Best ammo for a Luger

[Jack Package]

So recently I just got a 1917 DWM Artillery Luger and I was wondering what is the best ammo to get for it. I have heard that 124 gr 9mm is the best I have heard it is not good for it I have heard a lot of conflicting things. Just want to know what you fellas think and have to say. Much appreciation for any responses.

 

[Jim Watson]

The original 9mm bullet was 124 grains (8 grams), soon reduced to 115 grains (7.5 grams.)
My only Luger was a P08 long ago. It shot Canadian surplus great, but when that dried up and all I could get was Remington commercial, results were not good. I soon sold the gun.
I know more now and I see that Remington 9mm is shorter OAL than other brands, which works against the Luger's slanted magazine.
I would look for the longest OAL ball ammo I could find. You need full charge ammo to drive that long barrel, but Lugers do NOT need "hot" ammo. As one Luger fan said, an overloaded Luger behaves a lot like an underloaded Luger.

On the other hand, a friend's 1923 DWM/Tikka does best with my 145 gr subsonic. But still a roundnose loaded rather long.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Mine hasn't had any feed/ejection issues with plain old 115gr. FMJ Federal or Remington since I got an original factory magazine for it, but it generally doesn't lock the slide open on an empty mag either, indicating that it does short stroke abit with range ammo. 124gr JHP cycles well also, and does lock the slide open.

Personally, I think a good quality magazine (and mag spring) is at least as important or more so than the choice of ammo. Mec-gar makes excellent replacement Luger mags and Wolff has new springs if you have an OEM mag.

Good luck!

 

[RecoilRob]

To protect your investment I'd recommend a fresh set of springs just so it'll then work as intended which might not be the case if they're old and tired. I have a 1916 Artillery mutt that shoots very nicely with 154 cast subsonics and also has popped through a few mags of other ammo of differing weights without fail. If the gun is not totally worn out, and the springs are fresh....it'll run fine if the mag is good and I'd run as gentle a bullet as it'll function well with just to keep the wear and tear to a minimum. No need for +P stuff at all....be nice to it.

 

[Monac]

My Luger works best with 124 grain FMJ. The only 115 grain load that worked well was a Fiocchi truncated cone FMJ. I had some luck with a very long 147 grain JHP, but I no longer remember the brand.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I never owned one but several friends do/did. Most shot 100% reliably with 115gr BALL ammo. Only one shot better with 124gr ball ammo and it was a very old Luger, pre P08. I have never shot any of the P38 pistols by Walther.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I never owned one but several friends do/did. Most shot 100% reliably with 115gr BALL ammo. Only one shot better with 124gr ball ammo and it was a very old Luger, pre P08. I have never shot any of the P38 pistols by Walther.

P38s are nice, but can be fragile. The Walther forums guys don't recommend shooting anything but 115fmj and avoiding +P in them at all costs. The slides are known for cracking on the wartime guns and the aluminum frames on post war guns can be beat to death as well.

 

[RON in PA]

!15 grain Winchester White Box works fine in my 1939 Mauser Luger. I can't remember a malfunction.

 

[Eugen]

I have a few Lugers but only shoot two of them. For those I only use WWB 115gn FMJ. Why, you ask? Well, that is by far the most recommended factory ammo for Lugers on the Luger forums that I frequent. I dont claim to know much, but that ammo is what the consensus of opinion is from the experts and experienced folks on those boards.