Police Surplus PP: Assembly and clamp suggestions

[LedFowl]

I recently took ownership of this .32acp West German police surplus PP, made in 1964. It looks to have the usual proof marks and shows holster wear and some light pitting. The bore looks very good.









It will be strictly a range gun for me and friends to experience.

I put 50 rounds (both 73 gr Lellier & Bellot and 71 gr Magtech) through it for the first time today, and had a couple of issues.

First, every 10 rounds or so a round would jam in such a way that I couldn't move the slide to clear it, so I'd drop the mag and then I could clear the round. When I say jam, I mean that the slide wouldn't close fully and I could see a new round partially in the chamber (barrel). I experienced this with both brands of ammo. Empty casings ejected properly. Thoughts?

Second, I can only seat a loaded magazine by depressing the mag release (catch) button. Looking at it at home with the slide off, the catch in the mag well is just too difficult to move back when the mag gets to it unless I really slam the butt end of the mag hard. I don't like to do that. I found depressing the mag release button lets the mag seat properly. An unloaded mag hesitates as it gets to the mag catch, but it doesn't have to be slammed as hard. Do I just need to disassemble the mag release (mag catch) and clean it out?

I should mention that both mags are Mecgars. One came with the pistol and the other is new. I experience the same problem with both.

I appreciate any input. It's fun to shoot!

[halfmoonclip]

In past experience, .32 PPs are normally as reliable as gravity. I'm suspecting a tolerance issue, and perhaps the mag release is sticking or out of spec. It shouldn't be necessary to slam the mag into the gun.
MecGar mags really are OEM, so unless you really drew the short straw, the mags shouldn't be the issue. We are assuming here that the gun is clean and lubed.
Explain a little more about your jam-clearing situation; what do you mean when you say you 'couldn't move the slide'?

The old PP turn ins seem to run the gamut from soup to nuts; some are virtually unfired, and others have really high round counts. They are a ball to shoot, and generally accurate and reliable.
Moon

[LedFowl]

Originally Posted by halfmoonclip

Explain a little more about your jam-clearing situation; what do you mean when you say you 'couldn't move the slide'?

I couldn't pull the slide back to cause the stuck round to eject. Once I removed the mag, I could do that.

And yes, I cleaned and lubed it before shooting.

Thanks.

[LedFowl]

I've been doing a little more searching on this forum. "Failure To Return to Battery" seems to describe my jamming problem. Based on what I read, the extractor (the round not sliding under it properly as it's drawn from the mag) could be an issue.

[MGMike]

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/p...lure-feed.html

[LedFowl]

Originally Posted by MGMike

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/p...lure-feed.html

Just to update, I followed the recommendations in the link. I disassembled and inspected my mags (they were already clean). The chamber is clean. I removed, inspected and cleaned the extractor and spring (it was dirty but didn't look worn). I also tried some American-made ammo: Federal American Eagle 71 grain FMJ.

I still have the same problem (failure-to-feed, or failure-to-return-to battery), but the pistol functions best with the Lellier & Bellot ammo. It definitely functions worst with the Federal (I think I actually fired only four rounds). When out of battery, looking in through the ejection port, it appears the round isn't hooked under the extractor.

My plan is to replace the extractor and its spring and see if that helps.

[MGMike]

If you have already removed and cleaned the extractor and found nothing obviously amiss, and if it moves freely without sticking when pushed from the inside with your finger, I don't think much will be gained by replacing the extractor and spring.

I think the problem is elsewhere.

Try this: Remove the slide. Hold the pistol vertical with the muzzle down and drop a Federal cartridge into the chamber. Does it fall in freely and fully, without sticking or resistance? Turn the gun vertical with muzzle up; does the cartridge fall out by itself? If it won't fall in and fall out by itself, you've found the problem.

If that is not the problem, be sure that the recoil spring is correctly installed (the smaller end goes to the rear, around the barrel), and that it's not the previous owner's "approximate" replacement. With the slide off, a good .32 PP recoil spring is about 4-1/2" to 4-3/4" long and extends beyond the barrel about 1-7/8" to 2". Wire diameter is 1.2mm and there are about 15 active coils.

M

[azgraphite]

I'm sure I do not need to remind any shooter of a semi-auto pistol that there must be sufficient resistance applied upon the rear of the gun for it function correctly. In other words, keep those elbows locked so the gun has something to push against.

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by azgraphite

I'm sure I do not need to remind any shooter of a semi-auto pistol that there must be sufficient resistance applied upon the rear of the gun for it function correctly. In other words, keep those elbows locked so the gun has something to push against.

Your reminder is timely. It could be that, too. Especially since Federal AE tends to be loaded on the light side. And a slide which doesn't make it all the way to the rear will tend to drag the next cartridge (the top one in the mag) forward, which --if a stoppage occurs at that point--will make it difficult to clear without removing the mag, a circumstance which is also relevant to this particular scenario.

M

[Conman37]

LedFowl, any idea what the symbol used to be that has been struck out???

I too have a 1964 police surplus PP with something "X'ed" out. I have a couple of guesses but nothing concrete.