Bought a near mint 70s era Interarms Luger P08 as a shooter. Would like to adjust the
 

Hey everyone, I just bought a 70s era Interarms P08 with 6” barrel from Simpson Ltd last week. I’m new to guns as a whole and bought it specifically to shoot. I’ve noticed that in order for me to hit my targets accurately, I need to aim up and to the right of my target. it’s my understanding that the rear sight is fixed, but would I or perhaps an experienced gunsmith be able to adjust the front sight to correct it? do I need one of those expensive original adjustment tools? Since it is a post war model, I don’t mind doing anything that could lessen its value as long as it increases performance. I’m already saving up for another to keep untouched. Very cool guns and I’m excited to learn more. I took a brief look through the search bar about my question and was a bit confused as to the right way to go about this. I apologize if I’m in the wrong thread or breaking any forum rules. Thanks!

Welcome to the forum, Caleb.

This nice pistol is chambered for .30 Luger, right? The caliber is fun to shoot, although it will be relatively expensive to feed this thing. If you like this gun, you might consider reloading for it.

The 70s Mauser Parabellums are collectible in their own right/niche, and have plenty of value--which seems to have increased as of late. Your rig/box is complete, which is a plus in that realm.

You mentioned being new to guns... If you're right-handed and grouping to the lower left, that's the classic manifestation of "the flinch." One's involuntary anticipation of the recoil causes it. Your grip of the gun and how you press the trigger are also very important. Fortunately, a shooter can learn to address these issues, so taking a course of instruction may be in order. Then practice, practice, practice!

p.s. I think this should have been posted in New Collectors Forum, or maybe Post-War Lugers, but perhaps a moderator will move it there for you.

Low left for a right handed shooter is typically gripping the gun too tight. And /or flinching into the gun and anticipating recoil. No need for a "death grip". Grip the pistol like you would hold a live bird in your hand without crushing it, but so it won't escape your grasp. Make sure you are not moving your other fingers as the gun goes off, only your trigger finger moving straight back on the trigger. A tight grip will shoot low, a loose grip will shoot high. Don't screw with the sights. The gun is zeroed as is.

I would not recommend using it as a shooter.
These are collectable and have increased in value.

If you do decide to devalue it by shooting, do not use the magazines it came with. The bottoms will break.

It could be chambered in either .30 Luger, or 9mm Parabellum

The serial number will tell you which

The model in .30 Luger is numbered 10.001001
and 11.001001 for the 9mm.

As others have said - do not mess with the sights

The front sight can be adjusted with a special adjusting tool.
The Swiss tools will work on the standard .30 luger sight.

A P08 adjusting tool will work on the 9mm.

Thanks everyone! I’m thinking about buying a cheap beater pistol to learn and practice on now. Eventually I’d like to purchase another Luger to keep in pristine condition, these are beautiful pieces of machinery. I’ve already purchased a mec gar magazine to use with it, as well as a mat and necessary cleaning supplies. I’ve gotten quite good at stripping it down and putting it back together too. I intend to get a lot of love out of this gun but will keep it well maintained. Mine is chambered in 9mm. I’ve already put 300+ rounds through it and it’s a joy to shoot. I’m sorry if I’m irking any collectors by shooting it, but at least it’s getting love!! Thanks again for all the info guys!

The Paul Mauser archive can certify your luger btw.

In effect you have done a service. You reduced a collector grade Luger to shooter status at your expense thereby benefiting financially the next in line for this pistol. By reducing the gun's collectability, you have increased the collectability of the remaining pieces and therefore their value.

One thing about it, you have provided the provenance for this Luger's decline.

Jack

What did he say????????????

Well, to be honest: buying a relatively rare new in box European market Mauser Parabellum to use as a shooter is not the most brilliant idea.

But it is the OP's gun and his choice.

Caleb,

I also own a Luger exactly like the one that you recently purchased. I purchased mine years ago, and agree that they are beautiful weapons. I also shoot mine, and reload for it. As others have said above, the Luger is just fine, it is the inexperienced shooter that is placing the bullets low and left. That can be corrected.....don't alter the gun. Enjoy and have fun with your new Luger!!

Vlim, I appreciate the honesty! I went for an Interarms Luger because I wouldn’t feel comfortable shooting a wartime gun despite them being lower in price. I was under the assumption that these post war models weren’t all that valuable, and the collectible ones were just the war time models. Oh well, at the end of the day at least I’m enjoying it! Glad to hear you’re enjoying yours too rhuff!

Lugers, and all other firearms, were made to be used. That's why they have a hole in the end of the barrel. It's where the bullet comes out. If people buy guns just to look at, that is their business. However, I find that to be a fruitless endeavor. I'm not concerned with how much a new in the box gun is worth, as we all value things differently. If I make money, Ok. If I lose money, OK. If I'm not going to take it to the range and enjoy it, what's the point? Who am I preserving it for?

That method of reasoning is a little bit on the simple side.

There is a not unimportant matter of the preservation of history, the protection against wear and tear in order to not only preserve the item, it's context and it's current and future value.

Vlim, I agree with and understand what you’re saying in a meta sense but also fundamentally with gunbugs. In pursuing my history Master’s, I of course had to spend time and take classes about museum work and material history. One of the recurring themes was that machinery with interacting parts need to be run in order to be properly maintained or else they will fall to neglect. No one says that someone is ruining a collectible car by making sure the engine does in fact run or if they take it around the block every now and again. I fail to see how guns do not fit this mold.

