P08 Luger Ammunition Specs

Desert_Fox

Desert_Fox

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I was wondering if anyone here (looking at you Smellie ;)) might have the correct original/proper loading for the Pistole Parabellum 1908? (Commonly referred to as the "Luger")

300px-Parabellum_1586.jpg


I have read all the "wisdom" from many writers stating the differences in European and North American 9mm loads, that Luger's like "hot" ammunition, etc...

I realize that a good condition magazine, and good non-worn out parts have a huge impact on reliability and feeding issues of the handgun, and realize that overpowered and underpowered ammunition can both cause problems in the beautiful, but finicky firearm.

Are there any suggestions of a factory brand (European, or North American) that should function well in a P08?

I am willing to consider handloads, but I only load for my milsurp rifles right now, and do not have the facilities to make my own cast bullets, so please let me know of factory bullets that can be purchased if suggesting a good handload. :)

Thanks in advance!
 
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You definitely wanted FMJ round nose bullets.

I will have a look at some of my S+B ammo as it closely mimics the military loads. My Luger really likes these.
 
I'll have to check my notes when I get home from the holidays, but when I tested some original German 1940s vintage pistol ammo out of my 1917 DWM Luger, I believe it was a.... 100 or 105 gr. bullet moving at 1250-1300 FPS.

So far, most North American manufactured ammo that I tested was a 115 gr. bullet at about 975-1025 fps(?). Again, I'll have to check my notes wen I get home. Going just by memory may not be the best idea. :p
 
Desert_Fox said:
Talking in the third person?? :confused:

Gollum owns Lugers??



;):p
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'We' are my two cousins and I - they live in the USA, and can have guns freely, and I cannot. So three Lugers that used to be mine now live in Oregon. Along with fifteen other handguns. Here in yUK, seven have been deactivated so's I could keep them, including my first and last Lugers and my dad's Walther PP - used by me as a back-up carry gun on duty in Northern Ireland over the years - three unusual handguns went straight into a collection, four Glocks went straight into the local police armoury, and the other eighty-six were destroyed.

Happy now?

Your sarcasm is not only uncalled-for, but unwelcome. If you have a problem with any of my posts, please feel free to ignore them.

tac foley
 
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Many times with lugers it is not the ammunition that poses the problem, it is generally a feed problem with weak coil springs from the older magazine tubes, worn feed lips or a magazine catch rounded off letting the magazine hold to low causing stovepiping. The Swiss produced some fine magazines and can be identified by a small cross or plus sign on the concave end of the base.

Military luger magazines from the early DWM and Erfurt factories are now approaching 90 plus yrs and at one time were very good as any militarized country would not supply their forces with substandard magazines.

During the Nazi regime or Third Reich period the firms Haenel Schmeisser and Mauser produced extruded steel one piece tubes utilizing a zig zag spring. The older coiled springs were bieng phazed out for various reasons.

The question here was about loads however after collecting the lugers for many yrs and reading the old data not much is to be learned about loading data from the Imperial German period, this I firmly believe is best left up to the modern factories that specialize in building ammo and publish their data in loading manuals--they have the pressure testing equipment.

As to the constant stories about lugers liking hot loads all I would say is that most military ammo is hotter than commercial loads and if you intend to jack up your loads because you heard lugers like hot loads then you are travelling down the wrong path.

These old handguns were weapons of war and many contain hairline cracks in the breechblock and receiver ears, anything other than published loads should in my opinion be avoided, the 115 grain commercial ammo works just fine as does the 124 grain in a well maintained luger. The Mauser built lugers from the Third Reich period enjoyed 20 plus yrs of mettalurgy refining so they should have better steel in use, not saying the Swiss did not use good steel or Krieghoff for example however the problems with these fine old handguns is usually attributed to other factors like dirt, oil residue the above mentioned magazine and catch issues.

Lugers went through extensive testing and if you look on the right side of an Imperial Luger one of the stamps is part of a pressure test in where the luger was fired with (two) cartridges with excessive loads along with an accuracy test and two magazines fired in rapid succession to check potential jamming and or magazine feed issues.The acceptance stamp was then struck by an inspector of the day.

Lugers not meeting these stringent examination testing periods or power proofing as it was called were put aside to be repaired, many were put back in service with a small crown RC stamp applied indicating later acceptance by the inspectors.

Also bear in mind that during the Weimar period many lugers were either arsenal refitted or by a subcontractor all following European proof laws of the day, the British themselves retested with the BNP proof mark on captured lugers and other weapons.

So hopefully my own experience collecting these handguns and reading the literature like many others gives the members here an small overview of the issues with owning lugers.

They are still an fine old handgun and most likely will continue to be enjoyed by their owners and should always be treated like any fine old weapon of 60 to 90 plus yrs of service.
 
tacfoley said:
'We' are my two cousins and I - they live in the USA, and can have guns freely, and I cannot. So three Lugers that used to be mine now live in Oregon. Along with fifteen other handguns. Here in yUK, seven have been deactivated so's I could keep them, including my first and last Lugers and my dad's Walther PP - used by me as a back-up carry gun on duty in Northern Ireland over the years - three unusual handguns went straight into a collection, four Glocks went straight into the local police armoury, and the other eighty-six were destroyed.

Happy now?

Your sarcasm is not only uncalled-for, but unwelcome. If you have a problem with any of my posts, please feel free to ignore them.

tac foley
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Didn't have any problems with your post. :confused:

Why would I be happy that your firearms collection had to be deactivated, destroyed, and exported??? :confused:

Coming, as you do, from the land of Monty Python, I thought you might have a sense of humor.... :(

It's Ok, British humor is different than here in the backwaters of the uncultured Colonies.... :rolleyes:

Also, your anger is uncalled for. V:I:

Your lowly Subject humbly apologizes! :p
 
Desert_Fox said:
Didn't have any problems with your post. :confused:

Why would I be happy that your firearms collection had to be deactivated, destroyed, and exported??? :confused:

Coming, as you do, from the land of Monty Python, I thought you might have a sense of humor.... :(

It's Ok, British humor is different than here in the backwaters of the uncultured Colonies.... :rolleyes:

Also, your anger is uncalled for. V:I:

Your lowly Subject humbly apologizes! :p
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Sir - Circumstances are such that I have to live in UK, but I'm only 1/8th British, the rest is Irish/Canadian.

And thank you, but your apologies are neither asked for nor needed.

I have re-written my post so that it does not attract any more facetious remarks.

tac
 
Last time I tried a finicky Luger, it really liked Sellier & Bellot. 115gr FMJ. Boxer primed, non corrosive. $13.95 per box of 50 from Tradeex.
 
I do not have a Luger. I have shot one belonging to a friend.

A luger is more than a gun. It is a work of art. Most small parts are serial numbered to the gun, so if you break something, it will show and detract from value.

If I had one I would shoot it very little. And when I shot it, I would shoot the mildest ammo that would feed and cycle. I would start with Winchester 115gr white box.

I would avoid balls the the wall military ammo, like IVI.
 
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