To reline a Broomhandle barrel or to not reline a barrel? That is the question.

Levon12345

Levon12345

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So I'm having a dilemma. I recently acquired a Mauser C96 from an auction. I lucked out with a numbers matching example with some minor finish wear on the underside of the barrel and front of the magazine, no pitting, and mechanically tight. The serial number places it with a manufacture date of 1905 according to the internet.

The only issue is the barrel only has the ghost of rifling past remaining. The bore isn't horribly pitted, but the rifling is worn down to almost non existence at the throat and muzzle and it throws half the bullets I feed it sideways at 15 meters. I tried cast lead projectiles but they fared no better. The gun runs like a sewing machine and I really love how it shoots and feels in the hand. I just like bullets flying in a straight, predictable pattern and that isn't happening with this barrel.

Now, I'm not a collector. My guns get shot. As in I have had thoughts of using a stocked Broomhandle as a PCC in a 3 gun match. So I'm torn between relining the barrel to make it shoot as well as it looks or attempting to find a different C96 in more shootable, but less collectable condition and finding this one a new home. What does the collective think? Would this pistol be less desirable relined and shootable, or should it be left as it is for a middle of the road example for a collector?

View attachment 402567
Edit: WHY IS IT UPSIDE DOWN?!?

*I'd be relining the barrel myself so gunsmithing costs aren't a factor here.
 
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This one is in 7.63. Relining means to ream out the worn out bore and install a new rifled liner, then rechamber the liner. As opposed to rebarreling, which is cutting off the barrel then threading the extension for a completely new barrel. The front sight wouldn't look original and there would be a line where the barrel threads into the extension. There's pros and cons to both ways. Examples exist out there of both options being done. Historically in arsenal rework and as gunsmith restorations.
 
Levon12345 said:
This one is in 7.63. Relining means to ream out the worn out bore and install a new rifled liner, then rechamber the liner. As opposed to rebarreling, which is cutting off the barrel then threading the extension for a completely new barrel. The front sight wouldn't look original and there would be a line where the barrel threads into the extension. There's pros and cons to both ways. Examples exist out there of both options being done. Historically in arsenal rework and as gunsmith restorations.
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One hates to mess with a historical artifact. Some one's gonna call you Bubba, down the road. :)

Grizz
 
enefgee said:
It would be easier to find a better barrel and have it fitted, than to reline the existing one - and you'd have the correct barrel if someone desperately needed it all original again.
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The barrel and "upper" for lack of a better term is one piece on a C96. So finding someone selling just the top half of their pistol will be a stretch.
 
enefgee said:
It would be easier to find a better barrel and have it fitted, than to reline the existing one - and you'd have the correct barrel if someone desperately needed it all original again.
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No, it wouldn't

The barrel is part of the whole upper assembly, as in all made from one piece of metal.

I went through a similar issue a few years ago.

It's doable, it isn't easy.

I had a left over piece of barrel blank with the proper 1-16 twist rate. I used these blanks to make up new unrestricted length barrels for M1 Carbines.

To properly line your barrel will mean you have to turn down the blank so it has a stepped profile.

You will also have to clean up the original chamber and the barrel chamber area should be made out of a single piece. Just saves a lot of hassle and allows you to retain the original outside metal, for appearances sake.

There was a fellow in California that was cutting off the barrels and threading the stub for a replacement to be fit. It should work as well but that would also entail some special machining and attaching a front sight.
 
A good reline should have little effect on the value for all but the most exquisite or historical pistols. Less than most other options. can be almost invisible and not at all a Bubba fix. Fitting a different upper might not be simple and a rebarreling would be difficult to make look seamless.

Reline should be more straightforward a process.
 
The one I did years ago was cut off and rebarreled . Relineing a barrel as thin as a c96 with a bottleneck casing did not appeal to me.
Google image rebarreled c96,
 
It is a hard choice - finesse a bigger hole down the barrel, epoxy in a sleeve, cut a new chamber with a pull through reamer, or turn down the outside of an existing barrel.

I had a $500 Lever Arms C96 that was in speckled condition outside and had a rough bore. None of the gunshops were interested in the job of relining. Yours looks to be in better shape than mine was. Note the word was. I sold it for a small profit.
 
gaff said:
The one I did years ago was cut off and rebarreled . Relineing a barrel as thin as a c96 with a bottleneck casing did not appeal to me.
Google image rebarreled c96,
Click to expand...

It's actually stronger than most realize, if it's done correctly.

It's basically laminating and will easily handle the pressures generated by the original cartridge it was chambered for.

The chamber area and barrel are easily drilled out from the rear. Same goes for reaming the chamber.

No need for a pull through reamer.

Cleaning up everything from the rear and using a stepped insert, from modern/stronger metal is the easiest way to go.

I replaced the springs in mine with a Wolf Spring Kit that allowed it to shoot the surplus 7.62x25.

My pistol wasn't nearly as pretty as the OP's

A complete reline, including the chamber was preferable IMHO for my needs and was almost invisible.

There wasn't much left of the original barrel/chamber area when I was finished.

There didn't really need to be.

There was more than enough metal left on the upper, around the area to handle cycling and pressures generated.
 
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