Should I get a Walther P99 instead of a Luger or Walther P38?

[rs525]

So in my journey of handguns, the very first gun I ever bought was a Walther P99 AS (not the first gen one we all know) and it felt good but I ended up selling it because I thought the Glock 19 was better in every way and used the money to buy another gun (which I later sold to buy another gun only to sell that one to buy another and so on). But now I'm feeling regretful selling it as it really is an excellent 9mm and actually a good complement to the Glock 17/19 in my opinion. However I was also considering buying a either a Luger P08 or Walther P38 in the future.
The thing is I also sort of have this thing where all my guns should complement each other in one way or another. For reference, I also have a Browning Hi Power MK III, a Beretta 92FS, and a Glock 17 Gen 2. I do not own any single stack 9mms and with Lugers and P38s being stupidly expensive and less parts being available, are they still worth it from a historical perspective or should I just save the money and get the P99 again (and maybe a West German SIG P226 to complement my Beretta)?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I love my Luger. Ive shot the P99 and (assuming I already have a modern, practical SD gun like the Glock or Beretta), would take another Luger over it any day.

Didn't care for the P38, sold it.

I still keep my 226, although its a bit fat for my hands. The M92 fits me like a glove and I have a bunch of those. Also a fan of the HiPower.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

A couple other historical, single stack 9mm pistols you might consider, which may or may not be more affordable than a P08 or P38- lots of variables- would be the Radom P35, Sig P220, and Astra A600. I own all 3 and they are great guns.

For a bit more than the average Luger, theres the Sig P210 and H&K P7, also fantastic.

 

[P5 Guy]

WWII P38s were made by many different manufacturing companies.
Walther's maker's code was AC followed by the year made.
WW2 Manufacturers (pistole38.nl)

 

[Tallball]

9mm 1911's aren't expensive and might fit your motif.

 

[jar]

The Walter P99 is being discontinued so if you want a new one it's a last chance.

 

[12Bravo20]

Decide which one you want more; a modern pistol for daily use or do you want a collectors pistol for historical value. And if you are not stuck on getting the Washer P38 or P08, then some of the pistols Nightlord40k mentioned are good choices with some history behind them. If you want a modern pistol then the Walther P99 or Canik pistols will fit the bill.

Yes Walther P99 has pretty much been discontinued at this point. But the Canik pistols are a very close copy and are nice shooting pistols. I own Canik and Glock pistols and the Canik definitely has a better trigger. The stock trigger in my Canik Elite beats the best triggers I have in my Glocks. I use to swap between carrying a G26 and a G19 and now carry a Canik Elite SC. The Elite Sc grip length is really close the the G26 while the slide is close to the same length as a G19.

 

[drobs]

I think you should buy all of them.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I had a Walther P1 version of the P38 and was unimpressed -- the trigger was just awful. I've had my issues with Lugers but of these three I'd go with a P08.

 

[5-SHOTS]

It depends on the intended use you want to make of these pistols. If you want a nice collectible pistol to shoot occasionally at the range, then buy the P38 or the Luger. If, for the same money, you want two tough, reliable, easy to maintain pistols, with easily available spare parts, magazines and holsters, pistols you can use often and without worries at the range, then buy the P99 and P226. But maybe I'm not the best person to make suggestions because I'm quite biased…

 

[triplebike]

Decide which one you want more; a modern pistol for daily use or do you want a collectors pistol for historical value. And if you are not stuck on getting the Washer P38 or P08, then some of the pistols Nightlord40k mentioned are good choices with some history behind them. If you want a modern pistol then the Walther P99 or Canik pistols will fit the bill.

Yes Walther P99 has pretty much been discontinued at this point. But the Canik pistols are a very close copy and are nice shooting pistols. I own Canik and Glock pistols and the Canik definitely has a better trigger. The stock trigger in my Canik Elite beats the best triggers I have in my Glocks. I use to swap between carrying a G26 and a G19 and now carry a Canik Elite SC. The Elite Sc grip length is really close the the G26 while the slide is close to the same length as a G19.

I totally agree with 12Bravo20. Here's a comparision between the two;

Canik TP9 Elite SC vs Walther P99 AS size comparison | Handgun Hero

Also the Canik is about half the price of the Walther.

 

[Doorstopper]

Outstanding pistol in my opinion. Love paddle mag release and decock bottom on slide. Very accurate and reliable.

 

[L-2]

I agree with Post 8. Regarding the OP's issues, it sounds to me there needs to be a budget increase which will then limit the purchase decision to a specific firearm up for sale.

Yes, to the Luger P08, Walther P38, Walther P99, or anything else which will later be wanted and don't sell anything to get something else. If either of the three are available right now, then go out and buy it before it's gone. Then save more money (don't sell any of the existing gun inventory) and buy the next one which becomes available on one's list.

I don't have or want any of them so I'm probably very objective with no emotions involved between the three. Good luck regarding this gun-collecting hobby which isn't particularly an inexpensive interest.

