Shot a Luger last night.......ooooooooh......

[hillbilly]

Last night, my wife and I both shot a real German Luger (date stamped 1936) for the first time.

I had always wondered what all the hype was about.

Now I know.

Wow....that's smooooooooth.

And pointable.

And handy.

And just plain feels good in the hand.

I like Lugers!

My wife says we need to get one now. She wanted to shoot one after she saw the History Channel's "Tales of the Gun" episode on Lugers, and remarked that the grip angle looked just like her Ruger MK II.

And she knew how comfy that one was, and was intrigued by a 9mm with the same grip angle.

So, when an older gentleman showed up for his CCW renewal yesterday, he brought a whole box full of range toys to shoot after he requalified with his carry piece.

And in that box was the Luger. When he found out that my wife wanted to shoot it, he insisted on waiting about 20 extra minutes until she got home.

And now, because of the dastardly actions of that old codger, my wife and I are Luger shopping.

It's a sickness, I tell you, a sickness!

hillbilly

 

[DorGunR]

Are Lugers still that easy to find?? When I was in Germany back in the 1950's I tried to find a luger but had no luck.

 

[MuzzleBlast]

Gunbroker and AuctionArms are full of them, but they ain't cheap!

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

I've heard they're mechanically cranky and inaccurate too.

- pdmoderator

 

[thatguy]

Most of the problems with German P.08s can be traced to either damaged magazines or under-powered ammo. The Krauts loaded their military 9MM hotter than American civilian manufacturers and their guns were designed around this hot ammo.

My mom bought me a 1918 DWM as a present for my 21st birthday. It was stolen in 1985 and I found another of the same date and maker. This one was converted for police use between the wars and carries the toggle safety and unit markings for the Wolfsburg Police Department. Both functioned with 100% reliability and were quite accurate despite the spongy Luger trigger.

That birthday Luger cost $215 (yeah, it was a looong time ago), and I think I paid $375 for the one I bought in 1985. Likely cost about $800-$1000 now.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I wouldn't say they're inaccurate. My 1916 one has a barrel that has been extensively shot. You can barely make out the rifling. But, I can keep all the shots on a 8x10 target sheet at 10 yards, that's not bad for an old shot out gun!

I think the sights are a bit basic, but it is a combat pistol designed more as a last ditch point and shoot weapon.

They are mechanically complex though. Not too hard to detail strip once you get the hang of it. But, alot of the automatics from the turn of the century were anything but simple! Broomhandles instantly come to mind...

 

[keederdag]

Luuuuuuuuuuggggggggeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssss! Drool!

 

[Henry Bowman]

My wife says we need to get one now.

Obey your wife.

 

[Jrob24]

Shot a Luger last night.......ooooooooh......

Good for you. I recently got to fire one on a range trip. As I was loading my P99, a grandfather, his son and his grandson arrived. After introductions the grandfather opened his gun case revealing a high standard .22, 2 1911's, some kindof .38 and a war trophy luger. I politely asked if I could fire it and he said he forgot to bring ammo for it. Therefore I loaded 5 rounds of my WWB into the lugers beat-up magazine. The grandfather said something like " I haven't fired it for 30 years and if it explodes it's your fault". I made a 3" group at 25 feet (a better shooter could've done better") and let his grandson use my P99. That's why I like when other people show up at my range

 

[RobW]

My friend had one in 9mm and one in .30 Luger. Not a single magazine went through without a jam (all different sorts of 9mm, the .30 was Fiocci).

I shoot them too; the trigger pull is heavy and nothing you can do to enhance it, the sights are rudimentary, and thus I couln't hit anything substantial.

He sold both of them and bought a Beretta 92F and a Springfield 1911. Now this is a totally different story!

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I've had two and the triggers on both of them were very nice. And surprisingly light. One of them was very accurate; I never shot the other one, as it was a collectible and I didn't want to break anything that would detract from its best value.

The shooter was a Soviet-captured gun, had a badly pitted barrel (inside) but you couldn't tell it by the way it shot. Also badly pitted under the grips, but all matching except for the small side plate.

Its a remarkably simple gun with relatively few parts.

You can improve the triggers, but you've got to have a light hand and know what you're doing. It isn't easy, and it takes fine stones (translate that anyway you like.) I didn't have the skills to try, but some gunsmiths do.

There's a small disconnector/interruptor on the side, under the side plate that is supposed to drop out of the way after each shot, until the gun recoils. I had just gotten mine back from the gunsmith, and it apparantly developed a "burr" while there. The first time I shot it, it went full auto. (Only 3 rounds, thankfully, due to crappy mags.) Scared the crap out of me.

I had an extractor break, and a small spring inside the frame that held the take-down lever firmly in place wore down to the point where it wouldn't hold the lever in place. (One guy was trying it out and it basically fell apart on him, and that really bothered him. <grin>) Suprisingly, it was very easy to get the replacement part -- as has been the case with most parts.

They're ornery old guns, but I'll get another one, one of these days.

 

[BigG]

Luger... went full auto

Walt:

I love mine, too!

