Luger Info

ndawoods25 · 01-17-2012, 06:23 AM

I have tried to get myself familiar with the Luger P08 since last year. I went to the Military trade show in Louisville Ky last year and almost had me a Luger. Nice shooter. Numbers matched, no rust. He wanted $800, I had 700 cash. He would not come down a 100. I asked if he took credit. He sad no. I will be heading south once again for the show. This year I will have plenty of cash on hand in case I want to buy a nice Luger. How do you tell if a luger is 30 cal or 9mm. The 9 I picked up, I didnt see any markings to tell me it was a 9mm. Im still learning alot about the Lugers, And I WILL own one for the history. I wont collect, I will shoot it.

mrerick · 01-17-2012, 11:28 AM

Hi Eddie,

They were not marked for cartridge caliber.

A #2 pencil will easily go down the barrel of a 9mm pistol. It won't fit down a .30 Luger barrel.

You'll generally find that the commercial DWM Lugers from the 1920s in .30 Luger are less expensive than the military proofed ones.

Since you want to shoot it, look for a less expensive 9mm Luger that is mis-matched. It will be less expensive than an all matching pistol, and you won't lose any value if a part breaks.

From time to time, you'll see "shooter" grade Lugers show up here in the for sale section. They should be priced close to what you wanted to spend, and can be shipped to a nearby FFL for handling the paperwork.

Marc

Marc

John Sabato · 01-17-2012, 01:14 PM

9mm military Lugers will have the bore dimensions marked on the underside of most barrels. The dimension will be somewhere between 8.81mm to 8.85mm. If it has no markings, then the pencil test described below will give you a good indication.

The 9mm chamber is almost straight-walled, but slightly tapered... the 7.65mm or .30 caliber chamber is of course bottle-necked in shape.

ndawoods25 · 01-17-2012, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. Didnt think anyone was going to give me an answer. I have watched the For sale section here, but I'd prefer to be able to check it out in hand to make my decision. Im sure I can find one at the louisville miltary trade show in Feb. Trying to find with with descent finish, dont like rust pits. Dont matter to me about numbers. I will have a shooter and a piece of history.

01-17-2012, 06:23 AM	#1
ndawoods25 New User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Info I have tried to get myself familiar with the Luger P08 since last year. I went to the Military trade show in Louisville Ky last year and almost had me a Luger. Nice shooter. Numbers matched, no rust. He wanted $800, I had 700 cash. He would not come down a 100. I asked if he took credit. He sad no. I will be heading south once again for the show. This year I will have plenty of cash on hand in case I want to buy a nice Luger. How do you tell if a luger is 30 cal or 9mm. The 9 I picked up, I didnt see any markings to tell me it was a 9mm. Im still learning alot about the Lugers, And I WILL own one for the history. I wont collect, I will shoot it.

01-17-2012, 01:14 PM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	9mm military Lugers will have the bore dimensions marked on the underside of most barrels. The dimension will be somewhere between 8.81mm to 8.85mm. If it has no markings, then the pencil test described below will give you a good indication. The 9mm chamber is almost straight-walled, but slightly tapered... the 7.65mm or .30 caliber chamber is of course bottle-necked in shape. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-17-2012, 11:28 AM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Hi Eddie, They were not marked for cartridge caliber. A #2 pencil will easily go down the barrel of a 9mm pistol. It won't fit down a .30 Luger barrel. You'll generally find that the commercial DWM Lugers from the 1920s in .30 Luger are less expensive than the military proofed ones. Since you want to shoot it, look for a less expensive 9mm Luger that is mis-matched. It will be less expensive than an all matching pistol, and you won't lose any value if a part breaks. From time to time, you'll see "shooter" grade Lugers show up here in the for sale section. They should be priced close to what you wanted to spend, and can be shipped to a nearby FFL for handling the paperwork. Marc Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-17-2012, 04:20 PM	#4
ndawoods25 New User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the replies guys. Didnt think anyone was going to give me an answer. I have watched the For sale section here, but I'd prefer to be able to check it out in hand to make my decision. Im sure I can find one at the louisville miltary trade show in Feb. Trying to find with with descent finish, dont like rust pits. Dont matter to me about numbers. I will have a shooter and a piece of history.