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Luger What Should I know

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Being inspired by this thread, and thinking that maybe, just maybe, some 147 grain ammo would work, that did not work before, would magically work with the grease-on-the-toggles trick. Nope. A jam every three shots, and you can see the pattern it produced, including the two low hits next to the other group on the bullseye. POA was the black dot/bullseye. Did this this morning before it got hot.

Then I loaded her up with some "WPA" commercial Rooskie ammo. Reliability was the same as Wolf ammo, maybe one jam out of every two magazines. But, ejected cases landed in a pattern, and accuracy was not bad. POA was the bottom of the plate. Again, on the two shots left of the lower group, that was from the 147 grain ammo fired previously. On ejected cases, I could find NONE of the federal 147 grain brass, anywhere. !!! All shooting at 25 yards.

Well I just wanted to shoot the Luger, with all the Luger talk, but I didn't want to expend any of my 100% reliable Federal 115 grain ammo. Gramp's Luger says: "thanks for listening". :)
 
On two occasions I looked at those 1970s Mauser Parabellum reissues.
The heavy barrel target model came along when my job was not secure.
The 6" 1906 pattern gun turned up when I could have afforded it, but the stiffly sprung grip safety and slab sided grips just took away a lot of the sensuous feel of the design.
 
I, on the other hand, like the long Mauser 29/70 in 9mm and found it to be an as easy shooter as the P210, MR73, or my 26 Korth. I am fascinated with the quality of this gun made at a time when many things started being made to a price point, in other words many corners were cut. Often too many.

The 06 patterns were completley new manufactured by Mauser but the P08 guns from the 70s were reconditioned frames and a lot of new parts, from what I had been told.

 
Sheesh if there was ever a pistol to be brought back into production its the Luger. Mine is 9mm all matching so I wont shoot it (it goes to the kids). Crazy how much they sell for these days.

It will never happen but I still think about it from time to time.....

PO8 in all Stainless Steel 6" chambered in 7.62x25 with fully Adjustable Millet Sights and an adjustable trigger. No Rails or Red Dot mounts please.
 
PzGren said:
I, on the other hand, like the long Mauser 29/70 in 9mm and found it to be an as easy shooter as the P210, MR73, or my 26 Korth. I am fascinated with the quality of this gun made at a time when many things started being made to a price point, in other words many corners were cut. Often too many.

The 06 patterns were completley new manufactured by Mauser but the P08 guns from the 70s were reconditioned frames and a lot of new parts, from what I had been told.

Click to expand...
Beautiful!
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Why not shoot it???
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Too rare and to valuable. One part breaks and its unmatching so I dont see the point. Some of my firearms have such low production numbers I just dont shoot them. Others I shoot a LOT. Nothing I would consider crazy valuable just rare. Way too much history in that Luger for me to just go blasting away with it. Ive shot shooter grade Lugers before. This particular one was also a birthday present from my 1st dealer because he wanted me to have a nice toggle action and knew I wouldnt be able to get one before the collectors went nuts on them. Im a little sentimental about firearms sometimes. I dont look at them like "tools" as many do these days. Pistol like the PO8 is basically a work of art from the very early beginnings of semi-automatic pistols.

Im not down on people who want to shoot theirs though. Typically I tell them to put in fresh springs and shoot as low pressure ammo as possible to get them to function. I run my main shooters hard enough but I built them from various non matching parts (expensive hobby LOL) to get the fit I wanted. That or they were trashed pistols I restored.
 
starling said:
PO8 in all Stainless Steel 6" chambered in 7.62x25 with fully Adjustable Millet Sights and an adjustable trigger.
Click to expand...

You do know that the original Luger round was 7.65x21, shortened from 7.65x25 Borchardt (Mauser, Mannlicher, Schwartzlose, Tokarev) so as to make room in a reasonable size grip for a magazine AND a recoil spring.
A 7.63x25 “Luger” would be unwieldy. I would like a look and feel of the Chicom copy of P226 stretched to 7.62x25. Probably pretty clunky.

Millett sights are out of production and thank goodness. Mauser made a 1970s reissue with a better looking adjustable.

On the other hand, there was an old gunzine article on where to put three set screws to get some adjustment out of the monkey motion Luger trigger. I think it was a plug for a gunsmith to drill and tap it for you.
 
Jim Watson said:
You do know that the original Luger round was 7.65x21, shortened from 7.65x25 Borchardt (Mauser, Mannlicher, Schwartzlose, Tokarev) so as to make room in a reasonable size grip for a magazine AND a recoil spring.
A 7.63x25 “Luger” would be unwieldy. I would like a look and feel of the Chicom copy of P226 stretched to 7.62x25. Probably pretty clunky.

Millett sights are out of production and thank goodness. Mauser made a 1970s reissue with a better looking adjustable.

