1936

LOVECUB · 09-09-2015, 08:54 AM

Please any suggestions on 1936 Luger, last round in magazine not chambering? If I put 8 rounds in or 3 round in, still last round not chambering. I bought 2 new Mec-gar mags and same problem with both. Is that a mag spring issue? Thanks

kurusu · 09-09-2015, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOVECUB

Please any suggestions on 1936 Luger, last round in magazine not chambering? If I put 8 rounds in or 3 round in, still last round not chambering. I bought 2 new Mec-gar mags and same problem with both. Is that a mag spring issue? Thanks

Please define not chambering.

You mean:

a) holdopen engages and locks the bolt open with one round on magazine.

b) it happens the same thing as in Alvin's picture.

c) the bolt closes on an empty chamber leaving the last round on the magazine.

d) some other type of malfunction - please describe.

Edward Tinker · 09-09-2015, 09:15 AM

I moved your posting to a new posting, since its a different gun.

MORE info is better than too little.

LOVECUB · 09-09-2015, 06:54 PM

Thank you for your help. Yes, the hold open engages and locks bolt back leaving last round in the magazine. This happens when loading 3 or 7 rounds in magazine, last round stays in mag. Happens with both brand new Mecgar mags. I have 36 lb. recoil spring, factory Winchester white box 9mm. Thank you again.

mrerick · 09-09-2015, 08:18 PM

Normally, a small leaf spring on the front of the hold open keeps it down in the frame and clear of the recoiling bolt.

In order for the holdopen to be pushed up and interfere with the breech block (holding it open) the magazine load button has to push the hold open up.

It would be unusual for the magazine to push this up a round early. My best guess without seeing pictures is that the leaf spring is either deformed, improperly installed or broken, allowing the hold open to bounce up while firing.

Sieger · 09-10-2015, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOVECUB

Thank you for your help. Yes, the hold open engages and locks bolt back leaving last round in the magazine. This happens when loading 3 or 7 rounds in magazine, last round stays in mag. Happens with both brand new Mecgar mags. I have 36 lb. recoil spring, factory Winchester white box 9mm. Thank you again.

Hi,

This problem could be from a weak hold open leaf spring. I think that GT has replacements, so you might want to try replacing yours.

Remembering that DWM (later Mauser) only gave the German Army a one year parts and labor warranty, these pistols certainly have held up well.

Sieger

kurusu · 09-10-2015, 03:55 AM

Plus one on a weak or even broken holdopen spring as the most probable cause.

4 Scale · 09-11-2015, 11:44 AM

I suggest field strip the pistol, remove the grips, load the pistol with 2 snap caps (dummy rounds) and carefully scrape off the first one with your finger on the open frame, while closely observing the action of the hold open. The hold open may be binding (not retracting fully), the hold open spring may be bad, or perhaps there is some other issue that can be discovered with this test. All that said, hold open issues are often mag issues and not all mags (even MecGars) are created equal. Recently I had to try four different MecGars to finally find one the one that would correctly operate the hold-open on a Mauser shooter. In my case, older MecGars would not operate the hold open but a new one did; the new ones seem to push the hold-open up a tiny bit more. Perhaps you try an older one? Again, G.T. might be able to help.

Depending on what you find, another option to improve magazine performance is to send it to G.T. and ask him to install a stronger aftermarket spring. While I don't think the mag spring is the problem, part of fixing Lugers esp. magazine related issues is simply trying many different things until one works.

Zorba · 09-12-2015, 02:07 PM

Replace the Mag spring, then troubleshoot the problem. G.T. is highly recommended for Mag work, he's worked on a bunch of mine and is a total "stand up guy"!

LOVECUB · 09-15-2015, 10:36 PM

Thank you to all for your recommendations and expertise regarding my "last round not chambering" problem. I will start checking all these possibilities and post later when problem identified. Who is G.T. please? I assume he works on Lugers? Thanks all, you guys are great and I'm glad to have this forum as a resource. Andrew

LOVECUB · 09-15-2015, 11:40 PM

Good news I think. I closely watched the rounds come out of mag and there was no lift at all of the hold open latch with last round in mag. I also pushed up on mag to see if it lifts the latch given the little bit of play up and down that is present in mag well(with the last round still in mag), and still no lifting at all. Pulling the last round out engages latch and it lifts/pushes up properly to hold slide open. I hope I understood the directions and tested this hold open latch properly. It appears to me that it functions properly. I hope a new mag spring does the trick. Thanks for the help. To be continued...

