P08 in IPSC/Practical shooting
 

Are any members of this group familiar with IPSC (ie Practical) shooting?


I've been shooting this sport for some years in the Open class. In that class one does have all the whistles and bells that can be had on a gun (ie. red dot sight, compensator to reduce muzzle flip, extended bi-column magazines, all internal parts are aftermarket tuning parts, etc etc).


I'm intending to participate this coming season in the Standard class - with my P08!


I'm not going to be dead serious about competing, but sure gonna try my darnest to whip some Glock and other modern widebody firearm butts out there.


Any thoughts from you fellows on bringing this venerable P08 configuration to the arena of modern sports shooting scene?


regards: Artsi

Re: P08 in IPSC/Practical shooting
 

A couple of gunsmiths out there have made custom mods to the luger to bring it in line with some of the features you mention. If you take a look at the Waffen Werle link in our Links & Resources, you will see pictures (under Luger & Luger2) of his modifications. Unfortunately this site is in German, but the pictures of his work are pretty nice. I think if I were shooting, I would want to do it "vaniila", yes you may be at a disadvantage without compensators etc, but I would want to be shooting a piece of history, not a "FrankenLuger" if you get my drift.


The Luger in it's own right is reknowned for it's accurancy due in large part to it's German "over-engineering", and I think those other weapons need all that other stuff to overcome their lack of quality. I think of the pride of whuppin' butt on a modern semi, with an unmodified weapon four or five generations older, would be hard to beat. Of course if you need those compensators to help with YOUR lack of skill... ... but I think the Luger should do just fine on it's own.

Re: P08 in IPSC/Practical shooting
 

I agree with Dok on his suggestions and observations. I have a friend who many years ago competed very strong in similar matches using a "stock" pre WWI Erfurt! He often beat out $1500 ( the price at that time) Sig P210's and custom 45's and Berettas. Observers were amazed and he always had the crowd's attention. In the hands of a familar expert shooter, the Luger is as viable today as any other handgun. Use a good pistol, good mags and ammo, you should do very respectably.