Lugers

lead

I've got some money coming back in taxes this year(yipee!) and I thought I'd buy a pistol I've always wanted but never could afford, a Luger. I mentioned this around the gun shop and heard lots of advice against it. I need to know from experts, not just some guys who "shot one at a range once". Can I shot hollow points, light loads, anything other than military ball? Is it reliable or liable to hang up? I'm looking for a shooter, by the way, not a collector. Thanks

lead

can anyone help me trying to identify where a luger was made and or anything about the value of one? I would put pictures of it on but i haven`t learned how yet..

lead

Do they make a real firing replica lugers?

Steve Zandman

v35

Lugers are difficult to shoot accurately if one is used to other pistols because they are very light in the barrel,the grip angle is very steep and the trigger pull is long and soft. However, an expert put all the shots from one of my Lugers into the size of a $.50 piece at 50 feet, so they can do it.Original Luger ammo had truncated cone bullets so they can feed all types of current ammo but they rely on full military power ammo or they will jam. If you settle on a particular ammo that jams, the mainspring (it's a pain)can be clipped. Wolf has mainsprings of different strengths.The luger will jam occasionally even when everything is right like once every few hundred rounds.

Tailgunner1954

Military ball PISTOL ammo. Some of the stuff you see out there cheap is loaded to SMG standards and can be to hot for a P-08.Before you buy it look for cracks (in the breach block) along the extractor, they may appear to be nothing more than a thin pencil line to as much as a chunk of metal missing.When loading for the Lugar start low and increase slow until you get reliable operation, than STOP.enjoy itBob[This message has been edited by Tailgunner1954 (edited 02-08-2002).]

lead

Thanks, your comments are encouraging.

jonk

Get one. The most beautiful gun ever made, fairly accurate (some models more than others), and the quintisential handgun.

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"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.

Der Gebirgsjager

You can divide lugers into two categories: Collectors and Shooters. Not that the two can't overlap, but the pristine collector specimens retain their value better if not used. Assuming you're after a shooter (the best kind!) you should still try to get one with all the numbers matching--or at least those of all the major components. This is because when originally assembled in the factory the parts were hand fitted and the last two numerals of the frame's serial number were repeated on all component parts. For example, if the serial number was B4328 you will find the entire number on both the frame and the barrel and 28 on all the other parts. Replacement parts were often not properly fitted and will cause the pistol to be less reliable. Look for a good bore--although don't pass up a really good deal on an otherwise good pistol to be used as a shooter, because brand new replacement barrels are available. There is indeed a wide variety in the power of various 9mm ammo loadings. Several years ago there was Finnish surplus 9mm on the market which was loaded for their submachine guns and the Lahti pistol. The Lahti requires hotter than normal ammo to work reliably in arctic temperatures, and ammo performs less efficently in very cold weather. Therefore, the Finns loaded their ammo very hot and it doesn't take much to ruin the average pistol. There are other examples as well, so beware of shooting surplus in your luger. It is true that lugers like hotter loads (but not specially loaded submachine gun ammo), and the best I have found is (surprise!) loaded in Germany. Try GECO Rottweil 124 gr. FMJ. If you go down to the local Mart and buy Win. USA or some other bargain 9mm you will likely find that your luger will jam every other shot. You will either like this gun or hate it. The bones in some people's wrists are not compatable with the grip angle of the luger and they will tend to shoot high. For others it is a natural pointer. It certainly is different in that all the weight is in your hand and not at the muzzle as is the case with target pistols. The only criticism I have of the luger is it's awkward safety. Certainly one of the world's best classic designs.

jonk

UMC feeds mine fine, but doesn't lock the slide open on the last shot. On the other hand, I bought some handloads off of a reputable dealer who I have seen at every gun show and they were so hot I only fired off one clip. So go for something that feeds well, locks the slide, and no more.

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"...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.

v35

Commercial 124grain ammo is less likely to jam the Luger than the 115 grain stuff.The Achilles heel of the Luger is in its' inability to handle pierced primers.If a primer is pierced from a hot load, gas will drive the striker to the rear often damaging the gun. Some Luger strikers have gas bypass grooves in them but this feature doesn't work very well. On piercing a primerthe striker is driven to the rear either breaking the key off the firing pin spring guide or worse,it can break out the rear end of the breechblock where the firing pin spring guide keys into the breechblock. These areas should be inspected on any Luger you buy.

lead

Thanks again for all the advice. I'm going to try to get out to the next Tulsa gun show and see what I can find. I'll be a better informed shopper now.