is this Luger taking too much battering?
 

Pictures say it all:
a 1917/1920 double-date DWM one with what appears to be a 3rd Reich replacement barrel. Couple of hundred reloads through it so far.

http://www.fototime.com/4E452BEB98A40F8/standard.jpg

bite mark at the back

http://www.fototime.com/0C3A04E8FAE813C/standard.jpg

topside of barrel extension

http://www.fototime.com/44954A8811AE0B1/standard.jpg

right inside the back of the frame

http://www.fototime.com/D246D8E109B1272/standard.jpg

I think so. Double check the recoil spring for adequate tension. Get a new one if it hasn't been replaced recently. If it has, a set of different strength springs is available from Wolffe. You want the pistol to function without too much peening.

How strong are your reloads? What weight bullet?

Marc

4.2 of Nobel's Pistol No.2, 124gn FMJ. Just enough to make the mechanism work reliably (4.1 not enough in cold weather). Not the maximum in the book, by any means. Also 4.0 of No.2 with 124gn cast TC (but leading). Wolff spring kit has arrived.

There is a thread somewhere on this forum where it tals about ways of checking the pull strength on the toggle. Me and another memeber, I think postino played around with trying measure howmuch pull it takes. It was somewhat experimenting, but its data.

Maybe you can try the before and after when replacing your spring and see if there is a change in pull strength. Maybe it could help pin point that it is the spring, or maybe not. Wouldnt hurt to try.

If you do do it like that thread was doing it, maybe post your results so we can compare with the results we got.

Thanks
Skeeter

I found that thread its at the following threads

< Early Lugers (1900-1906)
< 1900 AE Heavy wear marks?


This could give you any idea of what we were doing.

Hi:

Your frame looks just fine to me.

If your load is barely strong enough to work the action, you are certainly not overloaded.

My favorite light load (which is highly accurate) is 3.7 grs of Bulls Eye with a 124 gr FMJ bullet.

Search my name and you will find several entries on highly accurate and reliable 9mm loads, all of which provide match grade accuracy and are easy on your Luger.

Also, you would do much better with medium-slow powders such as Power Pistol or IMR SR 4756.

Your lead bullets should not be leading your barrel. What type of lube are you using on them?

Enjoy shooting your Luger!!!


Sieger

I suggest a new main spring.....

If your lead bullets are leading your barrel, they may well be undersize for your bore. Have you slugged your bore to determine the exact bore that your Luger has ? Many/most of the original luger barrels were over the .355in that they were quoted as having. Many were .357-359 in. and if you are loading .355-356in bullets, then you can expect leading, especially with light loads that will not upset/obturate the bullet base.

I load lead in my 30 Luger brass, and try to use .002-.003in over the bore measurements. If you already knew this information, I apologize for repeating it.

Hi,

Everything you say here is true for normal 9mm chambers, however, the Luger has a stepped chamber that will not allow for a bullet diameter larger than .356. Anything larger will jam in the chamber, or worse yet, cause the breach block to not quite close. This is very dangerous, as you can fire a Luger this way without complete action lock-up.

By the way, your 7.65 Luger should have a groove diameter of .312. The original DWM FMJ bullets were just at .309. Are you loading .314 bullets in your 7.65mm?


Sieger

Hi,

I would too if anyone were manufacturing them to acceptable specs.

GT and I were going to tackle this little project, but other things seem to have gotten in the way. Perhaps later.

Sieger

He mentioned that his Luger had a replacement barrel, so I questioned if it indeed had a stepped chamber. Perhaps I am off base here.

I am loading my 30 luger brass with .312-.313in dia BHN 15 lead, and getting no leading in my 1921 DWM. I am loading these bullets to factory spec velocity according to my old reloading manuals. I am pleased with the results so far. I do wish that I could find some .309in. FMJRN bullets, but no luck so far, only .308in. FMJ.

The .308in FMJ work fine in my rebarreled (to 30 Luger) BHP and Colt Defender. They have BarSto barrels and have tight bores and chambers.....super accurate. They don't like my oversize lead loads, as I expected.

Hi Again,

The stepped chamber was used in the original Luger barrels till the end of WWII.

I'd like to have the value of your experience with the 7.65.

What bullets are you shooting, what powder and at what charge?

Thanks!!

Sieger

I changed the mainspring, reasonably easily thanks to the information here, and the striker spring. Now seems like it wants a bit more powder to work reliably as the previous load doesn't always work the action. More tests needed next time. Tightened up the safety as well, which tended to creep on.

Markings on receiver right side

http://www.fototime.com/32373663AC6D4E4/standard.jpg

Barrel six o'clock

http://www.fototime.com/9F4AC125C64C25A/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/33CC3D81967685D/standard.jpg

this one has had a long career

http://www.fototime.com/6E6371E895A0DC6/standard.jpg