Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues

Dwight Gruber · 03-24-2002, 12:31 AM

At the recommendation of one of the guys at the gun show today who had Lugers at his table, I bought a bunch of .30 Luger reloads which he said that he uses, to good effect, in his .30s. Took 'em to the range afterwards, and I'll be darned if these loads didn't solve almost all the problems in both of my "problem .30s". They chambered and ejected just like they are supposed to. The occasional failure to chamber can probably be solved by good magazines and a thorough cleaning

Seems like Thor is right on the money, these guns really need powerful loads, and Fiocci just doesn't cut it--they get no more of my hard-earned Lire.

Marvin · 03-24-2002, 06:34 AM

Dwight,

Is the reloading information provided for the loads? What is the bullet weight and diameter? Is the powder brand and weight available? I am waiting on a set of .30 Luger dies to startr reloading for this one and I am still trying to figure out which bullet to use and a powder charge. Thanks for the help!

Marvin

Hugh · 03-24-2002, 09:40 AM

Marvin,

Here are some loads that I worked up a couple of years ago.

A few of my favorites are: 90 & 93 gr Hornady .308/5.5 gr Unique, 6.5 HS7, 7.5 Blue Dot, or 5.6 SR 4756; 85 gr XTP/ 6.0 Unique, 7.5 HS7, 7.5 Blue Dot; 60 gr Gold Dot & XTP resized to .3095/7.0 gr Unique, 9.0 gr HS7.

You can get 85 & 93 gr bullets with a .308 dia for the 30 Luger & 30 Mauser from Old Western Schrounger & Graf & Sons.

I supply the 60 gr bullets resized to .3095 @ $20/100.

Orv Reichert · 03-24-2002, 11:04 AM

Why don't you call Buzz Huntington in Oroville CA and ask him? His daddy founded RCBS and they are into custom stuff. I am sure that firm has already been down this road!

Bernard · 03-25-2002, 10:48 AM

Just a thought if you need a larger diameter - You can get 123 grain jacketed bullets in .310 for the 7.62x39 cartridge. So the weight is up a little...

Thor · 03-25-2002, 12:42 PM

Most of those are pointed bullets? Doubt you could get them to feed right and they will be too long for the cartridge case I would imagine. Any round nose ones available. I know you can get 100-110 gr RN for the 30 carbine but those are .308" usually! Thor

Thor · 03-25-2002, 12:45 PM

Hugh Clark is taking .312" bullets made for 32 magnum and resizing them 0.001" down each time until he gets to .3095-.310" These are made for a pistol bullet and you can do the same thing with RN bullets made for the 32 ACP or 7.65 mm Browning round. They are typically 60-71 grains and run .311-.312" Thor

Steve · 03-25-2002, 08:32 PM

I have been reloading for a Broomhandle and use an 85gr Sierra .308 Sportsmaster #8005. It is jacketed with a soft round nose. There is no crimping groove but proper adjusting of the crimping die seems to produce a good hold. This would probably be a good choice for a Luger also if the diameter is OK.

Dwight Gruber · 03-25-2002, 10:21 PM

Went back to the show yesterday and tried to find out the reload details, didn't manage it--there was quite a bit of activity going on at the reloader's table, couldn't get his attention. I'll give it a shot next month.

--Dwight

Lonnie Zimmerman · 03-25-2002, 10:51 PM

Steve; have you tried the 90 gr Hornady XTP in your broomhandle?

Lonnie

Steve · 03-26-2002, 01:20 AM

So far the Sierra is the only one that I have tried. To tell the truth, I could not find anything locally so I emailed Sierra, Hornady and Speer and asked them what they had that would work in my Mauser and Sierra answered several days before anyone else and I bought some of theirs.

Hugh · 03-26-2002, 01:23 AM

Old Western Scrounger has Hornady 93 gr soft nose and FMJ for the Mauser and Luger.

