Ortgies

[Pofoo]

.32acp, fail to load. The pistol is in like new condition even though it is 100+ yrs old.
I've bought a new recoil spring, new mag springs, cleaned the chamber, etc.
The failure is a nose up situation where the case mouth is jammed against the top of the chamber and the rim is underneath the ejector, which is the firing pin. That's right, the ejector is the firing pin.
When the slide moves forward, the firing pin is held to the rear (cocked) position, and then the case rim will slide up the breach face. But right now, it can't because the nose of the case is jammed against the top of the chamber which won't allow the slide to go forward.
I'm shooting Geco ammo, EU manufactured, seems to be full power, works well in a couple of other pistols.
So, any ideas??
Or people or places to get help?

[john323]

Lightly polish the chamber and the top of the ramp where it comes in contact with the ramp.
Some of the ammo might have a slight lip at the end of the brass that may hang up when loading.
I'm located in Monterey Park if you need further assistance.

[Cheep]

Look at the cartridge when it comes out of the mag. You may have to make adjustments to the feed lips of the mag.

[Pofoo]

I have cleaned the chamber, but I have not polished it. I'll give this a try.
I wish I had some different brands of ammo to try, but 32acp is in short supply right now.
The problem is the same with 2 different mags, so I'm assuming that they are not the problem.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[metalcruncher]

I have a thing for Ortgies. I have a collection of small (.25acp) and large frames (.32acp/.380).

Picture below shows three Ortgies and a collection of .32acp.

First, the recoil spring and the striker spring are the best investment from Wolff springs you can do for your Ortgies. That solves the extraction issues (FTE/stovepiping).

In your feeding issue, the problem is either with the magazine feed lips, pitting on the feed ramp/chamber, or ammunition.

1. Magazine feed lips. Easy for me with multiple Ortgies. Not so easy for you. Swap out the mag with another large frame Ortgies and see if that solves the problem. If the lips are chewed up, appear to be filed or bent in a strange way (like dropped), that could be the culprit.

Slowly close the action on a live round (safety first!!!!) and see how the .32 round feeds into the chamber. It shouldn't "pop" out and go vertical. It should feed out of the magazine lips and go horizontal into the chamber.

2. Feed ramp/Chamber. Least likely but couldn't hurt. Hand polish or use a dremmel to LIGHTLY polish the feed ramp. You can also get inside the chamber and LIGHTLY polish the top side in case there's a burr or nick.

3. Ammunition. I've never shot Geco. .32acp doesn't need to he hot like a +P round to cycle the action. I've never had a problem with my Ortgies with any of the ammunition pictured. My Sauer 38H will only feed with Fiocchi ammunition. Nothing else. Last I checked, Outdoor Limited and Palmetto State Armory has Fiocchi for sale.

If you were up here in Sonoma County, I'd let you try some of my mags/ammo. Good luck and keep us posted.

IMG_7824.jpg

[Pofoo]

I've done a little polishing and am waiting to go to the range, hopefully in about 8+ days.
thanks for the suggestions.

[Pofoo]

I polished the top of the chamber and the barrel hood.
Went to the range yesterday and got the same old result.
The cartridge jammed at about a 30' angle, bullet up and the case rim under the exposed firing pin.
I'll have to spend some more time looking at this.
It doesn't happen when I hand cycle it.
I did put in a new wolf recoil spring. The part # for a .32 and a .380 are the same. Shouldn't the .32 be a lighter spring?
Could the spring be too heavy and not allow the slide to go all the way back when firing?
The case mouth doesn't seem to protrude, and the jam is actually on the bullet anyway.

[saki302]

One thing to try- carefully polish the breech face to help the back of the cartridge slide up.
I've done it with 2000 grit sandpaper. You don't want to move metal, just slick up the flat and round rough edges.

[metalcruncher]

I’m stumped also. At this point I’m guessing mag. But you say it looks new for its age.

And you say it cycles fine by hand. So I’m assuming you can rack a round in, fire it off, and then it jams loading the next round?

Maybe a repo mag could help. Or swap out with another Ortgies large frame owner. As I said before, too bad you’re not up here in Sonoma.

[metalcruncher]

8CF8FA78-712C-4938-BA21-8317010B9ADE.jpg5A10477B-C980-410B-B041-958C52F55412.jpg

[metalcruncher]

Barrels marked either 7.65mm, 9mm or .380. The 9mm Browning and .380 are the same calibers.

38F08AFD-3DCB-4A17-946A-1B96BF6629EE.jpg

F2D09156-F253-4220-BACF-AC723EF4DE34.jpg

8504B524-4F04-4060-B93E-DF36A9117056.jpg

[metalcruncher]

Magazines are the same dimensions yet I have a 7.65 marked mag. A .380 marked mag. And a mag with 7.65mm on one side and 9mm on the other.

The magazine holds one more round in .32acp (7.65mm)than .380acp (9mm Browning).

At the range, I can remove the slide, change the barrel, change ammunition, and get back to putting holes in paper.

.380 marked both sides
72C53CE9-7153-4F62-84B3-DA8E29C16BA7.jpg

Another mag 7.65mm marked
8A23872E-94BC-462C-8524-2A611CBFA1C7.jpg

Yet another mag: Front

D53B14FC-0B8D-4B04-9AD6-B44027B54092.jpg

Back

4E80603E-17DB-4D43-8815-0BDCC64AEB05.jpg

[metalcruncher]

F8A21584-5628-4DF8-865E-B00293C6BB21.jpg


46F031F8-CF71-4BD5-B14B-C0F966F9A38B.jpg

7A188AE8-8FAA-401C-952A-9D8F6B0D9DB9.jpg

[metalcruncher]

Don’t know why the middle photo is upside now. Just do a handstand at your desk to see the orientation….

[ar15barrels]

I polished the top of the chamber and the barrel hood.
Went to the range yesterday and got the same old result.
The cartridge jammed at about a 30' angle, bullet up and the case rim under the exposed firing pin.

AH HA!
Exposed firing pin!!!

If your cases is getting stuck against the firing pin, then you have a firing pin retraction problem of the firing pin not getting out of the way of the case before the case slides up the breech.