Artillery firing at chambering a round...

Frank H. · 08-16-2004, 05:57 AM

Exciting day at the range today! Though with a few dry runs, my "refurbed" restored (bought on Gunbroker a few months ago) 1917 Artillery would **** and "click" properly; at the range, it had a mind of it's own...

Chambering a round, dropping the toggles on the first round, "bang!"

Then, though it chambered a 2nd round, the trigger wouldn't release the striker / firing pin, "no go" for a 2nd shot...

Had to drop the mag, manually eject the chambered round, still wouldn't "click"...

Pushed the barrel back a touch, pulled down the release lever, pulled the sideplate, manually got the trigger / firing mechanism to seem to be working properly, dry cocked and fired, ok, chambered another round, "bang!" at the drop of the toggles, oh sweet...

(While attempting to look cool and unbothered at a busy Los Angeles shooting range on a Sunday afternoon).

The good news is, my '70's Mauser 6" 9mm shot great (if held firmly) and was accurate, but I was a bit disappointed to not be able to put the artillery through some paces. Hard to gauge accuracy when the only round you can get to shoot is at the drop of the toggles, LOL.

It would ONLY fire upon chambering a round, and there was no pin protrusion, something is a bit amiss in the mechanism...

Again, even after a dry fire "click", you chamber a round, "boom!". (Good reminder to not chamber rounds in the garage or living room to check things out, yeow...)

Before going to the range I did a field stripping (as with my 70's Mauser and VOPO 1913), and lightly lubed the frame rails and such, but this now looks like something is going to need some work...

After the "firing at chambering a round", the artillery wouldn't properly dry **** and click...

I could see the sear & spring protrusion to the side as I pulled the trigger, but no release of the striker unless I did a disassembly / re-assembly.

What should I look for, what clues might this be telling me, re: dry firing ok up until chambering a round, then slam-firing then not cocking / clicking after that, yet the sear / spring "bulges to the side" as it should when pulling the trigger, any ideas on any of this?

Thanks in advance for any tips, suggestions or clues!

Frank H. in L.A. (but soon to move to Oregon!)

Ron Smith · 08-16-2004, 08:56 AM

Frank, Try swapping out the sideplate with another Luger, just for test purposes. If it works then you know the problem is with the trigger lever. May help narrow it down. Process of elimination. Ron

Doug G. · 08-16-2004, 09:26 AM

Frank, how is the sear bar spring tension? Maybe your getting the striker bouncing off the sear when dropping the toggle? As a secondary possible problem, your sear bar may be tweeked out a bit too much. This would be corrected by bending it in a bit.
Good Luck! <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

ken d · 08-16-2004, 05:32 PM

Frank:
Check the spring loaded plunger on the end of the sear bar. It should move in and out without undue pressure.

Regards Ken D

Lugerdoc · 08-17-2004, 09:53 AM

Frank, Since you have sear movement when you pull the trigger, I suspect that the internal overlap between your sear and firing pin is the problem. If your LPO8 is matching, you can probably stone these surfaces square, otherwise it may be easier to just replace the sear or firing pin, whichever is out of spec. TH

Frank H. · 08-22-2004, 12:42 AM

Thank you all very, very much for the tips, insights and suggestions!

I'm working through a long list of projects with my house in So Cal finally in escrow (found a buyer, yehaw), I probably won't have time to do justice to dialing in this Artillery until I'm settled in in Oregon. About 40 miles south of Portland, out in the hills, 12 acres, oh this is going to be nice...

Thanks again for all the help -

Frank H. (with L.A. in my rear view mirror...)

08-16-2004, 05:57 AM	#1
Frank H. User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oregon, south of Portland Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Artillery firing at chambering a round... Exciting day at the range today! Though with a few dry runs, my "refurbed" restored (bought on Gunbroker a few months ago) 1917 Artillery would ** and "click" properly; at the range, it had a mind of it's own... Chambering a round, dropping the toggles on the first round, "bang!" Then, though it chambered a 2nd round, the trigger wouldn't release the striker / firing pin, "no go" for a 2nd shot... Had to drop the mag, manually eject the chambered round, still wouldn't "click"... Pushed the barrel back a touch, pulled down the release lever, pulled the sideplate, manually got the trigger / firing mechanism to seem to be working properly, dry cocked and fired, ok, chambered another round, "bang!" at the drop of the toggles, oh sweet... (While attempting to look cool and unbothered at a busy Los Angeles shooting range on a Sunday afternoon). The good news is, my '70's Mauser 6" 9mm shot great (if held firmly) and was accurate, but I was a bit disappointed to not be able to put the artillery through some paces. Hard to gauge accuracy when the only round you can get to shoot is at the drop of the toggles, LOL. It would ONLY fire upon chambering a round, and there was no pin protrusion, something is a bit amiss in the mechanism... Again, even after a dry fire "click", you chamber a round, "boom!". (Good reminder to not chamber rounds in the garage or living room to check things out, yeow...) Before going to the range I did a field stripping (as with my 70's Mauser and VOPO 1913), and lightly lubed the frame rails and such, but this now looks like something is going to need some work... After the "firing at chambering a round", the artillery wouldn't properly dry ** and click... I could see the sear & spring protrusion to the side as I pulled the trigger, but no release of the striker unless I did a disassembly / re-assembly. What should I look for, what clues might this be telling me, re: dry firing ok up until chambering a round, then slam-firing then not cocking / clicking after that, yet the sear / spring "bulges to the side" as it should when pulling the trigger, any ideas on any of this? Thanks in advance for any tips, suggestions or clues! Frank H. in L.A. (but soon to move to Oregon!)

08-16-2004, 08:56 AM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Frank, Try swapping out the sideplate with another Luger, just for test purposes. If it works then you know the problem is with the trigger lever. May help narrow it down. Process of elimination. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

08-16-2004, 09:26 AM	#3
Doug G. User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 713 Thanks: 1 Thanked 53 Times in 17 Posts	Frank, how is the sear bar spring tension? Maybe your getting the striker bouncing off the sear when dropping the toggle? As a secondary possible problem, your sear bar may be tweeked out a bit too much. This would be corrected by bending it in a bit. Good Luck! <img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" /> __________________ Suppose you were an idiot.....and suppose you were a member of Congress.....But I repeat myself" ~~ Mark Twain

08-17-2004, 09:53 AM	#5
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Frank, Since you have sear movement when you pull the trigger, I suspect that the internal overlap between your sear and firing pin is the problem. If your LPO8 is matching, you can probably stone these surfaces square, otherwise it may be easier to just replace the sear or firing pin, whichever is out of spec. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-16-2004, 05:32 PM	#4
ken d Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: louisville ky Posts: 277 Thanks: 31 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Frank: Check the spring loaded plunger on the end of the sear bar. It should move in and out without undue pressure. Regards Ken D

08-22-2004, 12:42 AM	#6
Frank H. User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oregon, south of Portland Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you all very, very much for the tips, insights and suggestions! I'm working through a long list of projects with my house in So Cal finally in escrow (found a buyer, yehaw), I probably won't have time to do justice to dialing in this Artillery until I'm settled in in Oregon. About 40 miles south of Portland, out in the hills, 12 acres, oh this is going to be nice... Thanks again for all the help - Frank H. (with L.A. in my rear view mirror...)