P08 Luger in .30 Luger chg to 9mm?

[Normandy]

I have an early (1920s) commercial German Luger in .30 Luger. The bore is shot out, and to rebarrel or resleeve decision has to be made. But first, the breech block and firing pin spring guide will not stay attached when fired.

I am considering replacement of the breech block and firing pin spring guide, but if the parts are interchangeable I would like to switch to 9mm. Then I'd buy a 9mm barrel and replace the shot-out .30 Luger barrel. It'd be mismatched, but still (hopefully) a shooter quality pistol.

(Sorry for the long intro.)

QUESTION: Are the breech block and barrel interchangeable between the .30 Luger and 9mm? That is, can I install a 9mm breech block and barrel into a Luger that was .30 Luger? I'm looking at $240ish for the parts, and another bit of $$ to have a gunsmith swap the barrel and check headspace.

[Hoping to learn from someone who has tried--accomplished--this before.

 

[Kosh75287]

There's lots about Lugers that I don't know, but I'd expect the 2 to be interchangeable.The 9x19 is just the .30 Luger blown straight, so the boltfaces would be identical. If the boltface is one end of the breechblock, then the odds that the whole part is interchangeable would seem to be in your favor.

 

[Gordon]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Luger-P08-Barrel-Slide-30-Cal-Late-WW1-/151476862393
Quite a few mint 9mm barrels for less than $100 on ebay right now. The barreled slide would require no gunsmithing and I like .30 Luger better- in a Luger

 

[unspellable]

Converting from one caliber to the other requires changing both the barrel and the recoil spring. The recoil spring for the 7.65 mm will be too soft for the 9 mm. I would recommend going to the Luger forum and contacting Luger Doc for the correct recoil spring. Other recol springs, and in particular, the Wolff spring do not match the original. As Georg Luger said, "The springs have to be right."
Luger Doc and/or the forum will also be a good source for fixing your other problem.

 

[Normandy]

OK, I "bit the bullet" and ordered a new breech block. I'm negotiating on a new .30 Luger barrel also. Can't stand to part it out, and surely don't want to sell it.

Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[Pilot]

Why are you changing calibers? If you can't find inexpensive .30 Luger ammo, just reload for it. Components and dies are readily available.

 

[nwilliams]

I would keep it in .30 Luger and just buy one in 9mm.

I've owned a lot of Luger's in both 9mm and 7.65 and I like both calibers. I've found the Luger's I've owned in 7.65 were amazingly accurate! Sure the ammo is harder to find and more expensive but it's not like I'm putting thousands of rounds a year through these guns, I take my Luger's out every once in a while just for kicks and giggles.

 

[Normandy]

Yeah, I finally decided to go with .30 Luger. I have Lugers in 9mm already. In fact, two re-blued WWII Mauser made that are great shooters. I just tend to drag my feet whenever I am faced with adding yet another caliber.

As for reloading, I actually trust the factory loads more than I would trust my own.

Parts, hopefully, on the way to me now.

 

[Normandy]

I scored an awesome barrel off of Gunbroker. It's re-blued and polished, like the rest of the pistol, and it has a pristine bore. Bought and shipped for $60!
The local gunsmith has it now, and will headspace it and test-fire it. I left him about 35 rounds of .30 Luger ammo, so hopefully when it comes home, it'll be a pretty, functioning, accurate nearly-100-yr-old piece of history. (I can't do anything about the re-bluing, but it has no pitting at all except for some under the grips. She's a looker.

If it performs like I hope, then I'll lay in a supply of ammo for it.

What is the recommended therapy for Lugeritis?

 

[Jim Watson]

I hope it works out for you.
I am not normally an unconventional caliber nut, one size hole is usually as good as the next, but if offered A Deal on a .30 Luger, I might not be able to control myself. Even if it weren't a Luger.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The few Lugers I've owned (in 9mm) were all VERY ACCURATE. I don't have one now, and have other guns I should shoot more -- so it doesn't make sense for me to buy another. They are uniquely beautiful weapons.