GT and I took our .45 Lugers to the range today and the results were a bit mixed. Both of us had feeding problems with one of my magazines not wanting to feed the second round under almost any circumstances and mine did not remain open after the last round. I believe that GT thinks we can work out these issue without too much trouble and possibly by changing ammo. Today I had taken a box of new Winchester white box 230gr thinking that they would work because Eugene used it in testing my pistol; but on second thought wished I had taken some of the other brands I have to see if they worked.. I'll try some of DJU's Wolf ammo next along with some of the other stuff that Eugene said he used in testing.
Regardless, both pistols proved to be tack drivers considering two elderly half blind shooters were driving the train. After we get together and try some different ammo, we'll update this report.

Lyn,

Do these new .45s have the typical Luger "stepped chamber" or the modern "straight chamber"? GT will know.

Cartridge O.A.L. is a critical measurement with Lugers to assure flawless function. This must also apply to your .45s, as it is designed into the system. Too short of an O.A.L. will, typically, lead to jamming with the higher rounds in a Luger's magazine.

Do you guys handload?

Feel free to shoot any ammo you choose, but firing cheap ammo through your two Cadillacs would seem to me to defeat the purpose of having made a costly investment in the first place.

Respectfully,


Sieger

No, the .45 does not have a stepped chamber.

Not holding open likely means a need for hotter ammo, or more lube or just more break in time.
The mainspring on the .45 is also quite strong. I changed the spring on mine to a weaker one and was able to get mid range match ammo to function the mechanism, but not feed due to the unique shape of the 185 gr match bullet. That was an interesting exercise, but I changed the mainspring back to the original.

The magazine spring is also quite strong, and likely contributing to the feed issue. Try loading 5 rounds. It is really tough to get 7 into some of the magazines

Eugene has recommended the Wolf ammo.
An expensive pistol does not require expensive or hand loaded ammo.:evilgrin:
S&B .45 ball ammo worked quite well in my lugerman .45.
So well I bought 500 rounds, and it was the "cheapest" available at the time.

I was wondering about G.T.'s 45 and how it was...........:)

Hard to image a project in these days and times, but here it is........most amazing to this casual reserver sitting on the sidelines. Looked long and hard, but just not enough time on my part.

I often wondered why the pseudo-custom pistols all have strong springs, recoil and magazine. The Coonan and the old Automag come to mind, as does the late model PPK's. Automag magazines are hard to load with very many, those that are manly enough to load them full soon find out about strength of materials, when the mag comes apart at the bottom. I reckon there must be something to the strength of springs as to finding basic function more easily???? I don't know myself.

I am of the opinion that factory ammo is getting shorter, especially in 9mmx19. SAAMI min is 745, have to look a lot to find that in spent brass.

I know that many do not reload, just their thing; but they often search for the "right" ammo in crates from around the world. Some is just super hot friends tell me, so guess there are perils in buying loaded ammo whether new or handloaded at the shows. When I qualify, it is mandated factory ammo; last two times I had primer failures in my high dollar box; just the way it went.

Handloading has its perils as well. The buck stops closer to home sorta speak. I believe that choosing a slower powder, longer OAl, as well as bullet shape, can help. Not for everyone I realize, but the option is still there if one wishes to try the waters.

Ammo characterizations are a funny thing. Cheap, if the right word, is used throughout the world for confilicts. Lots of steel cased, steel cored, steel all around stuff in their weapons. I am not sure if they are too concerned about leaving the weapon to their grandchildren though. Steel cases in chambers is rough stuff in my opinion. I suspect that someone will try steel ammo in their new 45acp, hopefully not a lot though............wonder if folks feel their weapon firing, how does it recoil, sharp or soft or medium..........the tape test referenced in these archieves comes to mind, whatever the ammo type or source.

As we all know, the primary function of firearms is supported on many fronts, all figure into the final result or function.

Hi guys!
 

