Reloading the 30 luger

[Major Tom]

I may want to reload for this caliber so I would like to know what componets you use. Specific brand of bullet and weight. Can .308 diameter bullets be used?
Thank you

[Chickenthief]

Bullet size depends on slugged barrel size.
Nomimal from DWM is .3095" but noone makes that size.
What we here in the old world can get will make your fangs drip ;-)

In reality you can get by with 73gr bullets and go past 100gr if that is desireable, you just need to reload accordingly.

My 08 slugs .311" but shoots damn good with .308" jacketed bullets.
Hornady makes a .308" 86gr round nose
Sierra does a .308" 85gr RN
Hornady does a .309" 90gr bullet but it's a flat nose and i have zero experience with it and or the 08 feeding flat nosed bullets at all.

I cast a .311" 93grain bullet with a Lee mould and that loads and shoots scary good.

[rhuff]

I have had success with the Hornady 85gr .308 bullet, but you will have to be very sure that your expander is small enough so as to get adequate neck tension, otherwise you will get bullet setback on feeding. I did purchase some .309in. FMJ bullets from a friend, but am unaware of any commercial made bullets in the USA for sale in that size. I wish that there were, as they work wonderfully in Lugers.

Two of my alphabet Lugers have "generous" bores(.3105-.3115) and I have had good results with Western Bullet Co. in Mt. They cast a 92gr LRN bullet that is advertised as a 30 Luger bullet. They measure out in the .310-.311in. range. No problem with neck tension. Whether or not your Luger will feed LRN bullets remains to be seen, but mine do.


I have used the fast powders(Bullseye, Red Dot, etc.) and have had acceptable results, but not perfect results. I changed to the medium burners like Unique, and am much happier. I have no idea what your Luger will like, and dislike.....that is part of the fun in handloading.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Major Tom

I may want to reload for this caliber so I would like to know what componets you use. Specific brand of bullet and weight. Can .308 diameter bullets be used?
Thank you

Did you read this from the stickys above?
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=9385

[Major Tom]

I have found that Hornady makes a .309 pistol bullet. MidwayUSA carries them in stock.

[Rick W.]

Hugh's generous writeup has been a source of info for quite a while here. As in most things, starting low in a particular weapon can be a good thing, as he alluded to. I think loads are always a reference, not an absolute as the particular environment varies per shooter and his stuff.

I have used the 308-309 jacketed bullets(Sierra, Hornady, etc) in most of my original 30 Luger chambered Lugers. Seem to be good bullets, a bit expensive for some shooting, but glad they are available really.

European, Winchester, and Starline brass is available. If you form 30 Luger from a parent brass, one might pay attention to the total loaded neck diameter. Tis nice to be able to let go of the bullet.

One might notice, there are a lot of 312 bullets around, sometimes at cheap rates in quantity, or for a specialized purpose, like speed. Resizing with a inexpensive Lee sizing die, can take the 312's down to 309 in one stroke of the press. I use a rockchucker for such. I always thought that Lee bullet sizing dies were only for lead, but as time went on, and I read/learned, the jacketed bullets can be done the same way. I am pondering doing the same thing with a 224 bullet downsized for the 22Jet, 22 squirrel, and 224 harvey kay-chuk on Smith K frames.

All of my local ranges have banned lead bullets, sure were nice to use when I could shoot them here..........accurate and cheap to cast.

On a lark, I bought 1100x of the plated 308 size, 110gr plated bullets for the M1 30 carbine......intending use in a 30 wildcat that I shoot in the Lugers. I have shot this heavy a bullet before in 30 cal Lugers, just have to adjust your load. Some may think a bit heavy for the Luger, but to each their own and ponder the pros/cons.

I have rebarreled almost all of my original 30 Luger pistols to redone 30-06 barrels( 4 3/4 t0 14"), which have the 308" bore type, so 308-309 bullets are more better in my particular case. After shooting the home brew barrels, I will never go back to the original barrels, just right happy as to function/looks with the custom barrels now. A 10" scoped Luger in the 7.65x19 wildcat has become a favorite.

Slugging your Luger barrel will give clues on what is, and what is not.

The hunt for components/knowledge thereof, is worth it; once you start shooting the 30's. Guess it is kinda the need for speed.

[Rickybill]

I'm a fan of resized .311"-.312" bullets.
The Hornady 85gr XTP has the crimp groove in the right place.
Probably too expensive for extensive shooting, but I shoot only about 100 rounds a year, so case prep time/effort is a much larger concern than bullet cost.

[Karl]

My M1900 Luger slugs at .304 lands/.312 grooves. I am currently using the Berry .312 plated 71 grain round nose bullets with 3.7 grains of Red Dot. The powder charge is tuned to the leaf recoil spring and is probably not relevant to coil spring lugers.

KFS

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by Karl

My M1900 Luger slugs at .304 lands/.312 grooves. I am currently using the Berry .312 plated 71 grain round nose bullets with 3.7 grains of Red Dot. The powder charge is tuned to the leaf recoil spring and is probably not relevant to coil spring lugers.

KFS

Karl,

Standard groove, on the 7.65 Parabellum, is in factory spec. at .311 inches.

This diameter has always shot perfectly for me in my 7.65 Lugers. In fact, lead .313s have worked perfectly for me in a pinch.

All the best,


Sieger

[K.Wilhelm]

I just put the calipers to one of GT's 93 grain (Swiss) bullets that I really like and which work well in both of my commercials and a Ruger P89 (.30 Luger barrel). It comes out to .308. The load I use for it is a medium charge of HP-38 (same as W231).

[rhuff]

Karl,

You and I either have different calipers, or different bullets....perhaps both. I have a fair amount of the Swiss 92gr. FMJ bullets from GT, and all of mine measure .309-.3095in. They are great bullets, and are my favorites for loading in 30 Luger brass. I have had my best results with using Unique powder.