The "Don't Do-it" people win! <IMG SRC="/luger/graphics/biggrin.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=":D"> <img BORDER=

Tom B. · 10-29-2001, 03:47 PM

Well, I got my Luger cleaned up, shelled out $31.00 for a box of (50) Winchester,.30Luger, 93 gr. ammo. Went to the range today and fired off most of the box. I was pretty impressed with the old girl. I fired at 7, 10 & 15 yds. The picture is from my 10yd target. I have decided that it would be best not to bore her out to 9mm. In fact, now that I have shot it, and after a discussion with a worker at the range who offered (very quickly) to trade me for a 9mm shooter, I realize what a stupid idea it was to begin with.... glad you all stopped me from commiting such a crime.

No problem with the ammo (except the price), however, when I load 8 rds in the magazine, it tends not to chamber round #2 (without assistance), but if I only load the magazine with 7 rds they all chamber, no problems at all.

Only question now is, where is my user profile?

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/10-29.jpg

John Sabato · 10-29-2001, 04:07 PM

If you created one and it isn't there, chances are that you you ended the session the wrong way. Just try again with the "edit your profile" link.

BTW, good choice on not changing your .30 cal Luger to 9mm... Now you can just talk the guy on the range out of his shooter since he was willing to trade it, and you will have BOTH calibers!

-John Sabato

Thor · 10-29-2001, 04:15 PM

Becareful with the Winchester ammo, it is decidely hot in 30 Luger! The Samco/Lapau Finland stuff is more moderately loaded and more moderately priced! Dont waste your money on FIOCHHI 30 Luger, it is too weak for most Lugers (though it will work in some) The FIOCHHI 9mm loading is great however IMO Kyrie Ellis has warned against the Winchester loading also! If you are very set on it, I recommend a stout new Wolff main spring to help prevent toggle/frame battering! ~Thor~

10-29-2001, 05:17 PM

John this is the WRONG kind of advice to give! Tell people that they should send us the guys name so we can get the Luger from the guy at the range!

heh, heh.

Actually, the guy wants to trade his 9 MM for a 30 Luger? Either he knows something, or has a shooter and knew yours was all matching, or just wants something different? We all have gone through that spiel and the itch gets to you, that is for sure. So offer him an blah, blah for his old beat up Luger...

Anyway, So, nice to see a blasted up target and nice to see your Luger!

Ed

Ad Yeaman · 10-30-2001, 06:02 AM

Thor · 10-30-2001, 09:42 AM

I typically shoot handloaded 124s with a moderate amount of unique powder behind them! I seem to remember that a longer bullet seems to work better, or at least one that is seated out longer with a larger OAL. Some people like Winchester 115 gr FMJ, some people say it doesnt feed well. If I am shooting a 9 for ultimate accuracy without finding a load a particular gun likes, I shot Winchester 115gr Silvertips. I dont like the PMC ammo as it is dirty. I shoot 115gr Remington's UMC ammo quite a bit. S&B and Fiochhi seem to make a good load in 9mm. The S&B is a little hotter than most loadings, which may be a little better for some guns that might stovetop jam (usually the brass is not being ejected because of a weak load). From reading the individual posts some guns like one load over another. When testing a particular ammo that you are planning on shooting in a Luger, I like to do a power check. I will load one round and fire the gun! Then I check to see if the hold open engaged, then do it again. If it engages 5 times in a row, the ammo has adequate power to work the action. If not, I could probably go to something a little hotter. 30 Lugers seem especially needing a hotter load because that light bullet has to be going faster to have enough umphft to work the action and compress that tough main spring. Any way, back to your original question, I think it is any fmj 115-124 gr bullet in a standard loading that will operate the action AND feed well. That might mean experimenting some, but I think a good place to start is 115 gr Winchester FMJ or UMC ammo. I DONT like CCI BLAZER ammo as it tends to stick in the chamber. The local gunsmith says they dont guarantee ANY gun intheir shop will work with them, he has even seen instances where a brand new S&W revovler has to have a mallet tap the rod that emptys the shells to get them out. Not a good thing! Some guns will tolerate this ammo, but not all! Thor

Big Norm · 10-30-2001, 01:07 PM

Whenever I buy a Luger I completely strip and clean it when I get home so I have never had problems that I can attribute to ammo. Well, there was that one time that I had to buy an indoor ranges ammo that was under powered. My brother reloads for me and I know of a reliable reloader at a local gun show who sells ammo at a more reasonable price. I rarely buy commercial ammo. I sometimes find 30 cal commercial ammo at a gun show that someone who does not know Lugers is selling cheap. Last year at the OGCA I bought 3 boxes of 30 cal for $7 each. Sometime it pays to go to the little tables in the back of the room.

