I've done some further research and I've found this www.waltherforums.com/threads/post-war-p1-p-38-zeroing-distance.36673/ This states the point of impact for the P38 is 50 meters, this would make sense given just how low I was hitting at 10 yards. Sorry it wasn't included in the video.
Back in 05 I bought a P1 in like new condition. It ran flawlessly with full metal jacketed 9mm. But after a couple years I stupidly traded it off which I'll always regret because it was the most beautiful and elegant pistol I ever owned.
I had the same experience in 1969. Bought a brand new one for $89!! Ran fine with FMJ but was a jamomatic with every type jacketed hollow point ammo I tried. They would all hang up on the feed ramp.
@@tommyt8998 The 2 magazines it came with were stamped with the year 1964. The only expanding defensive ammo that functioned %100 reliably was Glasser Pow'r ball . 100 grain hollowpoints with a tiny plastic ball on the tip. Ballistically impressive with a muzzle velocity of 1475 fps but read because of it's rapid expansion it tended to lack sufficient penetration. I see some places still sell it.
My father who is a retired Green Beret actually jumped with and used this pistol on the rare occasion he didn't carry his Colt commander. So, good enough for them good enough for me.
As said here the frontsight is available in different hights. What many do not know is that the rear sight is available in a neutral and in offset to the left/ right side also.
Thank you for the video. I saw several targets for the Z8-01 after shooting at the Walther factory. 1960-80. Everywhere the distance is 25 meters. All 8 shots must hit a circle with a diameter of 16 centimeters.
I have a P38. Also a friend of mine bought one after me. His was hitting low. He did some research and discovered that the front sight is replaceable. When "rebuilt" some front sights were replaced, with no care as to point of aim/point of hit. Mine was fine, after he replaced his front sight, it was hitting true.
There are different height front sight blades. In service the armorer would put the appropriate blade to zero the pistol. There should be a number on the left side of the front sight...
It appears you got an excellent version of the postwar, P 38 . I purchased one from Classic, paid extra for a “pick of the litter” version. What I received was a beat, misused pistol. The trigger guard was more than warn. It had more “meat hooks” than an abattoir. Buyer beware.
Everything i hear says they shoot low, so aim high. The sights on mine are way off and wiggle. I left with gunsmith. Functions great other than that. Feels great! I'll be stoked when i can hit what i want to hit with it.
Yes, the post war P1s (still marked P38 on some) were made from aluminum frames and NATO 9mm is 124 gr +p. At some point a recoil bar was added but not all received that upgrade. So just shoot standard pressured rounds and you and it will be fine.
The WW2 version has higher quality steel. The safety on my 1972 post-war P-38 broke in half, there was literally metal powder scattered around the safety, looked like sand. The steel is not the best, when I look at my broken safety I can see pores/bubbles inside the steel, it almost looks like some kind of pot-metal. I'm not saying the post-war P-38's are bad, they are nice and beautiful pistols, but the WW2 ones are definitely higher quality. And has a higher collectors value of course.
@@SonOfTheDawn515 Yes, the WW2 ones are heavier and has better quality because of that. The post-war P-38 feels "cheap". I think the quality of post-war P-38's deteriorated the newer they are. Early post-war P-38's were better. Had a 1941 P-38 also, but sold it to get the last money I needed for an MP-40. I put original WW2 grips on my post-war P38 though, it looks like a WW2 one now. But it's not the same. I will buy another WW2 P-38 if I get the chance.
So, some P1s received a recoil lug to the frame since NATO 9mm is 124 gr +p. The aluminum frames without that bar will eventually crack the frame. So if you don't have an upgraded model, stick to standard pressure rounds. Doesn't have to be 115 grain.
In my opinion if it can't be used for self defense it's a useless gun. This gun can't handle modern pressures and can't feed hollowpoints, so it's just a paperweight. What a crap gun
There are tons of firearms that aren’t practical for self defense in the modern day. That doesn’t mean they’re all paperweights and completely useless.
That's not true. This pistol handles standard pressured 9mm fine. The cracked frames were due to NATO spec 124 gr +p. If you find a model with the recoil lug added then you're fine no matter what.
I've done some further research and I've found this www.waltherforums.com/threads/post-war-p1-p-38-zeroing-distance.36673/
This states the point of impact for the P38 is 50 meters, this would make sense given just how low I was hitting at 10 yards. Sorry it wasn't included in the video.
Back in 05 I bought a P1 in like new condition. It ran flawlessly with full metal jacketed 9mm. But after a couple years I stupidly traded it off which I'll always regret because it was the most beautiful and elegant pistol I ever owned.
I had the same experience in 1969. Bought a brand new one for $89!!
Ran fine with FMJ but was a jamomatic with every type jacketed hollow point ammo I tried. They would all hang up on the feed ramp.
