By Jim Dickson | Contributing Writer
Prior to the First World War Germany realized the need for a compact firearm with a high volume of fire out to 200 meters.
These requirements later led to the submachinegun and in the U.S., the M1 carbine, used widely in WWII. Germany needed something quickly and the obvious and most readily available answer was the pistol with a shoulder stock and increased magazine capacity. The stocked pistol was already a well proven concept in Germany so in 1913 Kaiser Wilhelm authorized the development of the Lange Pistole 08, better known today as the Artillery Luger.
The project was headed by Captain Adolf Fisher whose job was to optimize the P08 for use with a shoulder stock and develop a high capacity magazine for it. He took the P08 and added a 7.9-inch barrel with a rear sight graduated out to 800 meters. This sight moves to the left as range increases to compensate for the spin drift of the cartridge at those ranges. Unlike the P08 the Lange Pistole 08 was always issued with a shoulder stock. The new gun still took the standard Luger magazines but for the firepower requirement a 32 round trommelmagazin was developed. The complete package was superbly accurate as all Lugers are. Hits were considered certain at 200 yards and at 800 meters the bullet still easily shot through French helmets and horse skulls.
Like the later American M1 carbine, the new weapon gave artillery and other crew-served weapons the firepower to deal with multiple attackers armed with conventional bolt-action rifles and fixed bayonets intent on overrunning their position. The value of this firepower for assault troops was immediately realized and it was quickly employed by them. Even early aviators used it to shoot at enemy pilots in the days before Fokker’s invention of the synchronized gear interrupter mechanism that enabled a machinegun to fire through the plane’s propeller arc without hitting the propeller.
While a bit underpowered for shooting down aero planes it worked great on their pilots if you could just hit them.
In the close confines of trench fighting the Lange Pistole 08 really shined. Compact and with 32 shots as fast as you could pull the trigger it was devastating with aimed rapid fire. German soldiers quickly learned they could increase their rate of fire by holding all four fingers below the trigger guard and fanning the trigger with the fore finger of the left hand. Not as accurate as the later MP18 SMG but plenty good for the close quarters combat inside trenches. The Lange Pistole 08 was a favorite of the storm troopers of the Great War and it continued to see service in the Second World War.
During all of this both the P08 and the Lange Pistole 08 earned a reputation as the most reliable pistols used in the mud of WWI. Lugers require the proper springs and ammunition to work properly but given that they are incredibly reliable. Drop a Luger in wet sticky mud and it will come up capable of firing, throwing the mud off as it does. If the mud is in the barrel the barrel will get a bulge in it but keep firing. All pistols with exposed hammers will admit mud that will stop them in this scenario and if they have a slide over the barrel a bulge will tie up the gun until a new barrel is installed. This is why the Wehrmacht demanded that the WW2 P38 have a fully exposed barrel. It should be noted that due to the steep angle of the magazine Luger ammunition should be between 1.145 inches and 1.155 inches to feed through the magazine.
The 32-shot drum magazine also became a valued and trusted accessory functioning dependably under the horrible conditions of trench warfare. So many were made that when Schmeisser developed the MP18 SMG he was ordered to change it from the original stick magazine to using the Luger’s drum as they had so many of them already. When his SMG went back into production after the war it was with the cheaper original design stick magazine and was known as the MP28.
Since the drum magazine will also work in the regular P08 Luger they were sometimes employed despite the fact that the standard P08 was issued without a shoulder stock. The extra weight makes the P08 quite a bit steadier when fired with one hand but after a while a two hand hold is needed as fatigue sets in for a loaded drum brings the weight of a P08 up to 4 pounds 3 ounces. Soldiers also would use the drum as a monopod when firing prone or resting against the rim of the trench or a shell hole. Either way it was always a significant aid to accuracy.
The Lange Pistole 08 with stock and trommelmagazin proved a most effective weapon for its intended purpose. Smaller and lighter than the later submachineguns and WW2 M1 carbine it still delivered high volumes of fire accurately on target at all the ranges it was intended for. As a result, it was still in demand in WW2 where it served the Fatherland well once again.
Today Numrich Gun Parts Corp. has brought back the 32-round Luger snail drum along with its magazine loader and leather holster. These trommelmagazins are made in Taiwan then completely overhauled, tuned, and tested by G.T. Specialties. No expense is spared to achieve mechanical perfection and total reliability. The quality is so high that you would think they were original WWI German production and they are just as reliable as the originals. I had the following ammunition for testing:
500 rounds of Black Hills 115 grain FMJ
200 rounds of Barnaul 115 grain FMJ
100 rounds of Remington 124 grain FMJ
400 rounds of Remington 115 grain FMJ
For lack of an Artillery Luger the drum was tested in a WW1 P08 Luger. The result? No jams. Perfect performance. It would pass WW1 German Army acceptance tests with flying colors.
There is a significant improvement in the magazine springs. Whereas the originals were music wire, the new magazines sport springs made from modern 1075 spring steel that is less prone to losing strength when left loaded for long periods of time.
Since most readers are not German WWI veterans it is worthwhile pointing out a few things users need to know about the drum magazine. First, don’t overload it. Count out 32 cartridges or less before starting to load, for if you load more the follower spring will overlap on itself and become coil bound. Then you have to disassemble the magazine to unbind it.
The magazine spring is extremely strong and the winding lever is sheet metal. If you are going to be doing a lot of loading wear leather gloves so the lever doesn’t raise a blister. The winding spring is fully compressed and locked down with the locking button before loading. Load the first two rounds by hand. You will have to press the follower button in on the side with your thumbnail to load the second round. Now put the magazine loader over the magazine until it snaps into place. Once you start loading with the magazine loader do not stop until you are finished. You cannot load this magazine without the loading tool. The first rounds will load easily but there will be increasing resistance toward the end.
Once the magazine is loaded take a firm hold on the loading lever so it does not get away from you and release the magazine spring. Give the magazine a sharp tap to align the cartridges properly now that the spring is fully engaged. The action must be locked open when the magazine is inserted.
Regardless of the number of rounds loaded this design does not have the downward give of a stick magazine. Due to the flexible follower the rounds will bind in the magazine if you try to. Slam the magazine in smartly until it catches then pull down slightly. Let the bolt forward and the gun is ready to fire. Any cartridges to be unloaded are removed one at a time like in a conventional magazine.
The gun comes complete with an English translation done by the famous translator of German Army manuals, John Baum (john@germanmanuals.com). Originally Numrich Gun Parts Corp. sent him an original manual and asked him how much he would charge to translate it. John replied that he had already translated it, had it in print, and gave them their quantity wholesale price for it. A happy ending for both parties.
There is also a splendid leather holster for carrying the drum that I would not want to be without. Like the rest of the rig, it’s quality is first rate.
This is a most useful and fun accessory and one that no Artillery Luger is complete without. Due to the immense amount of hand work lavished on them at GT Specialties they are not cheap but no artillery Luger is complete without one. Note also that originals are now selling for up to $2,500. The price for the Luger snail drum, magazine loader, and leather carrier is $637.17 with free shipping from:
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
226 Williams Lane
Kingston, NY 12401
866-686-7424