My next adventure is to figure a good way to clean my magazines. Your problem with fully loading your magazine could be just some accumulated dirt. Try cleaning the mag and squirting some silicon spray inside.

Big Norm

10-30-2001, 06:23 PM

I don't know how good this is for them, but I used to boil them for a few minutes in water. Takes the oil, grim and such off.

Can't say how good that is for them and I can't believe the heat is enough to screw up any springs.

Just a thought, then I cleaned them up with q-tips and gun oil.

BILL · 10-31-2001, 02:51 PM

You wouldn't be thinking of boiling a wooden bottom magazine, now would you?

10-31-2001, 08:20 PM

hah, hah!

Sorry, I have done this to ALL metal magazines only.

Ed

Marvin · 11-01-2001, 01:50 PM

Big Norm,

To clean magazines, I remove the wood bottom, on aluminum bottom ones, I remove them also (except the center pin type), then remove the spring, then use the cheap brake cleaning fluid from the auto shops like Auto Zone. I spray the heck out of the inside, then wipe the inside with the cleaner good. The spary action cleans and washes away the years of grime and dirt. I then wipe with a bore cleaning solvent, then wipe dry and oil with Clenzoil, Break Free or other high quality rust preventative. This has worked for me and the mags are in excellent condition. Just be careful during the disassembly and reassembly of the bottoms.

Marvin

Marvin · 11-02-2001, 09:32 AM

Hello Rick,

Yes, the Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber is a good product, but I guess I am too cheap to use it and buy the cheaper brake cleaner. I also have used kerosene to clean gun parts. When I was into SCCA racing with Triumphs, I had a parts cleaner and used the Safety Solvents which did a fantastic job cleaning old grease and grime. I would use the brush and the outlet from the pump to clean parts. I don't have the parts cleaner now, so the old spray brake cleaner work OK (just don't let it get on your skin for too long as it sure does dry them out!!!)

Marvin

10-29-2001, 03:47 PM	#1
Tom B. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The "Don't Do-it" people win! Well, I got my Luger cleaned up, shelled out $31.00 for a box of (50) Winchester,.30Luger, 93 gr. ammo. Went to the range today and fired off most of the box. I was pretty impressed with the old girl. I fired at 7, 10 & 15 yds. The picture is from my 10yd target. I have decided that it would be best not to bore her out to 9mm. In fact, now that I have shot it, and after a discussion with a worker at the range who offered (very quickly) to trade me for a 9mm shooter, I realize what a stupid idea it was to begin with.... glad you all stopped me from commiting such a crime. No problem with the ammo (except the price), however, when I load 8 rds in the magazine, it tends not to chamber round #2 (without assistance), but if I only load the magazine with 7 rds they all chamber, no problems at all. Only question now is, where is my user profile? http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/10-29.jpg

10-29-2001, 04:15 PM	#3
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: The "Don't Do-it" people win! Becareful with the Winchester ammo, it is decidely hot in 30 Luger! The Samco/Lapau Finland stuff is more moderately loaded and more moderately priced! Dont waste your money on FIOCHHI 30 Luger, it is too weak for most Lugers (though it will work in some) The FIOCHHI 9mm loading is great however IMO Kyrie Ellis has warned against the Winchester loading also! If you are very set on it, I recommend a stout new Wolff main spring to help prevent toggle/frame battering! ~Thor~

10-29-2001, 05:17 PM	#4
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Re: User Profile Links are located at the top of the main discussion p John this is the WRONG kind of advice to give! Tell people that they should send us the guys name so we can get the Luger from the guy at the range! heh, heh. Actually, the guy wants to trade his 9 MM for a 30 Luger? Either he knows something, or has a shooter and knew yours was all matching, or just wants something different? We all have gone through that spiel and the itch gets to you, that is for sure. So offer him an blah, blah for his old beat up Luger... Anyway, So, nice to see a blasted up target and nice to see your Luger! Ed

10-30-2001, 06:02 AM	#5
Ad Yeaman User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thor, what 9mm ammo do you recommend/ (EOM)

