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InterArms PPK/S Feeding Issue

22K views 46 replies 16 participants last post by  druryj 
#1 ·
Hi, I am new to the forum. Searched the forum but did not find a thread addressing this specific issue. Please see enclosed photo. Gun has gone twice to the gunsmith, first time verdict was magazine. Second time it was a cracked extractor. Needless to say, it did it again.

Firing conditions: ball ammo, only 6th rounds in the magazine. Gun clean.

After firing the first round, gun jams. I have to drop the magazine and manually eject the non-spent round. It repeats the problem once more and then it fires fine with two rounds left.

I ordered a new spring from Wolfe but other than that, don't know what is going on. The problem makes me nervous about keeping this gun for personal defense. Guess I can fall in love with it again if it starts performing!

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

JPI
 

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#34 ·
Oh yeah, thanks. I guess I should have clarified 'imported' by Interarms as opposed to 'built by.'
 
#35 ·
And now I've had the genius revelation that this entire thread is for Interarms/Ranger made Walthers.(?) In any case, I'll reply back with my Range Report. :)
 
#36 ·
Please do!

The first PPK/S I got is a '74 Ulm-proofed in .380, still runs with "Swiss watch" reliability with any of the round-nose ammo. It will not feed flat-nose or tapered stuff reliably. If ya feed it what it was designed to fire, you should have no issues.
 
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#37 ·
RANGE REPORT: W German, Walther PPKs .380.

Well, if you look at the above entries, you will see the history of my problems with the above pistol jamming on me. Recap: Was 'stove piping', and was told to polish feed ramp, lube, check recoil spring, use ball ammo, and change mag. All which I did, except to start out, I used the aftermarket magazine that I had previously shot, keeping a newer factory mag in reserve.

So, loaded up 7 and took three shots, all fine. Number four went off and the next feed jammed. Nasty jam too. Used a cleaning rod to dislodge it. Put that magazine on the side. Previous to all this, I was putting my thumb on the old mag and this new factory one I got and pushing down the follower. The new acquisition one was as smooth as silk, whereas the one I'd been using felt stiffer, almost like it was binding slightly.

So, I then loaded up the new one. 7 shots went without a hitch. Again. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. All fine. Another load; this time I fired faster. All perfect. 7 more magazines. All perfect, not one hitch. Then I got gutsy and fed some flat front ammo into this mag. All shot just perfectly. I was smiling ear to ear. Yes it felt like a Swiss watch.

You know everyone says that .380 kicks real hard. Well, I've got to say it felt a lot smoother and softer than my .38 S&W Model 10 revolver. That sucker is like a bucking bronco. Oh, I left out an important part, at 25 yards my grouping wasn't awesome but everything I shot was on the 25yd slow fire target.
 
#38 ·
Good news, Pete. You might try and polish the offending mag on its inside front and rear surfaces, same with the follower. Check for any rough spots on either. #600 wet-or-dry, clean and lube, back to the range.

We've got mags here with what can be felt as varying spring strengths, all work fine. From our experience it all seems to come down to what ammo is used.

And at 25 yards, with the 3"-and-a-bit barrel length, I'd consider keeping all rounds anywhere on the paper a good grouping!

Recoil... My bride of decades finally became aware she needed to be proficient with the weapon, got her a stainless Ranger PPK/S. At first she was experiencing numerous FtFeed incidents. I could rattle off mags' worth thru the same piece with no problem. I put a set of coco-bolo grips on it, giving her a bit more secure grip. Some counseling with regard to anticipating follow-up rounds and muzzle rise, now she can throw 'em down range rapidly, with accuracy. .
 
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#39 ·
Some counseling with regard to anticipating follow-up rounds and muzzle rise, now she can throw 'em down range rapidly, with accuracy. .
Throwing is all well and good but how does she shoot 'em??? :D
 
#40 ·
Thanks DrE. Good idea about polishing and de-burring the mag. Funny thing though. I have 4 mags for this pistol, and the offending mag has a longer spring than the other three. All others are the same length. Possibly, the previous owner put that in. So I wonder if my polishing of the feed ramp was big part of the success, because previous to yesterday, nearly every feed would jam.Yesterday, (with the offending mag) I'd actually get off 3 or 4.

Impossible to say I guess, and I will be polishing it anyway. Let me know your thoughts on the spring length if you have time. And a very happy 4th of July, to all my fellow Americans.
 
#42 ·
Oh yeah, springs swapped and the longer spring is much stronger and prevents either mag from working smoothly. I did deburr the follower a bit and really cleaned up the casing on the offending mag.

I noticed that my two known factory springs are of a darker color and the two suspected aftermarket are stainless looking. And by the way, when I say longer spring, I mean by about an inch. It's just physics, and it seems to me that that extra length is not correct.

I know you can order extra springs, does anyone here know of a dealer that has the 'correct' length? Thanks.
 
#43 ·
I'd try M&M Gunsmithing first. "Luger Doc" Tom Heller is another possibility. Maybe even S&W, as MecGar still makes the mags AFAIK.
 
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