Quote:
Originally posted by stefanosg
I measured one of my loaded rounds and I get 1.152in . I am using 124g RN jacketed rounds with 3.7g of Bullseye. I've been fortunate and this recipe works in all my Lugers and my other 9mm handguns. I've got some WWII ammo and it is like you said a little longer at 1.164in .
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Hi Again:
You have hit on my old target load for the Luger, 3.7 grs of Bullseye with 124 grain FMJ bullets.
Your OAL sounds a bit too short to me. Can you shoot a full magazine of 8 rounds with this load without jamming? If you can, I never could. Also, the cartridges cant downwards at that length for me (too short). Look at a fully loaded magazine. The top cartridge should be at exactly the same angle as the bottom one, not canted downward. Look at how the body of the cartridge engages the lips of the magazine. It should be fully engaged, not canted downward ever so slightly.
The WWII German round nose was loaded at 1.169 inches, per my measurement and reference in several German texts. This length works with the shape bullet they were using. Other bullets won't function at this length because of the shape of the head of he bullet. That's why I start at 1.173 (probably maximum length, though I read a lot about 1.18 being considered maximum) and work down 0.001 at a time until the cartridges slip out of the magazine properly.
My best target group to date was with 3.7 grs of Bullseye: 8 rounds under the size of a quarter at 25 yards off the bench. The range master almost had a heart attack when I asked him to sign the target as witness. After all 9mm "aren't all that accurate"
Now for a challenge for you. The two best powders I have found to date for tight group Luger shooting, with perfect function are:
SR 4756 (IMR)
Power Pistol
These are medium slow powders, just like the powder used in the original DWM Luger cartridge. Power Pistol is also claimed to be the powder currently used by the Government in their modern 9mm Nato rounds.
Try some of this, using the work-up procedure I listed above. I think you will be shocked by the results and happy that you did.
Sieger