PROBLEM WITH Artillery LUGER
 

W e bought a double dated 1914 1920 erfurt i tried reloads as well as factory loads, toggle would not reseat completly after each round.I had to slap it in place with my hand. I only had with me the mag that came with the gun.Does any body have any thoughts, I have a p08 that works great can you switch parts until it will operate or do they not interchange? THANKS <img border="0" alt="[oops]" title="" src="graemlins/oops.gif" />

Henry:

Have you cleaned and oiled your pistol, thoroughly removing all of the old gunk from it?

If so, one of the "experts" out there probably shortened your main spring, in an attempt to get it to function with the fast burning powders used to load current commercial ammo.

We have several qualified Smiths on this forum that can check your pistol out and replace the main spring if it needs it.

Sieger

PS: DON'T FIRE THE PISTOL AGAIN UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED!!!

Thanx my son told me not to fire it also, but when you say main spring are you talking about the spring behind the grip, or that tiny spring behind the firing pin? Oh yes we did clean it.

The mainspring is in the frame between the grips. http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/luger08a.jpg

I have ordered a new spring repair kit from wolff is the main spring very hard to replace?

Henry, take at look at this tutorial for main spring changing! Hope it helps you! Thor
CLICK HERE FOR Thor's Guide to Main spring installation

Hello Thor
I got my wolff replacement springs ,followed your instructions but am having one small problem. When the spring is on the spring guide and i push it up to lock some of the new spring is able to get inside along with the hook on the guide .just a samll amount but this is just enought from keeping the guide from turning to its final location,I have taken apart and tried opening one spring round with a pair of snap ring pliers,Better but,has any body had this problem?

Sure have. Try reversing the spring to see if the other end is larger, if not you can also stretch one end larger by forcing it down on something tapered like a nail set/punch. Too much is, well, too much. Good part is that unless you are in the repair business you won't be doing this real often.

rk

Finaly got it .used a very small allen wrench laid it in place where the spring first passes thru grip frame. after i had spring locked in place i withdrew it and no part of spring was able to get wedged into slot where hook on spring guide was suppose to be .Boy are my fingers worn out!!!!!!!

Congrats! A major job for a rookie! At least you shouldn't have to do this more than once a generation :D

Also found that a small piece of wood wedged in place in the frame grip area near where you would insert the magazine gives you a resting place that helps hold the sring guide and spirng under pressure in place while you are getting your second wind.Has to be a tight fit, (the wood that is)

Went to the range today and boy was i proud of myself. worked great thanks for the help