Hi Rick and all! Just a short note on what has transpired since Lyn and I first shot the .45's … As we left the range, I had a pretty good idea as to what minor adjustments needed to be made, and those thoughts were reinforced by what Don told me what worked on his .45, which he had received several months previous to me getting mine!
Don mentioned the hold open spring being suspect, and sure enough mine was compromised.. So, a little time spent replacing that little part, and on to the next issue.. When I disassembled the unit last night, I found it to be bone dry, and I know Lugers love lube, so that was issue number two taken care of?... The I stopped at my local gun shop this morning, and picked up some S & B .45 ball... That oughta do it!!!!! :eek:...So, as soon as I can get to the range, or team up with Lyn again, I'll have more to say! I think now the unit has a fighting chance.. just taking baby steps to start with! :thumbup: Best to all, til….lat'r….GT

3 words of advice, white lithium grease.

Wrong stuff for a luger; OIL is the key. JMHO.:evilgrin:

Don, I oil my shooters but I judiciously use Lithium Grease on the interior/rails.

You know..........the LG I think is a nice idea. For years I used a fine red grease in a tube for locking lugs on rifles, and eventually found it was ok for slides on handguns.

I had cans of bearing grease and lubing grease(remember zerks?) and filled my old red fancy grease dispenser with one of the two for a long time. Always thought both types were a bit too thick for rails, now have this LG reference to try and use.

I suspect there will always be the oil only guys and the grease/oil guys on handguns. Both I think, require some maintenance from time to time; but just part of ownership.

I would bet the Huns just used oil on their P08's. But, as always, I'm probably wrong. There are some really good synthetic lubes these days. They probably far out perform the old oils. Except...maybe... THIS ONE. I've had this laying around the shop for decades...

Tetra makes a great lube. no smell. and no migrating to other parts.

works well on stainless revolvers also

https://shop.brownells.com/gun-clean...SABEgIftfD_BwE

http://www.tetraguncare.com/performance-lubricants/

Hi All,

My vote goes to Ballistol.

The German Army CLP from 1904 through 1945!

Sieger

ANY oil is better than no oil.

Since they were made by Eugene, a slow working oil is probably the best :evilgrin:

Vim, that last remark should have been preceded by a drum-roll.....

When one brings up the question of lubrication on a gun forum, it usually gets a large, and diverse response. The number of products that are made, and used, on weapons is impressive!! If there was one "best", then there would likely be only one made. I feel that regular cleaning, and lubing is far more important that the brand of lube used.

I have tried a lot of lubes over the decades, starting with 3in1 oil, which worked quite well. You pays your money, and you make your choice. The "gamers" that shoot 12-15K+ rounds per year, may well lean more to the grease products for frame/rail lubrication, than say the occasional shooter that cleans and lubes his/her weapon after each range visit. YMMV

Early German manuals recommended using vaseline..

Think there are better lubricants these days. With better flavors...

I find that Rem-oil and good old Hobbes number 9 gun oil work just fine. But I only put 2-3k rounds through any one of my weapons in a year’s time

Vlim,

Bump!!!


Sieger

Vlim,

Bump again!!!


Sieger

One would surmise that lubrication for the Luger, new or old, is most usually based upon experiences or pure timeline of availability. Does not have to be "my" way or the highway routine. I believe is always good to listen to other folks' experiences in whatever, always can take it or leave it; but at least you were lucky enough to see such once and maybe even think for yourself.

As a little side note to the early Luger lubes mentioned, the guys there did not have patches, always thought that was kinda marvelous.

Anytime one purchases something unique, there is always different forms of risk. I remember a fine Burmese star ruby buy, that I wish I had never seen; lost my Penny's T-shirt on that one. Guess we all have developed a sense of instant gratification that must be met no matter what, I am sadly no different. I try to remember the pot and the kettle routine.

I was thinking of who builds 45 Lugers, now and back when. Of course, the originals. Kinda hard to procure now for some reason or other. Here in America, I think of Wyatt and Martz; both kinda similar to the original, but in other senses, not really. Wyatt had no magazine, Martz did an artful use of two Lugers sawn carefully and welded, had a mago. There was a gentleman on the west coast that made a original looking 45acp Luger, but no more, and not too many. Not too many applies to all the above I think.

