New to Luger forum and Luger Pistols

DIVIL · 01-15-2004, 11:36 AM

Greetings,
I am new to the Luger forum and I have never owned a Luger pistol before but I hope to change that fact sometime this year when my finances allow. I have almost 10 years of pistol shooting experience and can safely say that my preference is toward 9mm semi-autos. I have found the 9mm to be gentle on recoil, decently accurate, moderately powerful and it has the bonus of offering a wide variety of inexpensive, easy to find ammo offerings. Most of my shooting has been with my Browning High Power (no regrets on that model either) but I would like to add a Luger to my small arms collection. Therefore, I have a few questions to ask those of you with first hand Luger experience.

1. I am interested in obtaining a "shooter" grade Luger, preferably of German make. The finish does not have to be even close to perfect but I would like the numbers to match (magazines exempted) and a good or better bore. What model's should I be looking for that are in this grade? Erfurt, DWM, Mauser etc.?
2. What is a realistic price range for a Luger in the above condition?
3. What ammo should I run through the pistol once I get it? I have a decent supply of both U.S. and foreign made 9mm FMJ (Winchester, Federal, PMP, Fiocchi, Geco and S&B )ammo currently and I am wonder which brands to stock up on?
4. I have seen aftermarket magazines advertised in various places but two above all others caught my attention. First are the Stoeger 7 round wood bottom magazines and the second are the 8 round Meg-gar magazines with a plastice bottom. Have any of you tried either of these magazines, and if you have what were the results?
I realize that decent condition German ordnance magazines are probably preferable but they command a premium price. Will the other brands give reliable function when coupled with good ammo?
5. What spare parts and springs should I acquire when I get a Luger pistol? I have used Wolff Gun and Magazine Springs on my other pistols with good results will they work in a Luger?

I realize that this is a long post filled with many questions but I have been saving them up for quite a while. Any replies to any of my posed questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
DIVIL

John Sabato · 01-15-2004, 12:15 PM

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

IMHO, Here are MY answers to your questions in the same order:

1. A shooter? Then I would recommend a Mauser manufactured during the 1940's since they are plentiful, fairly nicely finished, made of the best metallurgy, and manufacturing methods available at the time...

2. Anywhere from $450 to about $1200 or more depending upon condition, its collector value (since you specified matching numbers) and whether you purchase it from a veteran (or his heirs), a dealer, a collector, or a scoundrel... But if you are going to be shooting it a lot, I wouldn't be worried about matching numbers... only condition. Reliablity is far more important than matching numbers on a shooter.

3. Any of the ammo you specified MAY be used, but each pistol has it's own likes and dislikes. It is often reported in this forum that the Walmart bulk pack of Winchester functions fine and runs about $11.00 a box of 100.

4. The best aftermarket mags are Mec-gar... reasonable in price and well made. Some like the Triple-K mags but they only hold 7 rounds. Make sure you buy an orginal or VOPO loading and disassembly tool or you will wear out your thumb loading the mags... Don't buy unknown quality repro tools they aren't worth the money.

5. Spare parts? Extractors and ejectors are the most common parts to fail. Probably holdopen springs are third. Toggles are expensive parts but sometimes you can get a good deal from someone parting out an old Luger... VOPO plastic grips with the bullseye on the sides are the cheapest and best grips to use on a shooter... Wolff springs are recommended for a shooter. They come in three strengths. You can guess and buy them separately or save a couple of bucks and by the three-pack of one of each... and that way they can be custom fitted to the loads you decide to use on a regular basis... The recoil spring should be strong enough to ensure reliable loading from the magazine and prevent the toggle from being beat up by hot loads (not recommended), but not so strong as to prevent reliable extraction and ejection, and allowing the holdopen to work when you fire the last shot.

Because of their solid design... Lugers are found to be very accurate, even when the barrel condition is considered to be ugly... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Not too concerned about "originality" ??? Then I recommend you replace the front sight with one from a P-38 (They fit the same dovetail) because it will give you a square blade sight picture, and then very carefully square the rear notch to match...

You will be very pleased with the results...

Frank · 01-15-2004, 03:30 PM

Hi Joshua, John has pretty well covered it. I would add the best magazine from WWII are those marked 122 or fxo. Post WWII magazines that work equally well and are somewhat lower in price are those marked 2/1001. These designs were used from 1940 on. Good Luck and good shooting!!

DIVIL · 01-16-2004, 12:15 AM

John & Frank:

I appreciate your fast and informative replies.
This spring or early summer (again when my meager soon to be recent College graduate finances allow) I will look for a 40's vintage Mauser for hopefully less than $750. I will bear in mind what you said about the serial numbers vs. overall condition.
I will also buy the German Original or VOPO loading tool.
I will also buy either the Mec-Gar or German magazines that you have specified.
I will try out various ammo to determine what the particular Luger likes but I am glad to hear that the easily located Winchester FMJ seems to work well.
I will also try to locate a spare extractor and ejector. I will also buy the Wolff springs if the ones on the pistol seem suspect.
I don't think I will mess around with the sights unless they really bother me. I also hope to acquire wood grips (unless the pistol already has them) any suggestions?
Thanks
DIVIL

John Sabato · 01-16-2004, 09:50 AM

Spare Parts/magazines: Tom Heller (Lugerdoc)

The best Wood Grips: Hugh Clark

see the links and resources pages...

Carl · 01-16-2004, 10:16 PM

DIVIL,
Check your private message.
Carl

DIVIL · 01-17-2004, 12:22 AM

Greetings again,

John: Resources noted, thanks.
Carl: I also live in State College, I was born there in fact.

