My Luger is innaccurate, need help / advice

bucky · 11-05-2004, 08:28 PM

I have a 1937 s/42. It shoots terribly innaccurate, cant hit the paper past 30 feet (I usually can with other guns). The rifle grooves look shallow, maybe less than 1mm deep. Does this need to be rebarreled? If so, who does this for Lugers? Will a repair to the barrell affect the value of the gun? I bought it from Interordnance several years ago, had black plastic or bakelite grips. Are those original grips on these guns? Also, it looks to good to be original finish, does anybody know if the Interordnance guns were refinished?

Any info would be appreciated.

Edward Tinker · 11-05-2004, 08:42 PM

Bucky, if it is marked as an Import, i.e. Interordance, there is a collector value, but far less than not being marked. It is likely one of the russian or east german guns, which many were reblued (that also negates any collector value).

So, my opnion, if the above is true, is that rebarrelling will not affect value, as you have a nice shooter, once accuaracy is addressed.

Welcome to the forum!

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> Ed

Malcolm P. · 11-05-2004, 08:53 PM

Rather than rebarreling, I would look into relining the barrel.

Hugh · 11-05-2004, 11:18 PM

Bucky,

If you decide to rebarrel your gun, I can do so for $75 labor plus cost of bbl and return P&I. Price includes headspacing and aligning sights. I can furnish a new repro bbl or excellent original used one. email me at: hhclark@academicplanet.com <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" />

Stevie · 11-06-2004, 09:26 PM

Really clean the bore, might be copper fouled. Clean it out good with copper solvent (laborous job). Also check for leading (not likely on an automatic but I have seen autos leaded up). Inspect for muzzle crown damage. Any of the above problems will destroy accuracy even in a good barrel. Try different ammo.

Karl · 11-07-2004, 10:58 AM

Bucky,

The rifling in a Luger is shallow to begin with, and even a worn and moderately pitted barrel on a Luger can be surprizingly accurate. I agree with the advice of Stevie above. If you do decide to replace the barrel I can vouch for Hugh's work. And you might consider a 6" barrel. The longer sight radius makes a big difference for me. KFS

Vlim · 11-07-2004, 11:48 AM

Hi Bucky,

If you are an unexperienced luger shooter, let someone who has experience with luger shooting observer your techniques. You may just be handling it the wrong way. Remember most modern shooting poses are based upon the browning-type pistols like the M1911.

Luger shooting is closer to revolver-shooting than it is to semi-auto shooting.

I have observed several experienced shooters who didn't hit anything when they were handed a luger. It takes some time to unlearn some habits.

Stevie · 11-07-2004, 02:39 PM

Hey Bucky, Just how bad is your pistol shooting? Does it shoot high or low, left or right, or just pepper shots all over the target? Both my Lugers shoot great as far as accuracy goes. My DWM has a terrible looking bore, but delivers excellent accuracy, as good as any pistol I own. The Mauser 42 I have has an excellent bore, but the front sight is a little tall, and it shoots somewhat low.

If your not used to shooting your gun, funky trigger pull and out of whack sights might make a fair shooting pistol seem like a terrible shooter. Both my guns have decent triggers, but I shot another fellows Luger and Its trigger was horrid, spongy and unpredictable. Made it hard to hit with to the extreme. I was shooting my father in laws Ruger P90 and couldn't hit worth a hoot with it. Looked it over and discovered the rear sight was drifted way off center. Set the sight back to the center and vastly improved it's accuracy. Check your front sight and see if its alignment marks line up. Rear sight should be just a little "v" notch in the center of the rear link. Might check it to see if someone filed it out to one side or the other. I get along fine with P08 sights but many people seem to hate them.

Stevie.

pipeman45 · 11-08-2004, 12:47 AM

The first time I tried to shoot my Luger at the range I was printing some large groups. I was resting the gun on the bench and realy drawing down on the sights. The best I could do was about a 4" group at 7 yards.I then the held the gun in a two hand hold and let a mag rip as fast as I could put the sights on target at the same range. The group could be covered with a half dollar. I know that others could do a lot better with this gun (tired old eyes of mine). But it showed me that with the proper hold, it will shoot better than I can.

