Best cast loads for a Luger

The Virginian · 11-27-2008, 10:10 AM

I would like to use a .356" 125 grain hard cast lead round nose bullet for my Luger that will generally be reliable. Any suggestions? I am open to using just about any powder commonly available.

The Virginian · 11-27-2008, 03:09 PM

BTW, forgot to mention that it is a 9mm Parabellum Luger I am loading for with the cast bullet.

Vlim · 11-27-2008, 03:25 PM

Try to follow the recipe for the Winchester Walmart white box stuff. They work perfectly in a 9mm luger pistol.

Over here in the old world we prefer the Sellier & Bellot 124 grain FMJ as it functions flawlessly with very good results, a good pressure curve and a very clean burn. I also fired the 140 grain 'subsonic' from S&B, works great but point of aim changes somewhat.

The best shooter lugers are the post-1936 Mausers. Metallurgy was at it's peak at that time.
If you intend to shoot an earlier (DWM) luger, then it won't harm to use a somewhat milder load, although all versions still manage to outperform many a modern gun when it comes to reliability, safety and precision.

The Virginian · 11-28-2008, 01:50 AM

Sorry for the confusion, but I am not looking to shoot FMJ factory loads in the gun, rather I am looking to handload using a cast lead round nose bullet with medium burning powders like Unique or Universal Clays. Now that the price of ammo is up so much I am finding it much cheaper to handload even 9mmP, which for many years was cheaper to buy as loaded ammo. I am sure glad I saved all that brass! The handload I am looking for would reliably cycle a typical Luger.

The Virginian · 12-08-2008, 01:21 PM

Anybody? There must be some handloaders on this board that have some good hard cast loads that work well in the Luger? I gather that slower burning powders work best? How slow?

1940145d · 12-10-2008, 07:44 AM

Well, I have no experience with cast bullets but try the rainier 124gr plated flat nose. Nice tight groups at 25 meters.

The powders I use are the european made vihtavuari since american brands are hard to get here. I would say that all powders in the mid range in terms of burn rate will do.

Personally I often go for N340, wich is a good compromise, but I've heard that these powders are expensive so alliant or similar powders are perhaps a better alternative for you.

One last thing: I would recommend quite light loads, they will often shoot better.
Good luck!

The Virginian · 12-10-2008, 12:01 PM

Thanks for the input, but I am looking for data specifically for cast bullets.

Margana · 01-29-2009, 09:49 PM

I bought 1000 rounds of Magnus 122 gr cast rn bullets. I put this over Tightgroup at 4.3 grains and these seem to shoot well (except the smoke). I bought these a while ago for what seems today to be a "give away " price (I think around $30 US for all 1000 rounds). I don't like cast bullet in indoor ranges, but for outdoors-fine.

Sieger · 01-30-2009, 03:58 AM

Hi:

With a 124 grain cast bullet, for a nice, clean target load, try 3.7 grains of Bullseye with an OAL of 1.173.

Depending on the condition of your Luger's springs, this one is quite accurate and will function the pistol properly.

Sieger

DavidJayUden · 01-30-2009, 01:58 PM

I use 5.0 grains Unique, 125 gr. rd. nose cast, WSP primers, and a 1.140-1.142 OAL. Seems that all the Lugers that run on the other stuff will run on this load. And those that don't like it probably don't like other ammo either.
Good Luck!
DJU

Sieger · 01-30-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

I use 5.0 grains Unique, 125 gr. rd. nose cast, WSP primers, and a 1.140-1.142 OAL. Seems that all the Lugers that run on the other stuff will run on this load. And those that don't like it probably don't like other ammo either.
Good Luck!
DJU

Dave:

Will your Luger operate properly (shoot a full clip of 8 rounds) at an OAL of 1.14 with round nose bullets?

My TC bullets will operate at 1.15 (approximately 29mm) just fine, but round nose will jam on a regular basis at 1.14 for me.

Thanks!

Sieger

DavidJayUden · 01-31-2009, 10:35 AM

They seem to like it just fine. But at the range I typically only load 7 into a magazine at one time. Too impatient to shoot I guess.
DJU

Mauser George · 02-01-2009, 09:21 PM

Dear Virginian:

My 9mm cast lead bullet load is as followers.

