My first venture into Lugers - a plain jane DWM .30

sigp220.45 · 11-30-2013, 11:18 AM

The price was right and the numbers matched, so I picked this one up. I really like it:

I'm a complete noob on Lugers, so I bought "Lugers At Random" off Amazon - what a great book!

I got this one while waiting for a shooter 9mm from a fellow forum member to arrive. Now I have one in each caliber, and a hankering for a longer barreled version.

Edward Tinker · 11-30-2013, 02:36 PM

Looks like a nice 1st luger - great to get one

sigp220.45 · 11-30-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Looks like a nice 1st luger - great to get one

Thanks! I just ordered your vet bringback book from Amazon - can't wait to get it!

SteveM · 11-30-2013, 06:15 PM

You've been bit..

Douglas Jr. · 12-01-2013, 07:10 AM

Great looking Luger. Nice first one!
Sorry to say, but now you are offically an addicted!
Douglas

Sergio Natali · 12-02-2013, 06:55 AM

Congratulations for the purchase, but I'm afraid now you've got the Luger bug too!

DavidJayUden · 12-02-2013, 08:38 AM

I think that is a charming Luger. Just the right amount of bluing wear to show that it has been used, but not at all tired looking. Good buy!
dju

cneider · 12-07-2013, 05:15 PM

GREAT! Do you happen to have a lead on Mec Gar Luger magazines or Fiocchi .30 Luger ammunition? Numrich, Widners, Midway seem to be out of these. I've also poked around on Google looking for availability from other sources. Anyone?

ithacaartist · 12-07-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cneider

GREAT! Do you happen to have a lead on Mec Gar Luger magazines or Fiocchi .30 Luger ammunition? Numrich, Widners, Midway seem to be out of these. I've also poked around on Google looking for availability from other sources. Anyone?

Nope, I just checked the usual and all seem to be out of stock. Midway says overdue, so maybe there any day. Check online auction sites, too. Be patient, keep looking, and it'll appear sooner or later.

Ben M. · 12-08-2013, 01:35 PM

local gun show might be a place to find 30 luger ammo. maybe a vendor with reload stuff?

Sergio Natali · 12-09-2013, 03:42 AM

One more thing, about safety.
These pistols are no longer brand new. True original mint condition Lugers P.08 are pretty rare and one would never even think of firing them.
Caution must be taken when you want to fire your gun.
It would be "common sense" to have it looked over by a serious gunsmith.
IMHO

Sergio

johnii · 12-10-2013, 05:24 PM

I think you are hooked now into the P-08.

I somehow got there myself.

I think we are going places where no man has gone before...

J

cneider · 01-20-2014, 12:56 PM

Just found out Sportsman's Guide has Fiocchi .30 Luger ammo in stock. Well, the FMJ anyway, not the soft points.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=606389

Geo99 · 01-21-2014, 01:41 PM

You want FMJ for a Luger.

ithacaartist · 01-21-2014, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geo99

You want FMJ for a Luger.

George, the JSP don't seem to present a problem in the DMW I've run them through.

I think it really depends on the gun!

TheRomanhistorian · 01-22-2014, 12:49 AM

That looks like a nice pistol! I've enjoyed using the Fiocchi stuff (both JSP and FMJ) in my commercial Luger.

Oddly enough, my local shop has been able to consistently get me 9mm Parabellum, .455 Webley, 7.65 Parabellum, and 7.63 Mauser. So I've been able to get to the range far more often than I expected with the 30 calibre Luger!

jdickson397 · 01-26-2014, 03:38 PM

30 Luger is a great caliber and I enjoy it more than 9mm. You can enjoy your new gun more if you reload your own ammo. I have been reloading .30 Luger for years. East to reload and you save a lot of money over buying factory loads. New Winchester brass is commonly available online at the big auction site as well as GB. I sometimes load 93 grain lead round nose bullets from Western Bullets. I also load 90 grain Hornady XTP (jacketed hollowpoints) from MWay. Because 30 Luger is a bottle neck case, I take an extra step and resize initially with a 9mm die then resize/deprime with a 30 luger die. After seating the bullet I crimp with a separate factory crimp die. Both bullets load easily and cycle through my DWM with no problem. The key is to get a bullet that is .309 in diameter(NOT .308).

