Luger problem

[Lugerdoc]

During WW2 Mauser increased the strength of the PO8 recoil spring from 19 turns to 21, so that use of the hotter WW2 SMG ammo would not damage the pistol. This is probably the root of the "hot ammo" myth. The problem with rebuilt, reblued shooters, you don't know if a proper recoil (and other) spring has been installed, so even with a new MG mag, it's a matter of trial & error as to what ammo works best. TH

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

During WW2 Mauser increased the strength of the PO8 recoil spring from 19 turns to 21...

Tom -

(If my may be so bold as to call you "Tom") - Was that just Mauser or did all manufacturers increase the coils to 21???

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

During WW2 Mauser increased the strength of the PO8 recoil spring from 19 turns to 21, so that use of the hotter WW2 SMG ammo would not damage the pistol. This is probably the root of the "hot ammo" myth.

LugerDoc:

Yes, the recoil spring in my byf 41 does have 20.4 coils but it is drawn from obviously smaller diameter wire than my DWM 1916.

Harry E. Jones in his book "Luger Variations", Volume 1, page 30, has a thorough analysis of the recoil springs from all of the various Luger models. This analysis was done with the help of a Baldwin Tate Load Indicator and a Reicherter Elasticometer, so the results "should" be credible.

Here are some highlights:

Model Wire Dia. Turns Length Poundage

1906 Brazilian .060 15 2.625 65

1908 (P-08) .058 17 3.20 56-57

1923
7.65 & 9mm .060 17.25 3.15 60

1934 Mauser .058 20.4 3.50 58.2

As you can see, there was no "real" increase in spring poundage over the years, per Jones' analysis, anyway.

Also, WWII German machine gun ammo was uniformly made with lacquered steel cases. These would jam in the Luger. Special brass cased pistol ammo was made for P-08 usage, as I have seen many original boxes of WWII ammo so marked.

One thing that I'm sure we can all agree on is that when you open up a Luger, you really don't know just what type of spring you will find! Also, no doubt, the actual quality of the springs used must have gone down hill during war time production.

I might add, that the 9mm Interarms Parabellum spring you sold me several years ago works perfectly in my 1917 DWM (with either light target loads or my WWI German military clone handloads) and it is quite a bit "heavier" than my original byf 41 recoil spring!!!!! Go figure.


Sieger