Not your "run of the mill " fatbarrel!

Hugh · 03-25-2010, 02:54 PM

Just received this one from Neil Keller of Kustom Ballistics. I sent him a Luger a while back and asked him to do something "different" with it. This is what he came up with, Neil is truly a Master Gunsmith!

A 45 GAP on a standard Luger frame. He had to build a bbl, breechblock and magazine from scratch. He widened the magazine well to accept the oversize mag, and probably some other stuff I haven't figured out yet. Had special springs made for the the recoil spring and mag spring. GT made the bottom for the magazine. I put on a pair of NG grips with beautiful grain checkered 30 LPI.

As soon as we get a few bugs worked out and have it running smoothly, I'm thinking about having it engraved!

JTD · 03-25-2010, 04:45 PM

Hugh, I am normally not very atracted to customized lugers, but that sure looks like a very nice one. I wouldnt mind it in my herd. John

Vlim · 03-25-2010, 05:07 PM

Nice one!

Looking forward to the range report

lugerholsterrepair · 03-25-2010, 05:16 PM

Hugh, Very nice! I wonder what the magazine looks like? Like Gerben, I am anxious to hear how it performs!

Jerry Burney

LugerVern · 03-25-2010, 08:57 PM

Wow!!!!
I Like It!

Without being boring, how does it shoot?Any problems with feeding, how are the ears holding up? Any signs of being pounded too hard? How about the back of the frame?
How was the increase in pressure compensated for? Were spacers used in the main spring or was a new one formed from scratch?

Ok, I will stop asking questions

Nice!

Vern

Hugh · 03-26-2010, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LugerVern

Wow!!!!
I Like It!

Without being boring, how does it shoot?Any problems with feeding, how are the ears holding up? Any signs of being pounded too hard? How about the back of the frame?
How was the increase in pressure compensated for? Were spacers used in the main spring or was a new one formed from scratch?

Ok, I will stop asking questions

Nice!

Vern

Vern,

Don't know how it shoots, haven't loaded any cartridges yet, so don't know how it feeds, no battering of the ears, no signs of being pounded too hard because it hasn't been shot except for testing. New bbl takes care of pressure problem, I don't think the 45 has any more pressure than the 9mm. The main spring is a new made heavy one as is the magazine spring.

For those wanting a range report, if ya'll would quit sending me grips to restore, maybe I would have time to load some cartridges and shoot it!!!

Edward Tinker · 03-25-2010, 09:08 PM

very nice, I would love to have a 45 acp (or I guess gap) luger

ed

chuck17 · 03-25-2010, 09:23 PM

Nice looking fat barrel! Beautiful grain in those grips, too. Neat project. Looking forward to the range report.

What other calibers have y'all seen on a standard Luger frame?

John Sabato · 03-26-2010, 07:29 AM

Hugh!

Hang your "Out to Lunch" sign and go SHOOT that bad boy... I can't wait for the range report either! Quick too, before it turns into another BBQ gun!

lfid · 03-26-2010, 10:20 AM

Hugh ,

verrrrrry cool and beautiful - congratulations !!!

thanks for sharing

Bill

Lugerdoc · 03-27-2010, 07:21 AM

Neal K et al, I have a few PO8 breech blocks that have had the breech face opened up by Martz for .40S&W or .38 Super available @$50 each + S&H, for you experimenters out there. TH

Sieger · 03-27-2010, 05:57 PM

Hugh:

Do you have the opening parameters for loading for this very interesting .45 GAP creation?

Bullet profile and O.A.L. should be two very imprortant elements in getting this fine pistol to operate properly.

For powder, I'd start out with Bullseye and create an accurate load that would function the pistol, then spread out into some slower burning powders for an accurate load that had a little more velocity.

Two Saturday afternoons at the range should be all you really need to develop some really fine loads for this eye candy!!!

If you are happy with your Smiths work, I think he may have several more orders coming from this site, perhaps, including one from me!

Sieger

Hugh · 03-28-2010, 12:49 AM

Sieger,

I have about a dozen reloading manuals, plus the Handloader Website has a list of loads from all current reloading manuals, so starting loads won't be a problem.