 

[rageman]

Are there any companies that manufacture replica Lugers? It would be nice to get a "Luger" (even if it isn't one) for less than the going price (what, about $600+ now?)

 

[blfuller]

There is a company that manufactures Stainless Lugers. They made them for Mitchell and Stoeger. AIMCO in Texas was the manufacturer. They are still making them. Here's a pic of my Navy version.

 

[denfoote]

Last night, my wife and I both shot a real German Luger (date stamped 1936) for the first time.

Did it look a bit like this one??
This is a 1936 S/42 (Mauser)

 

[anapex]

I have a 1918 Erfurt that I just love, I can do pretty good with it once I get used to how it points (too used to a 1911). I've never had a jam with mine, the only troubles I've had are loading the magazines! I've also seen the Stoeger/Mitchells floating around, one shop here has one in great shape going for about $750. Personally though I'd look for a good old one (more history and more then likely just as good), the one I have I was able to get for less then what the Stoeger went for.

 

[Dr.Rob]

One of the guys at www.lugerforum.com has a shooter grade nickel plated model for $550.

Lugers vary wildly in pricing, give yourself some lessons over there.

Rob

Mine is a 1939 Mauser:

http://img11.exs.cx/img11/2181/mauserleft.jpg

 

[Johnny C. Kitchens]

Aimco = Orimar...

Aimco changed their name to Orimar, and they still offer the stainless Luger. They even offer one with a black finish...

 

[StephenT]

Blfuller, I've been wondering about those modern production lugers. A few years back, Aimco's stainless lugers were often on sale at gun shows here, but I haven't seen one in a long time. If I remember correctly, they went for about $500. How reliable is yours? I ask because I've heard contradictory stories about their quality.

 

[Zundfolge]

I've thought it would be cool to have one of the Kustom Ballistics baby Lugers for CCW.

These are cut down 9x19 Lugers too ... not the old .380 Baby Luger.

 

[TK73]

Luger's Pistole 08 isn't inaccurate!

Quite the contrary, they're probably the most accurate service pistols ever issued to a military force. Furthermore, if you fed them with the ammunition of proper power level featuring a pointed truncated cone or round nose bullets they're reliable, too. How do I know? Because both my father and myself own one and we routinely use them for bullseye shooting at 25 meters...and we're hitting quite well with them. My father owns a Soviet-captured 08 that features a barrel that has rusted heavily inside. Still, from an accuracy standpoint, this particular pistol makes any modern duty pistol pale in comparison .

Dear denfoote: Judging from the picture, your P.08 is a real beauty. It does not seem being ever used!

The modern-day manufactured stainless-steel P.08 can't compare to a "real" Pistole 08. From my experience, they hardly work right and parts breakage is common. A lot of them we sold were returned from unpleased customers.

Once, there was a time when I was ignorant and didn't rate the old Pistole 08 a worthy gun. Fortunately, I've learned a little about them and changed my opinion.

 

[StephenT]

Thanks for the heads up, TK73. That's what I had feared about the modern lugers. Good thing I picked up a 1918 DWM from aimsurplus when they had them a few years back.

 

[BevrFevr]

never held a Luger

until a week ago. Oh Dear, What a sweet feeling that was. I fell in love instantly. My family fought on both sides of the big one. I recently got the urge to get a 1911 and a Luger. I think maybe a P38 too. Held a broomhandle mauser and although cool it did not do much for me at the time as the Luger.

I would like a shooter. I will investigate the forum to learn more. Is there any chance of getting one in good shape (looks and shoots good) that does not cost a mint? I guess what I'm asking is that if I spend my $650 do I have to bend over backwards to make sure I'm not getting a POS.

-bevr

 

[Zundfolge]

The modern-day manufactured stainless-steel P.08 can't compare to a "real" Pistole 08. From my experience, they hardly work right and parts breakage is common. A lot of them we sold were returned from unpleased customers.

Thats too bad.

I'm somewhat surprised as I would expect modern CNC based manufacturers could make a "better" Luger. Maybe its just because a good gun maker hasn't tried.

With all the new interest in 1911s by folk like Sig and S&W I wonder if one of them might take up the "Modern Luger" and chamber it in .45acp, .40S&W, 10mm and .357sig.

I'd love to see Sig do that. (or maybe Kahr ... it would go with their nostalgic Thompson line)

 

[akviper]

I received one of the Aimco special run guns for Chrismas several years ago. I wanted the style with dished toggles but in 9mm instead of 7.65. My wife called them and found they were very easy to work with and I received just what I wanted with the black stainless finish. It looks great and has no historic value so I can shoot the heck out of it and not worry about damaging a century old firearm. Initially, I did have feed problems and returned the upper assembly to them. They fixed it and returned the upper within a week. They threw in an extra magazine to cover my postage cost. I have around 800 rounds through it with no malfunctions after the repair. I feed it mostly Geco 115 grain but it eats WW white box with no problem also. I feed it mostly FMJ ammo but have run a few magazines of JHP with out malfunction. It is stricly a recreation pistol but I have been very happy with it. If you want a shooter from a company that still makes parts it's a good deal. If you want the historic item then you should buy the old guns.