Hunting for Broomhandles

[DeaconKC]

The Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" is a very fun gun to shoot. However, there are a couple of things new buyers should know.
1. All factory records were destroyed at the end of WW2, so we cannot know exact dates of production.
2. There are 2 basic sizes of Broomies, the Standard with a longer grip an 5 1/2" barrel and the later Bolo with a shortened grip and 4" barrel.
3. NEVER fire Tokarev ammo in a Broomie. It is loaded much higher pressure and will crack the bolt stops.
4. Genuine Mauser Broomies come in 3 calibers, the original 7.63 and later 9x19 and 9mm Mauser [thanks for reminding me LJW!]. There were copies made in Spain in 9 Largo and in China in .45ACP.
5. Find some stripper clips for it. Trying to load the mag without them is frustrating and painful.
6. Shoulder stocks are legal on them per ATF without having to get a tax stamp.
7. If you have a 7.63, barrels are often worn but if you reload cast bullets at .313 often shoot well.
8. There are only 2 other guns that get as much attention at the range, Lugers and Tommy Guns. Be warned
And you will get the urge to wear a monocle and speak with a Prussian accent when no one is around! Have fun, Broomies are great!

[Trailrider]

Aw, you don't have to wear a monocle and speak mit a Cherman accent. Broomhandles were popular with Army officers in the Phillipines during the Insurrection. Think about it...muzzle velocity was almost on a par with an M-1 Carbine, and a heckova lot better at stopping Moro tribesmen than a .38LC! The grandfather of a WWII buddy of my Dad packed one over there in the early part of the 20th Century. 

[Professor Marvel]

It was the favorite of Winston Churchill too...

[Long Johns Wolf]

Thanks for the list DCK.
The Broomhandles aka Mauser C96 could be had in three regular production calibers back in the days: 7,63 Mauser, 9 mm Mauser (straight case) and the 9x19.
Admittedly the 9 mm Mauser is a rare beast, way more powerful than the 9x19.
Long Johns Wolf

[DeaconKC]

Thanks for the list DCK.
The Broomhandles aka Mauser C96 could be had in three regular production calibers back in the days: 7,63 Mauser, 9 mm Mauser (straight case) and the 9x19.
Admittedly the 9 mm Mauser is a rare beast, way more powerful than the 9x19.
Long Johns Wolf

You are quite right! Completely slipped past my 4 brain cells!

[Abilene]

You are quite right! Completely slipped past my 4 brain cells!

You got 4??  Dang, I got cheated.

[PJ Hardtack]

Spain produced a couple of M96 Broomhandle clones - Beistegui and Astra. They made 33,000 and 35,000 guns respectively.

They were successful designs and much simpler than the Mauser, with a removeable sideplate to facilitate cleaning.

[Drydock]

Just picked up one of these, kind of a deal I could not walk away from.  A banner Mauser,  most of it in the 620,000 range, though not one number on it match's.  (thus I could afford it) But it shoots! Shiny bore with sharp edged rifling.  7.63 caliber.  Though a mixmaster, a very old one, as the patina is consistent.  Short barrel and grip.  Came with a repro stock/holster and tool, with repro leather. 

[Professor Marvel]

Just picked up one of these, kind of a deal I could not walk away from.  A banner Mauser,  most of it in the 620,000 range, though not one number on it match's.  (thus I could afford it) But it shoots! Shiny bore with sharp edged rifling.  7.63 caliber.  Though a mixmaster, a very old one, as the patina is consistent.  Short barrel and grip.  Came with a repro stock/holster and tool, with repro leather.

My Dear Drydock -
have you located any (affordable) ammunition for it?
My Dad "gave back"  the one we got hm for his birthday about 35 years ago... I don't think it's been fired in that time...

yhs
prof marvel

[Drydock]

I load my own, Lee dies and PPU cases.

[Professor Marvel]

I load my own, Lee dies and PPU cases.

I have a .311 mold for the .30 carbine and a .32 mold for .32 ACP, and thanks to the Now Defunct Ron Petersen shop
(they just closed doors in Sept) I have 5 live rounds and a box of empties...

I "think " one can use empty 7.62 Tok brass, but not sure.

Any load recomendations?

yhs
prof marvel

[Drydock]

I use the .311 100 grain Lee mold, lubed with Lee Liquid alox.  Start at 3.0 grains red dot, then work up.  I use .32 H&R, 9mm,  and old .38 ACP (Not Super) data to extrapolate.  Lee 2nd edition very useful.  I hesitate giving out more, as I do not know how good your springs are.  I also use Tokarev cases.  I also have .30 Mauser cases, but I trim them to same length, as I also use these loads in my Tokarevs and my PPS.  I do consider the Tok and Mauser cases interchangeable. (both PPU)  Mauser supposedly a frog hair longer, but seems within normal variation under my calipers.

I also have loads using the Speer 100 grain half jacket "Plinker" bullet, over CFE pistol powder, but these are completely speculative on my part. 

[Zip Wyatt]

Hey Deacon, nice write-up!  Please note that there are records for broomies imported into England by Westley Richards From 1897 to about 1905.  These are conehammers and the first Large Rings but I doubt you'd want to shoot these in a match given their value.  However, the records are fascinating and literally the who's who of British society.   I have two that have a record.  Quite a few were carried in the Boer War by both sides.  Yet another addiction of mine.  The engraved one is very western in its makeup. 

Zip

[Drydock]

Reccomend:  https://www.gunsprings.com/MAUSER/1896-1912%20(BROOMHANDLE)/cID1/mID40/dID172

[Professor Marvel]

My Dear Drydock

Thanks for the load data and the link to the springs!
I had gotten my Dad one of those repro wood stock/holsters , so now I need to print out and laminate
the BATF "get out of jail free" letter to stick into the stock.

I think I got him a box or two of european surplus 7.63 Mauser but I need to paw through the pile o' boxes...

it would be fun if the blasted thing was actually accurate - a nice cheap way to have a legal SBR!
besides, it had a prominant role in the squinty-eyed Clint movie "Joe Kidd"

yhs
prof marvel

[Lord Eoin MacKenzie]

Gentlepersons.   I used the Lee Dies and data for the 100gr Plinker, for both my Broom and CZ-52,  also the 30 Carbine 110 gr fmj.   

[Professor Marvel]

Thanks Lord E.M.

I am printing out all the laod data, in the meantime I have been digging thru my piles o' shite stuff and found 3 boxes of 7.63 mauser,
2 boxes of .32 ACP HP , four boxes of .38 Spcl "ashtrays" ( hollow base wadcutters loaded backwards) and 6 more boxes of 9mm !!!!!

and one crazy looking box of 70 7.62 something that looks suspiciously chicom

I really need to clean more often.

yup box looked like this:


anybody need chicom tokarev ammunition?

yhs
prof marvel

[DeaconKC]

  I dunno...will it run in a Yugo Tokarev?

[cpt dan blodgett]

Hey Deacon, nice write-up!  Please note that there are records for broomies imported into England by Westley Richards From 1897 to about 1905.  These are conehammers and the first Large Rings but I doubt you'd want to shoot these in a match given their value.  However, the records are fascinating and literally the who's who of British society.   I have two that have a record.  Quite a few were carried in the Boer War by both sides.  Yet another addiction of mine.  The engraved one is very western in its makeup. 

Zip

Sir Winston carried one and dispatched some devishes there with