P08 Luger trigger reset problem and solution.

The trigger was on my P08 Luger was not resetting. Here’s how I fixed it.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a gunsmith, If you do not feel comfortable working on your own firearms, please bring them to a professional for servicing. If you try this it is at your own risk.
Also please excuse my sniffling and overall lack of focus. I am sick at the time of this recording.

[@andrewbolay1517]

Nice troubleshooting dude. Glad to see others with the balls to fix their own stuff, it's the only way to learn.

[@BrassJunkie]

Thanks, too many people seem to shy away from working on their own things nowadays. Personally, I enjoy it!

[@johnhouli3450]

Thank you. My Dad has given me long ago one just like you have here. I took it and tried to operate it. Once cocked the trigger would not release it. All original from WWII. I will share this with my brother thanks.

[@BrassJunkie]

If your Luger is all original, The springs are the most likely the culprit. I would suggest replacing those before attempting any other repair. Best of luck and thanks for watching!

[@supernaut5034]

Very helpful in suggesting where the issue was in my aimco luger. I bought it used and have to imagine what a pain in the ass this gun was for the previous owners. I made the same adjustment thats outlined here and it now works great! Thanks for posting.

[@BrassJunkie]

I’m glad my video was able to help you to diagnose the issue with your Luger and get it back into service! These old war horses are a lot of fun when they are working properly, enjoy your Luger!

[@randallgranaas2789]

Thanks so much for the video. Helped me diagnose the trigger not resetting on my Portuguese (M2) Luger after firing the first round. As noted by others, I found the trigger would reset if the trigger were released while cycling the toggle action, but would not reset if the trigger were kept depressed while cycling the toggle. I found I could reset the trigger by pushing it forward ("assist"). In my case, the problem wound up being a broken trigger return spring. Installed a spare trigger return spring I had handy, works great now.

[@BrassJunkie]

I’m glad to hear that my video was helpful, Happy shooting!

[@Shinji0Ikari007]

Thank you, just fixed an issue with my Luger not resetting.

[@BrassJunkie]

I’m happy to hear that my video helped you fix your Luger!

[@Alfonzz01]

BrassJunkie thanks for sharing this video. I've been trying to fix the cycling issue on my luger for years.... everyone I talked to said springs and ammunition. It was the trigger bar, had a slight amount of wear so I polished it with a wet stone. Works perfectly now!

[@BrassJunkie]

@Alfonzz01 Happy to do it, I’m glad you were able to get your Luger functioning reliably. happy shooting!

[@iryonora]

hi, I've got the exactly the same issue and resolved the trouble with the help of your youtube clip. thanks a lot. btwy, I posted your youtube link to my gunboard discussion as a reference. hope it's okay. thanks.

[@BrassJunkie]

I’m glad my video was able to help you get your pistol up and running again! I don’t mind the repost at all, hopefully it will reach more people who are looking for a solution.

[@chrishelms1967]

Very informative.....thanks

[@BrassJunkie]

Chris Helms: no problem, thanks for watching!

[@michaelmcevoy2121]

Brilliant

[@BrassJunkie]

Thanks

[@GeorgiaShootersGroup]

I diagnosed my problem down to the same part but this video helped me fix it. I also polished the part with a stone to mirror. I ordered a new blank so I can really fit it right for permanent but it looks like the one in there was crudely fit the first time. So thanks very much for taking the time to share this. VERY helpful.

[@BrassJunkie]

Georgia Shooter, Thank you. I’m glad my video was helpful to you and that you were able to fix your Luger! They are a lot of fun when they work but an endless source of frustration when they don’t.

[@tonelar415]

great video- mine is not numbers matching it doesn’t fire every time so thinking of adding some material (as opposed to removing)

[@BrassJunkie]

I would suggest a company called Jack First. They sell reproduction parts for obsolete firearms, I’ve had good luck with their parts.

[@batuhancelik1174]

I cut the trigger spring to lighten the trigger weight and then this problem started. Actually, after cutting the bow, I lengthened and widened it at both ends. Despite this, the problem was not resolved. I don't know whether the method you showed will solve the problem or not. Or should I just replace the trigger spring?

[@BrassJunkie]

If the problem started after removing material from the trigger spring, I would probably start by replacing the trigger spring.

