Talking to an older Luger collector

Zonaken · 02-12-2017, 01:58 PM

Interesting debate...

So, as a newbie to this whole Luger world, I am frankly stumped!
I am reading & studying everything I can get in front of me, but am having a tough time figuring out which way I should go.
Do I buy an affordable collector or a nice shooter?
I definitely want to shoot the firearm, not thousands and thousands of rounds, but certainly want to get it out to the range several times a year.
But I'd never forgive myself if I ruined something historical.
...and I do want something reasonably faithful to the iconic nature of this firearm.

In general, how fragile are these Lugers?
What kind of failure rate can one realistically expect out of a 70+/- year old Luger?
Finally, how difficult is it to swap parts and still have a good functioning pistol?
Thanks - in advance.
Zk

rhuff · 02-12-2017, 02:47 PM

Sounds to me as though you will "need" two(2) Lugers. (1) for fondling and looking at, (1) one for the range= 2 Lugers. Lugers tend to multiply in many folk's safes anyway.

If you want to shoot your Luger and have no remorse if an extractor, breechblock, etc. breaks, then own a nice good shooter. I have shot mine over the years quite a bit(regularly), and have broken 2-3 extractors, and one breechblock. These guns are old, some over 100 years, and there is no determining if/when a part is going to break.....but it can/does happen.

Perhaps you should focus on a nice clean shooter, and enjoy and learn about it while shooting it. The "Luger Bug" will likely bite, and you will want at least one more. It happens fairly regularly.

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02-12-2017, 01:58 PM	#1
Zonaken User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Tucson Posts: 26 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Interesting debate... So, as a newbie to this whole Luger world, I am frankly stumped! I am reading & studying everything I can get in front of me, but am having a tough time figuring out which way I should go. Do I buy an affordable collector or a nice shooter? I definitely want to shoot the firearm, not thousands and thousands of rounds, but certainly want to get it out to the range several times a year. But I'd never forgive myself if I ruined something historical. ...and I do want something reasonably faithful to the iconic nature of this firearm. In general, how fragile are these Lugers? What kind of failure rate can one realistically expect out of a 70+/- year old Luger? Finally, how difficult is it to swap parts and still have a good functioning pistol? Thanks - in advance. Zk

02-12-2017, 02:47 PM	#2
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,748 Thanked 998 Times in 733 Posts	Sounds to me as though you will "need" two(2) Lugers. (1) for fondling and looking at, (1) one for the range= 2 Lugers. Lugers tend to multiply in many folk's safes anyway. If you want to shoot your Luger and have no remorse if an extractor, breechblock, etc. breaks, then own a nice good shooter. I have shot mine over the years quite a bit(regularly), and have broken 2-3 extractors, and one breechblock. These guns are old, some over 100 years, and there is no determining if/when a part is going to break.....but it can/does happen. Perhaps you should focus on a nice clean shooter, and enjoy and learn about it while shooting it. The "Luger Bug" will likely bite, and you will want at least one more. It happens fairly regularly.