Ammunition And Magazine Report

alterfritz · 05-21-2009, 10:46 PM

Hello all,

I wanted to share my experience with two items with you. First of all, when I came to my range today I bought a box of Whtebox Winchester BEB ammunition. I include the link here so you know which ones I mean.

They performed really bad, in all of my magazines, and the magazines are ok now (thanks GT

)so I am sure it was the ammunition. When chambering the first round it felt like it wasn't going in smoothly, the toggle just didn't feel right. I could not shoot a complete series of 8 without jams. The funny thing is I used conical Winchester ammo before (super X or something the one in the silver box) and they performed fine. So this particular stuff must have something special about it.

Another thing I tried out and can't recommend is this particular magazine
I ordered it because I wanted to have a cheap one that could keep loaded all the time and wouldn't have to worry about the springs wearing out. I don't want to do that to my good magazines. Turns out this one doesn't even go in the gun! So if you're considering a new magazine, stick with the mecgar ones and don't go for this one

Sieger · 05-21-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alterfritz

They performed really bad, in all of my magazines, and the magazines are ok now (thanks GT

)so I am sure it was the ammunition. When chambering the first round it felt like it wasn't going in smoothly, the toggle just didn't feel right. I could not shoot a complete series of 8 without jams. The funny thing is I used conical Winchester ammo before (super X or something the one in the silver box) and they performed fine. So this particular stuff must have something special about it.

Hi:

If you loaded all 8 rounds into the magazines, what you are describing is what happens when your ammo is too short.

You had that "binding" feeling with the first three rounds or so, didn't you.

Modern ammo is loaded to a length not in spec. with the original. Proper OAL for the round nose is 1.169 to 1.73 inches.

Your conical ammo should be loaded to 1.15 inches to work properly.

Sieger

alterfritz · 05-22-2009, 01:06 AM

Alas I dont have the ammo anymore so I can't measure it

The feeling was more when I pulled the toggle back to put the first round int he chamber, it was like it wasnt going in smoothly and I had to pull with more force to get it past a resistance when it moved from the magazine into the chamber

Lugerdoc · 05-22-2009, 09:01 AM

Just read in the current issue of the Am.Rifeman, that Winchester is the main supplier of 9mm ammo to the military, so it may continue to be difficult to find for us civilians. TH

Sieger · 05-22-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alterfritz

Alas I dont have the ammo anymore so I can't measure it

The feeling was more when I pulled the toggle back to put the first round int he chamber, it was like it wasnt going in smoothly and I had to pull with more force to get it past a resistance when it moved from the magazine into the chamber

Hi:

That's the perfect discription of an OAL problem. If you just want to shoot the pistol with this ammo, try loading only 5 rounds or so and see how it functions.

Sieger

alterfritz · 05-22-2009, 07:24 PM

Thanks, I might try that. I still have 6 or 700 cartridges in my drawer though but you know how ard it is to get anything these days

so if I have to use that kind of ammo I might just load fewer.

suum cuique · 08-31-2009, 04:03 PM

Yesterday, I shot 2 different ammo brands with my 1937 S/42
Later, when I put some AE leftovers into the Remington box I found out that the AE ammo is "longer". I compared 2 rounds and saw that the Remington ammo is really slightly shorter. It seems like the Remington bullet is shorter or deeper pressed into the shell. Both brands performed without any trouble at all. I shot about 140 rounds.
I always thought that a shorter bullet would cause feeding problems but I had no problems at all.
On Saturday I ordered 600 rounds Winchester white box ammo (115 gr FMJ) at Cabelas. I hope they dont give me a hard time with feeding problems. (As mentioned in this thread before).
The AE ammo has aprox 1180 feet per second, I dont know the data of the Remington ammo, but I felt no difference. Is the Winchester ammo "softer"?

Edward Tinker · 08-31-2009, 04:34 PM

I try and find a round that my luger likes; although I am less of a shooter than many folks.

I have also taken the chance and bought a thousand rounds and they worked fine

Ed

suum cuique · 08-31-2009, 09:14 PM

Hi Ed,
what ammo did you buy? Winchester white box 115gr. ?
Andy

wglowrey · 01-16-2010, 02:54 AM

I have the exact same problem every time I use Whitebox Winchester in my luger.

alvin · 01-16-2010, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alterfritz

I include the link here so you know which ones I mean.

Looks like JHP, or flat head FMJ.

Conventional round ball FMJ 115gr white box Win should work.

