P08 Luger 30cal. or 9mm

[czhen]

I am going to get me a Luger and my only concern is which one. Options are a 97 % condition Swiss 30 cal vs Mauser, Banner, Erfurt or other in similar condition in 9mm.
I have read Lugers shoot better spicy loads. I dont know which should be the loads for 30 cal. with the available brands on the market.
I wont shoot it extensively, but some plinking for sure. Any advice will be appreciate.

 

[Danoobie]

9mm ammo will cost less, but beat on the action of a pistol with a rep for breakdowns.
You have a great sounding 30 cal in your sights, which probably puts less pressure
upon the action, anyway.

 

[ttarp]

I think one of each should be the goal eventually, still only have a 9mm myself.

 

[bannockburn]

czhen

Ammo costs notwithstanding, I would be sorely tempted by that 97% Swiss 7.65 Parabellum.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I would definitely go for the Swiss Luger, especially for target practice. I bought a DWM 1920 Commercial in 7.65 due to the more classic appearance, but I wish I had gone with the Swiss in hindsight. I like the longer barrel and the simplified action. The only thing I don't like about them is the straight grip, but I think it's a small tradeoff.

 

[czhen]

Thank you guys, the Swiss it is really tempting, price wise are very similar between 9 mm vs 30 cal.
Having little info about the correct load for the 30 cal. make me hesitate, expensive paperweight are not needed in my desk.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I bought my Luger because I already had a SIG P210 in .30 Luger. I was hesitant to get into the cartridge at first, especially since I have heard it can be a challenge to reload, but I really like it for target shooting. I'm sure you could accomplish the same thing with light 9mm loads, but the Fiocchi loads work great.

I have heard that .30 Luger is more reliable in a Luger than 9mm, but I don't have personal experience with a 9mm Luger.

 

[Monac]

Depends what you want it for, czhen. If you mostly want a Luger, but do not plan to really shoot it much, then I would get the Swiss Luger, because it is more unusual. 30 Luger is pleasant to shoot, and I think 30 caliber Lugers are less finicky about ammunition that 9mm ones. Maybe that is because the bottlenecked round improves feeding, or maybe it is because there is pretty much only one kind of 30 Luger ammunition*, whereas there are myriad types of 9mm.

OTOH, if you want a shooter (and Lugers can be quite nice to shoot) get the 9mm. The high cost and limited availability of 30 Luger ammo will drive you crazy otherwise.

*Actually, Fiocchi makes a 30 Luger load with a JSP bullet, but I have only seen it for sale over the Internet, and ammo shipping is pricey.

 

[Mauser lover]

Oh, dude, no contest. Get the .30! You are buying a 90% + LUGER! Ammo isn't THAT expensive! You could always handload...

I would be all over that .30. Ultimately you will make your decision, and if you get the 9mm I won't hold it against you, as long as you post pictures...

You should post pics if you get the .30 too.

 

[czhen]

I guess is the best excuse to start reloading.
I will post some pics as soon I put my index on the triger.
Czhen

 

[Panzerschwein]

Neither are shooters, but collector's guns.

I'd get whichever had the most collectors value for future resale and display. I personally would not put wear and tear on a Luger. That's what a Glock is for.

 

[MikeInOr]

My DWM Luger is a .30 mauser. I put a 9mm barrel on it for plinking 20 years ago and have never had a problem. It does like warmer loads.

 

[tark]

My DWM Luger is a .30 mauser. I

I think you mean a 30 Luger, perhaps? The 30 Mauser is too long to work in a Luger. They were never chambered in that caliber.

 

[MikeInOr]

I think you mean a 30 Luger, perhaps? The 30 Mauser is too long to work in a Luger. They were never chambered in that caliber.

Yes, you are correct.

I have never fired a 30 Luger even though I have the barrel. It is kind of a shame as my 7.62 x 25 Tokarev is one of my favorite guns. Little bullets going really fast out of a hand gun are really cool!

 

[Chuck R.]

I guess is the best excuse to start reloading.
I will post some pics as soon I put my index on the triger.
Czhen

I've got a .30 Luger that I load for, what I ended up going with are actually .32 plated bullets in the 90 grain range as my Luger's bore (1923 Commercial) is on the larger side. The plated bullets act like cast and will swage down in the bore. It is surprising accurate even with the crappy Luger sights.

The only PITA loading is having to lube due to the bottle neck. For my next batch I might tray a trick that the 357 SIG loaders due and run the .30Luger brass through a 9mm carbide die 1st, then run into the .30Luger die to size the neck down. Many 357S guys run their brass into a .40 carbide die, then just necksize in a 357S die to skip the lube. Starline makes .30Luger brass, so components are available.

Chuck

 

[czhen]

Thank you all, again.
I wrote down all the info. I will buy some factory fir the 30 cal. with light load and some brass to stock up..

 

[Jim K]

I found the .30 Luger not only pleasant to shoot, but also very reliable. 9 mm's less so, but understandable with all the variations in ammo available.

Jim

 

[cfullgraf]

If you reload, then I'd get a P08 chambered in 30 Luger. It is just a cool cartridge for a cool gun that will be used once in a while at the range.

Starline still makes 30 Luger cases so I'd lay in 500 or 1000 of them as a hedge against future shortages. Bullets can be cast if commercial bullets disappear.

But, on the other hand, a 9x19 Luger is nice too and ammunition is readily available. My Luger is an early WWII Mauser version.

 

[1911WB]

I have Lugers in both 9mm & 30 Luger. I must say I enjoy shooting the 30 calibers ones more, especially since that is the caliber the pistol was designed for originally. I have not found the 30 L hard to handload. Don't believe the hype about having to use "hot" loads in Lugers of either caliber- you will beat these delicate creatures to death if you do that! Parts are an issue to be aware of with Lugers- some of us replace matching numbered with others when we shoot. Parts most subject to breakage are ejectors, extractors and firing pins. Good luck & have fun with your new toy. WB

 

[czhen]

As I promised the very first pics of the luger.

 

[ttarp]

Shiny!

 

[1911WB]

Very nice Swiss 06/29. Too nice to shoot except occasionally IMO! If all matching numbers, you got a good one for your first Luger. But if you're like most of us Luger fans, your first won't ne your last! WB