Modification of a Standard Upper to .22

[ithacaartist]

Rich,

The P.38 mainspring looks like the mainsprings in the Erma KGP series pistols. The P.38 recoil springs look like f.p. springs of that same series, as well as the earlier, cast zinc models. The latter models have actin springs that are similar, but a bit heavier gauge. The springs in the conversion kits are most similar to the latter models' respective springs. I have lots of all these springs, in case you need some.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

I have lots of all these springs, in case you need some.

Dave, I don't need any at this time; I'm just trying to figure out what Patrick Villiers meant about replacing the Erma SE 08/2 kit springs with a 'P38 mainspring'. I don't see how that would work. A chopped-down P-38 recoil spring looks more likely. My experience (in '.22 Long barrel' thread further down in the forum) was that the springs were too strong. Both the Erma firing pin spring and the recoil spring absorb .22 recoil until the firing pin cocks, then it's just the recoil spring. It wasn't recoiling far enough to eject or chamber a round.

The entire cannon assembly has to recoil the ~1/4" in order to line up the magazine with the barrel/chamber. Otherwise the cartridge won't be picked up by the breechblock. The breechblock has to recoil all the way or the spent case won't hit the Erma ejector.

The Erma toggle assembly I tested wasn't going back any further than ~3/4" and with one frame it was binding.

I couldn't do any physical changes because it wasn't my Erma kit and I wasn't about to machine my Luger.

Weaker springs sound like the next step in getting that particular kit to work, but Patrick's comments are pretty discouraging vis-a-vis Erma .22 kits collectively.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Rick W.

Patrick shoots a lot, very knowledgeable fellow.

His gunsmith locally to him is Werle.

So when he says the Erma conversion kits are crap, we can take it as gospel? Good! That'll save me $500/$600!

And I'll make a note on my bulletin/work board not to accept any work on these POS's!