On the other hand, there was an old gunzine article on where to put three set screws to get some adjustment out of the monkey motion Luger trigger. I think it was a plug for a gunsmith to drill and tap it for you.
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Im aware of all of that except the trigger set screw article. Thats a new one for me. I have a lot of old magazines from the 70s and 80s that were handed down but I dont think I have ever ran across that article before. Yes the magwell would have to be lengthened a good bit along with other changes. Up side is you could also have room for 38 super so you get the 7.62x25 and also the 38Super offerings. This would be more of a fancy target/hunting pistol than a combat sidearm. Something different and unique with a lot of class.

And Yes I like the old Millet sights. Sue me LOL! I guess LPA could substitute if people couldnt handle it.

Its just a fantasy gun ... I have a few. I like Gas Delay and Rotary barrels along with Toggles as well.
 
John Martz made a fair number of .45 Lugers, I think .38 Super and maybe 10mm. But the .22 Magnum was the one that caught my imagination. That would have had a grip nearly wide enough for .30 Tok.
So someone must have a big enough hand.
 
One of these days somebody is going to make them again. Its too iconic of a pistol for it to be completely abandoned. The airgun versions are popular. There are airgun versions on all these Iconic pistols now so its just a matter of time before manufacturers get desperate enough to do something that gets attention in the commercial market for "brand" recognition. Would be a good opportunity for a large manufacturer to make inroads into the handgun market. An easy example is savage. If they would have done small runs of their 45ACP military trials pistol that worked well they could have a good reputation for quality in the handgun market and paved the way for other more mainstream options like the Stance/Honor Guard style pistols. A new Luger PO8 would be the talk of the firearms community and build brand recognition pretty quick.

Be a little tricky of course because I dont see a Luger being made with MIM parts but who knows these days. Maybe a "Ruger/Luger P08" could be doable with the right leadership. I would prefer it NOT be polymer though. I would have endless nightmares if Kellgren announced he was working on one.

With all the fanatical and highly knowledgeable Luger collectors out there Im surprised more people have not tried to bring it back by now. Marketing wise the pistols basically would sell themselves and the design is well understood and the specs are there.

LOL... lately its been 22WMR pistols popping up everywhere. I wasnt aware everyone was screaming for those so Im out of the loop. Kind of scratching my head over the 22wmr stuff lately although the new S&W M&P version looks kinda neat even though its ugly as sin.

Everyone basically likes 9mm so why not bring back the original (Luger P08) and offer something unique in this world of Glock inspired designs. Too many manufacturers resting in their comfort zones I think.
 
Jim Watson said:
Where did those new $12000 Kreighoff Lugers come from a few years ago?
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The 200 guns were made in 2006 by a German manufacturer and defense contractor for Krieghoff. The owner of the company is an avid gun collector.
 
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That is what it would take, an enthusiast with capabilities.
Cabot was reportedly started as a sideline by a precision machining company with capacity to spare.
starling said:
I dont see a Luger being made with MIM parts but who knows these days.
Click to expand...

'The Handgunner, Ltd' did several articles on the Mauser Parabellum with a glimpse at the factory, mentioning the diamond files necessary to fit the hard sintered metal sears. So, yeah, MIM for the small bits.
 
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I sold my modest 4 gun Martial Luger collection a decade or so ago (15 years now) as prices seemed to reach an apogee and people had $ to spend and they were just setting in cases unfired . 3 were 9mm , of all three barrel lengths and one a Swiss 7.65 . I am left with a 7.65 6" nice "Swiss" Luger (rebarrelled with a 6" "Naval" barrel) , which I don't shoot anymore but it is always ready , and a little 3.5" 1920 7.65 Commercial which with new main and other springs and sear I shoot regularly and have 5 Mecgar mags for beside the original wood knob but misnumbered mag. The Swiss is all matching including mag and is a late production Bern Cross marked version.
I much prefer the 7.65 in my Lugers. The 9mm ones were always fussy , even with a good mag, but yes Federal 124 grain ammo and Geco 124 grain shot best and with a Mecgar mag was very reliable. The 7.65x21 bottle neck round feeds well , much better, and is stunningly accurate for me. I reloaded for it 30 years and my favorite load is a 93 grain cast Lyman truncated cone at just under 1200 fps from that short little 3.5" barrel ! I fired it from the 6" barrel and it pushes 1300 fps. There are zero pressure signs and I use Fiocchi cases mostly as I bought a 1000 rounds of Soft Point ammo 25 years ago. The 7.65 is a great and very flat shooting small game load , it is a .32 Mag in an auto pistol and that 93 grain bullet shoots well in my .32 H&R Mag guns at about the same velocity .
 
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starling said:
Too rare and to valuable. One part breaks and its unmatching so I dont see the point. Some of my firearms have such low production numbers I just dont shoot them. Others I shoot a LOT. Nothing I would consider crazy valuable just rare. Way too much history in that Luger for me to just go blasting away with it. Ive shot shooter grade Lugers before. This particular one was also a birthday present from my 1st dealer because he wanted me to have a nice toggle action and knew I wouldnt be able to get one before the collectors went nuts on them. Im a little sentimental about firearms sometimes. I dont look at them like "tools" as many do these days. Pistol like the PO8 is basically a work of art from the very early beginnings of semi-automatic pistols.

