My First Luger
 

Hello everyone!

I'm finally happy that I can say I bought my first P08! The C96 was bought first but I was determined to find a WW1 Luger!

I've aquired a 1917 Erfurt with matching numbers except that pesky magazine. Although before it cracked it was a wooded base, but quite worn as the numbers were there but not legible.....

Anyway I took the gun apart, cleaned, oiled & reassembled. Loaded up the magazine & I noticed it seemed to fit loosely but was able to cycle all rounds through it manually without issue.

Now when I went to live fire it, the first round would chamber & fire, extract & then it would not feed another unless I manually did it. Then again same issue. Bang, no feed, manually chamber, bang & repeat.

So the first thing that came to mind was my Sig 115g fmj wasn't hot enough. Then I thought about the loose magazine, so I decided to hold it up as I fired & it ran perfectly, even holding open.

So I figured that magazine was the issue. So I ordered a few different types (wood base, aluminum base & plastic originals) to see if this would fix it. Did that today so I'm waiting for them to arrive.

Of course after shooting I noticed the wood base was cracked & as I took the magazine out the spring shot out the bottom finishing off the wooden bottom. So I'm not certain if this was a culprit of my issue or not. So I then ordered a original aluminum base to replace this magazine base.

Anyway I'd appreciate any help or tips!

As for pictures of the gun, I will add them after work in the morning!

Hope to hear from all of you experts!

Thanks

Storm

If that original mag was worn enough to almost obliterate the serial numbers on the base, I'll bet the notch cut into its body is worn enough to cause the problem. When the mag is inserted, the mag catch ordinarily clicks into that notch and holds the mag within the mag well. The height at which it is held is determined by the upper edge of that notch and the upper lip of the catch. With sufficient wear on either/both, the breech block will miss picking up the next round entirely when returning to battery. The good results you had when holding the mag up manually when taking a shot are further evidence that this was happening.

For shooting, it's good practice to use a dependable mag other than a collectible original. This is particularly true when you have one of the earlier. wooden base mags because--as you've experienced-- the bottoms crack and vlow out. I wouldn't sweat it too much in your case since the mag sounds as if it was kind of on its last legs anyway. Even if the body is worn beyond repair and the bottom is but a memory at this point, its original guts have at least some value as spares. G.T., a member here, is the go-to magazine wizard, and has turned many sows' ears into silk purses in this realm, so you would do well to P.M. for his opinion about what might be done.

In the meantime, order yourself up a Mec-Gar mag or three to use for shooting, as they are currently the best available for reliable performance.

p.s. Don't forget those pics!

Pictures 1/2

Pictures 2/2

Looks like you have a nice gun there. I would just glue the wood bottom and repair it as best as possible, keep it with the gun but don't use it for shooting. Follow ithacaartist advice and acquire a couple of magazines for shooting. I have 1918 Erfurt with a matching magazine and that's what I do. Also, for shooting I replace the original firing pin with one that has the later flute cut.

I agree - sounds like a poor fitting magazine and that one looks pretty tired.
The 115gr should be OK, although I don't know that brand (Sig ?)
I like plain old Winchester white box - consistent and reliable, although they did recall a large batch of 9mm two years ago.

I would also recommend a new MEC-GAR which you can usually find for $35-40 for shooting.

And, don't shoot it a whole lot - that looks like a collectible Luger, so take care of it.

A very nice Erfurt. Best advice you'll get has already been given: buy a Mec-Gar mag for shooting.

I'll keep an eye out for some. They are out of stock. If anyone has a spare or two, I happily buy one or two from you! Let me know!

Here's a question, why switch to the newer fluted firing pin? Better design or?

Also here is the ammo box.

Look on gunbroker, look on ebay for mec-gar mags. Put a want to buy in the classifieds here.
Do not believe the 'the luger needs hot ammo" story - some might, but its usually the mag.
I was trying to put a decent wood base into a mag body and broke it, could not get the glue to set, so its now scrap.

Unfortunately nothing on eBay currently. Didn't see any on GB either. I'll keep an eye out. Does Mec-Gar still produce these magazines currently?

Yes they do. But, like so many things, they don't make them every day. When they make a production run, then you will see them for sale. I've got some backordered at Brownell's. When they show up, then I'll get them. It may be a while before Mec-Gar makes a run of them.

Gotcha. I'm a Brownells dealer, I'll have to bug them to see when the next shipment is expected...

I picked up 3 Mec-Gar mags yesterday at the Nation's Gun Show.

Oh, and a so-called black widow Byf 1941. My first Luger. All matching, but I suspect the slide plate was force-fit because the take down lever is brutally hard to open and close, with deep scoring. Also black bakelite grips, and I confirmed with hot needle test and close comparisions to the sticky on them. Firt and finish is, I'd say, a solid "B" with some wear. Magazine is NOT an FXO, but a more rare version, but I'll post plenty of pix in a separate thread in the near future...

ammo
 

Edward Tinker is correct don't shoot any hot ammo through your gun that's the fastest way to damage it. These guns are around 100 years old; I shoot American Eagle 115 gr. in both my P08's 1918 Erfurt and 1942 BYF with no problems.

Alright, good. Now here is a serious question. Can you use hollow points through a Luger for self defense if I felt like carrying the weapon on occasion?

I know it's probably a dumb question but I enjoy practicing with all of my old revolvers & pistols & on occasion carry them.

Hi!

Yes, most hollow point ammo will work just fine in a Luger. Please watch out for hot +P loads though.

I you handload, that would be your best and safest option, however.


Sieger

Thanks!! Good to know & I'll keep an eye out for overly hot loads

After getting a Erma magazine from Simpson LTD today & trying it to no avail. I'm attaching some pictures of the magazine catch & hold open.

The magazine fits very tight & I wonder if it also is an issue. I'm also hunting for 124g 9mm to see if 115g is not hot enough.

Pictures attached

After a few more packages came in the mail today & reading through other topics of people having a similar issue, I decided to take apart the magazines & stretch the spring a small amount to see if this would change anything.

All of my magazines now cause the hold open to work properly. I loaded them up & the gun cycles manually without issue & holds open until a new magazine goes in & I put slight backwards pressure.

Shooting is another story. 9/10 times it skips the next round & chambers empty but is cocked ready to fire. 1/10 times it pulls a round & it gets caught at an upward angle (bullet facing up). So I've bought so 124g Blazer ammunition & will give it a try tomorrow.

I had to stop early today as my Gallow Technologies gun rack arrived in the mail so I could add it to my existing rack & get some rifles & pistols off the floor. I'll add a few pictures of them. Apologies for them being sideways, couldn't figure out how to fix as they were the right way up when uploaded