125 gr Carroll (Out of business) cast lead bullet:

3.5 gr Bullseye, 125 gr, WSP, EMV 929 FPS, O.L. 1.130

I found that this load was hot enough to recoil my DWM & Mauser Luger's.

Good luck.

Regards,

George

11-27-2008, 10:10 AM	#1
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Best cast loads for a Luger I would like to use a .356" 125 grain hard cast lead round nose bullet for my Luger that will generally be reliable. Any suggestions? I am open to using just about any powder commonly available. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

11-27-2008, 03:09 PM	#2
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	BTW, forgot to mention that it is a 9mm Parabellum Luger I am loading for with the cast bullet. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

11-28-2008, 01:50 AM	#4
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Sorry for the confusion, but I am not looking to shoot FMJ factory loads in the gun, rather I am looking to handload using a cast lead round nose bullet with medium burning powders like Unique or Universal Clays. Now that the price of ammo is up so much I am finding it much cheaper to handload even 9mmP, which for many years was cheaper to buy as loaded ammo. I am sure glad I saved all that brass! The handload I am looking for would reliably cycle a typical Luger. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

12-08-2008, 01:21 PM	#5
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Anybody? There must be some handloaders on this board that have some good hard cast loads that work well in the Luger? I gather that slower burning powders work best? How slow? __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

12-10-2008, 07:44 AM	#6
1940145d New User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, I have no experience with cast bullets but try the rainier 124gr plated flat nose. Nice tight groups at 25 meters. The powders I use are the european made vihtavuari since american brands are hard to get here. I would say that all powders in the mid range in terms of burn rate will do. Personally I often go for N340, wich is a good compromise, but I've heard that these powders are expensive so alliant or similar powders are perhaps a better alternative for you. One last thing: I would recommend quite light loads, they will often shoot better. Good luck! Last edited by 1940145d; 12-10-2008 at 08:31 AM.

11-27-2008, 03:25 PM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Try to follow the recipe for the Winchester Walmart white box stuff. They work perfectly in a 9mm luger pistol. Over here in the old world we prefer the Sellier & Bellot 124 grain FMJ as it functions flawlessly with very good results, a good pressure curve and a very clean burn. I also fired the 140 grain 'subsonic' from S&B, works great but point of aim changes somewhat. The best shooter lugers are the post-1936 Mausers. Metallurgy was at it's peak at that time. If you intend to shoot an earlier (DWM) luger, then it won't harm to use a somewhat milder load, although all versions still manage to outperform many a modern gun when it comes to reliability, safety and precision.

12-10-2008, 12:01 PM	#7
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for the input, but I am looking for data specifically for cast bullets. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

01-29-2009, 09:49 PM	#8
Margana User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Portland, OR Metro Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I bought 1000 rounds of Magnus 122 gr cast rn bullets. I put this over Tightgroup at 4.3 grains and these seem to shoot well (except the smoke). I bought these a while ago for what seems today to be a "give away " price (I think around $30 US for all 1000 rounds). I don't like cast bullet in indoor ranges, but for outdoors-fine.

01-30-2009, 03:58 AM	#9
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi: With a 124 grain cast bullet, for a nice, clean target load, try 3.7 grains of Bullseye with an OAL of 1.173. Depending on the condition of your Luger's springs, this one is quite accurate and will function the pistol properly. Sieger

01-30-2009, 01:58 PM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I use 5.0 grains Unique, 125 gr. rd. nose cast, WSP primers, and a 1.140-1.142 OAL. Seems that all the Lugers that run on the other stuff will run on this load. And those that don't like it probably don't like other ammo either. Good Luck! DJU

01-31-2009, 10:35 AM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	They seem to like it just fine. But at the range I typically only load 7 into a magazine at one time. Too impatient to shoot I guess. DJU

02-01-2009, 09:21 PM	#13
Mauser George User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New York Posts: 88 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Dear Virginian: My 9mm cast lead bullet load is as followers. 125 gr Carroll (Out of business) cast lead bullet: 3.5 gr Bullseye, 125 gr, WSP, EMV 929 FPS, O.L. 1.130 I found that this load was hot enough to recoil my DWM & Mauser Luger's. Good luck. Regards, George