Round not consistently extracting

[DonVoigt]

Yes,
when fired the case expands slightly.
You can also look at a fired case for signs of scoring, marks, or bulging that could make extraction more difficult.

Extraction by hand occurs much more slowly than when firing.

I'd bet though, that your problem is with the hook of the extractor, or some junk/gunk keeping it from coming down fully.

It could even be the extractor notch i the barrel is not cut correctly and interfering.

Pictures of the breech, and the extractor from the side and bottom would help.

[kurusu]

Lugers like to be clean, and oiled.

Also, the original springs (talking mostly main spring here), unless they were tampered with in the past, they are generally the best option. They seem to last forever. Count the coils. If it's a WWI Luger it should have 19 coils, 21 if it's a 1936 to 1942 Mauser. I'm not familiar with Simsons or Krieghoffs (too rich for me ) so I won't address them. And since I have no Erfurts, I won't say anything about them either.

For .30 Luger, I only have one. 1909 Portuguese Army contract. It has 14 coils. And it works great*.

* I have never fired Fiocchi on it. Maybe the problem has already been addressed by Fiocchi, I don't know. But there was at least a batch that had the shoulder in the wrong place and they gave headspace problems. In a Luger an excess of headspace can lead to a broken breechblock(at the rear end), and that can ruin a fellow's day. Seen it happen, and more than once. Rule of thumb fire five rounds. If you have any pierced primers, don't use that batch in a Luger anymore.

PS. What ammo are you using?

[mestguy182]

Originally Posted by kurusu

Lugers like to be clean, and oiled.

Also, the original springs (talking mostly main spring here), unless they were tampered with in the past, they are generally the best option. They seem to last forever. Count the coils. If it's a WWI Luger it should have 19 coils, 21 if it's a 1936 to 1942 Mauser. I'm not familiar with Simsons or Krieghoffs (too rich for me ) so I won't address them. And since I have no Erfurts, I won't say anything about them either.

For .30 Luger, I only have one. 1909 Portuguese Army contract. It has 14 coils. And it works great*.

* I have never fired Fiocchi on it. Maybe the problem has already been addressed by Fiocchi, I don't know. But there was at least a batch that had the shoulder in the wrong place and they gave headspace problems. In a Luger an excess of headspace can lead to a broken breechblock(at the rear end), and that can ruin a fellow's day. Seen it happen, and more than once. Rule of thumb fire five rounds. If you have any pierced primers, don't use that batch in a Luger anymore.

PS. What ammo are you using?

Thanks for the info, my Luger is not matching numbers, the toggle is DWM, the slide is S/42, the only mark I see on the frame is what looks like a lower case "a" written in cursive. I'll count the coils and let you know. I've been shooting 115 grain Winchester White Box. I did thoroughly clean and oil the whole gun prior to this range trip.

[mestguy182]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Yes,
when fired the case expands slightly.
You can also look at a fired case for signs of scoring, marks, or bulging that could make extraction more difficult.

Extraction by hand occurs much more slowly than when firing.

I'd bet though, that your problem is with the hook of the extractor, or some junk/gunk keeping it from coming down fully.

It could even be the extractor notch i the barrel is not cut correctly and interfering.

Pictures of the breech, and the extractor from the side and bottom would help.

Couple of quick photos.