Magazine Problems

USMC_Spike · 06-27-2009, 12:27 AM

After reading through many of the posts here,
I purchased a couple of the magazines.

I got two of the Mec-Gar nickle magazines.
After putting some rounds in them and pushing
the rounds out of the magazines, I was shocked
to find they caught. That is, the ammo got stuck
on the magazine, where the case and the bullet meet,
as I pushed the round forward.

I then checked the magazine that came was with my pistol
and it is an Erma magazine. I did the same test with
it, and not one round caught. I did the same check with
other pistol magazines, .45 and .380 and didn't have any
problems with them. There are cut aways where the
round exits the magazine where there are none on
the Luger magazines.

Upon closer inspection, the Erma magazine is tapered to
a point, at the top front of the magazine where the magazine
feeds a round into the chamber, the Meg-Cars are not tapered.

There are some other slight variations too, in the shape of
the plate that pushed up the rounds in the magazine. I'm
wondering if this plate needs to be bent slightly upwards?

I'm also wondering if I should try and grind down that top
part of the magazine, any thoughts?

Anyone else have this type of magazine problem?

I'm beginning to understand how finicky these pistols are
and appreciate the Browning designs of the 1911 and
the 9mm hi-power for reliability.

alterfritz · 06-27-2009, 04:42 AM

Contact G.T. here in the forum, he can help you with magazine problems. He seems to be ill right now so it may take a while for him to get back to you

Vlim · 06-27-2009, 10:17 AM

What type of ammunition are you using?

I've been shooting MecGars for years and never experienced these problems. Ammo used is S&B and Winchester.

jonnyc · 06-27-2009, 11:47 AM

Wait!
Stop!
Don't grind anything!
Hand-cycling mags is not an accurate way to check them. Test fire each mag, fully loaded, at least five times. If you have any malfunctions, THEN think about modifications.

DavidJayUden · 06-27-2009, 12:02 PM

And, according to the LugerDoc, DON'T jam in that final round.

USMC_Spike · 06-27-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyc

Wait!
Stop!
Don't grind anything!
Hand-cycling mags is not an accurate way to check them. Test fire each mag, fully loaded, at least five times. If you have any malfunctions, THEN think about modifications.

In this old Luger I almost don't want to run a loaded mag through my pistol with this magazine hang. Heck I don't
want to have it rip a round apart or break something.

If you are shooting with these mec-gars, do you encounter
this type of hang? Anyone? This isn't proper.

Well I was going to see if I could modify them or return
them and try to find something else, what, I don't know.
Something isn't quite right with these mags and I'm not
sure what it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

What type of ammunition are you using?

I've been shooting MecGars for years and never experienced these problems. Ammo used is S&B and Winchester.

I have some Olympic FMJ 9mm ammo at 115. Nothing fancy
just lookes like all the other ball ammo out there. When
I measured the length of the rounds it was 1.153 inches.
The seam is standard, where the bullet and case meet
is standard to the thin side, which is even more surprising
considering the stopping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

And, according to the LugerDoc, DON'T jam in that final round.

Don't worry, nothing is jammed in. I baby this thing. I just wish
I had the luger tool also. I'll have to buy one some where.

Ice · 06-27-2009, 05:54 PM

Something may be out of spec with the Olympic ammo. Before doing anything else please try some Winchester White Box or other American Ball ammo. It might probably make a big difference.

Charlie

jonnyc · 06-27-2009, 06:33 PM

Ditto!
That Olympic stuff is as bad as A-Merc. Some of it has been reported anecdotally as WAY TOO HOT. I can't imagine any way you could possibly damage your pistol by tesing a mag with quality brass-cased ammo.

USMC_Spike · 06-28-2009, 08:36 AM

My next step was some winchester and S&B ammo to run through
the mags--First by hand. However, even by hand, I can't see that it will make any difference.

Then, once it passes the hand test, will I then place the mag
in the pistol and cycle it through the chamber by hand.

Once this is confirmed, with no problems, will I think
start shooting.

NOW

If I'm wrong and the Win and S&B ammo works, I'll let yall know.

IN

The mean time, thanks for your input and thoughtful responses.

USMC_Spike · 06-29-2009, 05:17 PM

Update:

Loaded up the mags with various 9mm Luger rounds.
Olympic, Remington, Winchester, and cycled them through manually.

Then loaded the mags in the Luger and cycled them through
manually.

Funny thing happened, the biggest problem occurred with
trying to chamber the first round. That is difficult to do.
I wonder what is going on with this Luger?

HOWEVER

Once the first round feeds, it functions.

Next step the range.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Spike

Vlim · 06-29-2009, 08:12 PM

Hi, Placement of the mag may be slightly off as the result of a worn magazine catch.

