Empty magazine will work, magazine with ammo won't go in

[Robert in NC]

Hi, I need some assistance. I have a alphabet luger in 7.65, which has a problem I can't figure out. .A loaded magazine wont go all the way in, it stops about a quarter inch below the chamber. An empty magazine works fine. A magazine with empty cases (no bullets) also works fine.. Withe the toggle back I can insert a round into the magazine from the top. That round will load fine when I release the toggle.

I just can't insert a loaded magazine into the gun, and I can't see what is wrong.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[rhuff]

Have you tried another mag.....like a new MecGar mag??

[Robert in NC]

Yes, an older mcgar (5 years) a new mecgar (2 weeks) and the original magazine. PPU fmj and Fiocchi lead round nose. Everything was fine 2 days ago.

[Doubs]

That's difficult to diagnose without knowing more. Have you tried inserting a loaded magazine with the toggles locked back? Have you tried pushing the mag release while inserting the magazine to see if it's preventing the mag from seating?

[gunbugs]

Magazine catch, or grip screws.

[velodog455~]

Remove the grips and try inserting the mag. Gunbugs is correct that grip screws can be too long if the wood has shrunk any in the last 80-100 years which can keep the mag from fully inserting. Also, have you tightened your grip screws in the last week or so?

If it still won't go in then remove the entire upper and try inserting the mag. If it won't go in using the above test but goes in after removing the upper then at least you know the problem is somewhere in the upper assembly.
-Bob

[Robert in NC]

Thanks to everyone for suggestions.

The mysterious problem, which I worked on for an hour and a half and not find a cause, has just as mysteriously solved itself. I took off the grips and still couldn't see anything wrong, and the problem persisted, so at a growing frustration level put the gun on the work bench and left it for several hours. When I decided to look at it again inexplicably everything worked fine.
Basically it didn't work, I left it on the work bench for several hours, and without doing anything else it did work.

While I'm glad the issue is solved I would have liked to know what the problem actually was and how it suddenly resolved itself. Operator error springs to mind, but it's not like inserting a magazine is a difficult operation.

[rhuff]

I am glad it is back functioning correctly again, but it really doesn't solve the problem you had, does it??

[Bill_in_VA]

Luger elves did it.

[LU1900]

What about the pin on bottom mag ?

[mrerick]

It's possible that the magazine's spring was binding because it's dry and dirty. Light lubrication of the magazine interior may help. Understand that you don't want this interfering with the ammunition.

A graphite lubricant perhaps?

[STEINBVG]

It would bother me not knowing, why the problem comes and goes- like plays pica boo. I would investigate all the possibilities discussed. Hate to sound obvious

[Kiwi]

Yes - unreliable is not a quality one looks for with a gun

That said I do have a couple of Erma's