[@anthonysauls1446]

So, i just got a luger, my first one, and it will not recock after the first shot unless i pull back on the toggle a little bit. I was watching this video but i am unsure. The part where you are talking about the back of the plunger not resetting, what is it supposed to do? Go back into the recess without you having to release the trigger?

[@BrassJunkie]

The plunger is essentially the engagement surface between the pad of the trigger lever and the trigger bar. When the trigger is pulled, the top “pad” of the trigger lever pushes against the side of the plunger which causes the trigger bar to pivot inwards, releasing the striker. When the toggle assembly goes back into battery while the trigger is still being pressed to the rear, the plunger will be pushed into its recess as it comes into contact with the back edge of the lever. When the trigger is released the plunger is then able to move back into position, resetting the engagement surfaces or “resetting the trigger”

[@anthonysauls1446]

@@BrassJunkie hey, sorry for the late reply, between college and work I havn't had time to get to checking out my luger. I looked at my luger again following your video and your explanation and i do not believe this is the problem. Which is a shame because now i have no idea what the problem could be.

[@BrassJunkie]

@@anthonysauls1446 that is a shame, it’s possible that it could be a spring issue.

[@anthonysauls1446]

@@BrassJunkie happy to report that my Luger is fixed. Turns out the side trigger plate was broken (not sure how, I sent it to a friend to get ot fixed) I purchased a new one and the problem is fixed. I have a question for you though, as i can't find an answer online. Can the Luger have 1 in the chamber plus a full magazine of 8? It feels like a tight fit for the magazine and I don't want to break anything or cause a malfunction. Have you tried this in your experience with one?

[@BrassJunkie]

@@anthonysauls1446 congratulations on your now fully functional Luger! I don’t typically top mine off with a round in the chamber. It’s probably ok to do it but with any of my historically significant firearms, I don’t like to force anything.

[@Physics072]

Im not sure if they put "too much material" on that little right angle piece even though that fixed it. Could have been that 90 degree bend was somehow made 88 degrees due to someone stepping on the part etc. Rather than file off material I wonder if you could have just put it in a vise and opened the angle a little bit for the same affect. Then you would not need bluing or a file. What do you think?

[@BrassJunkie]

The angle matched up with both of my other Lugers so I don’t think that was the issue. P08 pistols were all hand fit, small parts were produced oversized and then filed down to fit. Had the part been something externally visible I would have been hesitant to start removing material.

[@Physics072]

@@BrassJunkie Did it fix it? Have you shot it since. What I did was put a piece of tape on the part of the L lever under the part you filed. That does the same thing as removing the material it stops that pad a little shorter. My pad is scraping a little bit on the side of the frame. When the barrel moves back that L shaped lever pad essentially slides forward, I think their should be some clearance or it will ruff up the bluing on the frame. Then Ill test shoot and probably file like you did for a permanent solution.

[@BrassJunkie]

@@Physics072 I have shot it on multiple occasions since the making of this video and it has performed very well. The trigger now resets reliably.

[@Physics072]

I have a 1920 luger that on the second shot there is no CLICK. The hammer does not seem to cock even though it ejects the shell. You pull the trigger for the second shot and NOTHING. At first I thought it was due to weak ammo thinking it was not moving the action all the way back. But the firing pin (as you showed) gets cocked in the first few mm of action movement back. I noticed that if I tried to cock it with the trigger fully depressed (you do not let up on the trigger after you fire) that it does not cock the firing pin. Only when you are not pressing the trigger does it cock the firing pin when you pull the slide back some. Not sure if that makes sense but is that the issue you were having?

[@BrassJunkie]

That is exactly the problem I was experiencing. Is your Luger all original or have parts been replaced?

[@Physics072]

@@BrassJunkie Most of the parts match on mine on the ouside but hard to tell if that part you replaced is original or not. I would guess its 95 percent all original with ? areas on small parts. I would like to fix mine was trying to fully understand how that little piece was deemed "tool Thick" in your video. Maybe I missed the part or you glossed over it fast. I would need to buy some stuff too like that Blueing bottle you had. Where did you get that?

[@BrassJunkie]

@Bob My determination that material needed to be removed was based on the fact that this gun is not all original and since the trigger bar was numbered to the gun and the point of Failure was between that and the pad of the lever, the lever seemed the likely culprit. You can find the bluing solution at most big box outdoor stores (bass pro shop, cabelas) or you can purchase it directly from brownells. Oxpho blue has given me the best results but you can also use birchwood casey super blue.

