As Compared Beween The Two Which IS More

[cirelaw]

Powerful bewteenn the two? THE LUGER or P38

[Edward Tinker]

Well, I think there is no difference between the two - the P38 is a newer design, and if my life depended on it, I'd choose the 1911a1 - uh, I mean the P38

[aldo35]

I would rather start with a 1911A1 with one in the chamber and safety off.

[Sergio Natali]

Personally I've never been drawn to buy a P38, so I've never owned one.
The only really collectible are the very early variations manufactured by WALTHER.
All the others will probably become more interesting as collectible pieces in a century.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Sergio Natali

Personally I've never been drawn to buy a P38, so I've never owned one.
The only really collectible are the very early variations manufactured by WALTHER.
All the others will probably become more interesting as collectible pieces in a century.

In recent years, the P.38 has become very collectable and they are commanding respectable prices. Collectors are as particular about them as Luger collectors; i.e., matching numbers, condition, codes, inspection/acceptance stamps etc.

Often considered the low end of P.38s, even a decent condition cyq will bring $1,000... or more. Just as there are serious Luger collectors, there are also serious P.38 collectors willing to pay serious money for top quality rare examples. No, prices haven't reached Luger levels but they are far higher than they used to be.

[Mister Sunshine]

My brother called me one day and asked if I could fix his WWII P38. He and his grandson where at the range shooting it when the pistol jammed. I had to tap the slide off the pistol with a leather mallet. The P38 has two recoil springs instead of one. One on eavh side of the slide. The guide rod that was in the center of the springs was made of some sort of black plastic. I took both of them off the pistol and turned new one out of hard steel. I test fired the pistol and gave it back to him. He hasn't had any trouble with it since. I was not impressed with the design of the gun. It looked too Micky Mouse to me. I have owned one that I got in trade. It was in the original holster. It must have belonged to a tank commander. The holster had a Panzer death's head clipped to the flap of the holster. I am too ashamed to tell you what I sold it for. That was in 1968.

[mrerick]

Not a Luger or P,38 or M1911a, but pretty much the Sturmgewehr's grandson:

I'm liking this one... and yes - it's a pistol so you can carry it like one if you want under my state laws... .300BLK or 5.56mm...

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Well, I think there is no difference between the two - the P38 is a newer design, and if my life depended on it, I'd choose the 1911a1 - uh, I mean the P38

Yes,
But- there is less to go wrong with a luger; at least I've never had the top cover fly off a luger. Maybe because it doesn't have one!

Parts in a P38 are fiddly, fragile, and too many of them:, JMHO.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by mrerick

Not a Luger or P,38 or M1911a, but pretty much the Sturmgewehr's grandson:

I'm liking this one... and yes - it's a pistol so you can carry it like one if you want under my state laws... .300BLK or 5.56mm...

Also a pistol. Stribog made in Slovakia. Eight inch barrel, 9mm, 10, 20 or 30 round mags. Target shot at 18 yards, 10 rounds in the circle. The lower shots on the right were a different gun.

[Major Tom]

When I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC, my buddy had a P38. So we went out to the range to shoot it and it literally flew apart!

[MP38]

Originally Posted by cirelaw

Powerful bewteenn the two? THE LUGER or P38

They are both 9mm (9X19), so they are both the same as far as power is concerned.

If you want something more powerful in a handgun, you have to go to a larger, heavier round. (such as .44 Magnum, .45ACP, or .50 cal)

Matt

[Kiwi]

Or a lighter round moving fast Thompson Center 30-30 Win
Of course with a single shot it had better be good

I like Doubs selection better

[cirelaw]

How many parts compared to a luger can go wrong as to luger?

[Bill_in_VA]

So if we’re limited to something used by Germany, and in 9mm my choice is clear.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Bill_in_VA

So if we’re limited to something used by Germany, and in 9mm my choice is clear.

I once shot an Uzi in England that was full auto and suppressed. It was very easy to operate and to keep on target.

The Stribog that I own was originally developed for Slovakian armed forces and as a full auto. It has found a good market as a semi-auto only and less expensive alternative to other makes of pistols with braces. The original and the A1 are straight blowback guns. The newer A3 is a roller action that has had some teething problems. My A1 has been extremely reliable.

[DonVoigt]

Stribog and similar are cool, can be quite accurate too- as you show.
Occasionally I take a flier and want something cool too!

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Stribog and similar are cool, can be quite accurate too- as you show.
Occasionally I take a flier and want something cool too!

Don, should you ever decide to buy a Stribog, I suggest the A1... at least until such time as the bugs have been worked out of the A3.

I've put many hundreds of rounds through my A1 with only one failure to feed. I've only shot reloads in mine and the failure was caused by a bad case. Interestingly, my fired cases show that the chamber is stepped just like Lugers.

My sight is a SIG Romeo 5 and sighted at 50 yards.

[Sergio Natali]

Originally Posted by Doubs

In recent years, the P.38 has become very collectable and they are commanding respectable prices. Collectors are as particular about them as Luger collectors; i.e., matching numbers, condition, codes, inspection/acceptance stamps etc.

Often considered the low end of P.38s, even a decent condition cyq will bring $1,000... or more. Just as there are serious Luger collectors, there are also serious P.38 collectors willing to pay serious money for top quality rare examples. No, prices haven't reached Luger levels but they are far higher than they used to be.

I beg to differ, I understand and I respect everybody's rights of collecting anything and everyone else's right to their opinion, but in my humble opinion a handgun can be considered as a collectible only if it is:
a) Original: the most important quality, any modification will cut the value.
b) Condition: to be at least in fairly good shape.
c) Scarce: a pretty rare item
d) Have some historical significance: played key roles in history

YMMV.

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by Sergio Natali

I beg to differ, I understand and I respect everybody's rights of collecting anything and everyone else's right to their opinion, but in my humble opinion a handgun can be considered as a collectible only if it is:
a) Original: the most important quality, any modification will cut the value.
b) Condition: to be at least in fairly good shape.
c) Scarce: a pretty rare item
d) Have some historical significance: played key roles in history

YMMV.

I don't understand what, exactly, you're disagreeing with. The P.38 would seem to meet all those standards. There have been about 3,000,000 Lugers made vs approximately 1,200,000 P.38s made for service in WW2.

If you're unaware of this forum, please visit and see for yourself that there are some very serious P.38 collectors.

http://p38forum.com/forums/index.php

[Fla.Mallard]

More powerful .. or more useful? There are a myriad of pistols that are just as powerful and much more useful.

I am NOT a Glock fan so a Sig in 9mm or .45 acp, a DA revolver in .357 or .44 mag, or my ultralight DAO Diamondback in 9mm that is the size of a .25acp and weighs practically nothing are choices that are superior IMO.