Having been in the classic car world, the gun collecting world and the world of historical research, I tend to disagree with your assumptions.

A gun can survive not shooting for decades, even centuries. Cars depend on a form of internal lubrication that is far more complicated and demanding than any gun requires.

Besides, even certain cars can survive decades of immobility when properly cared for.

And these Mauser Parabellums prove my point. Many have been stored in their original boxes for 50+ years now and they are still in immaculate condition. Guns do not require shooting as a preserveration measure.

While true, we also find old cars and planes from WW2 that are still boxes that were buried in a warehouse and get them running, and many are fairly well preserved as found.

Anecdotally I have seen many collectors who do shoot their pieces on occasion and so long as they properly clean and maintain the guns, they have had little issue with depreciation and by all accounts they are extremely well preserved items.

Those 'boxed up' finds always need extensive restoration work.

Occasionally shooting an already used gun will still cause wear and possible parts failure.

Occasionally shooting a formerly new in box gun causes wear that cannot be undone and takes away the NIB bit, creating a used in box gun instead. Which causes a steeper devaluation than shooting an already used gun.

So when looking from a preserveration and investment angle, you always end up hurting the value. Fact, not opinion.

Shooting a NIB firearm is like the first drive off of the dealer's lot with a new car. You have depreciated it in the biggest amount, on the first step.

That said, it's a free country, and if someone wants to plunk down their hard-earned cash to do exactly that, OK.

We can shed a tear over the wear, and risk of damage, but we all get to make choices.

There are those that consider only "how much a gun is worth" in monetary terms. Good for them. I'm not concerned with "preserving" a gun for a future owner. I'll let the next guy worry about that. All these guns were fired at the factory, so none of them are actually "unfired". Some folks are only worried about what they can sell a gun at some future point for. I'm concerned with how much I'll enjoy using a gun while I'm alive to do it. For me, that means taking it to the range. The Germans weren't afraid to shoot the Lugers. It's why they made them.

Reading the above remarks concerning firing new in the box lugers has caused me to have second thoughts about a "luger" I've ordered and expect to receive in the next couple of months. The luger is a repro of the Mod. 1907 in cal. 45 acp test trials piece made by LugerMan. It will come in a box with two mags. and a mag loading assist tool. I'd appreciate opinions from one or more of the members in this forum. Should I fire my new acquisition or keep it in near mint condition upon arrival?

My opinion should be irrelevant to you.
Why did you decide to buy the item?
Are you a collector?
Are you a shooter? (I guess yes to this)
Does the value of the item matter to you, is it an investment where you intend to resell and hope to profit, or is it for your enjoyment and future value is unimportant or maybe just less important.

If you are a collector and hope to retain value - do not shoot, be very careful with handling and storage, and keep all paperwork for provenance.

Today there is no historical significance to a Lugerman repro. In 100 years it would be very valuable for your great grandchildren. A pristine, never fired, in original box.
This is entirely your decision

If you want to shoot a luger, buy a shooter grade P08.

At the moment you are buying investment pieces, not suitable for long term (fun) use, unless you like wasting money.

Get a nice looking reblued, plated or mismatching pre-1943 P08 in 9mm and shoot it as much as you want.

Kiwi, Vlim ----- Thanks for your remarks and opinions. I'm a shooter and an accumulator (maybe a collector). My luger accumulation is not large, 16 pieces currently including two shooter lugers. I do enjoy shooting the shooters but don't intend to make the LugerMan's piece a shooter. I'll most likely fire it just to make sure it functions properly with both mags then thoroughly clean it and return it to the box. I suppose over time the LugerMan piece will increase in value as will the other pieces in my accumulation. Just since I ordered my LugerMan piece the asking price of the .45 lugers have increased $1,000. That might not be an increase in value however, but time will tell if other folks are willing to pay that kind of $$ for one. That would determine future value. Thanks again for your remarks and opinions.

There is a difference between an increase in value, and an increase in price. The price is up because the value of the dollar is down. The price is the number of dollars. The value is what you get for a dollar.
As a friend once said, "Americans, they know the price of everything, but the value of nothing."

gunbugs ----- Those of us Americans born during "depression" days and grew up in the 40's & 50's learned the "value" of a dollar (nickels, dimes & quarters as well). I can remember if I had a quarter in my pocket I felt pretty %# @& good. Sometimes during my college days I'd pull into a cut rate gas station with my old cheve. and asked the attendant "Please give me every drop 11 cents will buy". We would eat fried baloney rolled up in a slice of bread sometimes two or three times a day. Those kind of days taught "VALUE".

Interarms Russian Mauser
 

Some time ago I bought brand new Interarms Mayser Luger, Russian contract anniversary edition. The only Luger I own.

I decided to shoot it, but also didn't want to wear it out.

I decided to go with a completely different upper and a New Mec Gar mag.

I acquired an s/42 armorer's upper, decent bore. A member here , named GT fitted it with a good quality toggle kit[ thanks again]
I had to buy a side plate from Sarco and adopt/machine it to fit this frame/upper combo.

I even replaced the grips with Sarco remake[ fitting it for the grip safety my gun is equipped with].

The uppers are easily swapped for shooting and back to the 'collection' shape.

This seems like a compromise between the views of the strict purist collectors and the more liberal ones who would like to shoot their valuable guns they own as I do. [ Damn, I even shot my extremely rare Schwarzlose 1898 a few times]

I posted a thread about my 'shooter' conversion called
'My shooter upper. Thanks GT!!!'

Cheers