03-24-2002, 12:31 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues At the recommendation of one of the guys at the gun show today who had Lugers at his table, I bought a bunch of .30 Luger reloads which he said that he uses, to good effect, in his .30s. Took 'em to the range afterwards, and I'll be darned if these loads didn't solve almost all the problems in both of my "problem .30s". They chambered and ejected just like they are supposed to. The occasional failure to chamber can probably be solved by good magazines and a thorough cleaning Seems like Thor is right on the money, these guns really need powerful loads, and Fiocci just doesn't cut it--they get no more of my hard-earned Lire.

03-24-2002, 06:34 AM	#2
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Dwight, Is the reloading information provided for the loads? What is the bullet weight and diameter? Is the powder brand and weight available? I am waiting on a set of .30 Luger dies to startr reloading for this one and I am still trying to figure out which bullet to use and a powder charge. Thanks for the help! Marvin

03-24-2002, 09:40 AM	#3
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Marvin, Here are some loads that I worked up a couple of years ago. A few of my favorites are: 90 & 93 gr Hornady .308/5.5 gr Unique, 6.5 HS7, 7.5 Blue Dot, or 5.6 SR 4756; 85 gr XTP/ 6.0 Unique, 7.5 HS7, 7.5 Blue Dot; 60 gr Gold Dot & XTP resized to .3095/7.0 gr Unique, 9.0 gr HS7. You can get 85 & 93 gr bullets with a .308 dia for the 30 Luger & 30 Mauser from Old Western Schrounger & Graf & Sons. I supply the 60 gr bullets resized to .3095 @ $20/100.

03-24-2002, 11:04 AM	#4
Orv Reichert RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SW Washington State Posts: 339 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	30 Luger, Why don't you call Buzz Huntington in Oroville CA and ask him? His daddy founded RCBS and they are into custom stuff. I am sure that firm has already been down this road!

03-25-2002, 10:48 AM	#5
Bernard User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Just a thought if you need a larger diameter - You can get 123 grain jacketed bullets in .310 for the 7.62x39 cartridge. So the weight is up a little...

03-25-2002, 12:42 PM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Most of those are pointed bullets? Doubt you could get them to feed right and they will be too long for the cartridge case I would imagine. Any round nose ones available. I know you can get 100-110 gr RN for the 30 carbine but those are .308" usually! Thor

03-25-2002, 12:45 PM	#7
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Hugh Clark is taking .312" bullets made for 32 magnum and resizing them 0.001" down each time until he gets to .3095-.310" These are made for a pistol bullet and you can do the same thing with RN bullets made for the 32 ACP or 7.65 mm Browning round. They are typically 60-71 grains and run .311-.312" Thor

03-25-2002, 08:32 PM	#8
Steve User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 200 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 30 Mauser I have been reloading for a Broomhandle and use an 85gr Sierra .308 Sportsmaster #8005. It is jacketed with a soft round nose. There is no crimping groove but proper adjusting of the crimping die seems to produce a good hold. This would probably be a good choice for a Luger also if the diameter is OK.

03-25-2002, 10:21 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,308 Times in 429 Posts	Re: Cal. .30 Luger, the saga continues Went back to the show yesterday and tried to find out the reload details, didn't manage it--there was quite a bit of activity going on at the reloader's table, couldn't get his attention. I'll give it a shot next month. --Dwight

03-25-2002, 10:51 PM	#10
Lonnie Zimmerman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 523 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 30 Mauser Steve; have you tried the 90 gr Hornady XTP in your broomhandle? Lonnie

03-26-2002, 01:20 AM	#11
Steve User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 200 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 30 Mauser So far the Sierra is the only one that I have tried. To tell the truth, I could not find anything locally so I emailed Sierra, Hornady and Speer and asked them what they had that would work in my Mauser and Sierra answered several days before anyone else and I bought some of theirs.

03-26-2002, 01:23 AM	#12
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Re: 30 Mauser Old Western Scrounger has Hornady 93 gr soft nose and FMJ for the Mauser and Luger.