John Sabato · 09-16-2015, 10:41 AM

You will find G.T. Here:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/member.php?u=20

09-09-2015, 08:54 AM	#1
LOVECUB New User Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1936 Please any suggestions on 1936 Luger, last round in magazine not chambering? If I put 8 rounds in or 3 round in, still last round not chambering. I bought 2 new Mec-gar mags and same problem with both. Is that a mag spring issue? Thanks

09-09-2015, 08:18 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Normally, a small leaf spring on the front of the hold open keeps it down in the frame and clear of the recoiling bolt. In order for the holdopen to be pushed up and interfere with the breech block (holding it open) the magazine load button has to push the hold open up. It would be unusual for the magazine to push this up a round early. My best guess without seeing pictures is that the leaf spring is either deformed, improperly installed or broken, allowing the hold open to bounce up while firing. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

09-16-2015, 10:41 AM	#12
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	You will find G.T. Here: http://forum.lugerforum.com/member.php?u=20 __________________ 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..."*

09-09-2015, 09:15 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	I moved your posting to a new posting, since its a different gun. MORE info is better than too little.

09-09-2015, 06:54 PM	#4
LOVECUB New User Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you for your help. Yes, the hold open engages and locks bolt back leaving last round in the magazine. This happens when loading 3 or 7 rounds in magazine, last round stays in mag. Happens with both brand new Mecgar mags. I have 36 lb. recoil spring, factory Winchester white box 9mm. Thank you again.

09-10-2015, 03:55 AM	#7
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 929 Times in 509 Posts	Plus one on a weak or even broken holdopen spring as the most probable cause.

09-11-2015, 11:44 AM	#8
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 489 Times in 251 Posts	I suggest field strip the pistol, remove the grips, load the pistol with 2 snap caps (dummy rounds) and carefully scrape off the first one with your finger on the open frame, while closely observing the action of the hold open. The hold open may be binding (not retracting fully), the hold open spring may be bad, or perhaps there is some other issue that can be discovered with this test. All that said, hold open issues are often mag issues and not all mags (even MecGars) are created equal. Recently I had to try four different MecGars to finally find one the one that would correctly operate the hold-open on a Mauser shooter. In my case, older MecGars would not operate the hold open but a new one did; the new ones seem to push the hold-open up a tiny bit more. Perhaps you try an older one? Again, G.T. might be able to help. Depending on what you find, another option to improve magazine performance is to send it to G.T. and ask him to install a stronger aftermarket spring. While I don't think the mag spring is the problem, part of fixing Lugers esp. magazine related issues is simply trying many different things until one works.

09-12-2015, 02:07 PM	#9
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 951 Thanks: 776 Thanked 526 Times in 289 Posts	Replace the Mag spring, then troubleshoot the problem. G.T. is highly recommended for Mag work, he's worked on a bunch of mine and is a total "stand up guy"!

09-15-2015, 10:36 PM	#10
LOVECUB New User Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you to all for your recommendations and expertise regarding my "last round not chambering" problem. I will start checking all these possibilities and post later when problem identified. Who is G.T. please? I assume he works on Lugers? Thanks all, you guys are great and I'm glad to have this forum as a resource. Andrew

09-15-2015, 11:40 PM	#11
LOVECUB New User Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 4 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Good news I think. I closely watched the rounds come out of mag and there was no lift at all of the hold open latch with last round in mag. I also pushed up on mag to see if it lifts the latch given the little bit of play up and down that is present in mag well(with the last round still in mag), and still no lifting at all. Pulling the last round out engages latch and it lifts/pushes up properly to hold slide open. I hope I understood the directions and tested this hold open latch properly. It appears to me that it functions properly. I hope a new mag spring does the trick. Thanks for the help. To be continued...