11-30-2013, 11:18 AM	#1
sigp220.45 User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 6 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	My first venture into Lugers - a plain jane DWM .30 The price was right and the numbers matched, so I picked this one up. I really like it: I'm a complete noob on Lugers, so I bought "Lugers At Random" off Amazon - what a great book! I got this one while waiting for a shooter 9mm from a fellow forum member to arrive. Now I have one in each caliber, and a hankering for a longer barreled version.

11-30-2013, 02:36 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Looks like a nice 1st luger - great to get one __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

12-02-2013, 06:55 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Congratulations for the purchase, but I'm afraid now you've got the Luger bug too! __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

12-09-2013, 03:42 AM	#11
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	One more thing, about safety. These pistols are no longer brand new. True original mint condition Lugers P.08 are pretty rare and one would never even think of firing them. Caution must be taken when you want to fire your gun. It would be "common sense" to have it looked over by a serious gunsmith. IMHO Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

01-21-2014, 01:41 PM	#14
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 398 Thanks: 102 Thanked 125 Times in 74 Posts	You want FMJ for a Luger. __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

11-30-2013, 06:15 PM	#4
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	You've been bit..

12-01-2013, 07:10 AM	#5
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Great looking Luger. Nice first one! Sorry to say, but now you are offically an addicted! Douglas

12-02-2013, 08:38 AM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I think that is a charming Luger. Just the right amount of bluing wear to show that it has been used, but not at all tired looking. Good buy! dju

12-07-2013, 05:15 PM	#8
cneider User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 59 Thanks: 28 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	GREAT! Do you happen to have a lead on Mec Gar Luger magazines or Fiocchi .30 Luger ammunition? Numrich, Widners, Midway seem to be out of these. I've also poked around on Google looking for availability from other sources. Anyone?

12-08-2013, 01:35 PM	#10
Ben M. User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Retired to Naples, FL. Posts: 476 Thanks: 84 Thanked 117 Times in 79 Posts	local gun show might be a place to find 30 luger ammo. maybe a vendor with reload stuff?

12-10-2013, 05:24 PM	#12
johnii User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 52 Thanks: 13 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I think you are hooked now into the P-08. I somehow got there myself. I think we are going places where no man has gone before... J

01-20-2014, 12:56 PM	#13
cneider User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 59 Thanks: 28 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Just found out Sportsman's Guide has Fiocchi .30 Luger ammo in stock. Well, the FMJ anyway, not the soft points. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=606389

01-22-2014, 12:49 AM	#16
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	That looks like a nice pistol! I've enjoyed using the Fiocchi stuff (both JSP and FMJ) in my commercial Luger. Oddly enough, my local shop has been able to consistently get me 9mm Parabellum, .455 Webley, 7.65 Parabellum, and 7.63 Mauser. So I've been able to get to the range far more often than I expected with the 30 calibre Luger! __________________ Michael Nos morituri te salutant - Supposed saying of the gladiators to the emperor ('We, who are about to die, salute you.') 'We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind' - From Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers

01-26-2014, 03:38 PM	#17
jdickson397 User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 12 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	30 Luger is a great caliber and I enjoy it more than 9mm. You can enjoy your new gun more if you reload your own ammo. I have been reloading .30 Luger for years. East to reload and you save a lot of money over buying factory loads. New Winchester brass is commonly available online at the big auction site as well as GB. I sometimes load 93 grain lead round nose bullets from Western Bullets. I also load 90 grain Hornady XTP (jacketed hollowpoints) from MWay. Because 30 Luger is a bottle neck case, I take an extra step and resize initially with a 9mm die then resize/deprime with a 30 luger die. After seating the bullet I crimp with a separate factory crimp die. Both bullets load easily and cycle through my DWM with no problem. The key is to get a bullet that is .309 in diameter(NOT .308).