Range Report - Magazine & Springs...

[Johnny C. Kitchens]

Today I tested my improved 70's Mauser magazine, and Wolff Spring replacements at the range. The magazine is WONDERFUL!!! It is easier to load even with GT's Super Spring in place. Functioning was near perfection as I've ever experienced in a Luger. Two jams in over 150 rounds of ammo. Those two were test rounds with a bullet my gun doesn't seem to like set at a long 1.150" OAL. Oddly they worked perfectly at 1.140" OAL. With GT's aluminum base the magazine even gave my gun a new look. The Robar NP3 coating really makes a difference in how well the magazine functions. Pulling down the follower with a loading tool is so much easier, it almost like a different experience loading it up. It actually feels as if there is a weak spring in the magazine. Remove the loading tool, and try to pull it down, and there is no doubt, that some serious power is pushing up on the follower. Everyone needs one of GT's springs in their magazines!!! The other improvement, is the recoil spring. I decided that the 62 year old recoil spring in my byf 42, maybe had served the gun enough, and needed replacing with a Wolff standard replacement (38 lb) spring. Thanks to Thor, for his speedy replacement of the spring, as I didn't feel up to the task fighting that spring into the frame. I may have discovered a way to tell if your spring needs replacement, by chance, as well as a reason to consider replacing yours if you want more enjoyment out of your Luger. Consistency of my loads improved. I noticed that there seem to be a wide variance in the velocity of the ammo I was shooting through a chronograph. One load showed nearly 150 fps, but after the new spring, the variation dropped to less than 40 fps for the same load!!! This might be a way to tell if your spring is getting on the weak side, wide variation in velocity. Wolff also includes a new striker spring in the package, which I decided to install. This seem to improve trigger pull right away. That makes three springs replaced, and they all worked together to make a very exciting day at the range. I noticed I had more loads turning in very good to truly WOW accuracy than ever before. When everything was over, I truly felt a new appreciation for my Luger. Maybe the only thing left to do, is to get Thor to refinish it...