Reloading for Luger P08 ?

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Louis

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Hi,
How do you reload for your 9mm Luger P08 ?

Many times peoples said me to reload with smaller powder charge...because german 9 mm ammo was less powerful than today 9mm ammo...and because it may cause problem on luger pistol...

May I do the same thing for WWII walter P38 ?

Let me know your experiences please

Thank you
Louis
 
I load for both of my Lugers (1916 7" barrel and 1940 4" prohib barrel) using standard mid-range loads with Titegroup. However, my 1916 only likes round-nose bullets, my 1940 is less fussy. I would start with 115 grain round-nose and work loads up to mid-range (starting low). No need to stress the gun with full-power loads, as parts are sometimes tough to find.

My lugers both shoot amazingly well, and are real hits at the range - I let a bunch of people shoot them whenever I bring them...
 
Start with a STrat load and work up to something that is 100% reliable and accurate.

No need for top velocity. You don't want to break any parts. They all have a serial number and a broken parts will effect value.
 
From what I've read, the original P08 loads were actually a bit snappier than factory today, because the toggle-action required more recoil energy to operate reliably.

However, take the advice of those who reload and shoot for them. They know best.
 
I reloaded for a Luger years ago. Started low and worked up. Found I had to get near top of recommended loads for the action to function. This was with cast bullets.
 
Thank you, it's the first time I will reload for a pistol.
Thank you for your advise. There is nt a lot of french info on that subject.
I read few info in english and sometimes my translation is not good...oups...

If you hwve other tips, let me know
Louis
 
For most of my life I heard that Luger actions were weak, that it was just the pin in the hinge that kept it out of your face on firing. I even knew so ldiers who had brought one home, to get a friend to take apart the standard 9mm military pistol cartridges and reduce the powder, for safely shooting in his Luger.
It is all BS.
The Luger has a very strong action, mainly because the hinge is locked up solid when the gun fires and does not open until the bullet is well past the muzzle.
 
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P08 pistols are as H4831 says quite strong. Many of them won't function properly with North American commercial loads. Most surplus NATO spec loads function well in them.

I can hardly count the number of P08s I've owned. I shot most of them because they are fun to use and they also make for a lot of great conversations at the range. I still like them but no longer have one chambered in 9mm. Sold the last one which was a Finn rebuild to a very nice young man in the water purification business in Nelson last spring.

This is what I found with the pistols I had. They were fussy about ammo. Most would only load mid weight fmj or round nose lead bullets in the 120grain or more weight reliably. 115 grain bullets would work if they were constructed with full metal jackets. Hollow point ammo would only feed if the feed ramp was modified and the mag lips were opened up just a bit. Takes a lot of trial and testing/breaking down so don't do it with a collectible piece.

As mentioned, start with a load at or very close to START. Don't load a whole box or several boxes with one load.

Here's what I did and if I ever get another will do again. Understand I'm a bit braver and have had a fair amount of experience loading for these pistols. First thing to ascertain is condition and more importantly collector value. Once you have established your P08 is a shooter grade and you want to hand load for it then make a plan and follow it closely. This is what I do. First if the condition of the pistol is at all questionable I sell it with full disclosure. Lots of these old girls were ridden hard and put away wet and even after coming to North America one way or another were subject to improper storage and the wrong ammo. The different Axis members that used German style equipment used some very hot black coated ammo supposedly made for smg use. I have seen and purchases P08s with cracked and broken toggles, supposedly from this ammo. I start with a mid range load I know has been safe in multiple P08s. If the action feeds and ejects reliably that's where I stop. It's also usually a very accurate load if the bore is in excellent condition. If it gives the odd hiccup or more I increase the powder charge by .2 grain increments until the pistol functions reliably. Sometimes it takes an extra .1 grain bump to get it to shoot accurately. The 9x19 is a small case and a tenth of a grain goes a long way once you've reached a reliable pressure curve. It isn't much to do just to make sure a relatively desirable and unique handgun continues to function.

They don't grow on trees any more. I am still wondering why the Russians and the satellites that gathered up thousands upon thousands of these pistols and put them into long term storage after a full rebuild still haven't released what remains in their caves. Lots of them were released from all over the world during the 50s/60s/70s. Most of them didn't come out of the old Soviet Union.

Hard to say which models were my favorite but I have settled on a lovely 1906/29 Swiss for now. I also have a very nice Stoeger chambered in 22lr and a very nice little prohib Erma Werke mid size frame chambered in 32acp. The barrel on the 32 will be pulled and a 105mm, 9mm barrel installed in 380acp.
 
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