bad feeding problems
 

My 1937 S/42 often jams up. It doesn't properly feed cartridges when the clip gets low. Its an old military clip that I am using. The cartriges will often miss the reciever and end up sitting vertically, jamming the action. Also, after a clip is emptied, when shoving a loaded clip in, shouldnt the action slam back into place, chambering a new cartridge? My luger wont do this. I have to pull the open action back just a bit and let it go. My buddy has a missmatched luger that, appearantly doesnt semiauto fire. He claims that he has to lift the action halfway up after shooting one round and then push it back down. Otherwise, it wont fire when pulling the trigger. The pin on the sear bar operates properly. The trigger spring is good. I took it apart many times, but cant find a problem. His feeds like crap too. But it does load a round automatically, when jamming a loaded clip in. Any suggestions very welcome. Thanks. Ben Thate

Buy a new clip (magazine) and try different ammo brands.

I have an E.G. mag that only works with PMP ammo.

I have a repro clip from Sarco ($16) that works great with Russian ammo.

It seems like different mags like different brands of ammo. Old mags are trouble....

The Luger doesn't "reload" itself if you slap a magazine in. I was thinking there might be some guns that do that, but the M-16, 45 Colt, Garand and most others I can think of, require you to release the bolt or action to charge the chamber. So yours if ok.

I have found that certain guns work better with certain magazines that I have, so try a newer magazine first before other solutions.

When are you guys going to learn? Lugers are always tempermental. They always have been, and they always will be. They are not for shooting, only for collecting. This also includes postwar Lugers made by Mauser and Aimco. If you want a new hobby, take up shooting Lugers. You will be constantly experimenting with ammo and magazines. If you like to shoot 9mm ammo, get a Browning High Power.

Aaron, take a deep breath, remember what the doctor told us guys? [img]biggrin.gif[/img]
Take aim, shoot, slap on the top, remember to use the right load.

He was a good one, but sometimes I forget to take my "medicine" and think I am strictly a collector too... [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Hey Guys,

Good lugers shoot fine. My Thor restored 1915 DWM has not malfunctioned (without cleaning) in 200 rounds and my 1936 Mauser shooter works 100% for at least 100 rounds before wiping out the crap--all with $11/100 Walmart Winchester 9 mm. ALSO, BOTH SHOOT 1.5 INCH 5 SHOT GROUPS AT 50 FEET rested and 3 inch groups offhand. How can you beat that?

I am an old bullseye shooter and my guns gotta shoot. With a good trigger (mine are poor) and adjustable sights these things could be competitive.

Right on Al! I have several Lugers, both 9mm and 7.65mm that will shoot any ammo, out of any decent magazine, without a hitch.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

I must also say here, in regards to shooting Lugers, that my experience differs greatly from Aaron's.

--Dwight

Once tuned (proper springs,magazine fit and feed, mechanical((frame ,reciever,ect.)). There like a good o'le truck and keep goin an goin. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

are there any resources on the net to tune a luger? And where can replacement springs and such be found?

I have 4 Luger shooters and use Winchester 115gr FMJ exclusively. I can't say "never" . . . but it is exceptionally rare that I have a feeding problem when using new Mec-Gar magazines with this ammunition. Maybe I have just been lucky.

Aaron, I would bet that your friend's luger that is not firing semiauto, has excessive wear at the firing pin to sear overlap and is not cocking between rounds. This is a dangerous situation, as his luger could go full auto at any time and empty the magazine with one pull of the trigger. I do tune up lugers all the time for other gunsmiths. Cost depends to what is wrong. The only pistols that I'm aware of that automaticly chamber a round when a new loaded mag is inserted, is the Mauser line of pocket pistols from 1910-HSC Super. Tom H.

By the way.. I noticed that I am getting wear marks on the rear end of the frame on my S/42. This is from the toggle slamming open real hard I think. I assume that this is from a weak main spring. Is this right? I use Winchester 115 grain target ammo. Also, I have a digital camera and I can take pictures of it as well as my buddy's mismatched shooter. Or is there a special place that they are posted? Thanks.

Yes, you can post pictures, there is a tutorial on the admin portion above and can post pictures right here in the posting.

When you fire, it will make a mark as you describe, but shouldn't be "excessive".