Luger Malfunction

[Warhogg]

Is there a way to tell if it's the modern day "underpowered" ammo or a tolerance imperfection?

I took my Luger out for its first shooting session in my posession...It looks to be a VoPo, with mixed parts. Most of them match & the frame was renumbered to match the barrel/toggle assembly. The barrel itself is devoid of any markings, but the wear is consistent with the pistol. There are no import marks on the gun.

I shot it with the MecGar clip it came with, and also a E/63 aluminum based mag. Strangley, it would jam almost on every third shot in the clip.

I was shooting Fiocchi 9mm 115 gr factory ammo. For the most part I didn't have problems, but it would jam once every clip on the average (the original clip did a little better). how can I tell if it's the ammo or the mis-alignment of something? I guess I could solve that by shooting some hi-power 124 grain but where do I find that without getting hollow-point carry ammo?

The bullet tip was jamming at the top of the chamber every time, at the groove cut for the extractor.

Any insight?

I'm new to Lugers, but have been "around the block" with firearms in general. Here's some pics if it helps:

[John Sabato]

A respectable byf shooter. Fiocchi ammunition in 9mm is well known for being underpowered in Lugers. I recommend that you use Winchester 115 gr. ammo in the bulk box of 100. This ammo has a pretty good reputation in Luger pistols.

It is usually available in Walmart stores, but in Philadelphia, they might not carry it, so you might have try elsewhere to find it.

What part of Philadelphia do you live in? I was born and raised there in South Philly near 28th & Snyder Ave. Now that my Dad has passed away, I really don't have much reason to go back.

[Warhogg]

Thanks for the advice - fortunately my WalMart in Fairless Hills (just north of Philadelphia county) has plenty of Winchester 9mm. Funny, I'm sitting on a couple cases of 9mm ammo but I took the Fiocchi out thinking it may be hotter since it was made by a european company....

I have a couple boxes left of the Hirtenberger +P+++++ subgun ammo stuff but I figured that may be too hot?

I'll stick with your advice & try the Winny first.

I live in Bucks County but I travel through Philly down I-95 five days a week to my job in Chester. It's a hell of a commute but it's paying for my gun addiction...er, my Luger addiction now!

I refuse to live in Philly & pay the 4% wage tax, plus deal with idiots (fill in the blank - most recently Mayor Nutter) looking to punish us law abiding citizens with punitive gun laws. I could fill you in with the latest, but as you probably already know, it's the usual these days & I don't want to sour the mood or pleasure of our hobby here....

[Ron Wood]

"+P subgun ammo may be too hot"...you bet your sweet bippy it is! It may take several rounds of that stuff to achieve spontaneous disassembly of your Luger, but damage is inevitable.

[Warhogg]

Thanks for the confirmation. The Hirtenberger is reserved for my subguns (Uzi & Sten), and I store it separate from the other ammo...just to ensure there will never be a mix-up!

I've read that Lugers have stiffer actions & that the ammo used during that period was hotter. It left me wondering just how much....Not that much!

So, I'll back away from the Hirtenberger, grab some WalMart Winchester, and report back with a new range report later.

Thanks Gentlemen!

[Vlim]

Hi,

Not so much hotter, as a different pressure curve as the result of slower burning powders. (and a pretty long OAL as opposed to SAAMI standards).

[LugerVern]

Your getting bullet bounce:

I would try shooting and being very careful not to push up on the magazine from the bottom. This changes the leading edge of the magazine and can cause what your talking about. Also occurs during rapid fire.

It is possible that you have a weak main spring, and that the toggle is rebounding to fast and when the tip of the bullet hits the ramp it bounces up and hangs, but because it only occurs now and then my bet is on your shooting position.

It is also possible that the magazine latch has become worn, this will hold the leading edge lower than normal, so instead of the bullet sliding along the ramp, it hits nose first and then bounces up on its way to the chamber.


You don't have a big problem, it may take trying a few different things to find exactly what is causing the problem. Oh, and of course that means you'll have to shoot it some more

Vern

[jamese]

warhogg,
limp wristing, will cause the same type of jam. My son (9 years old) has the same type of jam on my Lugers that work perfect for me.

Try the win ammo, and pay close attention to grip and form

Jim

[John Sabato]

If you live in Bucks County, then you have a bonus... Our other Super Moderator, Ed Tinker is currently living in Bensalem... Send him a PM...if the two of you get together at a shooting session... he will probably be able to diagnose what is wrong first hand...and he has plenty of magazines to try to solve your problem

... and I am sure he is looking for a good place to shoot so you can return the favor by showing him where...

[Warhogg]

That's who I bought it from, in person nonetheless!

He's living almost right up the street from me, just a few miles away...How lucky I am (and unlucky he is )

[John Sabato]

Ed can help diagnose your problem... put your heads together at a range and bring a variety of ammo and magazines... and an oil can and rags... you will figure it out.

[policeluger]

I have found on about every VOPO luger I worked on, that the chamber was from a bit tarnished to in a few cases needing finished reamed, I would at the least polish the chamber with nothing more then cocoas cloth, you can even wrap it around a hard wood dowel and use it like a mandrel, however polish very lite only, you don't want to change calibers....and watch that Tinker fellow, he has even been known to sell Lugers to wifes of unsuspecting husbands.....

[Warhogg]

Thanks - Yeah, Ed was back home in Colorado last weekend. That's when I took the Luger out for it's first test run. I was going to test out some different ammo like you suggested before I hit him up with the news. But I'm sure he'll probably stumble across this post first!

[Edward Tinker]

I was ignoring the posting, hoping it was working correctly!


I will say that recently I was having trouble with some fiochi and stupidly used some +p+ ammo and broke my breachblock on a shooter I own...


So, follow my usual advice and not my own stupid doings, and use Winchester white box

Ed

[Warhogg]

I just got back from the range - Winchester 115gr white box from WalMart was a bust...it jammed up on it.

However, I did find its sweet spot - Speer Lawman 124gr FMJ

It loved it. No malfunctions or hitches of any kind. And it was damn accurate with it too. The Luger & I are both purring with satisfaction!