who can fix this for me?

thater · 02-19-2003, 02:38 PM

My S/42 is really frustrating me. I take it out to compete with my buddies who have fairly new 1911s and Ruger 9mms. None of us have much accuracy, but at least their pistols dont jam. That darn Luger jams every few shots. I put new springs in it and kept it clean. Is there an outfit or respectable Luger expert who can kill the bugs in this weapon for a reasonable fee? I have tried monkeying with it and experimenting with ammo far past my patience. Please help, thanks. Ben.

Ron Wood · 02-19-2003, 03:03 PM

The subject of getting a Luger to function reliably is a frequent topic and the solutions are many and varied, and usually one or a combination of fixes will help. I for one have not had too many problems with jamming, but I have found that a Luger requires a firm grip and a stiff wrist when firing. A light hold such as you would use with a target weapon flat will not work with a Luger.

Johnny C. Kitchens · 02-19-2003, 03:56 PM

My first and second WWII Lugers (byf 42) jammed like crazy. Then I read about replacing the magazine, specifically a Swiss version. I did and the gun improved dramatically. I then went through the gun cleaning out crud from all of the little places inside the gun, especially where movement occurred. I used Break-Free CLP to lubricate, but not excessively.
I also had to clean the barrel, with a lot of elbow grease. The barrel was really full of black carbon build up, although it didn't look it. I was rewarded for my time with an impressive shoot at the range recently.
It shoots wonderfully now. Only Corbon ammo didn't work so well. The best I tried, Federal Hydra-Shok +P+, which functioned perfectly and produced groups that were fabulous, and on target for the sight settings that were set when it left the factory in 1942. I'm definitely going to buy more of that ammo...

John Sabato · 02-20-2003, 06:44 AM

Johnny C. Kitchens,

FWIW - Let me caution you about the use of +P+ ammo in your Lugers. IMHO, and in the opinion of many others, it is way too hot for Lugers...

Edward Tinker · 02-20-2003, 07:00 AM

So John, that machine gun ammo a guy sent me a while back I shouldn't use?

(It was in a different box, so didn't know what it was...)

I used about 10 rounds and said, <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> that is a bit hot!

So, quit using it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Ed

John Sabato · 02-20-2003, 11:33 AM

Yep, Stay clear of the Submachine gun marked ammo... it falls in the same class... HOT.

Johnny C. Kitchens · 02-20-2003, 02:30 PM

Have you seen any ammo marked submachine gun only???

John Sabato · 02-21-2003, 05:51 AM

Yes, Johnny... not the ammo itself, but the boxes... primarily Canadian and Israeli, but I am sure there are others as well.

saxman · 02-22-2003, 10:47 AM

Why, then, is it stated several places on this Forum that modern ammo is generally too weak to properly function the Luger, and that hotter ammo can make them function as they should? Maybe someone should post the spec's. on the original military round designed for the pistole. If it's already on here somewhere, please point me to it. Then it should be easy to select the proper FMJ ball round based on bullet weight and muzzle velocity. The first time I shoot mine, I want it to have every chance of working properly. Thanks

AGE · 02-22-2003, 06:19 PM

Saxman,

If your gun is 9 mm and in good shape, the Wallmart bulk pack Winchester ammo should work fine. Why look overly hard for anything else? My 3 Lugers work great with this stuff if halfways clean and shoot 1.5" groups at 50'. One gun works best with the original magazine and the other two work best with MecGar magazines, although they work perfectly with the original magazines when spotlessly clean and oiled.

Johnny C. Kitchens · 02-22-2003, 11:27 PM

Saxman

I posted some ammo that was tested for pressure and performance in
the labratory. Take a look. My post is down about half way...

http://forums.lugerforum.com/lugerfo...;f=16;t=000104

saxman · 02-23-2003, 08:17 AM

Thank y'all for the info!

02-19-2003, 02:38 PM	#1
thater User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	who can fix this for me? My S/42 is really frustrating me. I take it out to compete with my buddies who have fairly new 1911s and Ruger 9mms. None of us have much accuracy, but at least their pistols dont jam. That darn Luger jams every few shots. I put new springs in it and kept it clean. Is there an outfit or respectable Luger expert who can kill the bugs in this weapon for a reasonable fee? I have tried monkeying with it and experimenting with ammo far past my patience. Please help, thanks. Ben.

02-19-2003, 03:03 PM	#2
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: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	The subject of getting a Luger to function reliably is a frequent topic and the solutions are many and varied, and usually one or a combination of fixes will help. I for one have not had too many problems with jamming, but I have found that a Luger requires a firm grip and a stiff wrist when firing. A light hold such as you would use with a target weapon flat will not work with a Luger. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-19-2003, 03:56 PM	#3
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	My first and second WWII Lugers (byf 42) jammed like crazy. Then I read about replacing the magazine, specifically a Swiss version. I did and the gun improved dramatically. I then went through the gun cleaning out crud from all of the little places inside the gun, especially where movement occurred. I used Break-Free CLP to lubricate, but not excessively. I also had to clean the barrel, with a lot of elbow grease. The barrel was really full of black carbon build up, although it didn't look it. I was rewarded for my time with an impressive shoot at the range recently. It shoots wonderfully now. Only Corbon ammo didn't work so well. The best I tried, Federal Hydra-Shok +P+, which functioned perfectly and produced groups that were fabulous, and on target for the sight settings that were set when it left the factory in 1942. I'm definitely going to buy more of that ammo... __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

02-20-2003, 06:44 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Johnny C. Kitchens, FWIW - Let me caution you about the use of +P+ ammo in your Lugers. IMHO, and in the opinion of many others, it is way too hot for Lugers... __________________ 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..."*

02-20-2003, 07:00 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	So John, that machine gun ammo a guy sent me a while back I shouldn't use? (It was in a different box, so didn't know what it was...) I used about 10 rounds and said, <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> that is a bit hot! So, quit using it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

02-20-2003, 11:33 AM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Yep, Stay clear of the Submachine gun marked ammo... it falls in the same class... HOT. __________________ 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..."*

02-20-2003, 02:30 PM	#7
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	Have you seen any ammo marked submachine gun only??? __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

02-21-2003, 05:51 AM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Yes, Johnny... not the ammo itself, but the boxes... primarily Canadian and Israeli, but I am sure there are others as well. __________________ 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..."*

02-22-2003, 10:47 AM	#9
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Why, then, is it stated several places on this Forum that modern ammo is generally too weak to properly function the Luger, and that hotter ammo can make them function as they should? Maybe someone should post the spec's. on the original military round designed for the pistole. If it's already on here somewhere, please point me to it. Then it should be easy to select the proper FMJ ball round based on bullet weight and muzzle velocity. The first time I shoot mine, I want it to have every chance of working properly. Thanks __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

02-22-2003, 06:19 PM	#10
AGE User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 597 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Saxman, If your gun is 9 mm and in good shape, the Wallmart bulk pack Winchester ammo should work fine. Why look overly hard for anything else? My 3 Lugers work great with this stuff if halfways clean and shoot 1.5" groups at 50'. One gun works best with the original magazine and the other two work best with MecGar magazines, although they work perfectly with the original magazines when spotlessly clean and oiled. __________________ Al Eggers (AGE) NRA Life Member

02-22-2003, 11:27 PM	#11
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	Saxman I posted some ammo that was tested for pressure and performance in the labratory. Take a look. My post is down about half way... http://forums.lugerforum.com/lugerfo...;f=16;t=000104 __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

02-23-2003, 08:17 AM	#12
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank y'all for the info! __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.