Case follower
 

So I tore apart my force matched Luger magazine because it is bent beyond function and needs repair. It is a wood base plate mag with an 8 and KK markings. The interesting thing is the sping follower was replaced with a rimmed case with a headstamp dnh stt 43 3. Its clearly be modified to work as a follower. Has anyone seen this before? No photo hosting.

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no, never have seen a follower using a used cartridge...

Now you have! I looked up the headstamp and found 9mm cases marked identically. But this one is rimmed. Also notice the case has been necked to resemble the original follower.

Clever guy needed the plunger that rides against the follower and keeps the coil spring "in line".

The round fitting is not the follower; the follower is angled and this piece pushes against it.

Cartridge case turned to the size of the original spring plunger; I've never seen one, but it is a good idea!.

Thanks! I didn't know what to call it so I referred to it as the spring follower.

The case head is actually a good amount larger that a 9mm head. Its interesting.

spring guide!
 

I have seen this before, although not common, it is not all that rare either... I just can't remember the variation it is common to? I think the Finnish magazines? .. But, if you look close, it has been run thru the same dimension upset dyes as the original aluminum ones... and as such, is/are, exactly the same shape... Maybe a stop gap for shortages? Or, some cleaver recycling plan... either way, they are original and work fine, maybe better then the aluminum ones.... :jumper:...til...lat'r....GT

I have had several mags with a case used. They wok fine. Bill

Interesting. Its definitely been worked on. I have compared it to an original aluminum plunger and it's pretty well dead on. Google has failed me on information about it.

My problem is that the magazine body has been flattened in a spot a bit. Just enough to bind the follower and not fit a 9mm round.

Contact GT from post #6 above, he can fix your mag so it will work.
He has the mandrels to re-size inside and out.

I had one magazine with a cartridge case used as a plunger. Didn't think much about it, but from the comments here, it must have been a common repair. :)

BTW, I also have had a magazine with the original aluminum plunger separated into two pieces. :rolleyes:

The magazine springs in these things are tight! I was able to find the source of the hang up inside the mag and expand the body slightly. Now it loads fine. Hopefully it will feed better than my other magazine.

GT can not only repair your mag to like new, he has made up correct/better mag springs, and has the wood bases for Luger mags. He is our go-to mag person on this forum.

I appreciate it, but I would rather not replace anything and buy a few repro mags to wear out. I will test fire it but the original mags won't see much range time.

Jg, I've seen several of these rebuilt mags with 9mm case replacement spring guides. TH PS: Some authors call the KK and a number in a circle, inspectors markings from either Austria or Portugal.

"That's one way!"

Same for me , got one KK10 magazinefrom Portugal with 9mm case

Interesting. I wonder when in it's life it would have had a Portuguese magazine force matched to it. I has no signs of being a capture pistol.

Would need to know more about your pistol to even guess.

1940 42 marked Luger. Replacement barrel with a star marking. All numbers match except the barrel and takedown pin. No capture markings.