Luger's Unsafe to Shoot?

[Dwight Gruber]

Originally Posted by Josafoot

Some experienced shooters, whose opinions I deeply value, told me that the Luger is an unsafe firearm. Here were their reasons:

1.The system is senstive (finicky was their choice word) and is prone to misfires and jamming.

I am one of the members on these Forums who have shot--literally--thousands of rounds through my Lugers without "misfires or jamming". The pistol as designed, in new condition and using ammunition it was designed for, is as reliable as any other high-quality modern auto-loader--more reliable than its contemporaries--and much more reliable than some cheaply made, cheaply priced pistols you can buy.

Modern ammunition is no longer manufactured to DWM's 9x19mm specifications. The SAAMI specification for the 9x19 maximum overall length is the same as DWM's original specification for minimum OAL. Much of the currently available ammunition is simply too short to chamber properly.

The ammunition for which the Parabellum was designed used slower-burning powder than is in common use today. Modern powder burns too fast to properly match the pistol's timing.

Original folded-steel magazine feed lips have become worn or weakened in use over time and will no longer feed adequately. Newly-made (or original mandrel-formed) magazines do not exhibit this problem.

The Luger is sensitive to proper shooting technique: it must be held firmly when shot. "Limp-wristing" transfers energy which the pistol requires to operate, into the shooter's wrist. Just like many other auto-loaders.

Regarding the dust and dirt issue, in the U.S. Army's 1907 tests the Luger was one of only two pistols found to be reliable enough to compete with the Colt in that regard. 'Nuff said.

Originally Posted by Josafoot

2. The pistol is 60-110 years old and may not be mechanically sound.

Some parts in any given example may no longer be metallurgically sound.

Dwight