LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Help! First Day At The Range Ended In Despair!!!

fantomark · 08-12-2007, 05:12 AM

TO ALL FORUM FRIENDS REPLYING TO MY MESSAGES

Ciao!

Thanks to all!
Happy to say thet frst part of problem at least seems to be solved!
I tried on the magazine of my second Luger recently purchased (a 9mm 1921 DWM - I will send photos of this for comments in a separate Thread).
With this magazine the toggle does remain open, when fully cocked by hand , and returns in its proper position, when released (after removal of magazine - with an unloaded pistol).
When comparing the 2 magazines side by side, it is quite obvious that the magazine spring of my 7.65 was too weak (soft).
The problem is that the non- working magazine seems to be the best for both guns from a historical point of view, however - having a wooden base plug (the one for my 1921 DWM is metal, : I believe that all P08s had a wooden magazine base plug until the early 1930's).
So if I return this to the dealer, I am likely to be given as a replacement a new magazine, good for service but with a plastic or at best a metal base plug!.
(any suggestions where I can find any working wooden base plugs magazines, by the way?)

Unfortunately, I can not say if this has also cured the second part of problem (ie: toggle requiring a gentle pressure from the top to return in its "flat" position after firing), since my local firing range is closed for summer holidays until 25 August. I'll be there as soon as they reopen and will report back to the Forum.

However in the meantime, I think that the guess about the mainspring is likely to be right.
After removing grip for visual inspection, I compared my spring side by dide with those of 2 original Swiss made 7.65 owned by a fellow shooting enthusiast: the spring on mine definitely DOES look stronger than those on the original 7.65s!!
In fact this is evident even by simply counting of the coils: on mine there are 21 coils, while on the Swiss ones there are only 17/18.
My friend explained that when 9mm Lugers were converted into 7.65 to comply with previous Italian regulations forbidding civilian ownership of any 9mm pistols , sometimes the springs where replaced (or shortened) and sometimes they just forgot about it (!?).
In my case, obiously mainspring was not replaced!
Now , my question is: can anybody give me an adress where to purchase an original/appropriate mainspring for a 7.65?

Alternatively, I might try to remove my mainspring and cut a couple of coils to make it weaker, but I am reluctant do do that , if I can find the proper spare part!

Thanks again to everybody - The Forum is indeed a vital resource for all Luger enthusiast, and especially for new recruits like me!!

Ciao!

Marco

08-12-2007, 05:12 AM	#10
fantomark User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: milano, italy Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TO ALL FORUM FRIENDS REPLYING TO MY MESSAGES Ciao! Thanks to all! Happy to say thet frst part of problem at least seems to be solved! I tried on the magazine of my second Luger recently purchased (a 9mm 1921 DWM - I will send photos of this for comments in a separate Thread). With this magazine the toggle does remain open, when fully cocked by hand , and returns in its proper position, when released (after removal of magazine - with an unloaded pistol). When comparing the 2 magazines side by side, it is quite obvious that the magazine spring of my 7.65 was too weak (soft). The problem is that the non- working magazine seems to be the best for both guns from a historical point of view, however - having a wooden base plug (the one for my 1921 DWM is metal, : I believe that all P08s had a wooden magazine base plug until the early 1930's). So if I return this to the dealer, I am likely to be given as a replacement a new magazine, good for service but with a plastic or at best a metal base plug!. (any suggestions where I can find any working wooden base plugs magazines, by the way?) Unfortunately, I can not say if this has also cured the second part of problem (ie: toggle requiring a gentle pressure from the top to return in its "flat" position after firing), since my local firing range is closed for summer holidays until 25 August. I'll be there as soon as they reopen and will report back to the Forum. However in the meantime, I think that the guess about the mainspring is likely to be right. After removing grip for visual inspection, I compared my spring side by dide with those of 2 original Swiss made 7.65 owned by a fellow shooting enthusiast: the spring on mine definitely DOES look stronger than those on the original 7.65s!! In fact this is evident even by simply counting of the coils: on mine there are 21 coils, while on the Swiss ones there are only 17/18. My friend explained that when 9mm Lugers were converted into 7.65 to comply with previous Italian regulations forbidding civilian ownership of any 9mm pistols , sometimes the springs where replaced (or shortened) and sometimes they just forgot about it (!?). In my case, obiously mainspring was not replaced! Now , my question is: can anybody give me an adress where to purchase an original/appropriate mainspring for a 7.65? Alternatively, I might try to remove my mainspring and cut a couple of coils to make it weaker, but I am reluctant do do that , if I can find the proper spare part! Thanks again to everybody - The Forum is indeed a vital resource for all Luger enthusiast, and especially for new recruits like me!! Ciao! Marco