30 cal broomhandles

[leadeye]

Anybody cast and load for 30 cal Broomhandles? I have a few left over from the rush that came in during the 80s. Good solid guns that I have shot J-bullets in from 100-120 grains using Bullseye powder. I will dust these off and slug them to see what I am working with but wondered if anybody was using anything that worked well for them in cast.

[9.3X62AL]

Lee 100 grain RN atop 6.0 grains of AA-7 runs my rebuilt Broomer quite well--and the Tokarev TT-30/33 and the CZ-52.

[9.3X62AL]

Hornady at one time made 85 grain FMJ and RNSP .308" bullets specifically for the 30 Mauser. They currently market XTP .308" HP at 85 grains; Sierra has a 90 grainer SP. There are a variety of jacketed bullets for the 32 Magnum that can serve in the wider-bored 30 Mauser and 7.62 x 25 pistols, too.

AA-7 powder has become my go-to fuel for both 30 Luger and 30 Mauser/7.62 x 25. My old Broomer gets down-loaded a bit out of respect for its age and metallurgy, but the Tok and the CZ get full-potential loads run through them.

Starline brass is the best thing to ever happen to the caliber. When the Broomer first arrived, I cut down and reformed 500 9mm Win Mag cases into 30 Mausers, and that project cured me of any curiosity about creating cases that were otherwise more easily available. I still have about 150 of those cases hanging around, and they are about ready for a well-earned retirement.

[leadeye]

I bet that was a lot of work reforming those cases. Back in the 80s I bought some brass with the Midway label and used those when milsurp was not available. 4 grains of Bullseye and an M1 carbine FMJ was my go to load for a while after I quit using milsurp ammo because of it being too hot. I am about out of the FMJs and am looking at cast as an alernative. Fun guns to shoot, but like most old guns the sights are getting hard to see clearly.

[missionary5155]

I was fortunate to come across a pre WW1 with stock... The stock # is off 32 weapons so probably got switched in an armory... But I have not yet reloaded for mine.. That is a project I look forward to next year when we get back there up north. Thanks for the reload info... I have it copied.
My old (1973) Lyman Cast book shows Boolit # 313249 84gr with Bullseye 4.2- 5 grs Red Dot 5.0-5.6 grs Unique 5.2- 6.8 grs Gives boolit dia at .311
Test weapon was a Mauser Military 5 1/2 in

[9.3X62AL]

I have Lyman #313249, and the small drive bands are a little tricky to seat in that dinky case neck. The Lee 100 grain RN is easier, I just seat with the case mouth centered between the lube grooves and turn in a moderate roll crimp.

[leadeye]

I will have to check out the Lee mold. Sounds like the best way to go to keep the old brooms shooting. I have two 30s and one 9mm. Two have stocks, one origional, the 9mm, and one repro.

[jaystuw]

All this broomhandle info is making me want to try mine again! I wish I had a better example, It's a 125 dollar special from the chinese guy at the pomona/L.A. fairgrounds gunshow (So it was a while ago) . He had tons of them,1896's, 1930's, bolos, you name it , and 2 prices as I remember 125 and 175! And of course stupid cheapskate me- I told my friend that I could find a good 125 dollar one so I didn't even look at the 175 dollar group , just the 125's. Well anyway I didn't do to bad , a 1896 made in 1912 with matched #, some rifling, 0 finish , bad springs, and a little more outside pitting than I would of liked. I put down my 125, the chinese guy said : YOU LUCKY, MATCHED NUMBERS, I SHOULD CHARGE YOU MORE!But he didn't (a good guy) . And oh yeah, I almost forgot, the reason I bought it in the first place: The guy said its an antique - TAKE IT WITH YOU!
Well anyway I got new springs , tried some of the 40's russian ammo I had for my chinese norinco tok (all the new mags I wanted- $5 apiece-same gun show) and no surprise now, but it was then-to powerfull! no damage, but after 10 rounds I could tell that SMG ammo was a little more than the broomhandle cared for. all that flash and fire out the muzzle didn't bother me with the new norinco tok.But with the old (and tired) broomhandle it was to much and I was ready to retire it. But now with the wonder of cast bullets it goes again. And let me tell you these things are fun to shoot, I had no idea they were this neat The shootng with cast bullets really is a bonus ,Its fast working, easy on recoil ,and fairly accurate ! I just wish I had bought more of them in better condition!
JOHN

[missionary5155]

Broomhandle Shooters... If you value your Broomhandle STOP shooting the TOKAREV ammo. The Tokarev ammo is loaded at HIGHER pressure than the Broomhandle was designed for.
I would compare it to shooting +P+ in an old S&W model 36. You will get away with it for awhile....

[leadeye]

I had read somewhere that the bolt stop is the first thing to go from hot ammo, don't know if you get the bolt in your face or not on the next round. I do know that the recoil springs get tired, bought some spares but they were worse than the origional.

I remember that flood of Chinese brooms, they were all over the market in the mid 80s, but I don't see them much any more. A few show up at the 1500 every show, they are starting to drop in price so I will shop for a Bolo model.

[missionary5155]

That 1500 show is a good one ! I live in east Central Illinois when up there. When the 1500 show is on I dissapere for the day in Central Indiana... Last one I was at a seller had a case of 7.63 mauser Beller & ?? so I bought 3 boxes.

[leadeye]

I seem to remember somebody who relined these guns when the bores were beyond help.

[9.3X62AL]

Federal Ordnance (now defunct, I believe) in Los Angeles did mine.

[Dark Helmet]

I seem to remember somebody who relined these guns when the bores were beyond help.

Redman's www.redmansrifling.com

[Mohillbilly]

I bought some of that norinco ammo for my thirty. I talked it out with my reloader friends,and pulled it down. I downloaded it 10%.It shot great in my 193? broom....