Ammo for Luger

[timandkimandshea]

Looking for advice, would a 1920's (ish) Luger be safe to use with standard 9mm factory ammo, or better to custom load a milder version? Assuming the pistol is in good condition.
Thanks in advance

 

[LawrenceN]

The luger, like most european 9 mm pistols, was designed to use hotter ammo. Like our Browning Hi-Power used the same ammo as the Sterling submachine gun. I once read that a lot of US vets had issues with the performance of their bring-backs with domestic ammo. I seriously doubt that any factory ammo you feed it will negatively affect the pistol.

 

[gdawg]

Should be no problem with regular 9mm ammo (AE, S&B, Remington). I've been shooting (few hundred rounds a year) a DOM 1918 with regular ammo with no issues.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Should be no problem with regular 9mm ammo (AE, S&B, Remington). I've been shooting (few hundred rounds a year) a DOM 1918 with regular ammo with no issues.

A DOM or a DWM Graham?

I also shoot my 9mm Lugers with a steady diet of quality factory FMJ ammo without any issues.

 

[timandkimandshea]

Ok, thx guys

 

[Robert777]

I have a 1936 Luger, and I shoot various types of factory ammo. NO problems at all.

 

[gdawg]

A DOM or a DWM Graham?

I also shoot my 9mm Lugers with a steady diet of quality factory FMJ ammo without any issues.

Good one. I meant DOM as in date of manufacture. It is actually 1917. Here it is out with a friend.


[video]http://vid1375.photobucket.com/albums/ag445/Southwark0203/range%20trip/77E1BE76-84A7-476D-9586-7E71F3A18FFA_zpstkwyh5le.mp4[/video]

 

[wbaad]

I have tried certain brands in mine that did not work too well, and others were flawless. I load ammo for mine that works perfect.
All of them are different? But factory ammo will not hurt it. No +p!!!!!

 

[Chas59]

I have a 1936 Luger, and I shoot various types of factory ammo. NO problems at all.

I have a 1936 as well and it shoots great with factory ammo, for me 124gr and up.

 

[357_fan]

Do your Lugers (or Lugers in general) reliably feed different types of ammo including hollow points?

I once had a Walther P1 that would only feed fmj ammo. The pointier, the better.

 

[Robert777]

I stick to FMJ, no need for hollow point in a target gun, my opinion anyway. I don't know if it would work or not. Hollow point is too expensive for paper shooting.

 

[Harry Callahan]

I've always had issues with HP ammo. They run very well with factory 124's FMJ.

 

[Cocked&Locked]

I have tried certain brands in mine that did not work too well, and others were flawless. I load ammo for mine that works perfect.
All of them are different? But factory ammo will not hurt it. No +p!!!!!

the ammo the luger was designed for was loaded to a higher pressure then north american standard 9mm. Some lugers will not reliably function on our standard pressure ammo. They will eat +p 9mm all day long and not be bothered by it if they are in good shape. They can be fussy about ammo shape, original ammo for them was truncated cone, switched later to ball. Original ammo was lead, ball was jacketed to avoid accusations of using expanding bullets from the brits during ww1

 

[Ganderite]

As you know, the parts of your Luger are all serial numbered. If you break a part, the value of the gun with a mis-numbered part will drop.

I think this was the point of your question.

If you don't handload, buy the FMJ standard pressure ammo and hope for the best.

 

[hatman1793]

The venerable Luger design was initially designed to use the bottleneck 7.65mm cartridge. The Swiss liked it but the German Army didn't. Georg Luger blew out the 7.65 cartridge to the new 9X19 we use today for the German Navy first, in 1908, hence P08. Later, the German Army.
Both the Luger & P38 are designed to fire a 124-125 grain FMJ bullet. Not 115's, not 147's. Standard 124-125's should work in both.