[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick W.:
[QB]Hello Everyone,
"As Bob pointed out overall cartridge length can make a difference in magazine feeding performance."
The Luger magazine design was based on very close tolerances relative to cartridge OAL. This is because of its "step-feeding" design. As you have discovered, cartridges that are too short will not feed properly and jam the pistol. All current factory ammo is loaded too short to properly feed through the Luger magazine. In fact, if your's will feed factory ammo, with 100% efficiency, something is wrong!
The original DWM lengths for cartridges were:
Flat point cone: 29mm (approximately 1.14 inches)
Round nose ball: 29.8mm (approximately. 1.173 inches)
"I tend keep the cartridge length on the longest side myself, kinda let the magazine tell me things about overall length..."
Yes, it's really quite easy. Load up 8 dummy rounds, starting on the long side (in excess of the lengths quoted above).
Load all 8 rounds into the magazine, noting if the top round is parallel to the lips of the magazine, or if it's at an angle. Studying the top round of the 8 is the key, because if the others are too short, the "mistake" in their lengths is cumulative on the top round.
Work the toggle manually. If the top round feeds smoothly, without any unusual effort, you have the right length. If not, slowly and carefully reduce the OALs of all 8 rounds and repeat the process. Remember, the top 8th round is critical, as it "catches" the other 7 round's "mistakes".
After a few trys, this process becomes second nature, and yes, your pistol will feed properly!!!
Now, to develop the proper load.
Bob
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