As for ordering one from Neil, here is what he wrote me:

"I’m about ready to send the 45 to you and let you do some debugging. I need to do a little more refining before I send it. I have spent the better part of the last couple months spiddling with it. I now know why Martz charged so much and why he always told me that most of the time spent was getting the guns to function.
I still do not know if there will be a number beyond 2........... I really do not care if you post it as I do not know if I will make any more of them................ I would like to make a full size 45 but not do it like John did. Instead of using 2 guns I see the possibility of cutting the gun apart and inserting pieces to stretch it. I have looked at this and believe it is possible, but want to finish some of what I have started now, as my carbine."

03-25-2010, 02:54 PM	#1
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Not your "run of the mill " fatbarrel! Just received this one from Neil Keller of Kustom Ballistics. I sent him a Luger a while back and asked him to do something "different" with it. This is what he came up with, Neil is truly a Master Gunsmith! A 45 GAP on a standard Luger frame. He had to build a bbl, breechblock and magazine from scratch. He widened the magazine well to accept the oversize mag, and probably some other stuff I haven't figured out yet. Had special springs made for the the recoil spring and mag spring. GT made the bottom for the magazine. I put on a pair of NG grips with beautiful grain checkered 30 LPI. As soon as we get a few bugs worked out and have it running smoothly, I'm thinking about having it engraved! Attached Thumbnails Attached Images __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

03-25-2010, 05:16 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Hugh, Very nice! I wonder what the magazine looks like? Like Gerben, I am anxious to hear how it performs! 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."

03-25-2010, 09:08 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	very nice, I would love to have a 45 acp (or I guess gap) luger ed __________________ 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

03-26-2010, 07:29 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Hugh! Hang your "Out to Lunch" sign and go SHOOT that bad boy... I can't wait for the range report either! Quick too, before it turns into another BBQ gun! __________________ 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..."*

03-27-2010, 07:21 AM	#11
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Neal K et al, I have a few PO8 breech blocks that have had the breech face opened up by Martz for .40S&W or .38 Super available @$50 each + S&H, for you experimenters out there. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

03-25-2010, 04:45 PM	#2
JTD User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 428 Thanks: 218 Thanked 410 Times in 151 Posts	Hugh, I am normally not very atracted to customized lugers, but that sure looks like a very nice one. I wouldnt mind it in my herd. John

03-25-2010, 05:07 PM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Nice one! Looking forward to the range report

03-25-2010, 08:57 PM	#5
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Wow!!!! I Like It! Without being boring, how does it shoot?Any problems with feeding, how are the ears holding up? Any signs of being pounded too hard? How about the back of the frame? How was the increase in pressure compensated for? Were spacers used in the main spring or was a new one formed from scratch? Ok, I will stop asking questions Nice! Vern

03-25-2010, 09:23 PM	#8
chuck17 User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fla Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Nice looking fat barrel! Beautiful grain in those grips, too. Neat project. Looking forward to the range report. What other calibers have y'all seen on a standard Luger frame?

03-26-2010, 10:20 AM	#10
lfid Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS USA Posts: 453 Thanks: 573 Thanked 96 Times in 53 Posts	Hugh , verrrrrry cool and beautiful - congratulations !!! thanks for sharing Bill

03-27-2010, 05:57 PM	#12
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,579 Thanks: 2,144 Thanked 402 Times in 251 Posts	Hugh: Do you have the opening parameters for loading for this very interesting .45 GAP creation? Bullet profile and O.A.L. should be two very imprortant elements in getting this fine pistol to operate properly. For powder, I'd start out with Bullseye and create an accurate load that would function the pistol, then spread out into some slower burning powders for an accurate load that had a little more velocity. Two Saturday afternoons at the range should be all you really need to develop some really fine loads for this eye candy!!! If you are happy with your Smiths work, I think he may have several more orders coming from this site, perhaps, including one from me! Sieger

03-28-2010, 12:49 AM	#13
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	Sieger, I have about a dozen reloading manuals, plus the Handloader Website has a list of loads from all current reloading manuals, so starting loads won't be a problem. As for ordering one from Neil, here is what he wrote me: "I’m about ready to send the 45 to you and let you do some debugging. I need to do a little more refining before I send it. I have spent the better part of the last couple months spiddling with it. I now know why Martz charged so much and why he always told me that most of the time spent was getting the guns to function. I still do not know if there will be a number beyond 2........... I really do not care if you post it as I do not know if I will make any more of them................ I would like to make a full size 45 but not do it like John did. Instead of using 2 guns I see the possibility of cutting the gun apart and inserting pieces to stretch it. I have looked at this and believe it is possible, but want to finish some of what I have started now, as my carbine." __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*