Newbie with S/42 feeding jams

[Panzerfaust1973]

Greetings All,

Let me thank everyone for all the amazing information provided about this unique firearm. I will show off my recently purchased S-42. It's a Mauser G stamped and refurbished back in 1997. I replaced the grips with a pair of Nill smooth walnut ones. I know this Luger has no collector´s value but isn´t it a nice shooter after all??? The BIG ISSUE is that I am getting quite more than an acceptable number of feeding jams when shooting. I´ve tried different ammo (always FMC from S&B and Magtech) and different mags (Haenel and Mecgar both in excellent shape).

Ammo? Magazine? Limp wristing? Weak recoil spring?

I am kind of lost with this...

[tomaustin]

there are articles on the front page and may answer your question....tom

[mrerick]

Hi, Welcome to the forum. Nice clean looking refinish! Never seen the Mauser name engraved on the front frame like that. Did they do the restoration?

There are a few different feed problems, so a description would help.

There are a couple of different recoil springs used in Lugers. The WW-I guns used a spring with fewer turns than are commonly used with the later Mausers. I believe it's 18 turns for the older guns, and 20 for the later ones.

Full NATO spec ammo may be too fast burning and strong for our guns. In the USA plain old White box Winchester (often available at WalMart) seems to work well for many people.

The magazine spring can also be an issue.

But... There is one thing that I learned. Your grip support as you fire your Luger has to be fairly tight and consistent. It needs the initial resistance of your hand and arm to allow the toggle to unlock and terminate it's stroke properly.

When I paid some attention to my own grip and arm position, I cleared up some problems I was having with feeding.

Marc

[Panzerfaust1973]

Thanks mrericks for the tips. The feeding jam occurs when a new live round fails to chamber. The bullet's nose remains forced against the feed ramp. I had a similar problem with a 1911 that was finally solved with a stronger recoil spring.

Pablo.

[Panzerfaust1973]

And Yes...the refurb was made by Mauser Oberndorf in 1997. IMHO these kind of restorations probably deserve a more indulgent consideration since we're dealing with a factory refurbishing. Well, that's my point of view. Still just a shooter folks!

[mrerick]

Since two good magazines have the feed problem that might not be likely.

I would try white box Winchester before changing things out. Lugers can be quite finicky... A 10% reduction in the powder load in my handloads helped solve my similar feed problem. Using 124gn rather than 115gn bullets in the ammo may help.

It might be worth a replacement recoil spring. Check with LugerDoc here (let him know the problem, he gives good advice - and can also do the work for you).

Springs are also available in kits with a variety of strengths from sites like midwayusa.com and brownells.com - Wolff spring makes the kits.

Marc

[RJS]

I have been through this too with a S42. The mec gar magzine did not work well for me. I got a Magazine from GT (Gerald Tomek) on this forum and 99% of my failure to feed problems went away ( I have 4 Lugers I shoot of different vintages). He takes Mec Gar mag tubes and builds from there.

[RJS]

I have been through this too with a S42. The mec gar magzine did not work well for me. I got a Magazine from GT (Gerald Tomek) on this forum and 99% of my failure to feed problems went away ( I have 4 Lugers I shoot of different vintages). He takes Mec Gar mag tubes and builds from there. You have a great looking gun; love the grips.

[pgv1973]

Thanks RJS. I agree those Nill grips look great, just a bit on the slippery side but beautiful as they can be...yes: the MecGar has about a 90% FTF ratio. The FXO funtions much better but still suffers from too many jams. How can I get one of those GT mags and, this is the hard issue, would they be shipped to Spain?

Pablo.

[pgv1973]

Changed my nick. Panzerfaust sounded a bit explosive...sorry folks!

[RJS]

Gerald Tomek email is "gctomeks@msn.com" You can let him know I gave you his address. He is also often on this site. He can tell you about the Spain mailing. Let him know what you are shooting and that it was refurbished at the factory. Good luck. Let us know how this turns out.

[lfid]

SUPER NICE Luger !!!

perhaps shiny with original contour preservation can be nicer than soft glow after all

rare to see gloss like a mirror , usually edges are rounded off , etc

awesome grips - is that a selected set of Nille grips for fit and wood - or is it common excellence ?

any info on the refinish method - hand with flat stone or ?

kind of looks like bluing on the Mauser Parabellum 1970s - but better

thanks for sharing !!!

Bill

[pgv1973]

Thanks RJS and Ifid for the tips and compliments about the pistol. I have no info about the refinishing method other than it took place at the Mauser factory located in Oberndorf. We also have the date (1997). I agree with you on how well they managed to preserve the countours of the gun. The extra glossy finish is a gift to the eyes.

The Nill grips are as you said common excellence affordable to most of us. Just visit their website (www.nill-griffe.com) and check by yourselves.

I will email Gerald Tomek and see if I am lucky to get once of those mags...

Pablo.