Magazine awareness!

STEINBVG · 03-04-2021, 01:57 PM

HI GERALD.
I have Interarms mauser 1977, which works perfect with its 2 original mags.
I followed an advice and bought highly recommended Mec Gar for shooting.
As my luger has a very snappy action, it kicks out this mag from the release. I examined the magazines side by side and noticed that the Mec Gar seems a bit thinner sideways and sits a bit looser in the well. Thus perhaps moving away from the lock and falling out.

If i hold the mag from the bottom, it performs beatifully.

I wonder if something could be done to retain it in place?

rhuff · 03-04-2021, 03:00 PM

I am not GT but I own a post war Parabellum, and had a similar experience. On mine, the mag catch claw is slightly larger than the ones on my old OEM Lugers. Not much larger, but just enough to cause this problem. The mag catch is not fully engaging the the hole in the mag. There are two(2) ways to fix this:

(1) Replace your mag catch with one from an early Luger.

(2) Use a sharp needle file to enlarge the mag catch hole just enough to solve the problem. Compare the holes to the mags that work correctly, and copy. It took very little file work to solve my problem.

Hopefully this will work for you, and get you up and running. Sorry if I stepped on GT's toes!!

G.T. · 03-04-2021, 03:10 PM

Hi V, that is a rare problem, but it does come around from time to time.... There is something you can do to help, and possibly correct the problem.. What I'm about to outline for you seems counter productive, but it works and you can easily try it yourself. First, you must acquire a round bar, or drill bit that is 13/32" or exactly .404" dia. Next, you clamp it (on the flutes) in a vice, or to a very heavy surface as you are going to use the shank as an anvil and forming tool both. Now, you have to probably take the mag apart to do the next step, but you can push the mag onto the shank depressing the follower at the same time, still, it is easier to just take it apart so you do not have too fight the pressure. Any way, you need to slide the front radius part of the mag onto the drill bit shank until it is past the mag catch notch. Then, using some very clean sheet aluminum, or very clean spring steel, you gently tap on it, the aluminum, with a small hammer, and with that, the mag shell on the front spine area adjacent to the mag catch, and this will cause the front radius to grow internally, with the end result is the sheet metal mag shell will better fill the void allowing it to drop free... The main concerns are, not to hit so hard you move metal, and not to overdo the expansion part of the process.. You can measure, or compare the gain from the rest of the magazine by looking at it from the back... In essence, you are expanding the magazine front radius from the outside, rather then from the inside... Good luck with the above... and, if not your cup of tea, I'm pretty much always here... best to you V,

til....lat'r....GT

G.T. · 03-04-2021, 03:16 PM

Hi Doc, not at all were any toes stepped on! It is probably a better fix that you recommended anyway! I should have recommended the match up for the mag catch and mag catch notch as well... At least it should be the first thing to check and correct. BTW, Doc, how are you fixed for .30 brass?... Let me know if you need some, best, til...lat'r....GT

G.T. · 03-04-2021, 09:15 PM

Hi V, as rhuff said in his post, an original may cure the issue and fit and function as it should... I have original NOS replacement strawed magazine catches and in light of the recent work you had me do, I would send you one at no charge?.. Let me know if this is acceptable to you?... best, GT

STEINBVG · 03-05-2021, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.T.

Hi V, as rhuff said in his post, an original may cure the issue and fit and function as it should... I have original NOS replacement strawed magazine catches and in light of the recent work you had me do, I would send you one at no charge?.. Let me know if this is acceptable to you?... best, GT

You're sure Gerald? I would appreciate it.
So it means if i were to use the Mec Gar- I simply have you catch installed, but if I reverse back to the original mag, drop in my original catch, correct?

By the way, your upper work arrives Saturday and today I will have my side plate from Sarco. Can't wait to test fire with my Interarms lower . Cheers

G.T. · 03-05-2021, 10:11 AM

Hi V, actually, you should install the new original NOS I'm sending and hopefully it will work for all? The Mausers had a dedicated purpose built magazine made in Holland just to fit their Luger, and I'm sure Mauser designed their mag catch to be copasetic with the mag as well...??.. Anyway, the replacement will certainly tell you one way or the other, where the tolerances differ.. Best to you, til....lat'r.....GT...

rhuff · 03-05-2021, 04:20 PM

I am anxious to see if V can get his problem solved.