In Europe, Nedbal in Austria made a nice 45 ACP faithful to the original. I hear that he has retired(rumor on my part) and is partnering with Werle. Werle has made some 45 acp pistols and carbines in varying styles. I have always admired Werle's innovation.

I reckon if we did not have the maker of the US model, we might still be shooting our 50cal ball bearing slingshots with 45 Luger engraved on the side. I suspect that a lot of disgruntlement is from the flippers,..... got to have a timeline to make the markup because they never use their own money, always on loan. I suspect too that some are bought by true Luger lovers or even shooters.........just for the experience of firing such a magnificent handgun. I know it hard to have your 6-10K out in the blue with nothing in the hand, but as you well know, tis a risk with small time shops..........however good or honest they may be. I have been on lists for firearms, where you had to know the family, be a friend of a friend; or just walking with the right guy at the right time; in order to place an order for a specific firearm. I wish I was on the list for the American model, but time is too short now.

Life is full of adventures, take a little time to enjoy them; sometimes the adventure turns out and you have an event happen that will make you smile.

I have been using white lithium grease for a lot of years. Started out using it on my Garand when I read that it was developed as a water proof grease for the Garand. Hard to beat it...Bill

anybody heard from Eugene?

Thx for all the input on lubrication options, although I tend to side with Don regarding oil being sufficient. Here in Arizona, there's not much worry about corrosion so I store all my Lugers with just a light oil on the rails and the trigger pivot. Never had an issue shooting any of them. and I've fired a hundred or more.
Regarding Eugene's Lugers; I went over to GT's place this morning and reviewed his findings and they appear spot on (no great surprise there). The magazines need tweaking in the feed lip area so that they will feed more consistently (or at all) and the hold open spring is too weak. GT has modified his Luger accordingly and is kind enough to take mine on too.
I haven't heard from Eugene and have not tried to contact him. GT has spoken to him, but Eugene does not appear to take much outside advice, or at least that appears to be the case.
I suspect that at this point in the production cycle Eugene is happy to test with a set of "standard" magazines that he knows will work for testing and probably not the magazines that end up shipping with the gun. He said quite clearly that he tested my pistol with 200 rounds and unless it was at one round at a time, he couldn't have done it with the magazines I received. I'm not overly concerned, because I have complete faith that GT will overcome the problem and mine will become a tack driver too. The upside for anyone experiencing similar issues with their Golubtsov 45s is that GT can fix what ails them.
In closing, thx Vlim for making my day.
Lyn

.45 Luger Holster Photos
 

Two photos of the .45 Luger Holster.

The stitching is disappointing. Why does it look so much better on the back?

over reach, protocol....
 

Hi to all! As to the ongoing Luger .45 thread on this forum, it has come to my attention that perhaps I have committed an error in protocol by suggesting revisions, or describing my findings and other problems concerning the new .45 Lugers, just recently released, to the members here?
Any issues with the .45 Lugers concerning function, safety, warranty, service, repair or parts for these new pistols should be directed, solely and exclusively, to Lugerman Inc. for consideration and / or, repair!
I agree 100% to the above statement, and certainly had no intention of over stepping any already established policy concerning these units…
To the contrary, I am very happy to possess one of these wonderful firearms, and am continually impressed with the effort and skill put forth by Eugene to make owning one of these beauties a real possibility for the average guy. My hat is off to Eugene and his team…
If anyone wishes to discuss any Luger problems of any type in private, new or old, relevant or not, I can still be reached at: gctomeks@msn.com
Best to all my Luger family, til….lat’r…..GT......:cheers:

What Jerry didn't mention is that the .45 holster is the working prototype of the holster he is creating. When he decides his design is OK you can bet you will be hard pressed to tell his finished product from a factory original.
Ron

Interesting. Is the 'loose' stitching then so that Jerry can take it back apart and use it for a pattern???

