jamming
 

I have 3 lugers and they all seem to have a problem with jamming. Any hints as how to avoid the problem. I have use S&B, Wolf and Pmc ammo. They all seem to jam. Do I need to get the guns fixed or is there some ammo better that might not jam the gun. Konrado

Describe the problem in a little more detail. Are your guns not cycling ie. toggle does not close or short cycle (main spring or firing pin spring) . Or is it jamming during the feed cycle (bad mag spring or lips) If it is not cycling than you might try some of the Fiocchi or RWS ammo. It is quite hot and should make it go.

Konrad, are your Lugers 9mm or .30 cal.? If they are 9mm try the Winchester 100-round bulk-pack (i.e., cheap!) boxes from WalMart. I shoot them in four different Lugers, and in the last 1500 rounds or so have had maybe three or four malfunctions. If they are .30 I can't offer much help, the only .30 ammunition I have found commercially is Fiocci,and it is way too underpowered to operate a Luger reliably.

Check your shooting technique. Lugers require being shot with a firm hand. Letting them fly up under recoil ("limp-wristing") releases too much of the recoil energy to your hand, and interferes with proper operation of the action.

Are you using the original magazines which came with the guns? If so, the magazine springs may have become weak or compressed, or the feed lips may have sprung out of proper alignment. Get ahold of a newly manufactured magazine--I recommend those manufactured by Mec-Gar--and see if that solves the problem. My original magazines all jam at least some of my Lugers; Mec-Gars provide me part of the reliability noted above.

Let us all know how it works out.

Good luck, and good shooting.

--Dwight

Konrad,

I completely agree with Dwight's post above. Bad magazines are the number one cause of Luger feeding problems and Walmart Winchester is not only the cheapest ammo available it is also the among the most reliable for Lugers. FYI, Doug George who also posted above is an excellent source for Mec Gar mags. I use the nickled Mec Gars and replace the plastic bases with repro walnut bases so that they resemble WWI mags. KFS

Just FYI the RWS GECO ammo is not expensive. It costs me about $6 a box if I do a case at a time. I have promised Thor to chronograph some and post the results.

Konrad, all of the forgoing suggestions should help. Before spending any money give this a try; I have a reprint, 1964, (in english) of the original DWM Luger manual, The "Parabellum" Automatic Pistol. In it DWM recommends using nothing but 'vaseline' on all working parts for lubrication. Give this a try making sure to grease the sliding rails and everything else well with it to see what happens. Assuming the magazine 'lips' are not deformed it just might cure your problem.

Has anyone used vaseline on the rails of their Lugers. I've never heard of this, I just oil them when I clean them. It there any long term efects of leaving vaseline in the gun?

And I agree, magazines are usually the problem. Try switching magazines and see if this corrects the problem.

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> Tracy, I schidt you not, here is the itemhttp://boards.rennlist.com/upload/DSCN0556.JPG

Considering the giant leaps in technology in the past 40 years, I would not consider using vasoline on anything but a condom!

In the '60s, we had folks bringing guns into the shop that had been FILLED with vasoline. It had been published as a poor mans cosmoline by some one and,....boy!...was that stuff hard to remove after a number of years!

Use a good lubricant and forget the Vasoline!

Orv Reichert

Herb,

I believe you. I'm just wondering if anyone does use vasiline.

Orv, you are out of touch, try K-Y jelly!!

Make sure you use a condom on your Luger.

I am not out of touch...I am just so OLD that it is no longer a problem!

Orv

um... well! I just substitute white lithium grease for vaseline. EEZOX goes on everything else. No... not on condoms! Orv... don't give up hope... there's always vitamin *V*!