First outing with Sten - questions

[Jba6511]

Got to shoot my DLO sten mk II for the first time today and now have a few questions.

1) I took seven of the converted 20 round magazines with me, and had two that seemed to run well. With the others I noticed I would get a burst and then the gun would seem to only want to run in semi for a few rounds and then occasionally back to full auto. I also noticed the rounds would be pushed forward from the magazine some when I would check the magwell while it was only running in semi. Is this a magazine issue or related to the gun itself? I know the proper way to shoot it is like Churchill by gripping the barrel nut sleeve, but found that awkward so I was gripping the trigger cover. Not sure if this was contributing to the issue. I was also using 115 gr American Eagle ammo if that helps and shot about 200 rounds.

2) How effective are the spoon loaders? I was using a cheap tapco sten loader today but found it difficult to work with. I am keeping an eye out for an austen loader in the mean time.

3) Towards the end of the session, the loop stock came loose on me. When I had the gunsmith look the gun over while I was waiting on the transfer he said they same thing happened to him while firing it. I am pretty sure I did not hit the take down area, but could this have occurred due to how I was leaning in to the gun? Anything else that could have caused this?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Gunslingerdoc]

Sten mags vary HUGELY by manufacturer, modifier and treatment. I'd find ones that work and ditch the rest - life is too short to spend hours screwing with mags. Im not a huge fan of the Indian modified mags. add or make a buffer for the bolt - that will help with reliability. also get a few extra recoil springs - seems sometimes you need a stronger or weaker one depending on ammo. Use plenty of oil - remember its a simple gun and anything rubbing (mags) on the bolt will cause cycling issues. GET A LOADER! box ones are my favorite.

 

[Jba6511]

Thanks, bought up a new return spring and a few recoil buffers. Also picked up a new loader. Hopefully this will help resolve the issues.

 

[MGMAN45]

Never had the stock come undone on my Norrel sten Mk2 in over 30 years of owning it.The question is who built your gun?Just curious .Hope you get it worked out.Its a fun gun that's for sure

 

[Dockless55]

I have always had problems with the 20 round magazines. My STEN runs smooth and consistent with clean 32 round mags. The Austen loader is the only way to go. As far as the stock problem, check the length of the tab on the stock and how far it engages in the trigger guard.

 

[Traveler]

Sten mags are not the best. To get them to work correctly the top round has to be presented at 8 degrees. Do a search of this forum and you should be able to find the correct feed lip settings.

MGMAN45, The few Norrel tube guns I have seen were very well made. I think they were all blued. That's really all I know about Norrel.

 

[MGMAN45]

Hey Traveler, When I bought mine back I 83 from John Norrell on a form 3 it came with the spray and bake finish.Damn nice gun.

 

[Traveler]

Maybe it was his baked on finish. It has been a few decades.



I found a picture of one of his Stens. Very nice work.

 

[Banshee]

here are the magazine specs

 

[Jba6511]

Thanks guys, the trigger housing is marked DLO and the form 4 states DLO as well for the manufacturer. I will look into grabbing some 32 round mags as well. I also picked up a parts kit so I will compare the stocks. Swapped the return spring and added a buffer. I plan to get it out to the range today so will report back.

 

[Jba6511]

Got back from the range and had an interesting time. Started by running some 115gr factory ammo (Georgia Arms) and the first magazine was a runaway. Had it set to semi auto and it dumped the entire magazine. Thinking it was the ammo, I started trying the reloads I had bought along. I had intended to do some load development for another gun but was more interested in the sten. It was a box of 50 that started at 3.2gr titegroup and incremented to 3.6gr over 147 gr Xtreme bullet with an overall length of 1.150 and CCI SPP. I loaded a magazine with 5 rounds at 3.2, shot them, checked for pressure signs, etc. and then loaded another magazine at the next charge weight and repeated. Even at the max charge weight (3.6gr) the gun would just runaway. Had the gunsmith look at it and he said the internals are good. Thinking it may be the new spring. He said to try the buffer and old spring combo. Any other thoughts/suggestions?

 

[agriebel]

3.4gr titegroup with extreme 147gr is what I load. My sterling is not F/A but it works fine in my M11/9.

 

[Traveler]

here are the magazine specs

Thanks for reposting my pictures. The presentation angle is 8 degrees.

 

[Banshee]

Thanks for reposting my pictures. The presentation angle is 8 degrees.

I couldn't remember where the pictures came from. I saved them a few years ago.

 

[timkel]

Thanks for reposting my pictures. The presentation angle is 8 degrees.

I hope those pics are a pinned post in the Sten forum. Having the correct magazine feed geometry is critical for the Sten.

 

[twistie]

I have a magnesium bronze casting of a austen mag loader & lever I did back in the 90s. Still in rough casting finish & will require filling & polishing. Any interest ? pm me with email & I will send pic cheers

 

[Dockless55]

Try taking 3 32rnd mags loaded with Winchester White Box. Make sure that the mags meet the specs shown in the photos. WWB is the best test ammo, and the 3 mags adjusted to correct specs should eliminate the variables of ammo and mags. I love my STENs and any sub-gun usually requires some TLC. Be patient and your journey to full auto bliss will be rewarded grasshopper.

 

[Jba6511]

Try taking 3 32rnd mags loaded with Winchester White Box. Make sure that the mags meet the specs shown in the photos. WWB is the best test ammo, and the 3 mags adjusted to correct specs should eliminate the variables of ammo and mags. I love my STENs and any sub-gun usually requires some TLC. Be patient and your journey to full auto bliss will be rewarded grasshopper.

Thanks, are you referring to the 124 gr NATO Winchester white box or something else?

 

[bender-bending]

Im in the same boat, about a month ago I picked up my DLO sten MkII as well.
First off the spoon loader works great....I think I paid 16 bucks. Well worth it. Don't leave home without it!
As far as the mags.....get your feedlips in the correct dimensions as posted above with an 8 degree feed angle. Then after you have that, test them.
After you load the mag, don't forget to smack the back to push all the rounds to the back of the mag. It sounds like some of your rounds weren't all the way back....

I had a big issue with my DLO sten the first day I brought it out. What serial number do you have? Mine is an early one, ST00XX.
My return spring was weak, so the bolt was slamming into the back of the tube and it actually pushed the rear end of the tube out, which pushed the stock off. I would look at the rear of your tube.
The first pictures show the lower part of the tube as a separate piece, the last pictures show the part now welded together.
The piece was actually completely pushed out, at the point when I took the pics I had pushed it back in.

Also, maybe there is something up with your tripping lever? going from full to semi without you pressing the button.

 

[Jba6511]

Took the Sten out again and continued to have issues with it running away in semi. I was shooting 115 grain atlanta arms as I did not have anything else but my reloads available. I tried different springs and running it with/without the buffer. My original spring was also weak and when I measured it, even though it had the correct number of coils, it was nowhere near the correct length. Going to take it to the gunsmith again this week.

Also picked up a spoon loader. Made a huge difference. The serial number on mine is in the ST01xx range I believe.