[@Physics072]

@@BrassJunkie Thanks! Ill try that Oxpho blue

[@BrassJunkie]

@@Physics072 no problem! Cold blueing is not as durable as rust blueing or Nitre blueing but it’s quick and easy.

[@billdauterive1180]

My luger will slam fire ONLY on the first round in the magazine, you have to ease the first round in the chamber, after that its fine, any ideas?

[@BrassJunkie]

My best guess would be excessive wear to the surfaces where the trigger bar engages the firing pin. I would start by removing them both and checking to see if the edges have been rounded off.

[@Physics072]

I have two lugers and swapped the side plates, the issue seems to remain. I think it could be the spring tension on that brass dowel trigger release. My 1920 luger it seems maybe 30 percent weaker vs the 1941 PO08. Again its hard to tell since the mechanism is hard to see fully.

[@BrassJunkie]

That could very well be the case. Replacement springs can be found on the “Jack First” website. They are an extremely valuable source for new production parts for “obsolete” firearms.

[@Physics072]

@@BrassJunkie Im still a bit confused on mine. After doing some test cocking like you did in the video. I was thinking the firing pin was not cocking. But if I push on the the side spring I will hear a little click, then if I pull the trigger it will fire. So that means the firing pin would have to be under spring tension. That little click not sure what it is. The plunger or some interaction with the firing pin catch. They sure went out of their way to make the PO8 trigger complex.

[@BrassJunkie]

@@Physics072 In my opinion if the click you are hearing is very faint, it is likely to be the sound of the trigger resetting. If your test using tape in order to limit the travel of the trigger lever is unsuccessful and the plunger is able to move freely, I would look at replacing trigger bar spring. Unfortunately given the complexity of the design it can be pretty tricky to diagnose.

[@Physics072]

@@BrassJunkie Yes it is and I have little experience on luger repair like this is my first time really looking at it closely. I'm more of a shooter than pistol repairman. Your video got me looking closer at mine. I want to thank you but at the same time I've opened a can of Worms I think :). I'll keep plugging at it.

[@BrassJunkie]

@@Physics072 best of luck to you, I hope that you are able to get your pistol to function reliably. If you find that you need to fit a replacement part, my best advice is to go at it slowly, there is a fine line between oversized, perfect and “oh crap”

[@jamesm643]

Dealing with the same thing and haven't gotten it down. Took mine (parts built) out to the range. At first it ran good. Now it cycles a round but doesn't reset the trigger. I have to pull the toggle up slightly and reset. Speculation?

[@BrassJunkie]

Iean Musser, are the sear engagement surfaces between the firing pin and trigger bar in good shape?

[@jamesm643]

@@BrassJunkie i honestly couldn't say till i tear it down again. None too familiar with it.

[@BrassJunkie]

Iean Musser, sounds like your striker might be slipping under your trigger bar. I would look for excessive wear on those parts, it could also just be carbon buildup around the trigger bar, improper fitment of the trigger bar or a worn out trigger bar spring.

[@jamesm643]

Thank you i will start there!

[@jamesm643]

Before i even tore into it i picked up some 124 grain S&B. Ran excellent. Only one failure to reset out of a few mags.

[@wolfganghuhn7747]

Release the striker before inserting the main axel.

[@cloroxbleach8676]

What to do if trigger bar barely moves

[@BrassJunkie]

Without actually seeing your Luger I would only be guessing but I would say that either; A: There is too much mass on the end of the trigger bar that interacts with the notch in the trigger and it is binding there. (Carefully file until it no longer binds) B: if it’s a replacement trigger, the diameter of the post could be too large and fitting too tightly in the frame. (Carefully file to turn down the diameter of the post) C: The trigger return spring could be too long. I had the same problem when building a Luger from parts and had to address all 3 issues. Start by taking the side plate off and checking trigger movement. If it moves freely it’s probably (A) if not, remove the spring and re install the trigger. If it moves without the spring it’s probably (C) if not it’s probably (B). Hope that helps.

[@cloroxbleach8676]

BrassJunkie thank you very much for the reply

[@BrassJunkie]

Clorox Bleach, No problem!