Loads for Luger

Gunner220 · 02-25-2008, 03:07 PM

Hi all,
I'm new ti this forum and to Lugers but am a long time reloader and shooter. I recently acquired a 1918 Erfurt and have been developing some loads for it. I thought I'd share 3 of them here.

The first uses a Magnus cast 122 grain bullet over 4 grains of Bullseye. Primer is a CCI 500 sitting in TZZ brass, COL is 1.170. Function of this load was flawless which quite frankly surprised me given the blunt nose of the bullet.. Accuracy was excellent as well. Firing over 100 rounds showed no evidence of leading. This will end up being my general shooting load for this pistol due to it's accuracy and the economy of the cast bullet.

Second load is a Hornady 124 round nose encapsulated bullet over 5 grains of Unique. Again CCI 500 primers and TZZ brass. COL is1.143. Accuracy was again very good and function was flawless. This load is a little more stout than the above mentioned.

Lastly. a Winchester 115 gr FMJ over 5.7 grs of Unique, CCI primers and TZZ brass.. COL is 1.158. Very good accuracy and flawless function. This one has some thump to it. Normally I go to 6 grains with this powder/bullet weight but elected to stop here.

These 3 loads were excellent in my particular Luger using Mec Gar mags. I did learn during the course of load development that the 7 round Triple K mags blow, but you all probably know that.

Thanks for reading!

John Sabato · 02-25-2008, 03:23 PM

I don't particularly like the KKK mags myself, but they do perform in SOME Lugers... Lugers are very particular in pairing up with magazines... probably why each Luger was issued with two mags that were serially numbered to the pistol.

Thanks for sharing your loading info.

Vlim · 02-25-2008, 03:39 PM

A typical 9mm luger pistol shouldn't have too much problems with flat nose rounds, as the original 9mm luger round was a trapezoid shape flat nose until around 1917, when the more familiar conical shape was introduced.

Gunner220 · 02-25-2008, 05:33 PM

The KKK mags I was using were the 7 rounders. I could fully compress the mag spring by running the button down with my thumb. These springs were waaaaay weak.

Brownells is going to let me return them thank goodness.

raygun · 03-29-2008, 08:06 AM

Those loads sound about right . I use 4.2 grains of WST behind a 125gr conical lead bullet . It works well at arround 950 FPS .

I bought a case of PMC mil spec ball for when I'm feeling lazy , but won't buy anymore . While it is reliable enough I was alarmed at the variation in velocity I got when put over the chronograph . anything from 850 fps to 1300 fps . it was so bad I thought the chrono was faulty . but tests with other known ammo proved it to be the PMC , nothing else . At least I've saved the cases to be reloaded.

Rod WMG · 03-29-2008, 03:49 PM

Ray, after I had a bad experience with PMC ammo some years ago, I posted about it on the net and a responder suggested it stood for "pretty much crap!"

raygun · 03-30-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rod WMG
Ray, after I had a bad experience with PMC ammo some years ago, I posted about it on the net and a responder suggested it stood for "pretty much crap!"

yep seems to be the case . I bought some 6.5 x 55 swede too and can only get one or two reloads out of it before the brass cracks . I think the company has gone bust or been taken over now.

The Virginian · 11-27-2008, 09:43 AM

So far PMC brass has held up for me, but this is only their 3rd loading. I agree, their ammo is crap! Dirty, smokey powders and so, so accuracy with cycling problems galore! I have lead handloads that give off less smoke than the PMC FMJ loads. As you said atleast we can use the brass until it fails.

FNorm · 04-17-2009, 08:36 PM

Anybody shoot Titegroup? That's what my other 9's like. I find Bullseye to be very dirty by comparison.

FN

Sieger · 05-05-2009, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FNorm

Anybody shoot Titegroup? That's what my other 9's like. I find Bullseye to be very dirty by comparison.

FN

Hi:

I've never found Bullseye to be dirty in the 9mm. Unique, on the other hand was filthy, in its old configuration anyway!

Try 3.7 grains of Bullseye behind any 124 gr roundnose at 1.173 total OAL and tell me what your results are.

Sieger

Ice · 05-05-2009, 06:26 PM

This load info is valuable considering how short factory ammo is lately. Thanks!

Charlie

FNorm · 05-06-2009, 11:29 AM

I'm loading Sierra 125gr, FMJ, over Titegroup 4.2gr. OAL 1.075 and a slight crimp to .378. Win brass and Win.SP primer. Good results, but a couple of stovepipes. Thinking I could add .1gr.

