Gunsmith in Dallas-Fort Worth Tx area?

rossgn · 08-18-2014, 01:36 PM

Anyone know of a reputable gunsmith in the DFW area, good with Lugers? Have a DWM "shooter" that needs some attention.

Thanks

John Sabato · 08-18-2014, 01:48 PM

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

Exactly what kind of attention does it need? What kind of problems are you experiencing.

Failures to load?
Stovepipes?
Failures to eject?
Holdopen not working?
etc.

You may be able to work through this without a gunsmith by getting advice from experienced people here...

rossgn · 08-18-2014, 06:12 PM

Hi John

Purchases to use as a "shooter", as I didn't want to put more wear on my Erfurt. Initially, the gun would not "recock" and the toggle seemed to bind a little when manually retracting. I discovered the firing pin spring to be broken. Replaced the spring, and now "recocks", but stovepipes the second round. Tried an aftermarket magazine that works with my Erfurt, but did not cure the problem. Thought it might best be sent to Luger specialist as I plan on shooting this one quite a bit.

Lugerdoc · 08-19-2014, 10:44 AM

R, you may first want to try a few other brands of ammo, before going the gunsmith route. Tom

John Sabato · 08-19-2014, 11:42 AM

Winchester "white box" 9mm is recommended for suitable functioning. When it is available, it can usually be purchased at a Walmart.

rossgn · 08-19-2014, 12:00 PM

This one is actually a .30 cal. Can't remember the brand of ammo.

rhuff · 08-19-2014, 04:10 PM

You are most likely using Fiocchi, or possibly Winchester 30 Luger ammo. If you are trying to shoot the Fiocchi 93gr JSP ammo, that might be your problem. My Lugers do well with the Fiocchi 93gr FMJ, but not the JSP variety. Just a thought.

The Fiocchi 30 Luger ammo appears to finally be back available in a number of places. It arrives in squirts throughout the year.

Lugerdoc · 08-20-2014, 10:06 AM

R, Since Erfurt never made a 7.65mm luger, yours must have been rebarreled, which may be causing your problems, unless you're attempting to shoot 7.65 thru a 9mm barrel, which will definitely cause some problems. TH

John Sabato · 08-20-2014, 10:32 AM

Could be a parts gun, with components from an Erfurt military pistol Tom Heller is correct. Erfurt was a government military arsenal and never produced and 7.65mm pistols.

rossgn · 08-20-2014, 06:47 PM

Clarification: This is a Commercial DWM 30 cal.....purchased to shoot instead of causing more wear on my WWI Erfurt 9mm.

Yes....Fiochi was all that was available when I bought the ammo. I am out of town, but I'm pretty sure it is FMJ. I have a spring kit and am going to attempt to replace the recoil spring this weekend. My Erfurt has noticeably more "snap" to the toggle than this DWM.

rossgn · 08-21-2014, 10:20 PM

The replacement unit from my spring kit is substantially longer than the original. Is this acceptable?

rhuff · 08-22-2014, 03:00 PM

That is 100% normal. The new recoil spring has not taken a "set" as yet. Once it is installed and used for a bit, the overall length will be reduced.....No problem.

rossgn · 08-22-2014, 03:45 PM

Great! Thanks.

rossgn · 08-25-2014, 09:40 PM

Whew.......tougher job than I thought, especially with the extra spring length. Have to regroup and try again tomorrow.

alanint · 08-25-2014, 10:14 PM

Look in the archives here for how to make your own mainspring installation tool.

rossgn · 08-28-2014, 10:56 AM

Wow.....the extra length on the spring made it a real booger. Kept modifying by little homemade tool and finally got it. Action feels MUCH better now. Cant wait to get to the range to see if this cures the problem.

Jim Solomon · 08-28-2014, 12:06 PM

Check for recoil tool .

rossgn · 08-28-2014, 01:34 PM

Yes....made one similar to the one's shown on this board. I had better luck after shortening the leg a little more that the ones shown on archived posts.

rossgn · 09-04-2014, 10:04 PM

Finally got a chance to go to the range after changing the recoil spring. Stovepipes worse now

Lugerdoc · 09-05-2014, 11:13 AM

R. The original DWM 7.65mm recoil springs had 17 turns vise 19 to 21 turns on the orig 9mm springs. If you are using the Wolff replacement recoil spring, hopefully you got the reduced power spring. Even then, you may have to reduce it's length to match the power of the ammo that you are using. This can be a time consuming process if you are removing one turn of the spring at a time, with reassembly and a trip to the range each time. I do have one exc original 17 turn DWM recoil spring in stock @$20 + $5 S&H, if you wish to try it. I'd also recommend that you check the movement of your extractor to make sure that it is moving normally and if the round that is jamming is an empty, also check the movement of your ejector. TH

