Cartridge power - 1917 DWM Luger
 

Hello All,

I've got a 1917, DWM-made military Luger. It has been in my family since WWI, brought back by my grandfather from a battlefield somewhere in France ...

As it had not fired since this time, I was not sure of what kind of ammo using. That's why I tried to use black powder ones, but it seems that there was no power enough to rearm the system ...

At the opposite, I fear that using commercial contemporary 9mm cartridges can be too powerful for the cylinder head.

So, can you tell me what kind of ammo using with this pistol ? Must I make them myself ?

Thanks in advance [img]smile.gif[/img] (And excuse my english, but it's far from being my maternal language [img]wink.gif[/img]

tomcat,
The Luger was made after the introduction of smokeless powder. Black powder loads will not function in your Luger. Many members of this forum shoot their Lugers quite succesfully with modern contemporary ammunition. If nothing on your Luger is broken, it will function safely with commercial ammunition. Do not under any circumstance use military surplus ammuniton unless you are absolutely sure it was NOT loaded for submachine gun use. Submachine gun ammo is too powerful for pistols and will quickly damage the action.

By the way, I do not know what your maternal language is, but your English is excellent.

I can assure you that your English far better than my French...

Welcome to the Lugerforum and what part of France are you from tomcat?

Thanks for your messages !
My English is very proud of your compliments [img]wink.gif[/img] I live in the north of France, in Boulogne/Mer, a town of fishermen [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

I have a box of 9mm Luger Norma ammo, I will try them as soon as possible and say you back what happened ...

Hi Tomcat! Make sure you immeadiatly clean all the black powder fouling from the pistol, most importantly the bore, as it will cause a lot of unwanted and unnecessary corrosion! till....later....G.T.

Tomcat, we are all excited when we find a family hierloom that is an exciting guy tool! After you clean and test your pistol, can you let us know what you were told about it. Maybe send a picture of it and let us know how it worked for you.