Jamming Problems

[Sieger]

Hi:


Here are the variables, I've found, causing the infamous Luger jam (as described by you above):


Magazine spring is too weak to feed the round before the toggle starts to close (most likely cause).

Mainspring too strong for ammo used (if original, unmodified spiring, highly unlikely)!

Mainspring too weak, thus causing the toggle to bounce back too fast to allow the magazine to properly feed the next round (highly likely).

Ammo used is too short to properly feed at the Luger magazine's sharp angel (if springs are otherwise weak, this will be a highly likely cause).

Solution:

Have GT modify your magazines (including your original) with his new spring, etc.

A "new" late war Mauser Mainspring Spring is available from Tom H for around $15.00. If you are handy, its not hard to learn how to install these springs yourself.

General Comments:

According to the Inter-War Mauser P-08 Owner's Manual- ..."fill the magazine with 8 rounds". I really don't know how the 7 round maximum thing got started, though Stoeger did sell their stainless steel recreations, recently, as 7 rounders.

I have found the S&B 124 grain hardball to be a pretty accurate recreation of the original, later, German Army round. I just fired over 1,000 rounds of it through my byf 41 without one malfunction. You might want to try some of this. Personally, this is about the hottest round I want to fire in my late war Mauser. It's snappy alright, but not too hot for the original mainspring.

I would personally avoid the currently available Wolff mainsprings, as they look nothing like the original springs, and are a real pain in the ass to install.

I haven't found that holding the pistol in a special way does anything to stop jams. Obviously, you want to hold the pistol so that it doesn't jump out of your hand upon firing, but other than that....

Almost every DWM Luger I've seen has a magazine that hangs out about 1 mm from the frame. The parts are not worn, per my personal examination of several of them. Why there is this clearance, I can only guess. The metal on the magazine release button is of regular hardness, and should not fail with extensive usage.

I haven't found getting a Luger to shoot to be a difficult thing at all. It's really quite easy. It's all about the balance between the magazine and main springs. Concentrate your efforts here, and you will succeed!

Sieger