magazine loading problem
 

Hello all! I'm new here..I was wondering if someone could tell me how to deal with a magazine problem. The original mag that came with my p08 has a very tight spring so I bought another one that has the same condtion. It takes a lot of force to get more than 4 rounds in each of them. I finally managed to get 8 in each mag and then stored them for a few days thinking that would solve the problem. I pulled them out today and it has helped but they are still tight. Is this a common thing? Should I just store them full for a longer time? Btw.....I lubricated both of them heavily with LDS to no avail. If anyone can tell me what is going on here and how to fix it I would greatly apreciate it. Thanks in advance for your help.

A stiff mag spring is a good thing in a Luger. If you don't have a luger loading/takedown tool you need to buy one. It makes the job of loading the magazine alot easier.

I forgot mine when I went shooting on Friday and had a sore thumb.

Here is a video of the tool in action.

Loading tool video

JPR, Most PO8 mags were designed to only hold seven rounds. The 8th round will usually fit in one with a tired spring. TH

Every Luger needs it's loading tool... :)

Welcome ot the forums... :D

7 Round Magazine
 

Dear Lugerdoc:

In all of the original German texts I have read, including the owners manual for the Interarms Parabellum models, you are to "fill the magazine with 8 rounds", not 7.

Im curious. Would you please site me an original source for your 7 round figure.

It's true that when loaded with 8 rounds of proper length ammo, the magazine is full, without much slack remaining.

The only magazine I am aware of originally designed for 7 rounds was the Stoeger/Aimco stainless model. When I contacted them regarding this, they claimed that 7 round magazines feed better. Strangely, I've read on these pages countless complaints about their pistols jamming constantly.

Sieger

Re: magazine loading problem
 

JPR:

You should fall on your knees and thank God you have a powerful magazine spring. Without one, your Luger will jam constantly.

To properly load a Luger magazine, you need the little "t" shaped original loading tool. This tool slips over the magazine "button" and works with your otherwise raw thumb against the spring pressure.

In my opinion, don't store your magazine loaded, as this could, eventually cause your magazine lips to deform upward.

Sieger

Thanks guys.....I'm glad to have this mystery solved.....I will have to look into procuring a tool.

I bought mine from Lugerdoc.

Chris

Sieger,

Triple-K magazines are designed to hold only seven rounds.

--Dwight

IMHO, the original Imperial magazines I have on hand are not happy when stuffed with 8 rounds, resisting insertion due to lack of further compression space when the top round is pressed against the bolt in the gun.
Especially with an original wooden-bottomed magazine, why "press" your luck and risk snapping off the wood below the pin, with an eighth round ?

There are other simple magazine loading tools, of the box sort, that can be adapted and used besides the elegant original ones.

Imperial Mags/8 Rounds
 

Hi Alx:

Yes, it is a little tight when the action is closed. I only insert a loaded magazine when the action is open and the pistol is ready to fire.

Also, for shooting, I use a Meg-Gar or Interarms magazine, as these give me the best function.

The situation you fear, "snapping off the wood below the pin" is impossible, as the pressure is on the wood above the pin.

Sieger

KKK Mags
 

Dwight:

I bought one too, but mine ended up in the trash can, as the workmanship on these is an insult to the pistol it is to be used in.

Sieger

Sieger,
The spring seat of the wood bottom, on an original Imperial-style magazine, is deeply releived, and places the bottom of the spring more or less at the same level and in front of the pin. That pin actually being behind the spring seat, and there not being a pin in front, allows the spring pressure coupled with the firing shock to break off the part below the pin. The break occurs along the wood grain, at the pin hole, and leaves the uppper part of the rear leg inside the magazine, while the entire rest of the wood bottom is propelled out by the spring. It has happened to two magazines I have used, before I started using WW2 alum. bottom mags, or modern MecGar, or Erma's P08 mags.

Wood Bottom Breakage
 

Hi:

I've never had a wood bottom break, so I'll have to bow to your superior experience. If it happens, it happens, that's simple enough to believe and understand.

One thing though, the original bottoms were supposed to be cross-grain to the pin, so I still can't visualize the problem. The problem, as you describe it, is caused by poor engineering, and I am quite shocked that the DWM engineers didn't catch this defect very early on!

For heavy duty usage, obviously, a metal bottom or even a solid plastic one is superior, and with multiple pins to hold it in place.

Sieger