08-18-2014, 01:36 PM	#1
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Gunsmith in Dallas-Fort Worth Tx area? Anyone know of a reputable gunsmith in the DFW area, good with Lugers? Have a DWM "shooter" that needs some attention. Thanks

08-18-2014, 01:48 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Welcome to the Lugerforum. Exactly what kind of attention does it need? What kind of problems are you experiencing. Failures to load? Stovepipes? Failures to eject? Holdopen not working? etc. You may be able to work through this without a gunsmith by getting advice from experienced people here... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

08-19-2014, 10:44 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	R, you may first want to try a few other brands of ammo, before going the gunsmith route. Tom __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-19-2014, 11:42 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Winchester "white box" 9mm is recommended for suitable functioning. When it is available, it can usually be purchased at a Walmart. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

08-20-2014, 10:06 AM	#8
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	R, Since Erfurt never made a 7.65mm luger, yours must have been rebarreled, which may be causing your problems, unless you're attempting to shoot 7.65 thru a 9mm barrel, which will definitely cause some problems. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-18-2014, 06:12 PM	#3
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Hi John Purchases to use as a "shooter", as I didn't want to put more wear on my Erfurt. Initially, the gun would not "recock" and the toggle seemed to bind a little when manually retracting. I discovered the firing pin spring to be broken. Replaced the spring, and now "recocks", but stovepipes the second round. Tried an aftermarket magazine that works with my Erfurt, but did not cure the problem. Thought it might best be sent to Luger specialist as I plan on shooting this one quite a bit.

08-19-2014, 12:00 PM	#6
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	This one is actually a .30 cal. Can't remember the brand of ammo.

08-19-2014, 04:10 PM	#7
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	You are most likely using Fiocchi, or possibly Winchester 30 Luger ammo. If you are trying to shoot the Fiocchi 93gr JSP ammo, that might be your problem. My Lugers do well with the Fiocchi 93gr FMJ, but not the JSP variety. Just a thought. The Fiocchi 30 Luger ammo appears to finally be back available in a number of places. It arrives in squirts throughout the year.

08-20-2014, 10:32 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Could be a parts gun, with components from an Erfurt military pistol Tom Heller is correct. Erfurt was a government military arsenal and never produced and 7.65mm pistols. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

08-20-2014, 06:47 PM	#10
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Clarification: This is a Commercial DWM 30 cal.....purchased to shoot instead of causing more wear on my WWI Erfurt 9mm. Yes....Fiochi was all that was available when I bought the ammo. I am out of town, but I'm pretty sure it is FMJ. I have a spring kit and am going to attempt to replace the recoil spring this weekend. My Erfurt has noticeably more "snap" to the toggle than this DWM.

08-21-2014, 10:20 PM	#11
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	The replacement unit from my spring kit is substantially longer than the original. Is this acceptable? Attached Thumbnails

08-22-2014, 03:00 PM	#12
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	That is 100% normal. The new recoil spring has not taken a "set" as yet. Once it is installed and used for a bit, the overall length will be reduced.....No problem.

08-22-2014, 03:45 PM	#13
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Great! Thanks.

08-25-2014, 09:40 PM	#14
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Whew.......tougher job than I thought, especially with the extra spring length. Have to regroup and try again tomorrow.

08-25-2014, 10:14 PM	#15
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Look in the archives here for how to make your own mainspring installation tool.

08-28-2014, 10:56 AM	#16
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Wow.....the extra length on the spring made it a real booger. Kept modifying by little homemade tool and finally got it. Action feels MUCH better now. Cant wait to get to the range to see if this cures the problem.

08-28-2014, 12:06 PM	#17
Jim Solomon Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 193 Thanks: 696 Thanked 173 Times in 66 Posts	Check for recoil tool . __________________ Jim Solomon dent2@frontiernet.net

08-28-2014, 01:34 PM	#18
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Yes....made one similar to the one's shown on this board. I had better luck after shortening the leg a little more that the ones shown on archived posts.

09-04-2014, 10:04 PM	#19
rossgn User Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Finally got a chance to go to the range after changing the recoil spring. Stovepipes worse now

09-05-2014, 11:13 AM	#20
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	R. The original DWM 7.65mm recoil springs had 17 turns vise 19 to 21 turns on the orig 9mm springs. If you are using the Wolff replacement recoil spring, hopefully you got the reduced power spring. Even then, you may have to reduce it's length to match the power of the ammo that you are using. This can be a time consuming process if you are removing one turn of the spring at a time, with reassembly and a trip to the range each time. I do have one exc original 17 turn DWM recoil spring in stock @$20 + $5 S&H, if you wish to try it. I'd also recommend that you check the movement of your extractor to make sure that it is moving normally and if the round that is jamming is an empty, also check the movement of your ejector. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net