10-30-2001, 09:42 AM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Thor Ammo (LONG) I typically shoot handloaded 124s with a moderate amount of unique powder behind them! I seem to remember that a longer bullet seems to work better, or at least one that is seated out longer with a larger OAL. Some people like Winchester 115 gr FMJ, some people say it doesnt feed well. If I am shooting a 9 for ultimate accuracy without finding a load a particular gun likes, I shot Winchester 115gr Silvertips. I dont like the PMC ammo as it is dirty. I shoot 115gr Remington's UMC ammo quite a bit. S&B and Fiochhi seem to make a good load in 9mm. The S&B is a little hotter than most loadings, which may be a little better for some guns that might stovetop jam (usually the brass is not being ejected because of a weak load). From reading the individual posts some guns like one load over another. When testing a particular ammo that you are planning on shooting in a Luger, I like to do a power check. I will load one round and fire the gun! Then I check to see if the hold open engaged, then do it again. If it engages 5 times in a row, the ammo has adequate power to work the action. If not, I could probably go to something a little hotter. 30 Lugers seem especially needing a hotter load because that light bullet has to be going faster to have enough umphft to work the action and compress that tough main spring. Any way, back to your original question, I think it is any fmj 115-124 gr bullet in a standard loading that will operate the action AND feed well. That might mean experimenting some, but I think a good place to start is 115 gr Winchester FMJ or UMC ammo. I DONT like CCI BLAZER ammo as it tends to stick in the chamber. The local gunsmith says they dont guarantee ANY gun intheir shop will work with them, he has even seen instances where a brand new S&W revovler has to have a mallet tap the rod that emptys the shells to get them out. Not a good thing! Some guns will tolerate this ammo, but not all! Thor

10-29-2001, 04:07 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	User Profile Links are located at the top of the main discussion page If you created one and it isn't there, chances are that you you ended the session the wrong way. Just try again with the "edit your profile" link. BTW, good choice on not changing your .30 cal Luger to 9mm... Now you can just talk the guy on the range out of his shooter since he was willing to trade it, and you will have BOTH calibers! -John Sabato

10-30-2001, 01:07 PM	#7
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Thor Ammo (LONG) Whenever I buy a Luger I completely strip and clean it when I get home so I have never had problems that I can attribute to ammo. Well, there was that one time that I had to buy an indoor ranges ammo that was under powered. My brother reloads for me and I know of a reliable reloader at a local gun show who sells ammo at a more reasonable price. I rarely buy commercial ammo. I sometimes find 30 cal commercial ammo at a gun show that someone who does not know Lugers is selling cheap. Last year at the OGCA I bought 3 boxes of 30 cal for $7 each. Sometime it pays to go to the little tables in the back of the room. My next adventure is to figure a good way to clean my magazines. Your problem with fully loading your magazine could be just some accumulated dirt. Try cleaning the mag and squirting some silicon spray inside. Big Norm

10-30-2001, 06:23 PM	#8
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Cleaning Mags I don't know how good this is for them, but I used to boil them for a few minutes in water. Takes the oil, grim and such off. Can't say how good that is for them and I can't believe the heat is enough to screw up any springs. Just a thought, then I cleaned them up with q-tips and gun oil.

10-31-2001, 02:51 PM	#9
BILL User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Western Washington Posts: 826 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cleaning Mags You wouldn't be thinking of boiling a wooden bottom magazine, now would you?

10-31-2001, 08:20 PM	#10
66mustang Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cleaning Mags hah, hah! Sorry, I have done this to ALL metal magazines only. Ed

11-01-2001, 01:50 PM	#11
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Thor Ammo (LONG) Big Norm, To clean magazines, I remove the wood bottom, on aluminum bottom ones, I remove them also (except the center pin type), then remove the spring, then use the cheap brake cleaning fluid from the auto shops like Auto Zone. I spray the heck out of the inside, then wipe the inside with the cleaner good. The spary action cleans and washes away the years of grime and dirt. I then wipe with a bore cleaning solvent, then wipe dry and oil with Clenzoil, Break Free or other high quality rust preventative. This has worked for me and the mags are in excellent condition. Just be careful during the disassembly and reassembly of the bottoms. Marvin

11-02-2001, 09:32 AM	#12
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Thor Ammo (LONG) Hello Rick, Yes, the Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber is a good product, but I guess I am too cheap to use it and buy the cheaper brake cleaner. I also have used kerosene to clean gun parts. When I was into SCCA racing with Triumphs, I had a parts cleaner and used the Safety Solvents which did a fantastic job cleaning old grease and grime. I would use the brush and the outlet from the pump to clean parts. I don't have the parts cleaner now, so the old spray brake cleaner work OK (just don't let it get on your skin for too long as it sure does dry them out!!!) Marvin