1900 Ammo?

pauly · 11-22-2020, 10:40 AM

Quick question for the experts. Is the Fiocchi 93 grain FMJ safe to shoot in a 1900 DWM?
Thanks
Paul

Vlim · 11-22-2020, 12:31 PM

Nothing is safe to shoot in a 1900 DWM.

The leaf spring is fragile and not easy to replace.

Doubs · 11-22-2020, 12:40 PM

Agree with Vlim. It was also my first thought when I read your post. I wouldn't shoot any Luger that has a leaf recoil spring for exactly the reasons Vlim states.

Joe in Colorado · 11-22-2020, 01:28 PM

Great question and replies.
A follow on...in general-not any specific pistol-how about...
-good, tight German WW1 or WW2 era pistols, Swiss 06/24 and M29
-(my) Swiss o6/24 seems to have been modified for target shooting-the sear is white, the firing pin does not match, nice/scary light trigger pull, main spring feels light
If we go so far as to test fire, what would we look for?
Thank you, Joe

Sergio Natali · 11-22-2020, 01:53 PM

I don't want to seem disrespectful but I would be even wary using a more recent 1942 P08 after all.

These old warhorses are not to consider fragile, and is not as much that they are prone to cracking, which they do, but they were built about a century ago, and at the time the metallurgy was what it was.

pauly · 11-22-2020, 02:16 PM

Thanks for the replies. No disrespect taken. Was just wondering about that ammo.
I do have a few boxes of .30 for the 1900 just incase! I’ll stick to shooting the shooter Luger.

Joe in Colorado · 11-22-2020, 02:22 PM

Thank you, no disrespect taken, I'm asking, I value your opinion.
If other members have good/bad experiences or opinions that's why we're here.
Would you all really suggest not shooting even sound/tight WW2 German or Swiss M29s?
Best Wishes, Joe

gunbugs · 11-22-2020, 02:30 PM

The answers you will get will vary from, "Never shoot any matching luger", to "go ahead and shoot your luger, it's yours". I fall into the camp of, "I shoot my lugers, but I use replacement extractors and firing pins when I do so." That eliminates the chance of breaking them when I take the gun to the range. I know there are other parts that can fail, but I am willing to accept the risk. I make sure they are clean and well lubed when they go out.

G.T. · 11-22-2020, 02:34 PM

Range test, first shot! Inspect the brass for pierced or cratered primer. Note report and recoil if/as to being overly strong? Check brass case base for bulges... Load three rounds, note degree (violence and distance up or over) of ejection, ... If you have placed masking tape on the rear of the frame at the toggle stop area, check for imprints and see how much is deformed or the degree of recoil you are experiencing? The best loads for longevity, will just barely work the action to lock open on last shot... (like the piper cub is the safest airplane to fly, it will just barely kill you!...

) Finally, general inspection, see that firing pin tip is rounded and not corroded, that pins are not excessively loose, and that there are no cracks in the rear toggle .... then shoot up the rest of your ammo, now $30.00 + bucks a box, and go home!... Best, til....lat'r....GT....

DonVoigt · 11-23-2020, 11:59 AM

I shoot my "shooter" lugers; one of which is a 1900.
I have made sure the leaf spring is not "weak" so it does not batter itself; in fact I added a third leaf for shooting and it improved the reliability of closure.

lugerholsterrepair · 11-23-2020, 12:27 PM

I have an 02 Luger carbine I shoot on a regular basis. Mostly special guests who have never even seen one much less shot one. It's a traveling time machine historically. IF/when it breaks I can worry about it then. So far it's survived quite well 200 rounds down range. I use mostly vintage Western .30 Luger. Seems to work fine. Have not had any issues yet with feeding, jamming, failure to fire or breakage. It just shoots. Sometime you get lucky or?

