Finally got a Mauser Broomhandle. Just a few decades late.

Yep, there have been a couple of attempts at revival, none very successful. One reason is that Mauser, as usual, had to be different with a design that shows a lot of thought without a lot of understanding. A friend of mine once called it a "gun that tries to think for you", a charge that might well be made about other German pistols of the general era.

Jim
 
While I like my 1941 Mauser P-08 Luger better, the Mauser C-96 is a true classic, and still a formidable weapon.
 
If you're gonna shoot it, good rules of thumb, re-spring, avoid hot Czech ammo (when caliber appropriate) and watch headspace (should peening of lugs occur over time).

Enjoy that beauty. Churchill seemed to like them IIRC.
 
"At another point I might argue that the Russians shot 7.62 Tokarev in their .30 Mausers since they considered the rounds the same thing, but if it makes anyone feel better about firing an antique pistol, no problem in sticking to ammo marked .30 Mauser or 7.63mm Mauser. Believe me, it will be quite "hot" enough to impress the kiddies."

You are 100% correct, but go ahead and try to fight the internet mythology!

"avoid hot Czech ammo"

What is unfortunate is that 99% of those who post, read, and swear by this have very little idea of what it means. Some Czech surplus 7.62x25 is on the warmish side, but it was all designed for both pistol and SMG use. In addition, modern Czech Tokarev ammo, under both S&B and Winchester branding, are about the hottest 7.62 ammo you can find anywhere, surplus or commercial.
 
Well I'll stick with factory 7.63mm Mauser ammo just to be on the safe side. I'm not going to be shooting it all that much, but I will be getting new springs as well.
 
FYI, you can get a reprint of the original Mauser Manual (English) if you look around. I got one from Numrich (Gun Parts Corp), as well as some stripper clips. New (looking) ones are a bit spendy for a clip, used ones are dingy and a bit rusty, perhaps but can be cleaned up and are about half the cost.

Enjoy!

I nickenamed my Bolo, called it "Han" and not because is was Chinese (it was German)

Han Bolo,

and yes, Greedo shot FIRST!
:D
 
Clark, a member here, tried to figure out how lousy a broomhandle's action was by shooting insanely hot hand loads, way above max. He got pierced primers before the pistol showed signs of yielding. He opined that c96 was one of the strongest pistol actions ever made.

I am fortunate enough to own a c96, after waiting for 40 some odd years. I only shoot coated cast bullets through it, mostly because of the cost. It shares the same bullet with m1 carbine and tokarev. It shoots pretty well.

I like a heavier action spring (from Wolff). The bolt hardly slams on the bolt stop before going forward.

I managed to acquire a bolo upper for $350. I still like the normal length barrel better.

Enjoy and make sure to pick up spare parts for it whenever you see them at reasonable price. They are drying up.

-TL
 
The C-96 is a strong action, but I still recommend sticking to loads that will function the action and not much more. The reasons are simple enough. The oldest Mauser actions are well over 100 years old, made with the metal and metallurgy of the late 19th century. Further, there is no guarantee that the quality, such as it was, at the time a gun was made was maintained through its long history.

I have seen a couple of Mauser C-96 pistols in which the firing pin channel ran out into the bottom of the grooves in the bottom of the bolt; one of those bolts had cracked almost all the way through, yet the owner was firing it, not being aware of the potential problem. I have seen bolts that broke, allowing the rear end to come back into the shooter's face; in one case, the lens of the user's shooting glasses was cracked, with the only the rim keeping the lens together and out of the user's eye.

So always check those old pistols, not just Mausers, before shooing them, then use the minimum load that will function the gun. And wear eye protection, always.

Jim
 
Great to find a Broomhandle.

Now you can play "Charles Vine", who was...

The 2nd Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World!

(for when you are second best, you have to try a little harder.)

Deaf
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top