I would like to thank Gerry for his comments on the .45 Luger. I did not purchase one but it is entirely possible that I may buy one in the future, whether used or new, and notwithstanding if it has been 'upgraded' or not. ;)

I believe it is a service to all purchasers/owners to point out any idiosyncrasies that may exist. :thumbup:

FWIW, I do not demand perfection. Eugene's .45 :uger would be eminently acceptable to me.

...My unpopular $.02... :D

GT,
You did nothing wrong.:thumbup:

If Eugene complained to you, he should have done it in the "open" - here on the forum.

You have every "right" and perhaps even an obligation to share your experiences and solutions with other .45 owners.

If Eugene is "sensitive" to such information being public, he should respond to his customers in real time and use the forum to keep them and the rest of the luger fraternity updated.

As I said before, he has done a remarkable job re-creating the .45 luger, and a very un-remarkable job in communication.

JMHO.

.45 thread....
 

Hi Don, Thanks for the note on my post, and, I don't feel as I have done any wrong or harm in posting my experiences with the .45, and I am excited about the prospect of attaining 100% function for my own personal .45 Luger, and will pursue any problems relentlessly! The area that becomes a bit gray is my problem solving gene sometimes gets the better of me and I take on challenges that are not really tasked to me, or I offer advice in an area that it has not been requested?
Eugene has not contacted me directly in either regard, it is just that he is the manufacture and is on the hook for all warranty, parts, repairs and liability that comes with it, and as such should be the starting point for all inquiries as to any issues encountered. This is just professional courtesy, and because of the monumental effort he has put forth, I very much respect that...
As I mentioned earlier, I am always available for all other revision questions and information discoveries that I have been tasked with or that involve non-current production items not associated with any of our members...
That being said, Don has been my co-conspirator in many, many Luger problem solving tasks over the last few years! I am not the least bit shy in saying that as a team, there is very little that we can't overcome in the luger field, old or new... He is my R&D, and we have great fun with it along the way! Best to all, til…..lat'r…...GT....:cheers:

The stitching is disappointing. Why does it look so much better on the back?



Yes I agree. This holster was made quickly with the idea that it wouldn't survive the patterning process. It came back from GT with modifications suggested, was torn apart, sliced and diced and I cobbled it back together. It was also made with less than premium grade leather and was never meant for sale. I now have an accurate pattern so if I ever have a need to make a production .45 holster I can do it. This sad example can be relegated to the Lugerholsterrepair museum or I might give it away.

But thanks for noticing. It was fun while it lasted.

I'll Take it any day...Bill

I was wondering if we would be able to the prototype it will make a nice addition for the people that have a 45 Luger

Recent Range test!!!!!
 

Hi To all!!! Well, without stepping on any ones toes, I want to bring everyone up to date on what has transpired since my last post on the .45 Luger function and reliability.... Again, the disclaimer, if you have any issues with your .45 luger, Eugene is the fellow to contact! … Ok... we're past that now....
So, here is what I discovered, the .45 recoil spring was just a tad long and as a result over strength, which didn't allow for full recoil and other subsequent functions?... Soooo, I clipped one full coil from the spring, was 18 coils, now 17, and "boom" 100% function with, Winchester .45 military classic 230 gr. ball ammo....
I did try to reduce the magazine spring strength so it would be user friendly, but it was a certain failure to eject trap, very similar to issues I faced with the snail drums?... I did stretch the original, as issued follower springs to get it as close to designed as possible... I feel there is some room for serious improvement in this area as it is practically impossible to load the mag without the loading tool... So, five shot strings went off with out a hitch, probably shot 30 plus rounds with out any issues... Really fun to shoot.... best to all, til….lat'r….GT....:cheers:

Fantastic news Gerald! Guy says who are you..I'm a fixer. What do you fix? Things that need fixin.



Great detective work!

Yeah...What he said... ;)

I can fix anything, unless it is really broke. :cheers:

https://luger.gunboards.com/attachme...1&d=1555274751 https://luger.gunboards.com/attachme...1&d=1555274778 https://luger.gunboards.com/attachme...1&d=1555274730

Uhhh,...there weren't any factory originals.....