 

[JR24]

I love the P99 AS and it’s a shame it’s been discontinued.

So if get that.

But I’m not much of a historical gun collector, other than 1911s.

 

[triplebike]

I love the P99 AS and it’s a shame it’s been discontinued.

So if get that.

But I’m not much of a historical gun collector, other than 1911s.

Not quite discontinued yet;
P99 AS FINAL EDITION – www.waltherarms.com

 

[.455_Hunter]

I would sell all of the Glocks and get a few P99ASs with extra mags.

 

[JR24]

Not quite discontinued yet;
P99 AS FINAL EDITION – www.waltherarms.com

Oof, $850 is what I’m seeing that around for.

Guess I should have snatched up a few back when.

 

[12Bravo20]

The Canik TP9 SF Elite is very close to the same size as the Walther P99 AS. The Canik is about half the price.

@rs525 by all means get the P99 if that is what you want. But you can have the same basic pistol for half the money if you buy the Canik TP9

 

[JR24]

The Canik TP9 SF Elite is very close to the same size as the Walther P99 AS. The Canik is about half the price.

@rs525 by all means get the P99 if that is what you want. But you can have the same basic pistol for half the money if you buy the Canik TP9

Does the Elite have the same DA/SA trigger as the TP9? I thought those had a more Glock style trigger?

 

[12Bravo20]

The Canik TP9 is SA only

 

[JR24]

The Canik TP9 is SA only

Thought they said SA with decoker.

Not quite the same then, for me the charm of the P99 is the DA option

 

[5-SHOTS]

The Canik TP9 DA is the true P99 AS "copy".
There are also the Magnum Research MR9 and the S&W SW99 in the used market.

 

[halfmoonclip]

For the OP, first and foremost, patience. I've been there, done that, save your money before impulsively swapping. Gunshops stay fat and happy from our many swaps.
Beyond that, do some triage. Do you want a shooter, or a collector?
Finally, what is relatively easy to get now, that will be much more difficult later?
And, to really muddy the waters, how about a Walther P5?
Moon

 

[Slamfire]

For the OP, first and foremost, patience. I've been there, done that, save your money before impulsively swapping. Gunshops stay fat and happy from our many swaps.
Beyond that, do some triage. Do you want a shooter, or a collector?
Finally, what is relatively easy to get now, that will be much more difficult later?
And, to really muddy the waters, how about a Walther P5?
Moon

I do have a P5



It is a good double action pistol design. First shot double action, next one single action. No external safeties. You want to make it safe, you hit the decocker that drops the hammer and that is the safety position. It is a very easy pistol to field strip and clean. I think it was dead on arrival because when it hit the market, double stack Glocks arrived at the same time and the P5 is not a compact pistol. The P5 takes eight or nine rounds, but for firepower it cannot compete with 17 round Glocks. I think that is why it went away.

My P5 showed more holster wear than shooting wear. It will hold about four to six inches (offhand) at 25 yards, and that is more than sufficient for a service pistol. Mine is reliable, and I was able to buy magazines. It is an advanced design over the P38/P1



The P38 was a technological achievement in 1938, but the operating system system is all 1930's. It is of course single stack, double action, but the safety moves up, and so that is a bugger. Not to say it won't go bang, but it is what it is: a historical relic.

I don't own a P08 Lugar, everything I read about them is that they are finicky. No doubt there are good reasons why the Germans replaced the single action Lugar with a double action P38. Cost had to be one of them, but also, function reliability. Bunches of Soviet capture Lugars came in, they are mix master parts. I did get to shoot one, it was fun to see the toggle rise up and block the field of view. In terms of antiques, it is a real antique. It is one of the first semi autos adopted by a military service. That does not mean it is a good choice today. Something like that would be a fun gun, something to shoot in period costume, blast at cans, and when it jams, attack the can with your Japanese NCO sword. This is Harry Beckwith of Micanopy Florida in his gun store, with the Japanese sword I purchased from him



Harry had the best collection of Lugars I ever saw. Mint, and every variation under the sun. The counter behind him, and others, used to be filled with them. Until a buyer came in and made Harry an offer he could not refuse.

If you really love your Walther P99, get one. Even after buying a different pistol, I think you will still want your old P99. Sometimes, there are itches that need to be scratched.

 

[CapnMac]

Well, if a person were keen on a "historic" single-stack, it might be worth considering a Swiss P210.
A good Swiss example will not be cheap. But they are a hoot to shoot.

For my 2¢ the P38 and P-08 are about equally complex, mechanically, if in differing ways. P-38 mags are slightly easier to come by, but can be just as wonky as P-08 mags.

Now, if a person were really keen on a "luger" it might be worth looking at a Lahti M-40, the Swedes made a bunch of them. Or, perhaps a Swiss 06/24 Luger (which, if memory serves, will be in .30luger (7.65x23), not 9x19)