Mainspring testing

Curss · 03-17-2014, 12:20 PM

Earlier I read a thread concerning weak mainsprings and a few points were brought up about breech blocks slamming into the back of the guns and peening the frames. I examined my own .30 Luger and a frame that came off a double date Erfurt. I noticed small peen marks in the .30 and serious indentions in the Erfurt frame. I was slightly worried about damage to my beloved commercial Luger, and I wanted to swap out the springs in it for new ones so I decided to do some testing with some mainsprings.

I took a recoil spring pack from Wolff gunsprings and began testing them in my 1920 .30 Luger, and found that none of the springs would function properly in the gun as they were. Changing out the firing pin spring for an extra power spring seemed to slightly improve things, however jamming issues continued. Disheartened, I thoroughly cleaned the pistol and stored it away for when I would have time to experiment once more.

For this batch of testing I determined that perhaps I should tune the springs to properly fire Fiocchi .30 ammunition. Using the tape test to measure recoil, I also applied tape to the peen marks on the inside of the gun to see if and when the breech block would hit the frame.

I once more began testing and found that at least one or two rounds could be fired through the gun using the #38 Wolff mainspring. The #36 spring refused to function so I selected the #38 pound spring and began taking one coil off at a time. There was a marked improvement in functionality when the spring had 18 coils on it. So, I snipped half the coil off and once again test fired it with an original mag and a Mec-Gar magazine that had both been reworked by G.T. Each magazine had 7 rounds in them, and all 14 shots went through flawlessly!!!

The tape wasn't mangled and the gun shoots great! The new spring measures just under 3 inches, the old one is 3 1/4 inches.

Here's a pic of the tape test for the breech block peening.

Curss · 03-17-2014, 12:25 PM

G.T. added an aluminum bottom to the Mec-Gar magazine on the right. I think its a great improvement in looks!

Curss · 03-17-2014, 12:28 PM

The modified #38 Wolff spring is on the left, the original on the right. Should I cut down the #36 spring? Or is the height difference not going to be a problem?!

Sieger · 03-17-2014, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curss

The modified #38 Wolff spring is on the left, the original on the right. Should I cut down the #36 spring? Or is the height difference not going to be a problem?!

Curss,

The German name for the recoil spring is the "closing spring".

After your modifications, make sure there is still enough "spring" available to adequately "close" the toggle, putting it into full battery.

Also interesting is the fact that the new spring seems to be made of thicker wire than the original.

Some thoughts.

Sieger

Curss · 03-17-2014, 05:17 PM

How would you check if its in full battery?

ithacaartist · 03-17-2014, 08:42 PM

The breech blockade will be all the way forward.

Curss · 03-17-2014, 09:16 PM

Ok, seems like its all the way forward when released. Maybe I'll trim the #36 spring just for the extra "spring" just to be sure. And it gives me a good excuse to get more ammo!

I installed other springs that were full length and there was no difference in the breech block spacing on any of them, including the modified spring.

Sieger · 03-18-2014, 12:30 AM

Hi,

It sound to me like you are well on the way to tuning up your Luger!!

Just wait until you have a super accurate handload developed for it, then the real fun will start!

To be at full battery, the toggle must be, firmly, all of the way down, and; thus, the breach block all of the way forward.

For proper function, you will need: a proper recoil spring; a proper magazine spring; a proper extractor spring and a properly handloaded cartridge, including proper O.A.L..

Good luck with your project!!!

Sieger

03-17-2014, 12:20 PM	#1
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	Mainspring testing Earlier I read a thread concerning weak mainsprings and a few points were brought up about breech blocks slamming into the back of the guns and peening the frames. I examined my own .30 Luger and a frame that came off a double date Erfurt. I noticed small peen marks in the .30 and serious indentions in the Erfurt frame. I was slightly worried about damage to my beloved commercial Luger, and I wanted to swap out the springs in it for new ones so I decided to do some testing with some mainsprings. I took a recoil spring pack from Wolff gunsprings and began testing them in my 1920 .30 Luger, and found that none of the springs would function properly in the gun as they were. Changing out the firing pin spring for an extra power spring seemed to slightly improve things, however jamming issues continued. Disheartened, I thoroughly cleaned the pistol and stored it away for when I would have time to experiment once more. For this batch of testing I determined that perhaps I should tune the springs to properly fire Fiocchi .30 ammunition. Using the tape test to measure recoil, I also applied tape to the peen marks on the inside of the gun to see if and when the breech block would hit the frame. I once more began testing and found that at least one or two rounds could be fired through the gun using the #38 Wolff mainspring. The #36 spring refused to function so I selected the #38 pound spring and began taking one coil off at a time. There was a marked improvement in functionality when the spring had 18 coils on it. So, I snipped half the coil off and once again test fired it with an original mag and a Mec-Gar magazine that had both been reworked by G.T. Each magazine had 7 rounds in them, and all 14 shots went through flawlessly!!! The tape wasn't mangled and the gun shoots great! The new spring measures just under 3 inches, the old one is 3 1/4 inches. Here's a pic of the tape test for the breech block peening. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Chris

03-17-2014, 12:25 PM	#2
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	G.T. added an aluminum bottom to the Mec-Gar magazine on the right. I think its a great improvement in looks! Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Chris

03-17-2014, 05:17 PM	#5
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	How would you check if its in full battery? __________________ -Chris

03-17-2014, 08:42 PM	#6
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,334 Thanks: 7,236 Thanked 2,552 Times in 1,358 Posts	The breech blockade will be all the way forward. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

03-17-2014, 09:16 PM	#7
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	Ok, seems like its all the way forward when released. Maybe I'll trim the #36 spring just for the extra "spring" just to be sure. And it gives me a good excuse to get more ammo! I installed other springs that were full length and there was no difference in the breech block spacing on any of them, including the modified spring. __________________ -Chris Last edited by Curss; 03-17-2014 at 09:26 PM. Reason: Other testing

03-17-2014, 12:28 PM	#3
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	The modified #38 Wolff spring is on the left, the original on the right. Should I cut down the #36 spring? Or is the height difference not going to be a problem?! Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Chris

03-18-2014, 12:30 AM	#8
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi, It sound to me like you are well on the way to tuning up your Luger!! Just wait until you have a super accurate handload developed for it, then the real fun will start! To be at full battery, the toggle must be, firmly, all of the way down, and; thus, the breach block all of the way forward. For proper function, you will need: a proper recoil spring; a proper magazine spring; a proper extractor spring and a properly handloaded cartridge, including proper O.A.L.. Good luck with your project!!! Sieger