Im not down on people who want to shoot theirs though. Typically I tell them to put in fresh springs and shoot as low pressure ammo as possible to get them to function. I run my main shooters hard enough but I built them from various non matching parts (expensive hobby LOL) to get the fit I wanted. That or they were trashed pistols I restored.
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We shall agree to disagree! :) My Luger, as mentioned, with it's history in WW1 documented, (and later used to hunt moose after the war) captured by my Grandfather, all matching numbers with a matching magazine, and the German unit markings on the grip frame, is certainly "too rare and valuable". Talk about a gun with history and provenance. However, my thought is, I don't care about the value. If any great+ grandchildren ever sell it, I really, sincerely hope they get a minimum amount of money for it, if I should ever have a match numbered part break. Or wear more bluing off, etc. I will never sell it, nor will my son. So the value is totally, completely "moot". I don't blast away with it, much, but I think/feel/believe it should be shot on once in a while, and carried in the field. I see no dignity in locking it away in the safe to preserve it's monetary value. It's history and provenance cannot change. Again, a pox on anyone whoever sells it. I will come back and haunt them. !!!!

Having said that, I know my opinion on this is in the minority, and most would agree with you. I'm okay with that! :) But I will continue to shoot the Luger, and carry it in the field, in honor of "Gramps". I hope my son, and his son, do the same.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
We shall agree to disagree! :) My Luger, as mentioned, with it's history in WW1 documented, (and later used to hunt moose after the war) captured by my Grandfather, all matching numbers with a matching magazine, and the German unit markings on the grip frame, is certainly "too rare and valuable". Talk about a gun with history and provenance. However, my thought is, I don't care about the value. If any great+ grandchildren ever sell it, I really, sincerely hope they get a minimum amount of money for it, if I should ever have a match numbered part break. Or wear more bluing off, etc. I will never sell it, nor will my son. So the value is totally, completely "moot". I don't blast away with it, much, but I think/feel/believe it should be shot on once in a while, and carried in the field. I see no dignity in locking it away in the safe to preserve it's monetary value. It's history and provenance cannot change. Again, a pox on anyone whoever sells it. I will come back and haunt them. !!!!

Having said that, I know my opinion on this is in the minority, and most would agree with you. I'm okay with that! :) But I will continue to shoot the Luger, and carry it in the field, in honor of "Gramps". I hope my son, and his son, do the same.
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I cannot find a flaw in your logic, here. If it were my numbers-matching Luger I believe I would do the exact same, because of the family connection.
 
Jim Watson said:
The spec for the Sig SP47/8 = P210 was that it be as accurate as the Swiss Lugers.
It would be fun to get a couple of pristine Lugers .30 and 9, in a Ransom Rest.
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I've always wanted one in .30 Luger, but, not gonna happen. I have always heard that they are quite reliable, not as fussy as the 9mm. Judging from my own Luger, the only one I've ever handled or shot, is that it's a very accurate pistol.
 
I have a 1917 Erfurt that my great uncle Egbert brought home from the Great War (I was gonna be named after him but, somehow dodged that bullet! Thank goodness)

Holster, belt (with hand inscribed name of 'Heilbeck') and dagger with leather frog.

I have no qualms about shooting it; I'm never going to sell it and therefore have no interest in it's monetary value.

It definitely prefers the "warm" side of 124 gr projectiles.

These pistols were made to be fired.

This is a picture of my bench as of a week ago:

20230803_171946.jpg

Oh, and I like my Luger so much, I made one out of wood:

20160907_193600-1.jpg 20161120_113456-1.jpg
 
Wow...first wood Luger I've seen. How long did it take to make that??
Y-T71 said:
It definitely prefers the "warm" side of 124 gr projectiles.
Click to expand...
One would think, my Luger has only worked (for me) with the Federal 115FMJ load. I've tried a zillion factory 124 grain loads, along with another zillion reloads with 124/125 grain bullets. Not sure what velocity the Federals produce, I should run a few over the chrono, get a "target" velocity, in case I go down the reload-for-the-Luger rabbit hole again. Come to think about, I've never tried a 115, thinking that if anything was going to work, it would be a 124.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Wow...first wood Luger I've seen. How long did it take to make that??
Click to expand...

I honestly don't know.

I had made a few other wooden models for my son and his friends to run around the neighborhood playing with them.

Then my wife got sick; in and out of hospitals, LifeFlighted and surgeries and I needed something to take my mind off things so I grabbed my favorite file and my Dremel and went to work.

My "maiden voyage' with this Luger was back in the late '80's with a box of Remington 124 gr FMJ's.

After that, it was my own reloads with commercial cast 125 gr RN and eventually my home cast, PC'd 120 gr Lee (cast and coated: 124 gr) both over Win 231.
 
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