I'm having a fireing problem.

[octam]

Hello gentelmen, new member first post. I bought my first luger p08 a few weeks ago. (1916 erfurt 6210 all match but mag, has been reblued) shooter not collecter. I got to shoot it last weekend and had a problem. I loaded 6 rounds in the mag that came with it, shot it and what i call the bretch did not full move forward to load a new round. i popped it forward and shot the next five rounds no problem. i thought maybe bad mag. i used another mag loaded 6 rounds and it shot fine. I loaded 6 more rounds in same mag and it didn't fully close again. (recoil spring possibly) I love the way it felt shooting it.
It shot pretty well for it's age.

I have been lurking around the forum for awhile and found that you guys are very informed on these pieces of art and tell it like it is.. please help me fix this problem..

thanks, George D.

[mrerick]

Hi George,

Welcome to the forum!

This could very well be the recoil spring, since the wrong one or a weak one could account for this.

It could also be the way you're holding and supporting the pistol when firing.

You need a tight grip, straight on without bending your wrist.

Lugers can be rather sensitive to the grip.

This could also be lubrication related. Have you cleaned and inspected it?

Incomplete closure could be caused by the extractor being gummed up and dirty. If you disassemble the breech block don't lose the small spring under the extractor and observe the way it's inserted and mounted.

Inspect the face of the extractor. It should be smooth and slightly curved.

Marc

[octam]

Marc,

Thanks for welcome and reply. I did disassemble to inspect for marks and cleaning. I did take the firing pin out. Im pretty sure i put things back the way they belong. I did not pay a lot of attention to extractor. I didn't take the extractor apart, I will take it apart again and inspect what you have descibed.

I did oil quiet liberaly though. I have noticed when cocking it and hold on while it closes that it does not close fully.(i know thats not how you do it) I can pull back about a quarter of an inch it just stays there.

I did let several good friends shot and they had same problem, If i take out and shot again if everything checks out, i will try holding it diffrently.

thanks again, George

[FleetMan]

George,

Try shooting from a bench rest holding the Luger firmly to see if your grip is contributing to the problem. Until I mastered holding mine firmly and properly, I would experience "stove pipes" routinely after the second or third shot. As Marc said, a solid grip is essential. Once you get past that hurdle, you will enjoy shooting it.

[nukem556]

Hi, George....where in SC are you? If it turns out you need a new recoil spring and you have trouble installing it, lemme know.

[octam]

Fleetman,

Thanks, I did take it apart again late last night. Everything looks to be in order, I did clean and relubricate all moving parts. Is it normal to pull back about a quarter inche, and breech to stay there when released? All my other semi's close fully at anytime during the cocking process.(TOkerev, walther p38, smiths, rugers} I know this is a whole diffrent pistol.
I really did enjoy shooting it, and like isaid earlyer it groups very well at 20 yards and feels great. I have a few more pistols to pick up to finish my collection, Im hoping by christmas to buy a Lp 08 arti.

nukem,

I live in piedmont, right outside of greenville off of 85. thanks i may take you up on that if i do need spring. Im going to take my luger to the hunt camp next weekend to turkey hunt and try shooting it again holding it as described above.

I just thought about this, is recoil spring marked? This is a shooter in really nice condition so should i replace it with new and keep the old one if it turns out to be faulty?

thanks guy's, George

[Sieger]

George:

Let's try something new. Load up only 5 cartridges and see if you can get through all of them without a jam. If so, the OAL of your cartridges is probably too short for reliable feeding through a Luger's magazine, which, for reliable feeding needs a round nose cartridge of 1.173 inches and a truncated cone at 1.15 inches.

Also, your ammo could be too hot for your the Luger, which was loaded at 123 grains to 1,076 fps during the period you have (a 1916). Please check your ammo and get back to us.

Sieger

[octam]

Sieger,

My ammo was purchased from Georgia arms, 115Gr full metal case (factory loaded)
rated at 1150fps. i do not have any calipers on hand to measure what you descibed above.
it is 9mm luger 100 rounds for $23.50. (what i call cheap paper punchers)
It is cone shaped and rounded at tip. What does truncated mean? sorry for silly question.

The mags i have are repro, 1 is black steel with wood bottom, no marks at all.
2. shinny steel body with black plastic bottom, mec-gar marked.
Are these ok?

thanks, George

[octam]

Sieger,

I looked up truncated. Yes it is.

george

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by octam

Sieger,

My ammo was purchased from Georgia arms, 115Gr full metal case (factory loaded)
rated at 1150fps. i do not have any calipers on hand to measure what you descibed above.
it is 9mm luger 100 rounds for $23.50. (what i call cheap paper punchers)
It is cone shaped and rounded at tip. What does truncated mean? sorry for silly question.

The mags i have are repro, 1 is black steel with wood bottom, no marks at all.
2. shinny steel body with black plastic bottom, mec-gar marked.
Are these ok?

thanks, George

George:

You might want to try some of the WalMart Winchester 115 gr. "White Box" target ammo to see if this will function your action better. Quite a few of our members swear by this stuff.

The velocity you quote is on the hotter side for a Luger, but not what I would consider unusual for modern ammo.

MecGar magazines should work just fine, as they are the best currently on the market.

Your bullet sounds like Hornaday's 124 gr. "Airforce bullet", which is a truncated cone with a round tip. Mine feeds and functions the action perfectly when loaded to 28.7 mm. I bet the factory loads these a lot deeper in the cartridge than that. The OAL of the cartridge being fired in a Luger is very important for proper function.

If the White Box stuff won't function your Luger properly, I'd try one of the recoil springs from Wolff Springs. They will sell you a three spring set, each of different weight, so that you can identify just the right one for your particular Luger. They are not too expensive either.

When you get your Luger functioning properly, you will really enjoy shooting it!!

Sieger

[augustJ]

It is the magazine

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by octam

Is it normal to pull back about a quarter inche, and breech to stay there when released?

If you cocked it, then yes, this is normal.