03-04-2021, 03:00 PM	#2
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,308 Thanks: 2,737 Thanked 993 Times in 729 Posts	I am not GT but I own a post war Parabellum, and had a similar experience. On mine, the mag catch claw is slightly larger than the ones on my old OEM Lugers. Not much larger, but just enough to cause this problem. The mag catch is not fully engaging the the hole in the mag. There are two(2) ways to fix this: (1) Replace your mag catch with one from an early Luger. (2) Use a sharp needle file to enlarge the mag catch hole just enough to solve the problem. Compare the holes to the mags that work correctly, and copy. It took very little file work to solve my problem. Hopefully this will work for you, and get you up and running. Sorry if I stepped on GT's toes!! __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

03-04-2021, 03:10 PM	#3
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	mag retainment issue Hi V, that is a rare problem, but it does come around from time to time.... There is something you can do to help, and possibly correct the problem.. What I'm about to outline for you seems counter productive, but it works and you can easily try it yourself. First, you must acquire a round bar, or drill bit that is 13/32" or exactly .404" dia. Next, you clamp it (on the flutes) in a vice, or to a very heavy surface as you are going to use the shank as an anvil and forming tool both. Now, you have to probably take the mag apart to do the next step, but you can push the mag onto the shank depressing the follower at the same time, still, it is easier to just take it apart so you do not have too fight the pressure. Any way, you need to slide the front radius part of the mag onto the drill bit shank until it is past the mag catch notch. Then, using some very clean sheet aluminum, or very clean spring steel, you gently tap on it, the aluminum, with a small hammer, and with that, the mag shell on the front spine area adjacent to the mag catch, and this will cause the front radius to grow internally, with the end result is the sheet metal mag shell will better fill the void allowing it to drop free... The main concerns are, not to hit so hard you move metal, and not to overdo the expansion part of the process.. You can measure, or compare the gain from the rest of the magazine by looking at it from the back... In essence, you are expanding the magazine front radius from the outside, rather then from the inside... Good luck with the above... and, if not your cup of tea, I'm pretty much always here... best to you V, til....lat'r....GT

03-04-2021, 03:16 PM	#4
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	What ever works! Hi Doc, not at all were any toes stepped on! It is probably a better fix that you recommended anyway! I should have recommended the match up for the mag catch and mag catch notch as well... At least it should be the first thing to check and correct. BTW, Doc, how are you fixed for .30 brass?... Let me know if you need some, best, til...lat'r....GT

03-04-2021, 09:15 PM	#5
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	mag catch Hi V, as rhuff said in his post, an original may cure the issue and fit and function as it should... I have original NOS replacement strawed magazine catches and in light of the recent work you had me do, I would send you one at no charge?.. Let me know if this is acceptable to you?... best, GT

03-05-2021, 10:11 AM	#7
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,530 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 3,711 Times in 1,014 Posts	Mag catch! Hi V, actually, you should install the new original NOS I'm sending and hopefully it will work for all? The Mausers had a dedicated purpose built magazine made in Holland just to fit their Luger, and I'm sure Mauser designed their mag catch to be copasetic with the mag as well...??.. Anyway, the replacement will certainly tell you one way or the other, where the tolerances differ.. Best to you, til....lat'r.....GT...

03-04-2021, 01:57 PM	#1
STEINBVG User Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 167 Thanks: 141 Thanked 189 Times in 77 Posts	HI GERALD. I have Interarms mauser 1977, which works perfect with its 2 original mags. I followed an advice and bought highly recommended Mec Gar for shooting. As my luger has a very snappy action, it kicks out this mag from the release. I examined the magazines side by side and noticed that the Mec Gar seems a bit thinner sideways and sits a bit looser in the well. Thus perhaps moving away from the lock and falling out. If i hold the mag from the bottom, it performs beatifully. I wonder if something could be done to retain it in place?

03-05-2021, 04:20 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,308 Thanks: 2,737 Thanked 993 Times in 729 Posts	I am anxious to see if V can get his problem solved. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21