Fiocchi 30 Luger 50% cycle failure?

SailingZs · 09-25-2014, 10:40 PM

Thank you for such a great forum!! I have been a Colt 1903 and 1908 collector for many years but now I am venturing into the world of Lugers. The engineering is fascinating!

I was recently considering a 1920 Commercial alphabet in 30 Luger. The seller said that Western ammo always worked great but the Fiocchi was problematic and I would be spending a lot of time clearing rounds. Is this typical or does the gun need time at a gunsmith?

Question number two-Do you reloaders out there put a few more grains of powder in your ammo?

Question number three-since I am not a reloader, should I just keep my sights on a 9mm?

Three questions are enough for one day. I look forward to spending many more hours here!
Very best regards,

-Bill

Edward Tinker · 09-25-2014, 10:54 PM

Bill, welcome. Haven't reloaded in years.

Haven't heard of large amounts of failures...

No on extra power IMHO.

9mm is cheaper, and lots of them out there....

DavidJayUden · 09-25-2014, 11:37 PM

Ed is right, NO extra powder. If you take up reloading, buy a good manual and follow it religiously. Do not be tempted to add a few grains for good measure. Not in any gun.
Generally we don't hear too many problems from the 30 cal. crowd, but I believe there is one posting now that is having issues. Read and learn.
dju

LU1900 · 09-26-2014, 02:01 AM

Many cycle failure and jamming are due from the magazine from half time .
Some problems too with the old fiocchi amo : they age very poorly like french one's , not german kalitat

TheRomanhistorian · 09-26-2014, 02:32 AM

My .30 Luger 20s Commercial does okay with both JSP and FMJ Fiocchi ammunition. When I had problems I found it was the magazine (I have a few after market and original ones to swap in and out). That magazine, oddly enough, had fewer problems in another pistol. Strange but c'est la vie.

rhuff · 09-26-2014, 04:28 PM

Some folks(like me) have Alphabet Lugers that don't like the Fiocchi JSP ammo, but play well with the Fiocchi FMJ rounds. The Winchester/Western ammo is out there, but at least 2X as expensive as the Fiocchi.

I am a handloader for the 30Luger round, and have not needed to add "extra grains" of powder. I load my rounds to where they will cycle the toggle train reliably, and stop there. These parts are nearly 100 years old, and I see no need to stress them unnecessarily.

I enjoy shooting the 30 Luger round, and it is available when ammo amounts are normal(non-panic). It is a bit more expensive that the old standby 9mm.

SailingZs · 09-27-2014, 03:39 PM

Thank you all for your replies!!! I have looked at how to do a Thank you so it counts on the forum but have not found the magic button, yet.... I am still learning

rhuff · 09-27-2014, 04:50 PM

To give a post a thank you, just click on the thumbs up icon at the bottom right corner of the post.

09-25-2014, 10:40 PM	#1
SailingZs New User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 2 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fiocchi 30 Luger 50% cycle failure? Thank you for such a great forum!! I have been a Colt 1903 and 1908 collector for many years but now I am venturing into the world of Lugers. The engineering is fascinating! I was recently considering a 1920 Commercial alphabet in 30 Luger. The seller said that Western ammo always worked great but the Fiocchi was problematic and I would be spending a lot of time clearing rounds. Is this typical or does the gun need time at a gunsmith? Question number two-Do you reloaders out there put a few more grains of powder in your ammo? Question number three-since I am not a reloader, should I just keep my sights on a 9mm? Three questions are enough for one day. I look forward to spending many more hours here! Very best regards, -Bill

09-25-2014, 10:54 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,912 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Bill, welcome. Haven't reloaded in years. Haven't heard of large amounts of failures... No on extra power IMHO. 9mm is cheaper, and lots of them out there.... __________________ 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

09-26-2014, 02:01 AM	#4
LU1900 User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: FRANCE Posts: 902 Thanks: 35 Thanked 463 Times in 194 Posts	Many cycle failure and jamming are due from the magazine from half time . Some problems too with the old fiocchi amo : they age very poorly like french one's , not german kalitat __________________ Best regards from France...Patrice https://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2016/03/1...nd-snail-drum/

09-26-2014, 02:32 AM	#5
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	My .30 Luger 20s Commercial does okay with both JSP and FMJ Fiocchi ammunition. When I had problems I found it was the magazine (I have a few after market and original ones to swap in and out). That magazine, oddly enough, had fewer problems in another pistol. Strange but c'est la vie. __________________ Michael Nos morituri te salutant - Supposed saying of the gladiators to the emperor ('We, who are about to die, salute you.') 'We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind' - From Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers

09-25-2014, 11:37 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Ed is right, NO extra powder. If you take up reloading, buy a good manual and follow it religiously. Do not be tempted to add a few grains for good measure. Not in any gun. Generally we don't hear too many problems from the 30 cal. crowd, but I believe there is one posting now that is having issues. Read and learn. dju

09-26-2014, 04:28 PM	#6
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	Some folks(like me) have Alphabet Lugers that don't like the Fiocchi JSP ammo, but play well with the Fiocchi FMJ rounds. The Winchester/Western ammo is out there, but at least 2X as expensive as the Fiocchi. I am a handloader for the 30Luger round, and have not needed to add "extra grains" of powder. I load my rounds to where they will cycle the toggle train reliably, and stop there. These parts are nearly 100 years old, and I see no need to stress them unnecessarily. I enjoy shooting the 30 Luger round, and it is available when ammo amounts are normal(non-panic). It is a bit more expensive that the old standby 9mm.

09-27-2014, 03:39 PM	#7
SailingZs New User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 2 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you all for your replies!!! I have looked at how to do a Thank you so it counts on the forum but have not found the magic button, yet.... I am still learning

09-27-2014, 04:50 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	To give a post a thank you, just click on the thumbs up icon at the bottom right corner of the post.