9mm Luger

[wisconsin]

ok guys I could use a little help/advise.

This weekend my grandfather and I will be shooting his WW2 Luger. It hasn't been fired in over a 2 decades but has been maintained in mint condition (at least from what I can see). So what I am getting at is this:

1: are your standard off the self 9mm loads safe/okay to use?

2: and is there anything in particular I should inspect before hand?

Thank you in advance

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

1 - Newly manufactured ammunition is safe to shoot, but the Luger is reputedly "fussy" with regard to functioning. Some brands of ammo may work better than others. You will be restricted to FMJ bullets.

2 - If it has been stored under controlled conditions, nothing special. Clean and lubricate it, of course. If feasible to do so, clean the magazines as well.

 

[wlewisiii]

Use FMJ +P or NATO level rounds. The Luger needs a hard push to function correctly. A normal field strip clean and lube should do the job. I'd probably run some snap caps through it to function test it as well as check the safety.

 

[armoredman]

Stay away from anything that says "+P" on the box.
Have fun!

 

[9mmepiphany]

You'll likely increase your chances of function if you stick with a bullet weight close to the original design of the 9x19mm. Look for some FMJ 124gr loadings. Bulk/Range ammo might not have enough umph to cycle the action...domestic 9mm is notoriously underloaded...it is better not to cheap out when firing a finely balanced pistol

 

[roninrlm]

I have and shoot several old Lugars----just LIGHTLY oil the action and DRY wipe the bore. I have shot everything in mine----best so far is Remington 9mm.

Good luck

Ronin

 

[Jim K]

I strongly disagree with any suggestion to use "hot" loads in the Luger. It is not a matter of strength, or the gun blowing up, but hot loads and fast cycling can break the ejector, and ejectors are pretty expensive.

The NATO ammo STANAG never took the Luger into consideration, as the Luger was obsolete and not in use in any western European army when NATO was formed.

Jim

 

[wlewisiii]

Reason I suggested it is the one I've had the pleasure of shooting would not cycle with anything lower powered. Perhaps there was a different problem with that pistol? I don't know but it would not cycle properly without higher powered rounds.

 

[GI_Jared]

OP: Awesome that you are going out shooting with your grandpa! Also, I like your username!

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've had several Lugers, over the years, and just used 115 gr. FMJ rounds from Blazer, UMC, fiocchi, etc. If the gun has been well-maintained, it should work fine with standard hardball 9mm ammo.

 

[wisconsin]

thanks for the advice guys. Ill be sure to give a range report

 

[jonnyc]

"Use FMJ +P or NATO level rounds. The Luger needs a hard push to function correctly."

NO, NO, NO, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
Lugers do not need anything +P or Nato. Those of us who actually shoot Lugers alot know that the most critical issue with Luger feeding is bullet shape and overall cartridge length. The best Luger food is Walmart Winch. White Box and also the Federal Champion. Yes, they're both the cheapest that Walmart sells, but their lengths are also consistent.
And as posted above, do a thorough cleaning and light lube. Make sure you find good directions for disassembly/assembly, and leave the grips alone.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Although the OP says WWII, and Lugers were certainly used in that conflict, it is probably actually closer in age to the First World War. Go easy on the old timer.

 

[guyfromohio]

I don't recall adolf being at the table when NATO was signed.

 

[Pilot]

My 1941 BYF (Mauser) Luger works fine with standard pressure FMJ ammo like WWB, UMC, Fiochi, Blazer Brass, my reloads, etc. In fact with over 17 years of owning it I've never had a failure of any kind. I don't even clean it all that often.

 

[Rock185]

I have only owned two Lugers in the last 45 years or so, most recently a 1938 Mauser version. I'm not qualified to comment on the mechanical aspects, but do have an observation or two on the ammo. My limited experience with Lugers is consistent with what jonnyc indicated. I too always heard Lugers needed warmer ammo, so I tried the Winchester 124 NATO. This is my standard practice round in other types of 9MM pistols, revolvers and carbines. The NATO runs approx. 1250fps in some of my other 9MMs, depending on gun, barrel length,etc. My Luger was a total "jammamatic" with the NATO ammo. Federal 115 ball, averaging 1086fps, also jammed a lot. By "a lot", I mean I'm not sure I ever got through a whole magazine without some kind of malfunction. I next tried the Federal red box/American Eagle 124 ball. This is about the lightest-loaded/mildest factory 124 grain ammo I can ever recall chronographing. This ammo averaged only 1017fps in the Luger. Anyway, it was by far, the most reliable in my Luger. My record with that ammo is a whole 98 rounds, IIRC, without a malfunction. My earlier 1918 DWM was even more unreliable. When originally produced, with original ammo, Lugers Must have been much more reliable than my well-used examples...ymmv

 

[wisconsin]

I think its either 1941 or 1939. so a heavier FMJ should do the trick then.

 

[jonnyc]

No need for "heavier", standard 115 grain should work fine. Get some WWB at Walmart, all Lugers love it.

 

[Jim Watson]

My friend's Finnish surplus 1923 with 9mm Tikka barrel replacing the DWM .30 was not reliable with anything on the market. Shoots my 147 gr roundnose subsonic like a champ, though.

Many years ago, my 1936 S/42 shot very well with 1943 Canadian surplus and hardly at all with Remington commercial.

If the Luger needs heavily loaded 9mm, then how did it ever work at all in .30?