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LSP972 · 02-26-2009, 07:49 AM

I'm a new owner too. Can't help you with the magazine question; mine is a 1914 model and is probably different from what you have.

But I can shed some light on your ammunition question. I question the lore that says Lugers need "hot ammo". Mine is 100% reliable with Winchester "white box" 115gr ball, Federal American Eagle 115gr ball, and Blazer aluminum 115gr ball. This stuff is certainly not "hot" by industry standards.

I handload, and my Luger does not function reliably with my two pet 9mm loads; both of which are the same, pressure/velocity-wise, as the aforementioned factory loads. The difference is in the bullet shape and overall cartridge length.

The bullets I am using have a different shape; the ogive is shallower. What this means is the factory bullets, as well as the bullets loaded into the vintage German ammunition made for these pistols, are more "streamlined", for lack of a better term. This may, or may not, affect feeding. What most certainly affects feeding is the fact that my handloads are a bit shorter than factory specs.

Mine "stovepipes" too, with my handloads. It is a classic failure to feed, and clearly is because the nose of the bullet coming out of the magazine is stubbing into the bottom of the feed ramp, as opposed to sliding smoothly upward into the chamber.

I have some factory Winchester projectiles that I will load longer, next time I load 9mm (doing a batch of .45s right now).

It sounds to me like your troubles are more magazine/pistol related. Deformed lips, a twisted tube, or any of a variety of possible magazine defects can cause failures to feed. As for the toggle not locking back, I understand the part that accomplishes this is rather weak in these pistols; and that some variants don't even have it. Not sure about that, though.

And as for the cultural pygmy who made the "dude, that gun is crap" remark... ignore such cretins, for they can never grasp the history and grace of an old warhorse. Of course, yours is a modern edition, but the lineage is still there.

Every time I handle mine, I think, "Man. I wish this puppy could tell me what it has seen and done."

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02-26-2009, 07:49 AM	#2
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm a new owner too. Can't help you with the magazine question; mine is a 1914 model and is probably different from what you have. But I can shed some light on your ammunition question. I question the lore that says Lugers need "hot ammo". Mine is 100% reliable with Winchester "white box" 115gr ball, Federal American Eagle 115gr ball, and Blazer aluminum 115gr ball. This stuff is certainly not "hot" by industry standards. I handload, and my Luger does not function reliably with my two pet 9mm loads; both of which are the same, pressure/velocity-wise, as the aforementioned factory loads. The difference is in the bullet shape and overall cartridge length. The bullets I am using have a different shape; the ogive is shallower. What this means is the factory bullets, as well as the bullets loaded into the vintage German ammunition made for these pistols, are more "streamlined", for lack of a better term. This may, or may not, affect feeding. What most certainly affects feeding is the fact that my handloads are a bit shorter than factory specs. Mine "stovepipes" too, with my handloads. It is a classic failure to feed, and clearly is because the nose of the bullet coming out of the magazine is stubbing into the bottom of the feed ramp, as opposed to sliding smoothly upward into the chamber. I have some factory Winchester projectiles that I will load longer, next time I load 9mm (doing a batch of .45s right now). It sounds to me like your troubles are more magazine/pistol related. Deformed lips, a twisted tube, or any of a variety of possible magazine defects can cause failures to feed. As for the toggle not locking back, I understand the part that accomplishes this is rather weak in these pistols; and that some variants don't even have it. Not sure about that, though. And as for the cultural pygmy who made the "dude, that gun is crap" remark... ignore such cretins, for they can never grasp the history and grace of an old warhorse. Of course, yours is a modern edition, but the lineage is still there. Every time I handle mine, I think, "Man. I wish this puppy could tell me what it has seen and done." . .