Mauser HSc (.380)

[NunsNAmmo]

I picked up a Mauser HSc imported by Interarms back in the late 60's/early 70's for a few hundred at the Wanenmacher show at the end of last year, I was wondering if anyone else on here owns one?

Took it to the range a couple times and I've been having serious feeding issues with it. I've tested it with FMJ including Monarch Brass (PPU) and Speer Lawman, and got the same results. It would chamber the first round, fire, and fail to chamber the next round successfully but allow a trigger pull, imitating a bad primer strike. Ejecting the round and attempting to chamber a new round led to double feeding, etc. It's a mess and I really want to love this gun, it's a beautiful design and the feel is excellent in my hand. Any advice? My biggest suspicion is the magazine, as the feed lips are sharp and may be preventing the next round from being stripped up into the chamber correctly.

 

[9 fingers]

I have 3 of them and my first one had the same issues you are experiencing. The Mauser HSc specialist on the Mauser Gun Forum, had me replace the mag and recoil springs with Wolf Springs and it has functioned perfectly since.
The springs are cheap and the best quality. Attached a pic of one of mine, with a friend.
9 fingers

 

[Ignition Override]

Those are beautiful guns up there! A private seller at the show last week in Gwinnett County near Atlanta had a post-war .380 (Interarms?).

My WW2 Hsc (.32 Auto) doesn't even strip some rounds from the magazine's feed lips.
Very often rounds are pushed about halfway in the lips, and this jams the slide.
Experienced handgun guys suggest polishing the feedramp, but we don't have any Dremel etc. The recoil spring closes the slide very quickly, but I'm still a novice with handguns.

And this jamming happens whether one or six-seven rounds are in the aftermarket magazine. Can't see that the mag spring is the problem.

Can the forward corners of the feed lips need a tiny adjustment (outward?), or would the gun smith suspect that this is the case if ramp polishing fails to improve the operation?

 

[bannockburn]

My brother had an Interarms marked Mauser HSc .380 many years ago and had similar issues with trying to get it to feed FMJ rounds reliably. Tried different magazines, polished the feed ramp, used different brands of factory ammo and still it wouldn't work right. Finally gave up on it and sold it. Seemed a shame as it was a very solid, well built, and nicely finished pistol.

 

[Stony]

I've seen and extraordinary amount of feeding problems with them over the years. I guess if you get one that works right they are a joy, but the chances of getting a bum one is pretty high. Maybe just some bum ones that keep getting taken to gun shows and let the next guy take his turn cussing them.

 

[NunsNAmmo]

I really suspect the main recoil spring is to fault too, that's why I wanted to try PPU (Monarch) because I believed their loads were hotter than Speer. I have tried looking online for magazines and I've only found a handful for upwards of $40, so replacing the mag will be the last thing I try. I have already taken a Dremel and examined the feed ramp, but it really doesn't look like it's the culprit. I will go over to Mauser Forum and ask them about new springs. I checked Wolff's inventory and found they only have springs for the Early (.32) model. Should I give those a shot, given they're weaker than the currently installed ones?

9 Fingers, where did you get that magazine?

 

[silversport]

Just replace the mag springs...not the mags as well as the recoil spring...I believe that is what 9 Fingers was saying...

Bill

 

[Ignition Override]

Which of these recommendations might be best for my WW2 Hsc, even though it could be more than one of them?

 

[Coyote3855]

Which of these recommendations might be best for my WW2 Hsc, even though it could be more than one of them?

I'm no expert on Hsc's. I own one but don't shoot it much. Functions okay.

IO, I'd try the recoil spring first, then the mag spring. If the recoil spring doesn't do the trick, then put the original back in and try the mag spring. If still no joy, try them both together.

 

[9 fingers]

All 3 of mine came with the mag type shown, which I think was standard. I THINK they came with a 2nd mag, when new, with no finger extension. All told I have 6 or 7 original mags for my 3 guns, and all have worked fine, no failures to feed or extract, except the first one. And again, the Wolf springs cured that one. Note that I only shoot FMJ ammo through mine, and have tried 5 or 6 types with no issues. It is worth CALLING Wolf to discuss spring needs and it seems they often have types not listed on the website, or are willing to make something up. A top notch company in my opinion.
9 fingers

 

[NunsNAmmo]

Greatly appreciate your input. I'll go ahead and order a set of their springs in the future. I'll report back here when I have results.

 

[Ignition Override]

My WW2 Hsc already has a new recoil spring.

If Wolff also sells magazine springs which fit, maybe this will prevent many of the jams, along with learning how to polish the feedramp.

We don't have a Dremel, but some guys on Youtube hand polish ramps with very fine grit sandpaper (?).

 

[9 fingers]

Mr Overide, a Dremel or Craftsman copy is a great little tool to have and they can be pretty cheap, not much more than a Mauser mag! I think the feed lips or more likely the culprit with most mags. Sometimes the angle of the follower can be adjusted as well.
9 fingers

 

[Ignition Override]

9 fingers:
Thanks for mentioning that the feed lips actually could be too tight, or maybe the forward corners need a slight adjustment by a gun smith.

Are mag feed lips sometimes to tight on the post-war .380 versions?

 

[Float Pilot]

An HSc in proper working order has a pretty strong recoil spring. A lot more than you would think a 32 or 380 needs to have.

Also some folks goof up one end of the spring by crimping the last coil. I guess they think this will help it stay on the barrel during reassembly. THEN they reverse the spring after cleaning and the crimped coil drags on the barrel when the slide cycles. This leaves little ridges on the barrel.

New springs will generally tine up a HSc in a big hurry.

Another problem can be a replacement barrel.
On the HSc the feed ramp on the barrel must line up with the start of the feed ramp on the lower receiver. New barrels should be hand fitted to make sure that the angle remains constant between the two.
An over-sized feed ramp on a new barrel will cause the nose of the incoming cartridge to go upward. This will either jam it in the magazine OR it will impact the top of the chamber and get stuck.
Sometimes the action will force it into the chamber, but the extra drag will slow down the slide and it will not totally chamber.