CIAO!
Here is the Italian novice again!
Well, I must say I am not at all happy with my first start as a Luger shooter!
I recently bought my first P08 ( a 1918 DWM, all matching, though with barrel sleeved to 7.65 Para, to comply with Italian Regulations).
Yesterday, full of hope and enthusiasm, I took it to the my local range (near Milano) for the first time!
Previously I had fired Swiss made Lugers at several ranges in Switzerland and I found them a real joy to fire: very accurate and working like Swiss (!!) clockwork.
So you can easily imagine my mood when my first attempt at firing my long wished for and at last bought (at , at least for my pockets, a dear price) P08 ended in despair!
Problems experieced (in at least 60% of attempted shots) were as follows:
1 - round chambered but pistol would not fire. After pulling toggle to extract round and chambering a new one, the new one fired.
2 - after firing, toggle would remain partly raised , and I had to gentlly push it down to resume firing.
3 - Finally, when magazine was empty, toggle assembly did not come back as it should , and had to be hand operated.
Ammo was FIOCCHI, which here is generally considered the best 7.65 para on the market.
(The only redeeming feature was that the (few) rounds I did manage to fire went on target really accurately).
After shamefully replacing my P08 in its case , I left the range in a rather despondent and gloomy mood, among jeers of fellows shooters suggesting I should exchange my beloved but useless P08 with a Beretta!
Now I will of course take the gun back to the dealer asking for a check up, but this guy happens to be now on holidays until September 1st, and I am now on hot bricks and I would be really grateful to any membres volunteering a possible diagnosis.
Before taking the P08 to the range I did inspect the gun, carrying out basic disassembly, and I did not see any obvious fault (however I did not push myself as far as removial/inspection of firing pin, spring and guide).
I must admit that before disassembly I forgot to remove the magazine first, but when I put it back in place and started again, disassembly and reassebly were not a problem.
Well that's all for now. I will keep my eyes glued to the PC screen waiting for Help!
Ciao!
Marco (Milano)