FN

Sieger · 05-07-2009, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FNorm

I'm loading Sierra 125gr, FMJ, over Titegroup 4.2gr. OAL 1.075 and a slight crimp to .378. Win brass and Win.SP primer. Good results, but a couple of stovepipes. Thinking I could add .1gr.

FN

You might try your AOL at 1.169 to 1.173.

You will be able to load and shoot 8 rounds without the typical Luger magazine jam, once you have found the correct powder charge for your given powder.

Sieger

02-25-2008, 03:07 PM	#1
Gunner220 User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Loads for Luger Hi all, I'm new ti this forum and to Lugers but am a long time reloader and shooter. I recently acquired a 1918 Erfurt and have been developing some loads for it. I thought I'd share 3 of them here. The first uses a Magnus cast 122 grain bullet over 4 grains of Bullseye. Primer is a CCI 500 sitting in TZZ brass, COL is 1.170. Function of this load was flawless which quite frankly surprised me given the blunt nose of the bullet.. Accuracy was excellent as well. Firing over 100 rounds showed no evidence of leading. This will end up being my general shooting load for this pistol due to it's accuracy and the economy of the cast bullet. Second load is a Hornady 124 round nose encapsulated bullet over 5 grains of Unique. Again CCI 500 primers and TZZ brass. COL is1.143. Accuracy was again very good and function was flawless. This load is a little more stout than the above mentioned. Lastly. a Winchester 115 gr FMJ over 5.7 grs of Unique, CCI primers and TZZ brass.. COL is 1.158. Very good accuracy and flawless function. This one has some thump to it. Normally I go to 6 grains with this powder/bullet weight but elected to stop here. These 3 loads were excellent in my particular Luger using Mec Gar mags. I did learn during the course of load development that the 7 round Triple K mags blow, but you all probably know that. Thanks for reading!

02-25-2008, 03:23 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	I don't particularly like the KKK mags myself, but they do perform in SOME Lugers... Lugers are very particular in pairing up with magazines... probably why each Luger was issued with two mags that were serially numbered to the pistol. Thanks for sharing your loading info. __________________ 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..."*

03-29-2008, 08:06 AM	#5
raygun User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: brisbane Posts: 150 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Those loads sound about right . I use 4.2 grains of WST behind a 125gr conical lead bullet . It works well at arround 950 FPS . I bought a case of PMC mil spec ball for when I'm feeling lazy , but won't buy anymore . While it is reliable enough I was alarmed at the variation in velocity I got when put over the chronograph . anything from 850 fps to 1300 fps . it was so bad I thought the chrono was faulty . but tests with other known ammo proved it to be the PMC , nothing else . At least I've saved the cases to be reloaded. __________________ arma tuentur pacem

11-27-2008, 09:43 AM	#8
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	So far PMC brass has held up for me, but this is only their 3rd loading. I agree, their ammo is crap! Dirty, smokey powders and so, so accuracy with cycling problems galore! I have lead handloads that give off less smoke than the PMC FMJ loads. As you said atleast we can use the brass until it fails. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

02-25-2008, 03:39 PM	#3
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	A typical 9mm luger pistol shouldn't have too much problems with flat nose rounds, as the original 9mm luger round was a trapezoid shape flat nose until around 1917, when the more familiar conical shape was introduced.

02-25-2008, 05:33 PM	#4
Gunner220 User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The KKK mags I was using were the 7 rounders. I could fully compress the mag spring by running the button down with my thumb. These springs were waaaaay weak. Brownells is going to let me return them thank goodness.

03-29-2008, 03:49 PM	#6
Rod WMG User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Edge of Texas Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ray, after I had a bad experience with PMC ammo some years ago, I posted about it on the net and a responder suggested it stood for "pretty much crap!"

04-17-2009, 08:36 PM	#9
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	Anybody shoot Titegroup? That's what my other 9's like. I find Bullseye to be very dirty by comparison. FN

05-05-2009, 06:26 PM	#11
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	This load info is valuable considering how short factory ammo is lately. Thanks! Charlie

05-06-2009, 11:29 AM	#12
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	I'm loading Sierra 125gr, FMJ, over Titegroup 4.2gr. OAL 1.075 and a slight crimp to .378. Win brass and Win.SP primer. Good results, but a couple of stovepipes. Thinking I could add .1gr. FN