ejection port

[Larry]

Now, that's really interesting! Thanks for sharing the answer of Mr. Buxton.

I have to read again an article of Karl Schafer in german about "Die Walther Armee-Pistolen" if I can grab it. I'll report about

[Shakey]

Doesn't matter really. It works very well ejecting to the left of the pistol.

[AoxoMoxoA]

In my short time of owning this fabulous pistol, pretty much everyone who has seen/handled/fired the pistol has asked why the ejection port was on the left side, which got me looking into it. In another forum, I came across a post from 2003 which featured a reply that seemed somewhat plausible.

He/She stated that...

"The ejection port is on the left side for a reason. The designers felt it would be easy to clear a jam, as it is easier to tilt your right hand to the left than the right. Tilt your hand, pull slide, jammed round or case drops out."

In a heated situation, which of course this pistol was designed for, this opinion does hold some merit.

[MGMike]

I have enormous respect for Warren Buxton and have counted him as a friend for many years. So I know he won't be offended if I remark that he's never learned how to say anything (including "I don't know") briefly.

As for the quote attributed to the redoubtable Mr. Reichert, that doesn't make any sense at all. The current style of P.38 extractor train is not identical to that employed in the PP-series pistols. The detent plunger for the P.38 safety is included in the drum itself, completely independent of the extractor.

Take the both of them apart and see for yourself.

As for why the extractor is on the left: hell, I don't know the answer either.

M

[MGMike]

Come to think of it, I think AoxoMoxoA is on to something.

If you are shooting or manipulating a P38 or P5 right-handed, you can easily SEE the ejection port, and instantly determine what's going on: if there is a round in the chamber, if there is a stoppage, etc., in addition to clearing it, without having to twist the gun around.

Try gripping a PPK in your left hand, and you'll get the idea.

The downside is that it exposes your face a bit more to debris flying out of the ejection port.

M

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by Shakey

The ejection port is on the left hand side in order to payback all the shooters that keep pelting you with spent brass. As stated before the look of surprise to you left on the line is priceless!

After one enjoys all the playful exuberance gained from this, one should realize that it is not funny if you are on the receiving end. About a month ago I was present on an informal range where a Russian Goryunov machine gun was being fired. It ejects from the left horizontally and very forcefully, and fired 7.62x54R cases are heavy, sharp and hot. A shooter lying prone about 6 feet to its left was struck on the right side of his nose by a fired case severely enough to require first aid to stop the bleeding. He was wearing shooting glasses but from that angle, had the case flown a half-inch more to the rear, it could easily have gone behind the lens and taken out his eye. It makes a good argument for wearing industrial-type protective glasses that have side-shields.

In any event it is ordinary courtesy to refrain from firing if your empties are going to fly into the face of somebody in their path, just as it is well appreciated if one does not open fire until those around have been alerted to put on hearing protection.

At Camp Perry where the firing line is closely spaced and everybody must fire at the same time, shooters --especially when firing prone-- frequently place their handcarts (carrying all their shooting gear) immediately to their left to block hot brass coming from that direction.

M

[AoxoMoxoA]

Originally Posted by MGMike

In any event it is ordinary courtesy to refrain from firing if your empties are going to fly into the face of somebody in their path, just as it is well appreciated if one does not open fire until those around have been alerted to put on hearing protection.

Well aware of this phenomenon. At my range there's this one particular dolt that goes to town with his .223 AR and 100-round Surefire clips without regard for the folks to his right... I've been to his right on a few occasions... Which leads me to:

1. Maybe this is where the P5's left side ejection port comes in!
2. Maybe I have discovered the reason!

[uncut]

One more idea.....
if you are right handed and right eye dominant, you always see the brass flying with your right eye and to some it can be a distraction
so the brass flying to the left is a great way to keep it "out of sight"

I am righty - left eye dominant and shooting the P5 is fun but the brass flying always distracts me... the same with my lefty AR15