1923 30 Luger with issues

Jc92073 · 05-02-2013, 02:53 PM

Hello,

I have what I think is a '23 export P08 luger in 7.65. It has been in the family a long time, and no one still alive has ever seen it work real well. It doesn't feed correctly. When I first got it the toggle would not lock back, so I found some good aftermarket mags and that has been corrected.

The bigger issue is sometimes the nose of the next round will pop up and not go into the chamber. Sometimes it will double feed, one will slide into the chamber, but another will be pushed out of the magazine a little.

At times it wasn't extracting, but I think that is fixed, I replaced the spring and it pulls it out every time now.

Being 90 years old I thought maybe the main spring was week, so I replaced it with the correct one for a 30 luger, but it still didn't work all the time, might get 2 or 3 shots off before it acted up. I tried the next step up in spring, stock for a 9mm, but it is too strong and the toggle doesn't even move when firing.

I bought a spring kit from Wolff, and every spring is new, other than the ejector. I have new magazines, I have cleaned and recleaned the gun and polished the feed ramp. The gun moves smooth as can be by hand. I can run a full magazine through the gun by hand with no problems. All parts are matching.

When it works it is a fun gun to shoot and VERY accurate.

So... any suggestions or maybe a good gunsmith in the Dallas area?

Thanks,

JC

mrerick · 05-02-2013, 03:08 PM

There are a couple of things to check...

One is your grip and it's consistency. It can have quite an effect on the proper cycling of a Luger. Good solid support; proper hold; adequate resistance to the recoil.

After that, the most common cause of your feed problem is the magazine. The best magazines are the ones made during and after WW-II by Haenel Schmeisser. They are called "FXO" magazines, and have machined metal surfaces on the body. They were briefly available from Sarco from East German surplus stocks recently.

In the aftermarket, the better magazines are from Mec-Gar. Is this what you bought? If not, consider trying one of these.

Does the pistol cycle smoothly? Any drag or resistance in the action?

Marc

Jc92073 · 05-02-2013, 04:06 PM

Hi Marc,

Yes, got two Mec-Gar magazines, had a hard time finding anyone that had them in stock at the time I bought them.

It does cycle very smooth, does not bind or drag. It locks back fine after the last round with the original and first replacement main spring.

I can try to strenghten my grip some more, but I think I am very solid.

Fiocchi ammo is the only brand I have been able to find around here, I am told it is high quality. Is there any other brand anyone would recommend trying?

Thanks.

DavidJayUden · 05-02-2013, 04:25 PM

I believe that Winchester is preferred but also more expensive. May be worth a try.
dju

Jc92073 · 05-02-2013, 04:34 PM

I noticed that, the price is amost double when you can find it online.

rhuff · 05-03-2013, 04:15 PM

If memory serves(always a big question), the Winchester and the Fiocchi ammo have nearly identical velocity ratings.

You should be able to get your Luger to function on Fiocchi ammo, but we all know that Lugers can be very ammo sensitive......and mag sensitive also. My 1921 DWM in 30 Luger did NOT like the Mec-Gar mag that I purchased for it. Even changing out the mag spring to a +10% rating did not help. They can be very frustrating. Is your firing pin spring a new one? Does the extractor work smoothly when lifted by finger pressure?

Schutzenbob · 05-03-2013, 05:38 PM

I bought a Mec–Gar magazine recently for my 30 luger, and at first I had the same problems you’re having. I then noticed that one of the lips of the magazine was straighter than the other, so I bent it inward just slightly, so that both were the same angle, and it hasn’t missed a beat since.

Jc92073 · 05-04-2013, 09:58 PM

I was inspecting the Mec-gar magazine, the top of the follower is not machined very smooth, it has groves that run side to side. I wonder if that could be causing extra drag. Although it should only really hurt the last round, not the ones before it. I will check the angles and see if they are the same.

