[lugerholsterrepair]

Dave, Jack Hiles was here a week ago and just for fun we took two beater pistols completely apart, including the mainsprings. The mainsprings are easily removed.
The spring you are having trouble with can be either loose or tight. I have seen them both ways. The loose ones are agravating because they can fall out when fireing or handling.
Better to have a tight one. Get a really good light and some magnification. I use one of those cheat 4" magnafiers with a lightbulb attached. Sometimes the mag release button is milled with steep sides. Just wiggle it and look at it closely, keeping in mind..it was put together so it must come apart. The top should move to the right and the bottom slip out of the slot in the mag button to the left. The bottom of the spring is rounded so it should come on out if you hold yer mouth right...I sometimes use a little wood stick girls use to push back their cuticles.
I take down every Luger I aquire cause there is all sorts of junk in the hidden nooks and crannies.
Good Luck, Jerry Burney