W231 + 115gr FMJ

[Sieger]

Originally posted by azlaw
Armed with the sound advice of those here, I am pleased to report complete success. And the winner is:

115 gr FMJ, 4.5 gr W231, OAL 1.168" (+/- 0.002")

The byf 42 functions perfectly in the shop now; can't wait to get it out to the desert to shoot some common household objects, and maybe a few paper targets as well.

Interestingly, this load will not function in the Browning High Power - will not feed at all. A whole new mystery to sort out.

The Luger is certainly unlike any other pistol I have ever used. Very smooth in operation and firing, with a very good trigger. Quite unlike the Browning designs, I think because so much less mass is in motion to operate the action. I begin to see the attraction...

It is wonderful to have so much expert help available. Thanks!

H

Hi:

It's all in the springs with the Luger design, as, you have noted, there isn't a whole lot of mass moving around. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, as you have noted, in the feel of the pistol in action, a curse in the fact that the springs have to be in perfect "timing" for the pistol to function properly. Also, the Browning design lends its self to function with a much broader range of ammo without jams, etc.

With a Luger, the mag spring, recoil spring and ammo all have to to tuned for the pistol to function properly. If one of these is of spec., you will not get perfect function.

Think of it this way, the Luger is a Porsche, the Browning a Chevy. both will get you where you want to go, but are very different characters, indeed.

Sieger