GT's Strong Spring!!!

Johnny C. Kitchens · 05-27-2004, 10:01 PM

I recently put one of GT's magazine spring in a Mec-Gar magazine. These Mec-Gar plastic bottoms are not the strongest ones to use. When I removed the base, it was broken through one pin. I got a replacement from GT. With it I had a complete magazine with a strong spring. My first test revealed it worked, although hold open seemed to work only sometimes. I took it out to the range for a second test, with a new load. It worked!!! All eight rounds work flawlessly and the hold open worked. A second magazine full and worked flawlessly. I was very happy. I started loading for a third round. As I started inserting the fifth round, there was a sudden change in the magazine. The bottom popped off I thought, but no it broke. As you can see in the picture, it split through both pins. The spring took off. I thought it was gone forever, figuring a spring would be very hard to spot, but it landed about 15 feet away on some concrete stairs. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get one of those GT aluminum bottoms to go with his spring. I'm currently having Robar coating a 70's issue Mauser Parabellum magazine with NP3, which is a nickel-phosphate teflon coating. When it returns, I'm sending it to GT for a base and spring upgrade. That should give me one super magazine to shoot with...

Waschbaer · 05-27-2004, 11:10 PM

Hey, that looks just like one of my reloads! Does anybody know if mec gar magazines are often plagued with problems? I'd like to get some extra mags for my shooter once it gets in.

John Sabato · 05-28-2004, 10:26 AM

Outside of extruded original magazines... the only modern replacements I would buy are the Mec-gar type. They are my personal preference and They function fine in most Lugers.

Some folks like the Triple-K mags, but they only hold 7 rounds. It is a personal decision that is guided by what works in YOUR Luger...

G.T. · 05-29-2004, 06:59 PM

Hi to all! The MEC-GAR mags are probably the best replica mags available now... They have made a serious attempt to stay close to the original design specs, at least as far as dimensions go... the new blue high polish mags are decidedly better then the older brush blue or nickle MEC-GAR mags, and the only real weak points are the spring and the plastic bottom.. The bottoms that I remove are more often then not, broken/cracked thru one of the pin holes... the plastic is brittle and can't stand any repeated removals... but, they seem to work and fit fine... wood bottoms are a nice update, but aluminum would be a bit better for the shooting buff! Best to all, til...lat'r...GT <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

Thor · 05-29-2004, 09:29 PM

I like the MEC-GAR mags but they do have weak springs IMO.

Heinz · 06-06-2004, 08:48 PM

I have a MecGar that GT fitted with his swiss style wood bottom and the the GT superspring. It works as well as my Haenel Schmeisser in my 1915 9 mm. Here is how it looks (better than the old H-S)

G.T. · 06-08-2004, 02:36 AM

Hi Heinz! I forgot how nice that turned out!

I also like the term "GT superspring!!"
Thanks for the look Heinz! Best to you, til...lat'r.....GT <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

05-27-2004, 10:01 PM	#1
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	GT's Strong Spring!!! I recently put one of GT's magazine spring in a Mec-Gar magazine. These Mec-Gar plastic bottoms are not the strongest ones to use. When I removed the base, it was broken through one pin. I got a replacement from GT. With it I had a complete magazine with a strong spring. My first test revealed it worked, although hold open seemed to work only sometimes. I took it out to the range for a second test, with a new load. It worked!!! All eight rounds work flawlessly and the hold open worked. A second magazine full and worked flawlessly. I was very happy. I started loading for a third round. As I started inserting the fifth round, there was a sudden change in the magazine. The bottom popped off I thought, but no it broke. As you can see in the picture, it split through both pins. The spring took off. I thought it was gone forever, figuring a spring would be very hard to spot, but it landed about 15 feet away on some concrete stairs. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get one of those GT aluminum bottoms to go with his spring. I'm currently having Robar coating a 70's issue Mauser Parabellum magazine with NP3, which is a nickel-phosphate teflon coating. When it returns, I'm sending it to GT for a base and spring upgrade. That should give me one super magazine to shoot with... __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

05-28-2004, 10:26 AM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Outside of extruded original magazines... the only modern replacements I would buy are the Mec-gar type. They are my personal preference and They function fine in most Lugers. Some folks like the Triple-K mags, but they only hold 7 rounds. It is a personal decision that is guided by what works in YOUR Luger... __________________ 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..."*

05-29-2004, 09:29 PM	#5
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	I like the MEC-GAR mags but they do have weak springs IMO. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

05-27-2004, 11:10 PM	#2
Waschbaer User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey, that looks just like one of my reloads! Does anybody know if mec gar magazines are often plagued with problems? I'd like to get some extra mags for my shooter once it gets in.

05-29-2004, 06:59 PM	#4
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,502 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,639 Times in 1,001 Posts	Hi to all! The MEC-GAR mags are probably the best replica mags available now... They have made a serious attempt to stay close to the original design specs, at least as far as dimensions go... the new blue high polish mags are decidedly better then the older brush blue or nickle MEC-GAR mags, and the only real weak points are the spring and the plastic bottom.. The bottoms that I remove are more often then not, broken/cracked thru one of the pin holes... the plastic is brittle and can't stand any repeated removals... but, they seem to work and fit fine... wood bottoms are a nice update, but aluminum would be a bit better for the shooting buff! Best to all, til...lat'r...GT <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />

06-06-2004, 08:48 PM	#6
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	I have a MecGar that GT fitted with his swiss style wood bottom and the the GT superspring. It works as well as my Haenel Schmeisser in my 1915 9 mm. Here is how it looks (better than the old H-S)

06-08-2004, 02:36 AM	#7
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,502 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,639 Times in 1,001 Posts	Hi Heinz! I forgot how nice that turned out! I also like the term "GT superspring!!" Thanks for the look Heinz! Best to you, til...lat'r.....GT <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />