who can fix this for me?
 

My S/42 is really frustrating me. I take it out to compete with my buddies who have fairly new 1911s and Ruger 9mms. None of us have much accuracy, but at least their pistols dont jam. That darn Luger jams every few shots. I put new springs in it and kept it clean. Is there an outfit or respectable Luger expert who can kill the bugs in this weapon for a reasonable fee? I have tried monkeying with it and experimenting with ammo far past my patience. Please help, thanks. Ben.

The subject of getting a Luger to function reliably is a frequent topic and the solutions are many and varied, and usually one or a combination of fixes will help. I for one have not had too many problems with jamming, but I have found that a Luger requires a firm grip and a stiff wrist when firing. A light hold such as you would use with a target weapon flat will not work with a Luger.

My first and second WWII Lugers (byf 42) jammed like crazy. Then I read about replacing the magazine, specifically a Swiss version. I did and the gun improved dramatically. I then went through the gun cleaning out crud from all of the little places inside the gun, especially where movement occurred. I used Break-Free CLP to lubricate, but not excessively.
I also had to clean the barrel, with a lot of elbow grease. The barrel was really full of black carbon build up, although it didn't look it. I was rewarded for my time with an impressive shoot at the range recently.
It shoots wonderfully now. Only Corbon ammo didn't work so well. The best I tried, Federal Hydra-Shok +P+, which functioned perfectly and produced groups that were fabulous, and on target for the sight settings that were set when it left the factory in 1942. I'm definitely going to buy more of that ammo...

Johnny C. Kitchens,

FWIW - Let me caution you about the use of +P+ ammo in your Lugers. IMHO, and in the opinion of many others, it is way too hot for Lugers...

So John, that machine gun ammo a guy sent me a while back I shouldn't use? :D (It was in a different box, so didn't know what it was...)

I used about 10 rounds and said, <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> that is a bit hot!

So, quit using it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Ed

Yep, Stay clear of the Submachine gun marked ammo... it falls in the same class... HOT.

Have you seen any ammo marked submachine gun only???

Yes, Johnny... not the ammo itself, but the boxes... primarily Canadian and Israeli, but I am sure there are others as well.

Why, then, is it stated several places on this Forum that modern ammo is generally too weak to properly function the Luger, and that hotter ammo can make them function as they should? Maybe someone should post the spec's. on the original military round designed for the pistole. If it's already on here somewhere, please point me to it. Then it should be easy to select the proper FMJ ball round based on bullet weight and muzzle velocity. The first time I shoot mine, I want it to have every chance of working properly. Thanks

Saxman,

If your gun is 9 mm and in good shape, the Wallmart bulk pack Winchester ammo should work fine. Why look overly hard for anything else? My 3 Lugers work great with this stuff if halfways clean and shoot 1.5" groups at 50'. One gun works best with the original magazine and the other two work best with MecGar magazines, although they work perfectly with the original magazines when spotlessly clean and oiled.

Saxman

I posted some ammo that was tested for pressure and performance in
the labratory. Take a look. My post is down about half way...

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lugerfo...;f=16;t=000104

Thank y'all for the info!