What is safe ammunition to use with the Luger

Jan-Erik · 07-21-2011, 10:15 AM

I have a Luger and I wonder which ammo is safe to use in the pistol.

Due to the mechanism the Luger is vulnourable to how tough the ammunition is. Too hard will make it crack in the mechanism and the frame does not manage much.

What speed and bullet weight is preferable for a safe operation without functional problems.

I know with to weak ammo the typical stove pipe failure wll occur.
Will appreciate comments.

Curly1 · 07-21-2011, 10:24 AM

Winchester white box 115gr is what is recommended.

Vlim · 07-21-2011, 12:46 PM

Jan-Erik,

The P08 can actually handle a much hotter load than the average pistol. It's just not a good idea to use them on a regular basis, especially not the +P and +P+ marked stuff.

In Europe, the best source is Sellier & Bellot. I prefer the 124gr myself (so does the P08). Others had good results with the S&B 145gr subsonic ammunition. Winchester 115gr is good as well, a tad milder, but sometimes hard to get over here.

Ron Smith · 07-21-2011, 06:06 PM

Gerben,

Does Norma still make 9mm ? My brother bought a P40 Lahti from our Grandad for $25. I recall that he had 4 or 5 boxes of Norma ammo that shot very well in it.

Ron

Michael Zeleny · 07-21-2011, 07:16 PM

Nowadays Norma belongs to the RUAG group. Its production is limited to hunting and some target ammo for rifles, and brass for Weatherby ammo. Within RUAG, a full line of recreational and defensive ammo is branded by RWS. I am very pleased with their 158gr FMJ .357 Magnum ammo, fully the equal of past offerings from Norma.

mlmahon · 07-26-2011, 10:51 PM

I've shot a lot of the Winchester white box 115 gr with no problems except a couple of random stovepipes. Last Saturday, I shot a couple of mags of the Winchester 124 gr NATO rounds (which are 10% higher pressure than standard loads or equivalent to +P) with no malfunctions and good accuracy. Kicks a little more but shoots very well. (They shot great in my Springfield XD 9mm Subcompact, too.)

-ML

07-21-2011, 10:15 AM	#1
Jan-Erik New User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What is safe ammunition to use with the Luger I have a Luger and I wonder which ammo is safe to use in the pistol. Due to the mechanism the Luger is vulnourable to how tough the ammunition is. Too hard will make it crack in the mechanism and the frame does not manage much. What speed and bullet weight is preferable for a safe operation without functional problems. I know with to weak ammo the typical stove pipe failure wll occur. Will appreciate comments.

07-21-2011, 10:24 AM	#2
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,242 Thanks: 117 Thanked 714 Times in 371 Posts	Winchester white box 115gr is what is recommended. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

07-21-2011, 06:06 PM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Gerben, Does Norma still make 9mm ? My brother bought a P40 Lahti from our Grandad for $25. I recall that he had 4 or 5 boxes of Norma ammo that shot very well in it. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-21-2011, 07:16 PM	#5
Michael Zeleny Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 525 Thanks: 129 Thanked 139 Times in 76 Posts	Nowadays Norma belongs to the RUAG group. Its production is limited to hunting and some target ammo for rifles, and brass for Weatherby ammo. Within RUAG, a full line of recreational and defensive ammo is branded by RWS. I am very pleased with their 158gr FMJ .357 Magnum ammo, fully the equal of past offerings from Norma. __________________ Michael Zeleny@post.harvard.edu -- http://larvatus.livejournal.com/ -- 7576 Willow Glen Road, Los Angeles, CA 90046 -- 323.363.1860 All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett

07-26-2011, 10:51 PM	#6
mlmahon User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Port Neches, TX Posts: 80 Thanks: 51 Thanked 23 Times in 12 Posts	I've shot a lot of the Winchester white box 115 gr with no problems except a couple of random stovepipes. Last Saturday, I shot a couple of mags of the Winchester 124 gr NATO rounds (which are 10% higher pressure than standard loads or equivalent to +P) with no malfunctions and good accuracy. Kicks a little more but shoots very well. (They shot great in my Springfield XD 9mm Subcompact, too.) -ML __________________ Knowledge is Power. Trust but Verify.

07-21-2011, 12:46 PM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Jan-Erik, The P08 can actually handle a much hotter load than the average pistol. It's just not a good idea to use them on a regular basis, especially not the +P and +P+ marked stuff. In Europe, the best source is Sellier & Bellot. I prefer the 124gr myself (so does the P08). Others had good results with the S&B 145gr subsonic ammunition. Winchester 115gr is good as well, a tad milder, but sometimes hard to get over here.