polishing the chamber

jrx15759 · 05-05-2009, 12:30 PM

What's the best way to polish the chamber in my 1991 Mitchell Luger? Casings are sticking in the chamber after firing and there is a frosted appearance to the casing exterior after removing them from the chamber. The pistol ejects live rounds flawlessly when manually working the toggle. Any advice?

Edward Tinker · 05-05-2009, 12:35 PM

Jeff, have you tried several brands of ammo?

i.e. I have heard wolf steel sticks in some guns, while blazer aluminum does funny things sometimes

If you really want to just clean it up, use soemthing like rouge (sp) polishing compound and use it lightly and not too hard, you don't want to use a power tool and leave a big indentation

I know that gunsmiths do this, but I would be leery of doing anything that is more than a little bit.

Ask Policelugers (AKA Howard) he's a gunsmith and would know far better than me. I also suspect this is a stainless luger? It is unknown to me if the lugers ever had galling problems? I think not, but early stainless guns did...

Ed

policeluger · 05-05-2009, 01:00 PM

a fine piece of crocus wound tight around a wood dowel just tight enought to fit the chamber, dowel is split end to start wrap in, a few seconds on a drill motor on the other end of the stick, not so much as you change calibers, just a few twist to polish......works everytime......hold the barrel and extention unit in a vice as it will get a bit hot.....

jrx15759 · 05-05-2009, 04:03 PM

The gun is stainless. Have tried several types of ammo; all brass cased, same results. What is crocus?

John Sabato · 05-05-2009, 04:15 PM

Crocus is extrmemly fine grit emery cloth for polishing. It is red in color and as IIRC it is about 600 to 800 grit in abrasiveness.

policeluger · 05-05-2009, 06:10 PM

John got it, I have done many an old chamber, just go easy, clean polish from chamber every so often and see if you can slide a dummy round in chamber, see if its getting easer every 10/15 seconds or so, until you get the fit you want....you can always send barrel to me but turn around time is several weeks, I'm swamped.

Vlim · 05-05-2009, 07:00 PM

Do the postwar Mitchel/Aimco/Orimar lugers have the stepped chamber design of the Pre-1942 German examples?

John Sabato · 05-06-2009, 11:34 AM

I seriously doubt it Gerben... I think that was a manufacturing shortcut back when the Luger was designed... Can you think of ANY 9mm handgun that uses the stepped design? I can't. I don't even think the P.38 has that kind of chamber... can anyone confirm that? I am not near either guns or blueprints for the time being.

Ron Wood · 05-06-2009, 12:09 PM

I am not sure it was a shortcut. I seem to recall that Luger received a patent for the stepped chamber, but I could be wrong.

jrx15759 · 05-06-2009, 04:26 PM

policeluger,
If you're up to it, I'd prefer an experienced hand for this project. Please let me know how I might send you my barrel. Please reply in this forum or if you like you can email me at citydrugstore771@bellsouth.net. Thank You.

policeluger · 05-06-2009, 04:46 PM

email sent.....

05-05-2009, 12:30 PM	#1
jrx15759 User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	polishing the chamber What's the best way to polish the chamber in my 1991 Mitchell Luger? Casings are sticking in the chamber after firing and there is a frosted appearance to the casing exterior after removing them from the chamber. The pistol ejects live rounds flawlessly when manually working the toggle. Any advice?

05-05-2009, 04:15 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Crocus is extrmemly fine grit emery cloth for polishing. It is red in color and as IIRC it is about 600 to 800 grit in abrasiveness. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-06-2009, 11:34 AM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	I seriously doubt it Gerben... I think that was a manufacturing shortcut back when the Luger was designed... Can you think of ANY 9mm handgun that uses the stepped design? I can't. I don't even think the P.38 has that kind of chamber... can anyone confirm that? I am not near either guns or blueprints for the time being. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-06-2009, 12:09 PM	#9
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,017 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 5,164 Times in 1,700 Posts	I am not sure it was a shortcut. I seem to recall that Luger received a patent for the stepped chamber, but I could be wrong. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-05-2009, 12:35 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,928 Thanks: 2,028 Thanked 4,525 Times in 2,090 Posts	Jeff, have you tried several brands of ammo? i.e. I have heard wolf steel sticks in some guns, while blazer aluminum does funny things sometimes If you really want to just clean it up, use soemthing like rouge (sp) polishing compound and use it lightly and not too hard, you don't want to use a power tool and leave a big indentation I know that gunsmiths do this, but I would be leery of doing anything that is more than a little bit. Ask Policelugers (AKA Howard) he's a gunsmith and would know far better than me. I also suspect this is a stainless luger? It is unknown to me if the lugers ever had galling problems? I think not, but early stainless guns did... Ed

05-05-2009, 01:00 PM	#3
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	a fine piece of crocus wound tight around a wood dowel just tight enought to fit the chamber, dowel is split end to start wrap in, a few seconds on a drill motor on the other end of the stick, not so much as you change calibers, just a few twist to polish......works everytime......hold the barrel and extention unit in a vice as it will get a bit hot.....

05-05-2009, 04:03 PM	#4
jrx15759 User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The gun is stainless. Have tried several types of ammo; all brass cased, same results. What is crocus?

05-05-2009, 06:10 PM	#6
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	John got it, I have done many an old chamber, just go easy, clean polish from chamber every so often and see if you can slide a dummy round in chamber, see if its getting easer every 10/15 seconds or so, until you get the fit you want....you can always send barrel to me but turn around time is several weeks, I'm swamped.

05-05-2009, 07:00 PM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Do the postwar Mitchel/Aimco/Orimar lugers have the stepped chamber design of the Pre-1942 German examples?

05-06-2009, 04:26 PM	#10
jrx15759 User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	policeluger, If you're up to it, I'd prefer an experienced hand for this project. Please let me know how I might send you my barrel. Please reply in this forum or if you like you can email me at citydrugstore771@bellsouth.net. Thank You.

05-06-2009, 04:46 PM	#11
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	email sent.....