Luger Single Actioning

chromeed · 10-12-2010, 03:27 PM

I have an American Eagle SS Luger
This gun sometimes does not pick up a a bullet from the mag. and I will need to pull back on the Toggle to load it.
Any Ideas

Railsplitter · 10-12-2010, 04:35 PM

Well, I'm far from being an authority but just off the top of my head ...

1) Bullets wedging in the magazine and not advancing. But then manually cycling wouldn't
help.

2) Weak magazine spring not advancing the next live round fast enough for the bolt to grab it.

3) Bullets not producing enough recoil for the pistol to fully cycle.

4) Not holding the pistol tight enough to allow the pistol to fully cycle.

Just ideas ... by no means gospel.

mrerick · 10-12-2010, 05:10 PM

Hi

As Mark mentions in his item 4) a weak hand grip is one of the most common causes of cycling problems.

Try using regular load ammo (Winchester White Box, etc...) if you're not already doing so. Sometimes too strong a load can affect cycling...

Marc

John Sabato · 10-13-2010, 10:34 AM

Recoil mainspring may also be too strong for the loads you are using so the action does not completely cycle back far enough to pick up the next round.

JD · 10-14-2010, 04:22 PM

Also, if the recoil mainspring is too weak, the toggle will cycle so fast that the magazine does not have enough time to lift the next round into place before the toggle closes (or before the hold-open can raise and lock the toggle back if the mag is empty...). Been there and done that with a Finnish M-23........

alanint · 10-14-2010, 05:18 PM

Nobody has mentioned the magazine catch, so here goes.

-A worn magazine catch or a buggered magazine latch cut in the magazine body will tend to make the magazine sit lower than it should, preventing the bolt from interfacing with enough catridge case bottom to pick it up and chamber it.

DavidJayUden · 10-14-2010, 08:37 PM

American Eagle SS seem to be full of problems.
Try cupping the butt in your off hand pressing up on the mag. as the gun fires to see if it will pick up then.
Of course grip the gun tightly for best function.
Good strong GT mag. spring may be in order if they will interchange with that gun.
dju

thegundude · 10-15-2010, 12:27 PM

I had one of these that was a major pain my my fanny. It was doing exactly the same as yours and I tried everything to get it to run properly. The best I could do was to get it to run at about 50%. After much agonizing I finally sold it for what I paid for it. I have no idea if the buyer ever got it running correctly after that.

If you don't have any luck after trying these suggested fixes, I would consider taking it to a competent gunsmith. I'm sure there is someone out there that can make these lemons run. It sure wasn't me.

chromeed · 10-16-2010, 09:10 AM

Thanks for all the help.
I have 3 magazines for this gun:
One original American Eagle SS and two SS repos with walnut bases.
I noticed that the follower button on the original wobbled slightly so I opened it up to find that the plastic follower had cracked where the button goes through. I replaced the Follower and button with a plastic one from a cheap Magazine that I bought that never worked in any of my Lugers.
Yesterday I went to the range with Winchester 115gr white box ammo with the following results:
Reworked American Eagle Magazine - 42 rounds No single actioning but the action did not stay opened on the last shot fired every time but it would stay opened when I hand cocked.

Repo SS Magazines 10 to 12 single actions in 28 rounds each and the action stayed open after the last shot every time.

I have had this gun for over two years and I now can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The button I put on the Am Eagle Mag. is smaller in dia. than on the other two and must be why the action does not stay open with that Mag.

The springs are weaker in the repo Mags as they are much easier to load.

So where can I get stronger springs far the Repo Mags? or can I put both springs in one of the repo Mags. and the follower and button from the other in the American Eagle Mag.

DavidJayUden · 10-16-2010, 09:25 AM

Do a search on this list for a member who goes by G. T.
All magazine spring questions go to him. He's our beloved mag. guy.
dju

thegundude · 10-16-2010, 09:43 AM

I'm glad you got it working correctly.

I like Wolfe Springs. Not sure if they make springs for the AE but they make great springs.

chromeed · 10-17-2010, 12:21 AM

On the Am. Eagle Mag the old follower button is larger in dia. Which I believe
is the reason the repaired Am. Eagle mag. Did not hold open on the last shot so
I put the old button into the new follower with a little extra work order to
make it fit. I hope this Mag. will now be 100%.
I checked the dia. of the springs and they are as follows:
Am. Eagle mag no single actioning .04155"
SS Repo mag 3 out of 7 shots single action .03855"
Black Repo mag that would not work in any of my Lugers .03655"
I put the last two together in one mag and it is now much stiffer than the Am.
Eagle.
Can I do Damage to the gun by having too stiff of a spring??

thegundude · 10-17-2010, 07:44 PM

Not if it's a mag spring. The worst that could happen is that it doesn't feed correctly. And if that happens, you won't be able to shoot if enough to hurt it, LOL!

