting them a few times a year if you run the correct ammunition through them. If your really worried try finding a cheap russian capture! In my experience they are all fantastic shooters! In my opinion it was the best handgun of the war. Leaving the 1911 a close second!
 
I like them but really hesitant about putting $8-900 into a handgun whose slide might crack

I had originally planned to collect a main service rifle of all major belligerents of the war but have thought about narrowing my focus to arms of the western front. I think it would’ve awesome to have a common wealth revolver to go with my No.4. One day I want a Garand and colt 1911 as well and will eventually need a German side arm but I might save for a P08.

To purchase a common wealth revolver I will most likely sell my Mosin M38 which is a gun I really like so I want to find something unique or interesting to me before I’ll sell the Mosin.
 
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Military Surplus Lover said:
Get yourself a p38, there is nothing wrong with shooting them a few times a year if you run the correct ammunition through them. If your really worried try finding a cheap russian capture! In my experience they are all fantastic shooters! In my opinion it was the best handgun of the war. Leaving the 1911 a close second!
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I fired a friends P 38 at our pistol club, very nice pistol, excellent sights , much better sights than on a Model 1911 .45 or the Inglis Browning, which are pretty bad in my opinion,
 
I've also fired hundreds of rounds through a number of different P-38's with no issues.

Nice guns to shoot.

If your going to shoot it a lot, and it's going to be a keeper, I'd look for an all steel model gun though, and avoid the late war issued ones.
 
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