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9mm NATO in P38's and Lugers?
11echo
Member Posts: 1,007 ✭✭
I was just watching You Tube on the German P38. I have one so was interested in seeing if I could learn something new. The author was rambling on about the data on this weapon, coming up with nothing new, but then he states to NOT to use +P ammo in this weapon! SO this brings up an issue for me, I also have a German Luger, and it's long been noted using 115gr bullets with lighter load (normally used in the U.S.) causes the classic "stove pipe" feeding problem. After some investigation I learned the Germans use "hotter" 9mm ammo than what's normally use in the states. Nazi 9mm was a 124gr at 1300fps. ALSO during WW2 there was no distinction with any of the 9mm ammo, basically one fits all weapons. I had just purchased some NATO 9mm, 124gr.s at 1200fps, so I'm think this will work just fine in both my Luger and P38, but +P 9mm ammo ballistics are 124gr at 1220fps. So my issue, am I fighting someone option or known facts?
Comments
The West German Army realized the problem, after awhile. And initiated a fix. Witch was a beefed up frame. With a hex shaped steel bolt just above the trigger. This fix solved the problem of the cracked frames with the hot ammo.
I you got one of the post war P 38's, with the unreinforced alloy frames. It's going to crack, with a steady diet of hot ammo.
The post-war guns to which r-s refers will be marked P1 or P38 AND "Made in Ulm/Donau".
Neal
Standard pressure 115 gr FMJ will be less abusive to your guns than the NATO-spec loads.