Vlim · 01-16-2010, 10:15 AM

Well, have been shooting conventional round ball Winchester Whitebox for a couple of months now, and I must say it works without problems in the S/42 refurb. It took a short while for the magazine to get 'used' to the winchester rounds, but this happened quite soon (only had a few issues with the first couple of mag loads). Holdopen doesn't work as consistently as with S&B 124gr but that's not really an issue.

Even the relatively short S&B subsonic worked well, which was a bit of a surprise, as I had expected lots of feeding issues. I have to say that I never load more than 5 rounds, range regulations.

In defence of the Winchester Whitebox: Even the 32-round drum mag, loaded to full capacity functioned flawlessly with it (with special permission to 'break' the 5-round rule).

05-21-2009, 10:46 PM	#1
alterfritz User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California Posts: 63 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ammunition And Magazine Report Hello all, I wanted to share my experience with two items with you. First of all, when I came to my range today I bought a box of Whtebox Winchester BEB ammunition. I include the link here so you know which ones I mean. They performed really bad, in all of my magazines, and the magazines are ok now (thanks GT )so I am sure it was the ammunition. When chambering the first round it felt like it wasn't going in smoothly, the toggle just didn't feel right. I could not shoot a complete series of 8 without jams. The funny thing is I used conical Winchester ammo before (super X or something the one in the silver box) and they performed fine. So this particular stuff must have something special about it. Another thing I tried out and can't recommend is this particular magazine I ordered it because I wanted to have a cheap one that could keep loaded all the time and wouldn't have to worry about the springs wearing out. I don't want to do that to my good magazines. Turns out this one doesn't even go in the gun! So if you're considering a new magazine, stick with the mecgar ones and don't go for this one

05-22-2009, 09:01 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Just read in the current issue of the Am.Rifeman, that Winchester is the main supplier of 9mm ammo to the military, so it may continue to be difficult to find for us civilians. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-31-2009, 04:03 PM	#7
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 100 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	Remington FMJ 115 gr. versus American Eagle FMJ 115 gr. Yesterday, I shot 2 different ammo brands with my 1937 S/42 Later, when I put some AE leftovers into the Remington box I found out that the AE ammo is "longer". I compared 2 rounds and saw that the Remington ammo is really slightly shorter. It seems like the Remington bullet is shorter or deeper pressed into the shell. Both brands performed without any trouble at all. I shot about 140 rounds. I always thought that a shorter bullet would cause feeding problems but I had no problems at all. On Saturday I ordered 600 rounds Winchester white box ammo (115 gr FMJ) at Cabelas. I hope they dont give me a hard time with feeding problems. (As mentioned in this thread before). The AE ammo has aprox 1180 feet per second, I dont know the data of the Remington ammo, but I felt no difference. Is the Winchester ammo "softer"? Last edited by suum cuique; 08-31-2009 at 04:07 PM. Reason: spelling

08-31-2009, 04:34 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	I try and find a round that my luger likes; although I am less of a shooter than many folks. I have also taken the chance and bought a thousand rounds and they worked fine 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

05-22-2009, 01:06 AM	#3
alterfritz User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California Posts: 63 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Alas I dont have the ammo anymore so I can't measure it The feeling was more when I pulled the toggle back to put the first round int he chamber, it was like it wasnt going in smoothly and I had to pull with more force to get it past a resistance when it moved from the magazine into the chamber

05-22-2009, 07:24 PM	#6
alterfritz User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California Posts: 63 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks, I might try that. I still have 6 or 700 cartridges in my drawer though but you know how ard it is to get anything these days so if I have to use that kind of ammo I might just load fewer.

08-31-2009, 09:14 PM	#9
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 100 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	Hi Ed, what ammo did you buy? Winchester white box 115gr. ? Andy

01-16-2010, 02:54 AM	#10
wglowrey User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have the exact same problem every time I use Whitebox Winchester in my luger.

01-16-2010, 10:15 AM	#12
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,032 Thanks: 1,018 Thanked 3,873 Times in 1,184 Posts	Well, have been shooting conventional round ball Winchester Whitebox for a couple of months now, and I must say it works without problems in the S/42 refurb. It took a short while for the magazine to get 'used' to the winchester rounds, but this happened quite soon (only had a few issues with the first couple of mag loads). Holdopen doesn't work as consistently as with S&B 124gr but that's not really an issue. Even the relatively short S&B subsonic worked well, which was a bit of a surprise, as I had expected lots of feeding issues. I have to say that I never load more than 5 rounds, range regulations. In defence of the Winchester Whitebox: Even the 32-round drum mag, loaded to full capacity functioned flawlessly with it (with special permission to 'break' the 5-round rule).