Lugers with Worn Bores

Thor · 08-30-2003, 03:54 PM

Got a 1915/1920 (DWM framed) Luger in the other day. The bore was noticeably worn but still looked pretty decent to me. Owner says to rebarrel it please before rebluing it. I say "have you shot it yet?" NO is the answer. "May I shoot it to check it out first?" Sure! This gun has a Simson & Co toggle train so it is a real muttly! Fired 5 rounds at 17 yds and it grouped a nice 1.5" group. I sugguest to leave it as is. The receiver/frame/barrel all are from the original pistol. These Lugers are AMAZING!

lugerholsterrepair · 08-30-2003, 06:45 PM

Thor, Yeah they are something. He would be crazy to change out that barrel. Your blue job would make it look great again!

Hey Ted, On another subject...How is my pistol coming along? I will be coming through there in another month so time is running short...Let me know if there is anything you can do with it. Thanks my Friend, Jerry

Thor · 08-30-2003, 07:06 PM

Just give me a weeks notice and it will be finished

lugerholsterrepair · 08-30-2003, 11:53 PM

Thor, Ok Here it is...I will be down through your place to pick it up around the 1st of Oct. on my way back to Yuma. I do appreciate it Ted. Thanks my Friend, Jerry

unspellable · 09-02-2003, 05:40 PM

How about a bore that is not so much worn as pitted from corrosive primers. Where do you draw the line for such a bore?

I have a DWM 1920 commercial in 7.65 mm with such a bore. The pistol is otherwise in excellent condition except for two small notches in the edge of the trigger guard. The finish is near perfect. (I suspect it is not be the original finish, but there is no sign of pitting or polishing under it, so the pistol was in excellent condition when finished.)

John F. · 09-02-2003, 07:22 PM

I can tell you from experience that it is possible for pistols and rifles with pitted bores to be VERY accurate, especially with jacketed bullets, as long as the pitting isn't horrible. I recently shot a .30 Luger with a very mildly pitted bore that shot groups of 1.25" to 1.6" (5 shots) at 25 yards from the bench with Win. factory FMJ ammo. I have also shot a 1911A1 with a significantly pitted bore that shoots VERY accurately with good handloads using lead SWC's and have worked with a prewar Win. M70 in .30-06 that is lightly pitted, that averages about 0.7" for 5-shot groups at 100 yards with good ammo, using only a 3X scope with a post/crosshair reticle. Hope this helps,
John

Dwight Gruber · 09-02-2003, 10:14 PM

Pitted bores can be accurate. Worn bores are another thing entirely. Rifling must at least be sharp in order to stabilize a bullet. I have a 1900AE whose bore is worn so smooth that it is very nearly a smoothbore, and a string of shots pattern like one!

--Dwight

lugerholsterrepair · 09-02-2003, 11:19 PM

I bulged the barrel of my Colt series 80 last Winter and it didn't affect the accuracy a bit. I agree that a pretty poor looking bore is no reason to change the barrel. Shoot it to determine what's what. Jerry Burney

08-30-2003, 03:54 PM	#1
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Lugers with Worn Bores Got a 1915/1920 (DWM framed) Luger in the other day. The bore was noticeably worn but still looked pretty decent to me. Owner says to rebarrel it please before rebluing it. I say "have you shot it yet?" NO is the answer. "May I shoot it to check it out first?" Sure! This gun has a Simson & Co toggle train so it is a real muttly! Fired 5 rounds at 17 yds and it grouped a nice 1.5" group. I sugguest to leave it as is. The receiver/frame/barrel all are from the original pistol. These Lugers are AMAZING! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

08-30-2003, 06:45 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Thor, Yeah they are something. He would be crazy to change out that barrel. Your blue job would make it look great again! Hey Ted, On another subject...How is my pistol coming along? I will be coming through there in another month so time is running short...Let me know if there is anything you can do with it. Thanks my Friend, Jerry __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

08-30-2003, 07:06 PM	#3
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Just give me a weeks notice and it will be finished __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

08-30-2003, 11:53 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Thor, Ok Here it is...I will be down through your place to pick it up around the 1st of Oct. on my way back to Yuma. I do appreciate it Ted. Thanks my Friend, Jerry __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-02-2003, 07:22 PM	#6
John F. User Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I can tell you from experience that it is possible for pistols and rifles with pitted bores to be VERY accurate, especially with jacketed bullets, as long as the pitting isn't horrible. I recently shot a .30 Luger with a very mildly pitted bore that shot groups of 1.25" to 1.6" (5 shots) at 25 yards from the bench with Win. factory FMJ ammo. I have also shot a 1911A1 with a significantly pitted bore that shoots VERY accurately with good handloads using lead SWC's and have worked with a prewar Win. M70 in .30-06 that is lightly pitted, that averages about 0.7" for 5-shot groups at 100 yards with good ammo, using only a 3X scope with a post/crosshair reticle. Hope this helps, John __________________ John

09-02-2003, 05:40 PM	#5
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	How about a bore that is not so much worn as pitted from corrosive primers. Where do you draw the line for such a bore? I have a DWM 1920 commercial in 7.65 mm with such a bore. The pistol is otherwise in excellent condition except for two small notches in the edge of the trigger guard. The finish is near perfect. (I suspect it is not be the original finish, but there is no sign of pitting or polishing under it, so the pistol was in excellent condition when finished.)

09-02-2003, 10:14 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Pitted bores can be accurate. Worn bores are another thing entirely. Rifling must at least be sharp in order to stabilize a bullet. I have a 1900AE whose bore is worn so smooth that it is very nearly a smoothbore, and a string of shots pattern like one! --Dwight

09-02-2003, 11:19 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	I bulged the barrel of my Colt series 80 last Winter and it didn't affect the accuracy a bit. I agree that a pretty poor looking bore is no reason to change the barrel. Shoot it to determine what's what. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."