Converting a 9mm para to 9mm short

[penpusher]

Out of curiosity, do you know the history of this gun?

Unfortunately, no.

Take care,
penpusher

[Mark]

If you are interested, sometime send me a PM with any stamped markings on the gun and I'll inquire for you about its manufacture.

[Grumpy]

Setting back the barrel would be the `proper` way to do it but Marks` suggestion is very worthwhile in that if you can find a suitable adhesive to use with the case derived bushing/spacer and a suitable solvent in order to remove it later you can see if the conversion is viable. Apart from the problem of getting the pistol to cycle properly with the puny .380 there is the point that feeding might be a problem as well - the .380 cartridges are going to move around in the magazine somewhat.

[Bob K]

New here. Just found this site yesterday.

Re: conversion of 9mm P08 platform to 9mm Short (.380 ACP).

Big difference in chamber pressure between the 2 rounds. And, the P08 platform is historically noted as being pressure sensitive. (For years, 9mmP was downloaded in the US, and wouldn't function a P08.)

Unless you are married to this pistol, consider exporting to the US. A long-barrelled P08, w/shoulder stock, is HIGHLY desired over here.

Depending on markings and condition, you could be talking a new car.

Check out some of the US sites, like gunbroker.com, to get an idea.

Understand, I don't have a horse in this race. I just hate seeing a classical piece chunkered up.

Not know your local laws, is there a prohibition on military calibers? (9mm, .45, .455)?

Best,

Bob K

[mehulkamdar]

Bob,

Military calibre firearms require a Prohibited Bore license in India. They can be owned but the process is highly complicated and slow. Considering how bad gun laws are in India already (this group exists to fight for fairer gun laws for law abiding Indians) you can imagine how much more difficult it would be to own military calibre firearms.

penpusher has several offers for the Luger if I am right. That said, it is a family heirloom and I would suggest that he brings it to the US, gets it refinished professionally and keeps it. Selling the gun would give him only money...

Mehul

PS Please update your profile here so that members would know where you are located. Thanks.

[Bob K]

Mehul,

Well, I figured out how to post my locale. Chicago, North Side, near Wrigley Field.

Can't figure out how to post an avatar. Internet idiot, I guess.

[Bob K]

But, I see the locale didn't show up. Oh well, it's late. "And so to bed." -- Samuel Pepys

[mehulkamdar]

Bob,

There's quite a few of us around Chicago. I Live near Mt Prospect and Conty1 at Aurora. Let me know if we could catch up for s few rounds of trap at the Aurora Sportsmen's Club sometime and beer afterwards.

Is gun ownership allowed in Chicago? I thought King Richard had banned it completely...

Good hunting!

[Mark]

Hi Bob, welcome to the forum.

It is a small world, my brother lives at Lunt and Ashland, a stonesthrow from Wrigleyville! (as an aside, he and his wife are moving to Omaha and are putting their house on the market, has a yard and a separate garage PM me if interested LOL)

Another thing occurred to me regarding a chamber insert- to make this semi-permanent I'd hunt around for some russian steel cased 9mm rounds to make the spacer from. Then I'd solder it in. That would probably last longer than any of us!

[Bob K]

If this has already been discussed, my apologies.

But consider the 7.65 Parabellum (.30 Luger).

Requires a barrel change, nothing more.

Keep the original barrel, can always swap back.

[eljefe]

He cant do that Bob,
too many twists in the tale! Check out the prev posts on this...penpusher, the best bet seems like using the steel liner as of now, provided you dont want to go the 'sell-it-in-the-us' route.
Wonder what this piece would look like after a full course of treatment by a good restorer?
Best
Axx

[monty3006]

penpusher,
Handloading is not banned in India... its simply restricted to the calibers that u have endorsed on ure license. A lot of guys in Hyd and Mumbai load their own, shotshells and metallics.

Mark,
Funny u should mention the collet, my uncle had one made for his 3006 to fire cheap surplus 308 ammo. Didn't know the prices of .30s would sky rocket in a few years time. the old man still regrets it. Extraction of that piece of steel is next 2 impossible. Dude sold the 3006/308 to some chap in UP who was quite happy with the conversion.
He's got a .22 lr now.

Monish

[Mark]

Monish,

use one of these to remove those stuck inserts:


The only time I had a separated case, we didn't have anything so I dropped a bullet into the end, and poured some melted lead in behind it and tapped it out with a rod. You can also use epoxy and a wad of paper to keep it from running in the barrel.

[monty3006]

Mark,
Thanks for that info on that tool. But the rifle is long sold. The tool might just come in handy though.

Monish

[pwm]

wonder how your problem ends, the only good choice for an ari luger, if rechambered is the 7,65 parabelum cartridge. in germany are some gunmakers specialised on luger pistols. they have such barrels on stock and can change it for you.
a luger pistol is like a cloke work, you need experience for any work.
its possible in theorie to set the orignal barrel back fo 2mm but the action would not work ,it becomes a repeating pistol if you are lucky enough that the short round find the way from the magazin into the barrel.
I have a 8" barrel ari luger with 6" 7,65mm para, 4" 9mm and 22LR insert system and have made thousends of shots with different barrels and ammo.
have seen that the S&B subsonic ammo with a very short flat point bullet not work in this system.
If you take my advise, send it to a german gunsmith, he change the old one for a 7,65mm para barrel, so you have allways the possiblity to take the old barrel back for collector value.
the luger pistol is nothing for homemade gunsmithing.#
a new 8" long 7,65mm para barrel and the pistol will hold a 20cm circle on 100 m with a shoulder stock.