05-02-2013, 02:53 PM	#1
Jc92073 New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North of Dallas, TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1923 30 Luger with issues Hello, I have what I think is a '23 export P08 luger in 7.65. It has been in the family a long time, and no one still alive has ever seen it work real well. It doesn't feed correctly. When I first got it the toggle would not lock back, so I found some good aftermarket mags and that has been corrected. The bigger issue is sometimes the nose of the next round will pop up and not go into the chamber. Sometimes it will double feed, one will slide into the chamber, but another will be pushed out of the magazine a little. At times it wasn't extracting, but I think that is fixed, I replaced the spring and it pulls it out every time now. Being 90 years old I thought maybe the main spring was week, so I replaced it with the correct one for a 30 luger, but it still didn't work all the time, might get 2 or 3 shots off before it acted up. I tried the next step up in spring, stock for a 9mm, but it is too strong and the toggle doesn't even move when firing. I bought a spring kit from Wolff, and every spring is new, other than the ejector. I have new magazines, I have cleaned and recleaned the gun and polished the feed ramp. The gun moves smooth as can be by hand. I can run a full magazine through the gun by hand with no problems. All parts are matching. When it works it is a fun gun to shoot and VERY accurate. So... any suggestions or maybe a good gunsmith in the Dallas area? Thanks, JC

05-02-2013, 03:08 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	There are a couple of things to check... One is your grip and it's consistency. It can have quite an effect on the proper cycling of a Luger. Good solid support; proper hold; adequate resistance to the recoil. After that, the most common cause of your feed problem is the magazine. The best magazines are the ones made during and after WW-II by Haenel Schmeisser. They are called "FXO" magazines, and have machined metal surfaces on the body. They were briefly available from Sarco from East German surplus stocks recently. In the aftermarket, the better magazines are from Mec-Gar. Is this what you bought? If not, consider trying one of these. Does the pistol cycle smoothly? Any drag or resistance in the action? Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

05-02-2013, 04:06 PM	#3
Jc92073 New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North of Dallas, TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Marc, Yes, got two Mec-Gar magazines, had a hard time finding anyone that had them in stock at the time I bought them. It does cycle very smooth, does not bind or drag. It locks back fine after the last round with the original and first replacement main spring. I can try to strenghten my grip some more, but I think I am very solid. Fiocchi ammo is the only brand I have been able to find around here, I am told it is high quality. Is there any other brand anyone would recommend trying? Thanks.

05-02-2013, 04:25 PM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I believe that Winchester is preferred but also more expensive. May be worth a try. dju

05-02-2013, 04:34 PM	#5
Jc92073 New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North of Dallas, TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I noticed that, the price is amost double when you can find it online.

05-03-2013, 04:15 PM	#6
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	If memory serves(always a big question), the Winchester and the Fiocchi ammo have nearly identical velocity ratings. You should be able to get your Luger to function on Fiocchi ammo, but we all know that Lugers can be very ammo sensitive......and mag sensitive also. My 1921 DWM in 30 Luger did NOT like the Mec-Gar mag that I purchased for it. Even changing out the mag spring to a +10% rating did not help. They can be very frustrating. Is your firing pin spring a new one? Does the extractor work smoothly when lifted by finger pressure?

05-03-2013, 05:38 PM	#7
Schutzenbob User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 52 Thanks: 105 Thanked 61 Times in 19 Posts	I bought a Mec–Gar magazine recently for my 30 luger, and at first I had the same problems you’re having. I then noticed that one of the lips of the magazine was straighter than the other, so I bent it inward just slightly, so that both were the same angle, and it hasn’t missed a beat since.

05-04-2013, 09:58 PM	#8
Jc92073 New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: North of Dallas, TX Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I was inspecting the Mec-gar magazine, the top of the follower is not machined very smooth, it has groves that run side to side. I wonder if that could be causing extra drag. Although it should only really hurt the last round, not the ones before it. I will check the angles and see if they are the same.