10-12-2010, 03:27 PM	#1
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	Luger Single Actioning I have an American Eagle SS Luger This gun sometimes does not pick up a a bullet from the mag. and I will need to pull back on the Toggle to load it. Any Ideas

10-12-2010, 05:10 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hi As Mark mentions in his item 4) a weak hand grip is one of the most common causes of cycling problems. Try using regular load ammo (Winchester White Box, etc...) if you're not already doing so. Sometimes too strong a load can affect cycling... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-13-2010, 10:34 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Recoil mainspring may also be too strong for the loads you are using so the action does not completely cycle back far enough to pick up the next round. __________________ 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..."*

10-15-2010, 12:27 PM	#8
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	I had one of these that was a major pain my my fanny. It was doing exactly the same as yours and I tried everything to get it to run properly. The best I could do was to get it to run at about 50%. After much agonizing I finally sold it for what I paid for it. I have no idea if the buyer ever got it running correctly after that. If you don't have any luck after trying these suggested fixes, I would consider taking it to a competent gunsmith. I'm sure there is someone out there that can make these lemons run. It sure wasn't me. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

10-16-2010, 09:43 AM	#11
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	I'm glad you got it working correctly. I like Wolfe Springs. Not sure if they make springs for the AE but they make great springs. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

10-12-2010, 04:35 PM	#2
Railsplitter User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Well, I'm far from being an authority but just off the top of my head ... 1) Bullets wedging in the magazine and not advancing. But then manually cycling wouldn't help. 2) Weak magazine spring not advancing the next live round fast enough for the bolt to grab it. 3) Bullets not producing enough recoil for the pistol to fully cycle. 4) Not holding the pistol tight enough to allow the pistol to fully cycle. Just ideas ... by no means gospel.

10-14-2010, 04:22 PM	#5
JD User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Western Washington Posts: 107 Thanks: 58 Thanked 22 Times in 17 Posts	Also, if the recoil mainspring is too weak, the toggle will cycle so fast that the magazine does not have enough time to lift the next round into place before the toggle closes (or before the hold-open can raise and lock the toggle back if the mag is empty...). Been there and done that with a Finnish M-23........

10-14-2010, 05:18 PM	#6
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Nobody has mentioned the magazine catch, so here goes. -A worn magazine catch or a buggered magazine latch cut in the magazine body will tend to make the magazine sit lower than it should, preventing the bolt from interfacing with enough catridge case bottom to pick it up and chamber it.

10-14-2010, 08:37 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	American Eagle SS seem to be full of problems. Try cupping the butt in your off hand pressing up on the mag. as the gun fires to see if it will pick up then. Of course grip the gun tightly for best function. Good strong GT mag. spring may be in order if they will interchange with that gun. dju

10-16-2010, 09:10 AM	#9
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	Thanks for all the help. I have 3 magazines for this gun: One original American Eagle SS and two SS repos with walnut bases. I noticed that the follower button on the original wobbled slightly so I opened it up to find that the plastic follower had cracked where the button goes through. I replaced the Follower and button with a plastic one from a cheap Magazine that I bought that never worked in any of my Lugers. Yesterday I went to the range with Winchester 115gr white box ammo with the following results: Reworked American Eagle Magazine - 42 rounds No single actioning but the action did not stay opened on the last shot fired every time but it would stay opened when I hand cocked. Repo SS Magazines 10 to 12 single actions in 28 rounds each and the action stayed open after the last shot every time. I have had this gun for over two years and I now can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The button I put on the Am Eagle Mag. is smaller in dia. than on the other two and must be why the action does not stay open with that Mag. The springs are weaker in the repo Mags as they are much easier to load. So where can I get stronger springs far the Repo Mags? or can I put both springs in one of the repo Mags. and the follower and button from the other in the American Eagle Mag.

10-16-2010, 09:25 AM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Do a search on this list for a member who goes by G. T. All magazine spring questions go to him. He's our beloved mag. guy. dju

10-17-2010, 12:21 AM	#12
chromeed User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 81 Thanks: 1 Thanked 27 Times in 9 Posts	On the Am. Eagle Mag the old follower button is larger in dia. Which I believe is the reason the repaired Am. Eagle mag. Did not hold open on the last shot so I put the old button into the new follower with a little extra work order to make it fit. I hope this Mag. will now be 100%. I checked the dia. of the springs and they are as follows: Am. Eagle mag no single actioning .04155" SS Repo mag 3 out of 7 shots single action .03855" Black Repo mag that would not work in any of my Lugers .03655" I put the last two together in one mag and it is now much stiffer than the Am. Eagle. Can I do Damage to the gun by having too stiff of a spring??

10-17-2010, 07:44 PM	#13
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Not if it's a mag spring. The worst that could happen is that it doesn't feed correctly. And if that happens, you won't be able to shoot if enough to hurt it, LOL! __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve