Replacing PO8 magazine spring

JMBstudent · October 20, 2014, 11:55 PM

I'm looking for info on how to best replace the magazine spring for my 1915/18 DWM 9mm PO8.
The magazine is aluminum bottom.
Should I just get a new replacement mag and leave the one I have alone??
The pistol is a nice numbers matching refinished example, not a collector.
When shooting, I noticed a failure to extract twice in less than 50 rounds.
The extractor looks great. Nicely shaped tip, with lots of spring tension.
Secondly, I'm looking for technical info, spring specs, dimensions, etc.
Thanks in advance for any help,

RickB · October 21, 2014, 08:39 AM

The base is retained by a cross-pin; drive the pin out, and all the guts will come out the bottom of the tube.
The original mag in my 1920 Commercial is a bit beat-up, and I've tried to massage the tube back into straightness, and it will feed OK, but won't drop free.
For shooting, I use a couple of new Mec-Gar mags. They work well, and I don't have to worry about their value.
Can't help with the extractor issue. Wolff makes a Luger spring set, but I don't remember if it includes a spring for the extractor. I think I used only the striker spring.

James K · October 21, 2014, 11:54 AM

Be careful when driving out the pin in the magazine. They are usually peened over a bit and drifting one out without using a bench block can bend the magazine body.

In my (limited) experience, neither the original nor the later springs give problems except that the older type is dependent on the magazine walls to provide guidance and if there is a failure, the spring can kink. The later type is much better. Conversion can be done, but at the cost of altering the follower and base, plus installing a second pin at the front of the base to support the different force distribution. (Magazines with the new type spring can be distinguished by having the base pin through the center of the thumb pieces rather than at the rear.)

Jim

JMBstudent · October 21, 2014, 01:49 PM

Thanks for the quick response. I'll look into getting a couple of MecGar magazines and leave the nice old original magazine alone even though it isn't the magazine original to the pistol.

October 20, 2014, 11:55 PM	#1
JMBstudent Member Join Date: November 9, 2008 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Posts: 50	Replacing PO8 magazine spring I'm looking for info on how to best replace the magazine spring for my 1915/18 DWM 9mm PO8. The magazine is aluminum bottom. Should I just get a new replacement mag and leave the one I have alone?? The pistol is a nice numbers matching refinished example, not a collector. When shooting, I noticed a failure to extract twice in less than 50 rounds. The extractor looks great. Nicely shaped tip, with lots of spring tension. Secondly, I'm looking for technical info, spring specs, dimensions, etc. Thanks in advance for any help,

October 21, 2014, 08:39 AM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,521	The base is retained by a cross-pin; drive the pin out, and all the guts will come out the bottom of the tube. The original mag in my 1920 Commercial is a bit beat-up, and I've tried to massage the tube back into straightness, and it will feed OK, but won't drop free. For shooting, I use a couple of new Mec-Gar mags. They work well, and I don't have to worry about their value. Can't help with the extractor issue. Wolff makes a Luger spring set, but I don't remember if it includes a spring for the extractor. I think I used only the striker spring.

October 21, 2014, 11:54 AM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Be careful when driving out the pin in the magazine. They are usually peened over a bit and drifting one out without using a bench block can bend the magazine body. In my (limited) experience, neither the original nor the later springs give problems except that the older type is dependent on the magazine walls to provide guidance and if there is a failure, the spring can kink. The later type is much better. Conversion can be done, but at the cost of altering the follower and base, plus installing a second pin at the front of the base to support the different force distribution. (Magazines with the new type spring can be distinguished by having the base pin through the center of the thumb pieces rather than at the rear.) Jim

October 21, 2014, 01:49 PM	#4
JMBstudent Member Join Date: November 9, 2008 Location: Rio Rancho, NM Posts: 50	Thanks for the quick response. I'll look into getting a couple of MecGar magazines and leave the nice old original magazine alone even though it isn't the magazine original to the pistol.