Try the exercise while slightly pushing against the mag bottom, see if there is any difference.

Lugerdoc · 06-30-2009, 09:55 AM

Spike, As mentioned above the OAL of the ammo can make a big difference, and it is possible that your particular mag has feed lips that exent a bit too far forward or that the front of mag at top needs to be ground down a bit. Mags can be modified to adapt to various types of ammo. I do have both original DWM mag loading tools available @$50 or new repros @$20. TH PS: does your avatar show the installation of the "spike"? I always wondered how you marines managed to stand so straight and never deficate. CDR. USNR-Ret.

06-27-2009, 12:27 AM	#1
USMC_Spike User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Magazine Problems After reading through many of the posts here, I purchased a couple of the magazines. I got two of the Mec-Gar nickle magazines. After putting some rounds in them and pushing the rounds out of the magazines, I was shocked to find they caught. That is, the ammo got stuck on the magazine, where the case and the bullet meet, as I pushed the round forward. I then checked the magazine that came was with my pistol and it is an Erma magazine. I did the same test with it, and not one round caught. I did the same check with other pistol magazines, .45 and .380 and didn't have any problems with them. There are cut aways where the round exits the magazine where there are none on the Luger magazines. Upon closer inspection, the Erma magazine is tapered to a point, at the top front of the magazine where the magazine feeds a round into the chamber, the Meg-Cars are not tapered. There are some other slight variations too, in the shape of the plate that pushed up the rounds in the magazine. I'm wondering if this plate needs to be bent slightly upwards? I'm also wondering if I should try and grind down that top part of the magazine, any thoughts? Anyone else have this type of magazine problem? I'm beginning to understand how finicky these pistols are and appreciate the Browning designs of the 1911 and the 9mm hi-power for reliability.

06-30-2009, 09:55 AM	#12
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Spike, As mentioned above the OAL of the ammo can make a big difference, and it is possible that your particular mag has feed lips that exent a bit too far forward or that the front of mag at top needs to be ground down a bit. Mags can be modified to adapt to various types of ammo. I do have both original DWM mag loading tools available @$50 or new repros @$20. TH PS: does your avatar show the installation of the "spike"? I always wondered how you marines managed to stand so straight and never deficate. CDR. USNR-Ret. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

06-27-2009, 04:42 AM	#2
alterfritz User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: California Posts: 63 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Contact G.T. here in the forum, he can help you with magazine problems. He seems to be ill right now so it may take a while for him to get back to you

06-27-2009, 10:17 AM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,991 Times in 1,205 Posts	What type of ammunition are you using? I've been shooting MecGars for years and never experienced these problems. Ammo used is S&B and Winchester.

06-27-2009, 11:47 AM	#4
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	Wait! Stop! Don't grind anything! Hand-cycling mags is not an accurate way to check them. Test fire each mag, fully loaded, at least five times. If you have any malfunctions, THEN think about modifications.

06-27-2009, 12:02 PM	#5
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	And, according to the LugerDoc, DON'T jam in that final round.

06-27-2009, 05:54 PM	#7
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	Something may be out of spec with the Olympic ammo. Before doing anything else please try some Winchester White Box or other American Ball ammo. It might probably make a big difference. Charlie

06-27-2009, 06:33 PM	#8
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	Ditto! That Olympic stuff is as bad as A-Merc. Some of it has been reported anecdotally as WAY TOO HOT. I can't imagine any way you could possibly damage your pistol by tesing a mag with quality brass-cased ammo.

06-28-2009, 08:36 AM	#9
USMC_Spike User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My next step was some winchester and S&B ammo to run through the mags--First by hand. However, even by hand, I can't see that it will make any difference. Then, once it passes the hand test, will I then place the mag in the pistol and cycle it through the chamber by hand. Once this is confirmed, with no problems, will I think start shooting. NOW If I'm wrong and the Win and S&B ammo works, I'll let yall know. IN The mean time, thanks for your input and thoughtful responses.

06-29-2009, 05:17 PM	#10
USMC_Spike User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Update: Loaded up the mags with various 9mm Luger rounds. Olympic, Remington, Winchester, and cycled them through manually. Then loaded the mags in the Luger and cycled them through manually. Funny thing happened, the biggest problem occurred with trying to chamber the first round. That is difficult to do. I wonder what is going on with this Luger? HOWEVER Once the first round feeds, it functions. Next step the range. Thanks for all your suggestions. Spike

06-29-2009, 08:12 PM	#11
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,991 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Placement of the mag may be slightly off as the result of a worn magazine catch. Try the exercise while slightly pushing against the mag bottom, see if there is any difference.