DIVIL

Carl · 01-18-2004, 08:01 PM

DIVIL, Check your private message my phone number is there.
Carl

01-15-2004, 11:36 AM	#1
DIVIL User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: central PA Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New to Luger forum and Luger Pistols Greetings, I am new to the Luger forum and I have never owned a Luger pistol before but I hope to change that fact sometime this year when my finances allow. I have almost 10 years of pistol shooting experience and can safely say that my preference is toward 9mm semi-autos. I have found the 9mm to be gentle on recoil, decently accurate, moderately powerful and it has the bonus of offering a wide variety of inexpensive, easy to find ammo offerings. Most of my shooting has been with my Browning High Power (no regrets on that model either) but I would like to add a Luger to my small arms collection. Therefore, I have a few questions to ask those of you with first hand Luger experience. 1. I am interested in obtaining a "shooter" grade Luger, preferably of German make. The finish does not have to be even close to perfect but I would like the numbers to match (magazines exempted) and a good or better bore. What model's should I be looking for that are in this grade? Erfurt, DWM, Mauser etc.? 2. What is a realistic price range for a Luger in the above condition? 3. What ammo should I run through the pistol once I get it? I have a decent supply of both U.S. and foreign made 9mm FMJ (Winchester, Federal, PMP, Fiocchi, Geco and S&B )ammo currently and I am wonder which brands to stock up on? 4. I have seen aftermarket magazines advertised in various places but two above all others caught my attention. First are the Stoeger 7 round wood bottom magazines and the second are the 8 round Meg-gar magazines with a plastice bottom. Have any of you tried either of these magazines, and if you have what were the results? I realize that decent condition German ordnance magazines are probably preferable but they command a premium price. Will the other brands give reliable function when coupled with good ammo? 5. What spare parts and springs should I acquire when I get a Luger pistol? I have used Wolff Gun and Magazine Springs on my other pistols with good results will they work in a Luger? I realize that this is a long post filled with many questions but I have been saving them up for quite a while. Any replies to any of my posed questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, DIVIL

01-15-2004, 12:15 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Welcome to the Lugerforum. IMHO, Here are MY answers to your questions in the same order: 1. A shooter? Then I would recommend a Mauser manufactured during the 1940's since they are plentiful, fairly nicely finished, made of the best metallurgy, and manufacturing methods available at the time... 2. Anywhere from $450 to about $1200 or more depending upon condition, its collector value (since you specified matching numbers) and whether you purchase it from a veteran (or his heirs), a dealer, a collector, or a scoundrel... But if you are going to be shooting it a lot, I wouldn't be worried about matching numbers... only condition. Reliablity is far more important than matching numbers on a shooter. 3. Any of the ammo you specified MAY be used, but each pistol has it's own likes and dislikes. It is often reported in this forum that the Walmart bulk pack of Winchester functions fine and runs about $11.00 a box of 100. 4. The best aftermarket mags are Mec-gar... reasonable in price and well made. Some like the Triple-K mags but they only hold 7 rounds. Make sure you buy an orginal or VOPO loading and disassembly tool or you will wear out your thumb loading the mags... Don't buy unknown quality repro tools they aren't worth the money. 5. Spare parts? Extractors and ejectors are the most common parts to fail. Probably holdopen springs are third. Toggles are expensive parts but sometimes you can get a good deal from someone parting out an old Luger... VOPO plastic grips with the bullseye on the sides are the cheapest and best grips to use on a shooter... Wolff springs are recommended for a shooter. They come in three strengths. You can guess and buy them separately or save a couple of bucks and by the three-pack of one of each... and that way they can be custom fitted to the loads you decide to use on a regular basis... The recoil spring should be strong enough to ensure reliable loading from the magazine and prevent the toggle from being beat up by hot loads (not recommended), but not so strong as to prevent reliable extraction and ejection, and allowing the holdopen to work when you fire the last shot. Because of their solid design... Lugers are found to be very accurate, even when the barrel condition is considered to be ugly... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> Not too concerned about "originality" ??? Then I recommend you replace the front sight with one from a P-38 (They fit the same dovetail) because it will give you a square blade sight picture, and then very carefully square the rear notch to match... You will be very pleased with the results... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-16-2004, 09:50 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Spare Parts/magazines: Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) The best Wood Grips: Hugh Clark see the links and resources pages... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-15-2004, 03:30 PM	#3
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Hi Joshua, John has pretty well covered it. I would add the best magazine from WWII are those marked 122 or fxo. Post WWII magazines that work equally well and are somewhat lower in price are those marked 2/1001. These designs were used from 1940 on. Good Luck and good shooting!!

01-16-2004, 12:15 AM	#4
DIVIL User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: central PA Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	John & Frank: I appreciate your fast and informative replies. This spring or early summer (again when my meager soon to be recent College graduate finances allow) I will look for a 40's vintage Mauser for hopefully less than $750. I will bear in mind what you said about the serial numbers vs. overall condition. I will also buy the German Original or VOPO loading tool. I will also buy either the Mec-Gar or German magazines that you have specified. I will try out various ammo to determine what the particular Luger likes but I am glad to hear that the easily located Winchester FMJ seems to work well. I will also try to locate a spare extractor and ejector. I will also buy the Wolff springs if the ones on the pistol seem suspect. I don't think I will mess around with the sights unless they really bother me. I also hope to acquire wood grips (unless the pistol already has them) any suggestions? Thanks DIVIL

01-16-2004, 10:16 PM	#6
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	DIVIL, Check your private message. Carl

01-17-2004, 12:22 AM	#7
DIVIL User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: central PA Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Greetings again, John: Resources noted, thanks. Carl: I also live in State College, I was born there in fact. DIVIL

01-18-2004, 08:01 PM	#8
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	DIVIL, Check your private message my phone number is there. Carl