11-22-2020, 10:40 AM	#1
pauly User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 94 Thanks: 269 Thanked 45 Times in 25 Posts	1900 Ammo? Quick question for the experts. Is the Fiocchi 93 grain FMJ safe to shoot in a 1900 DWM? Thanks Paul

11-22-2020, 01:53 PM	#5
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	I don't want to seem disrespectful but I would be even wary using a more recent 1942 P08 after all. These old warhorses are not to consider fragile, and is not as much that they are prone to cracking, which they do, but they were built about a century ago, and at the time the metallurgy was what it was. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

11-22-2020, 02:34 PM	#9
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,510 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,666 Times in 1,006 Posts	what to look for! Range test, first shot! Inspect the brass for pierced or cratered primer. Note report and recoil if/as to being overly strong? Check brass case base for bulges... Load three rounds, note degree (violence and distance up or over) of ejection, ... If you have placed masking tape on the rear of the frame at the toggle stop area, check for imprints and see how much is deformed or the degree of recoil you are experiencing? The best loads for longevity, will just barely work the action to lock open on last shot... (like the piper cub is the safest airplane to fly, it will just barely kill you!...) Finally, general inspection, see that firing pin tip is rounded and not corroded, that pins are not excessively loose, and that there are no cracks in the rear toggle .... then shoot up the rest of your ammo, now $30.00 + bucks a box, and go home!... Best, til....lat'r....GT....

11-23-2020, 11:59 AM	#10
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,352 Times in 2,040 Posts	I shoot my "shooter" lugers; one of which is a 1900. I have made sure the leaf spring is not "weak" so it does not batter itself; in fact I added a third leaf for shooting and it improved the reliability of closure. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

11-23-2020, 12:27 PM	#11
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,774 Thanks: 4,957 Thanked 3,126 Times in 1,435 Posts	I have an 02 Luger carbine I shoot on a regular basis. Mostly special guests who have never even seen one much less shot one. It's a traveling time machine historically. IF/when it breaks I can worry about it then. So far it's survived quite well 200 rounds down range. I use mostly vintage Western .30 Luger. Seems to work fine. Have not had any issues yet with feeding, jamming, failure to fire or breakage. It just shoots. Sometime you get lucky or? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

11-22-2020, 12:31 PM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Nothing is safe to shoot in a 1900 DWM. The leaf spring is fragile and not easy to replace.

11-22-2020, 12:40 PM	#3
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,705 Thanks: 794 Thanked 1,703 Times in 559 Posts	Agree with Vlim. It was also my first thought when I read your post. I wouldn't shoot any Luger that has a leaf recoil spring for exactly the reasons Vlim states.

11-22-2020, 01:28 PM	#4
Joe in Colorado User Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 71 Thanks: 103 Thanked 136 Times in 38 Posts	Great question and replies. A follow on...in general-not any specific pistol-how about... -good, tight German WW1 or WW2 era pistols, Swiss 06/24 and M29 -(my) Swiss o6/24 seems to have been modified for target shooting-the sear is white, the firing pin does not match, nice/scary light trigger pull, main spring feels light If we go so far as to test fire, what would we look for? Thank you, Joe

11-22-2020, 02:16 PM	#6
pauly User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 94 Thanks: 269 Thanked 45 Times in 25 Posts	Thanks for the replies. No disrespect taken. Was just wondering about that ammo. I do have a few boxes of .30 for the 1900 just incase! I’ll stick to shooting the shooter Luger.

11-22-2020, 02:22 PM	#7
Joe in Colorado User Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 71 Thanks: 103 Thanked 136 Times in 38 Posts	Thank you, no disrespect taken, I'm asking, I value your opinion. If other members have good/bad experiences or opinions that's why we're here. Would you all really suggest not shooting even sound/tight WW2 German or Swiss M29s? Best Wishes, Joe

11-22-2020, 02:30 PM	#8
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 660 Thanks: 367 Thanked 1,180 Times in 395 Posts	The answers you will get will vary from, "Never shoot any matching luger", to "go ahead and shoot your luger, it's yours". I fall into the camp of, "I shoot my lugers, but I use replacement extractors and firing pins when I do so." That eliminates the chance of breaking them when I take the gun to the range. I know there are other parts that can fail, but I am willing to accept the risk. I make sure they are clean and well lubed when they go out.