Pistol · SAAMI
.30 Luger
The original 7.65mm Luger cartridge chambered in the Swiss Luger and early Luger pistols.
- Caliber
- 0.3091″ · 7.85 mm
- Introduced
- 1900
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- 7.65mm Borchardt
- Primary use
- Self-Defense
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1900
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- Germany
- Inventor
- Georg Luger / DWM
- Manufacturer
- DWM (German Weapons and Munitions Works)
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 14.4 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Boxer Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 28,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 2200 yd
- Recoil
- 3.5–5.5 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .30 Luger. Parent case: 7.65mm Borchardt.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 7.85 | 0.309 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 8.43 | 0.332 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 9.61 | 0.378 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 18° | — | ~ |
| Base ⌀ | 9.93 | 0.391 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 10.01 | 0.394 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.22 | 0.048 | ~ |
| Neck length | 3.88 | 0.153 | ≈ |
| Case length | 21.59 | 0.850 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 29.85 | 1.175 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .30 Luger is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .30 Luger
Lineage
History
The original Luger pistol cartridge, developed by Georg Luger in 1900 based on the 7.65mm Borchardt. Chambered in the Swiss Luger M1900 and German Luger P08. Became the parent case for the 9mm Parabellum when necked up in 1902. Saw limited military use before being superseded.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .30 Luger use?
- .30 Luger typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .30 Luger?
- .30 Luger uses a 0.3091″ (7.85 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .30 Luger still in production?
- .30 Luger is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .30 Luger used for?
- .30 Luger is primarily used for self-defense.
- What is .30 Luger based on?
- .30 Luger is derived from the 7.65mm Borchardt case.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Secondary Wikipedia — 7.65×25mm Borchardt ('basis of the 7.65×21mm Parabellum ... developed for the Luger pistol') · parent_cartridge
- Secondary Wikipedia — 7.65×21mm Parabellum (Luger shortened the Borchardt case; enabled shorter toggle stroke/grip) · parent_cartridge
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 12 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
