LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Ammo for 9mm Shooter? What brand do you use?

Don · 08-07-2001, 02:36 PM

From one newbie to another ...

This is a subject that's fresh on my mind because I just started buying Lugers -- all shooters -- in March. I now have 4, and have played with them enough to see a pattern.

I like to shoot 115 gr. Winchester FMJ. I can get it in Texas for $5.00 for 50. However, I get slightly better results with 124 gr. FMJ of a variety of brands. I like the idea of a lighter load, and since I'm a bad shot and go through a lot of ammo, I like the economy of the 115 gr. Winchester and buy it by the case.

Other observations:

I have gotten the best results from guns that were all matching original. (They're classified as shooters because they're rare and the finish is mediocre.) A matching mag really seems to help. These guns like just about any kind of ammo, although there are some very, very rare instances in which they don't hold open with 115 gr. ammo -- like once every few hundred rounds. Never a problem with 124 gr, so I have to conclude that that little bit of extra lead helps. If I use a different magazine, I sometimes get some feeding problems, depending on the mag.

I have one shooter, a 1917 DWM, that is mis-matched. Originally it stovepiped with any kind of ammo. Sent it off for repairs. With a new toggle that fits better, and a weaker recoil spring, it seems to function well with 124 gr. -- but not 115. (It's still being worked on, so there may be hope.) I have a 1915 artillery, that I'm pretty sure was all matching original except for the mag. It always fed well with any ammo, but it failed to hold open about half the time -- with any kind of ammo. A weaker spring seems to have cured this, even with 115 gr.

I hope this helps.

08-07-2001, 02:36 PM	#6
Don User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ammo for 9mm Shooter? What brand do you use? From one newbie to another ... This is a subject that's fresh on my mind because I just started buying Lugers -- all shooters -- in March. I now have 4, and have played with them enough to see a pattern. I like to shoot 115 gr. Winchester FMJ. I can get it in Texas for $5.00 for 50. However, I get slightly better results with 124 gr. FMJ of a variety of brands. I like the idea of a lighter load, and since I'm a bad shot and go through a lot of ammo, I like the economy of the 115 gr. Winchester and buy it by the case. Other observations: I have gotten the best results from guns that were all matching original. (They're classified as shooters because they're rare and the finish is mediocre.) A matching mag really seems to help. These guns like just about any kind of ammo, although there are some very, very rare instances in which they don't hold open with 115 gr. ammo -- like once every few hundred rounds. Never a problem with 124 gr, so I have to conclude that that little bit of extra lead helps. If I use a different magazine, I sometimes get some feeding problems, depending on the mag. I have one shooter, a 1917 DWM, that is mis-matched. Originally it stovepiped with any kind of ammo. Sent it off for repairs. With a new toggle that fits better, and a weaker recoil spring, it seems to function well with 124 gr. -- but not 115. (It's still being worked on, so there may be hope.) I have a 1915 artillery, that I'm pretty sure was all matching original except for the mag. It always fed well with any ammo, but it failed to hold open about half the time -- with any kind of ammo. A weaker spring seems to have cured this, even with 115 gr. I hope this helps.