@@tommyt8998 The 2 magazines it came with were stamped with the year 1964. The only expanding defensive ammo that functioned %100 reliably was Glasser Pow'r ball . 100 grain hollowpoints with a tiny plastic ball on the tip. Ballistically impressive with a muzzle velocity of 1475 fps but read because of it's rapid expansion it tended to lack sufficient penetration. I see some places still sell it.
My father who is a retired Green Beret actually jumped with and used this pistol on the rare occasion he didn't carry his Colt commander. So, good enough for them good enough for me.
As said here the frontsight is available in different hights.
What many do not know is that the rear sight is available in a neutral and in offset to the left/ right side also.
Thank you for the video. I saw several targets for the Z8-01 after shooting at the Walther factory. 1960-80. Everywhere the distance is 25 meters. All 8 shots must hit a circle with a diameter of 16 centimeters.
I have a P38. Also a friend of mine bought one after me. His was hitting low. He did some research and discovered that the front sight is replaceable. When "rebuilt" some front sights were replaced, with no care as to point of aim/point of hit. Mine was fine, after he replaced his front sight, it was hitting true.
Interesting to know, I had no idea about the replaced front sights
I learnt a lot from that video. Thank you.
Check out the Walter p5. Left side ejection port.
There are different height front sight blades. In service the armorer would put the appropriate blade to zero the pistol. There should be a number on the left side of the front sight...
Wow. As somebody who's favorite handgun is the Beretta 92, this is really impressive.
Early 92 beretta had heel mag release. Made in Italy.
I'm sorry for your loss.
@@SonOfTheDawn515 your chair needs some air
It appears you got an excellent version of the postwar, P 38 . I purchased one from Classic, paid extra for a “pick of the litter” version. What I received was a beat, misused pistol. The trigger guard was more than warn. It had more “meat hooks” than an abattoir. Buyer beware.
Everything i hear says they shoot low, so aim high. The sights on mine are way off and wiggle. I left with gunsmith. Functions great other than that. Feels great! I'll be stoked when i can hit what i want to hit with it.
The pistols were meant for 124 gr +p so that could have some influence on point of aim and point of impact. Also matters what you were engaging.
Not a pistol, but the vz 52 rifle ejects to the left.
Are you suggesting certain 9mm ammo for this gun to prevent breaking? Nice video.
From what I’ve read, I’ve used basic 115 grain fmj round nose and i haven’t had any issues
Yes, the post war P1s (still marked P38 on some) were made from aluminum frames and NATO 9mm is 124 gr +p. At some point a recoil bar was added but not all received that upgrade. So just shoot standard pressured rounds and you and it will be fine.
Walther Model 4 is designed with ejection port on left, fyi...
The sights are zeroed to go for balls when aimed at the center of mass
I wouldn't be surprised that the sights were purposely designed to shoot a little low for those who try a headshot only to hit center mass.
Not the case at all. Armorers had access to different height front sights and they would swap them out as needed to increase accuracy.
The WW2 version has higher quality steel. The safety on my 1972 post-war P-38 broke in half, there was literally metal powder scattered around the safety, looked like sand. The steel is not the best, when I look at my broken safety I can see pores/bubbles inside the steel, it almost looks like some kind of pot-metal. I'm not saying the post-war P-38's are bad, they are nice and beautiful pistols, but the WW2 ones are definitely higher quality. And has a higher collectors value of course.
The post war models made more use of aluminum whereas prewar and interwar models were made from all steel save for the grip panels.
@@SonOfTheDawn515 Yes, the WW2 ones are heavier and has better quality because of that. The post-war P-38 feels "cheap".
I think the quality of post-war P-38's deteriorated the newer they are. Early post-war P-38's were better. Had a 1941 P-38 also, but sold it to get the last money I needed for an MP-40.
I put original WW2 grips on my post-war P38 though, it looks like a WW2 one now. But it's not the same. I will buy another WW2 P-38 if I get the chance.
A gun that can only shoot dinky ammo. What were the Germans thinking, shooting mice
The Germans used this pistol effectively up until it was replaced in 2004. 115gr FMJ is hardly dinky
Nece biti bas tako...
So, some P1s received a recoil lug to the frame since NATO 9mm is 124 gr +p. The aluminum frames without that bar will eventually crack the frame. So if you don't have an upgraded model, stick to standard pressure rounds. Doesn't have to be 115 grain.
In my opinion if it can't be used for self defense it's a useless gun. This gun can't handle modern pressures and can't feed hollowpoints, so it's just a paperweight. What a crap gun
There are tons of firearms that aren’t practical for self defense in the modern day. That doesn’t mean they’re all paperweights and completely useless.
That's not true. This pistol handles standard pressured 9mm fine. The cracked frames were due to NATO spec 124 gr +p. If you find a model with the recoil lug added then you're fine no matter what.
Najbolji...👍