11-05-2004, 08:28 PM	#1
bucky New User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My Luger is innaccurate, need help / advice I have a 1937 s/42. It shoots terribly innaccurate, cant hit the paper past 30 feet (I usually can with other guns). The rifle grooves look shallow, maybe less than 1mm deep. Does this need to be rebarreled? If so, who does this for Lugers? Will a repair to the barrell affect the value of the gun? I bought it from Interordnance several years ago, had black plastic or bakelite grips. Are those original grips on these guns? Also, it looks to good to be original finish, does anybody know if the Interordnance guns were refinished? Any info would be appreciated.

11-05-2004, 08:42 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,924 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,518 Times in 2,087 Posts	Bucky, if it is marked as an Import, i.e. Interordance, there is a collector value, but far less than not being marked. It is likely one of the russian or east german guns, which many were reblued (that also negates any collector value). So, my opnion, if the above is true, is that rebarrelling will not affect value, as you have a nice shooter, once accuaracy is addressed. Welcome to the forum! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

11-05-2004, 11:18 PM	#4
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Bucky, If you decide to rebarrel your gun, I can do so for $75 labor plus cost of bbl and return P&I. Price includes headspacing and aligning sights. I can furnish a new repro bbl or excellent original used one. email me at: hhclark@academicplanet.com <img border="0" alt="[king]" title="" src="graemlins/r.gif" /> __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

11-08-2004, 12:47 AM	#9
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The first time I tried to shoot my Luger at the range I was printing some large groups. I was resting the gun on the bench and realy drawing down on the sights. The best I could do was about a 4" group at 7 yards.I then the held the gun in a two hand hold and let a mag rip as fast as I could put the sights on target at the same range. The group could be covered with a half dollar. I know that others could do a lot better with this gun (tired old eyes of mine). But it showed me that with the proper hold, it will shoot better than I can. __________________ Dave

11-05-2004, 08:53 PM	#3
Malcolm P. User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rather than rebarreling, I would look into relining the barrel.

11-06-2004, 09:26 PM	#5
Stevie User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ok. Posts: 212 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Really clean the bore, might be copper fouled. Clean it out good with copper solvent (laborous job). Also check for leading (not likely on an automatic but I have seen autos leaded up). Inspect for muzzle crown damage. Any of the above problems will destroy accuracy even in a good barrel. Try different ammo.

11-07-2004, 10:58 AM	#6
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 517 Thanks: 0 Thanked 255 Times in 113 Posts	Bucky, The rifling in a Luger is shallow to begin with, and even a worn and moderately pitted barrel on a Luger can be surprizingly accurate. I agree with the advice of Stevie above. If you do decide to replace the barrel I can vouch for Hugh's work. And you might consider a 6" barrel. The longer sight radius makes a big difference for me. KFS

11-07-2004, 11:48 AM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,987 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi Bucky, If you are an unexperienced luger shooter, let someone who has experience with luger shooting observer your techniques. You may just be handling it the wrong way. Remember most modern shooting poses are based upon the browning-type pistols like the M1911. Luger shooting is closer to revolver-shooting than it is to semi-auto shooting. I have observed several experienced shooters who didn't hit anything when they were handed a luger. It takes some time to unlearn some habits.

11-07-2004, 02:39 PM	#8
Stevie User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ok. Posts: 212 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Bucky, Just how bad is your pistol shooting? Does it shoot high or low, left or right, or just pepper shots all over the target? Both my Lugers shoot great as far as accuracy goes. My DWM has a terrible looking bore, but delivers excellent accuracy, as good as any pistol I own. The Mauser 42 I have has an excellent bore, but the front sight is a little tall, and it shoots somewhat low. If your not used to shooting your gun, funky trigger pull and out of whack sights might make a fair shooting pistol seem like a terrible shooter. Both my guns have decent triggers, but I shot another fellows Luger and Its trigger was horrid, spongy and unpredictable. Made it hard to hit with to the extreme. I was shooting my father in laws Ruger P90 and couldn't hit worth a hoot with it. Looked it over and discovered the rear sight was drifted way off center. Set the sight back to the center and vastly improved it's accuracy. Check your front sight and see if its alignment marks line up. Rear sight should be just a little "v" notch in the center of the rear link. Might check it to see if someone filed it out to one side or the other. I get along fine with P08 sights but many people seem to hate them. Stevie.