The original Luger cartridge — bottlenecked, distinctive, and historically pivotal. Georg Luger developed it for the Swiss military before later expanding it to 9mm. Its unique shape makes it instantly recognizable and unlike any modern pistol cartridge.
Type: Pistol
Introduced: 1898, Germany
Parent case: 7.65x25mm Borchardt
Standardization: Obsolete / Non-standard
Bullet diameter: 0.309" (7.85 mm)
Case length: 0.827" (21 mm)
Overall length: 1.153" (29.28 mm)
Max pressure: 26,100 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Small Pistol
Typical twist rate: 1:10
Muzzle velocity: 1200–1350 fps
Muzzle energy: 297–376 ft-lbs
Effective range: 50 yd
Common bullet weights: 93 gr
Primary use: Military (Historical)
Production status: Obsolete
Also known as: .30 Luger · 7.65 Luger · 7.65mm Parabellum
History: Georg Luger derived the 7.65 Parabellum from Hugo Borchardt's earlier cartridge, straightening the case and reducing length to create a more practical pistol round. Switzerland adopted it in 1900. When the German Navy and Army evaluated the Luger pistol, they insisted on a 9mm caliber — leading Luger to expand the bottleneck to 9mm, creating the 9x19mm Parabellum in 1902. The assassination of…
Notable firearms: Luger P08 (Swiss models), Luger M1900, Luger M1906
Military use: {"country":"Switzerland","years":"1900-1940s","conflicts":["Neutral in both World Wars"]}, {"country":"Germany","years":"1900-1908","conflicts":["Pre-WWI use"]}
Similar cartridges: 9mm Luger, 7.63mm Mauser