Help for a Newbie

dm · 04-15-2001, 01:11 PM

Your analogy to cars is a good one. If you asked, "I have become interested in MG-TD's, what would be a good one to drive with some historic interest?" There are modern reproductions that are good to drive or you can buy an original but there is risk to drive it. With lugers, you can buy an original but if you shoot it with its original grips, those 60 or more year old grips will probably crack on the right side (thin rib on back) and the damage to the original grips, numbered to the gun, will be great. The same risk applies to breaking the firing pin, though it is less likely to happen than cracking the grip.

On the other hand, a new made luger or an old luger already worn or with switched-out parts, can be a good shooter. If it has original grips, put on some $20 replacements for shooting and save the $80+ wood ones. Stoeger sells stainless lugers that are probably indistinguishable in shooting from a 1940 luger (and may be more reliable, too).

A collectible luger from before 1945 that you would not want to shoot will cost you about $1000 and up. A shooter luger new or old will be about $650 or $500 respectively unless you are a collector with an ffl who can find a bargain.

The luger is a pleasant gun to hold and a finicky gun to shoot. But the devotees of lugers look well beyond those characteristics in their thoughts of the "parabellum"

dm

04-15-2001, 01:11 PM	#4
dm User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help for a Newbie Your analogy to cars is a good one. If you asked, "I have become interested in MG-TD's, what would be a good one to drive with some historic interest?" There are modern reproductions that are good to drive or you can buy an original but there is risk to drive it. With lugers, you can buy an original but if you shoot it with its original grips, those 60 or more year old grips will probably crack on the right side (thin rib on back) and the damage to the original grips, numbered to the gun, will be great. The same risk applies to breaking the firing pin, though it is less likely to happen than cracking the grip. On the other hand, a new made luger or an old luger already worn or with switched-out parts, can be a good shooter. If it has original grips, put on some $20 replacements for shooting and save the $80+ wood ones. Stoeger sells stainless lugers that are probably indistinguishable in shooting from a 1940 luger (and may be more reliable, too). A collectible luger from before 1945 that you would not want to shoot will cost you about $1000 and up. A shooter luger new or old will be about $650 or $500 respectively unless you are a collector with an ffl who can find a bargain. The luger is a pleasant gun to hold and a finicky gun to shoot. But the devotees of lugers look well beyond those characteristics in their thoughts of the "parabellum" dm