Magazine capacity question

[Matt]

I've always thought the Luger magazine was made to hold eight rounds. Tom said the mags should only hold seven. My original mags all hold eight. Several of my books state the Luger mag has an eight-round capacity, as does the manual for my Mauser Parabellum. I understand the current stainless Lugers have seven-round mags. I couldn't find a reference to mag capacity in Still's or Kenyon's books. Any thoughts on this?

[Thor]

GT has said much depends on the diameter of the whole in the mag bottom. A larger whole allows the column of coiled spring to deflect sideways a bit and make it a little shorter when fully compress allowing for one more round! Or at least, that is the way I remember it! Could be wrong.

[BILL]

Check out the left side grip on the 'Cartrige Counter' model. It lets you know how many rounds you have left. If you start with a round in the chamber, and the proper number of cartridges in the magazine, you will end up 'zero'ed out' at eight rounds. Even though you may be able to load eight (and sometimes nine) cartridges in a clip doesn't mean that it was the orignal intention. IMHO, the Luger is an eight round pistol (counting one in the chamber).

[Kyrie]

Hi Matt,


According to the original factory manuals, you are correct; the Luger magazine capacity is eight rounds. This has also been my own experience, for whatever that may be worth.


Best regards,


Kyrie

[Dok]

Early Luger ammo boxes came packaged as 16 rounds if I'm not mistaken... so that would indicate a full load was 8 rounds (7+1), not 9. There a box held two full loads.

In reviewing the Stoeger reprint of the DWM manual, I don't find any specifications listed on Mag Capacity, but the fold out cut-away drawing in the back of the manual, clearly shows the mag spring bottomed out with 7 rounds above it.

[Frank]

If one thinks about that, why would one break a box and stuff 7 rounds in each of 2 magazines and have 2 rounds left over in your pocket? If a magazine would hold 8 rounds, I would load all 8, then slap in a full magazine and release the toggle (7 in the mag and 1 in the chamber) FWIW

[Kyrie]

Hi Tom,


I cannot speak to the Stoeger manual, but the DWM factory manuals (there were several) are reprinted in John Olson's "The Famous Automatic Pistols of Europe." This is volume one of a two volume set of pistol manual reprints (Vol 2 is entitled "Famous Pistols"), and I highly recommend the set to anyone with an interest in European C&R pistols.


As an aside, once a magazine spring has "bottomed out" (been fully compressed), it is then physically impossible to insert another round in the magazine - the interior volume of the magazine body is fully occupied. It is possible the magazine used in the illustration is one from Georg Luger's Baby Luger, as this shortened frame pistol did have a shorter magazine with a seven round capacity.


Best regards,


Kyrie

Hi Frank

I believe you have a good point there.the one in the chamber

and 7 in the mag.sounds good if you are looking at the possibility of combat at any time.I question whether a soldier who is not faced with the prospect of combat would

carry his luger with a round in the chamber and on safe.If so he would still have one round in his pocket.It seems to make

more sense that if you are issued two magazines and one box of 16 cartridges that the magazine carry 8 rounds. FWIW

MIKE

All of my magazines will hold 8 rounds.

I have some pistol/mag combinations that have problems though. Sometimes if 8 rounds are loaded the mag will not seat properly (closed breech) or feed the first round.

I figure it is a magazine problem. It is logical that the number of rounds issued would completely fill the two magazines and leave no loose rounds.


The Luger is not the ideal pistol to carry cocked and locked like a 1911. Most likely, when action required a pistol the weapon was in hand and the first round was then chambered. It's an 8 shot pistol, not nine.

All the pictures I've seen of cut-away views shows 8 rounds in the pistol, one in the chamber, seven in the mag.

All pictures I've seen of soldiers in combat show that the troops practice careful gun-handling techniques with drawn Lugers as nearly every picture shows the trigger finger on the outside of the trigger guard. Clearly it shows that they are aware of how easy it is to have an accidental discharge with a Luger.

When you are looking at troops with P-38s, the trigger finger is often on the trigger.


Mike

[Matt]

Frank and Mike,

I agree. Why would the Germans issue ammunition in 16-round boxes if you would end up with a loose round to stuff in your pocket. The P.38 has an eight round magazine capacity. In addition, two of the 16-round boxes would load one MP38/40 magazine.