P38 Issues

[fjruple]

I actually went to the range today. My son in law got a new hunting rifle and wanted to check it out and I decided to function test some of my pistols. Took seven but realized when I got there I brought Tokarev ammo rather than 7.65 ammo so three of them went untested.

The remaining four were my 1914 Luger, my 1945 P38, my P35 and my Spanish Model A Super. three 9mm and one 9mm Largo. I went in order of what I felt would give me the least problems or concerns and the Super A, P35 and Luger functioned flawlessly.

Prior to going I researched the ammo for them and as I didn't want to stress any of them figured I'd take the 9mm Luger Remington Ammo despite a lot of guys saying it was crap in Lugers due to the bullets being too short. I also took a box of Sellier and Belliot which were longer in length just in case.

The P38 had problems from the start. First round didn't want to chamber and it jambed. Second round went in fine, third jambed and then the entire magazine jambed, it's a P-1 magazine, Walther made. Round 4 was simply stuck halfway down the magazine and the rounds above it simply fell out when turned upside down. This I'm not overly concerned about as I can fix it.

Tried again with the WWII original magazine that came with the gun and it functioned but the cartridges still jambed half the time.

The type jamb was the cartridge was chambering but the getting stuck halfway in and the action would not close like the shell was sitting at an angle. I can see where short cartridges could cause this but would like confirmation from someone with more experience.

So talked it over with my son in law and while reluctant, I figured I'd try the Sellier and Belliot even though I couldn't find anything about using it in P38's. It isn't +P or anything so I figured it would be alright. It functioned flawlessly.

So, is it the Remington ammo being too short? Weak springs? Something else? Combination of the two?

This was the first time I've fired all four of these. This was a function test firing and other than the Super A, I'm not likely to fire any of these often after today. I would like to sort out the problems with the P38 however.

It is a Walther, ac45 b series with full acceptance marks, probably within the last 500 to be accepted so it had a short service life. Doesn't appear to have been fired much in the intervening years. Was reluctant to fire it due to the horror stories told about late war P38's. Not sure it's deserved but I tend to be cautious. I just thought it odd that the luger is the one that is supposed to not like the Remington ammo and it ate it just fine.

So, should I order a set of Wolf Springs, or just avoid the Remington ammo?

I would first change the ammunition the P38/HP model of WWII do not like the 115 grain 9mm bullets that are currently available. I would stick with the 124 grain ball. Using the 115 grain ball will short cycle the action and get what you described. As far as springs, I would replace the springs in the magazines at least. No telling how long they sitting around completely loaded. Inspect the two recoil springs on the frame, if there are wear spots from them being cycled a lot probably time time to replace them. Like Jim has said, you want to keep the pistol in spec. The P38 being made in 1945 the metallurgy could be questionable.

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