Luger reliability

Dwight Gruber · 10-05-2003, 03:59 PM

Hermann,

I have three Lugers which I am willing to shoot--a 1936 S/42, a 1917 Artillery, and a made-up parts gun with a 5" barrel (the S/42 is the gun I shoot the most). I shoot between 400-700 rounds a month,depending on circumstances. I use several Mec-Gar magazines, an FXO (before I sold it) and the proper original magazine for the S/42. I shoot Winchester 115-grain FMJ bulk-pack from Wal-Mart, as well as the occasional box of CCI Blazer and Sellier&Bellot.

I do not experience malfunctions, and I have (*ahem*) been known occasionally to not clean my guns between sessions.

When I started shooting Lugers I performed a series of tests with all the different ammunition I could get my hands on, and all the magazines I had at hand. I found ammunition brands which consistently fed poorly regardless of the magazine they might be loaded in, and magazines (all of them original) which consistently caused malfunctions even with ammunition which fed properly from good magazines.

Proper ammunition, coupled with magazines in good condition, are the keys to trouble-free Luger shooting performance. (Other correspondents here may tell you about proper recoil spring tension, I have no experience with this topic and so cannot speak to it).

Hmmm, all this talk about shooting Lugers, I think I'm going to head for the range this afternoon...

--Dwight

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

10-05-2003, 03:59 PM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Hermann, I have three Lugers which I am willing to shoot--a 1936 S/42, a 1917 Artillery, and a made-up parts gun with a 5" barrel (the S/42 is the gun I shoot the most). I shoot between 400-700 rounds a month,depending on circumstances. I use several Mec-Gar magazines, an FXO (before I sold it) and the proper original magazine for the S/42. I shoot Winchester 115-grain FMJ bulk-pack from Wal-Mart, as well as the occasional box of CCI Blazer and Sellier&Bellot. I do not experience malfunctions, and I have (ahem) been known occasionally to not clean my guns between sessions. When I started shooting Lugers I performed a series of tests with all the different ammunition I could get my hands on, and all the magazines I had at hand. I found ammunition brands which consistently fed poorly regardless of the magazine they might be loaded in, and magazines (all of them original) which consistently caused malfunctions even with ammunition which fed properly from good magazines. Proper ammunition, coupled with magazines in good condition, are the keys to trouble-free Luger shooting performance. (Other correspondents here may tell you about proper recoil spring tension, I have no experience with this topic and so cannot speak to it). Hmmm, all this talk about shooting Lugers, I think I'm going to head for the range this afternoon... --Dwight