Need help finding a load for the Mauser C96 Broomhandles

[Brassman66]

I have a Bunch of original CIL .308 cast Bullets weighting 98 Grains. I would like to reload them for my .30 Mauser Broomhandles. These Bullets are also Powder coated probably not by CIL but a prior Owner.

I have reloading data for up to 93 Grain cast Bullets but nothing for 98 Grain.

Powders on hand are Bullseye, Red Dot, Winchester 231 and HP-38
.
I am wondering if someone here has a Load calculator Program and can help me out by suggesting a reasonable (not hot) load for this 124 year old Pistol.

Thanks and Cheers

 

[Snider shooter]

Use the starting load for the lighter bullet. I usually work up until I have cases ejecting every time and stop. No since play with max loads in such an old girl.

 

[mbogo3]

From the Lyman3rd edition cast book .30 mauser 84gr cast Bullseye 4.2gr/1128fps..........5gr/1243fps
Red Dot 5gr/1065fps.......5.6gr/1115fps
Unique 5.2gr/1018fps..........6.8gr/1193fps

 

[ted_dent]

Use the starting load for the lighter bullet. I usually work up until I have cases ejecting every time and stop. No since play with max loads in such an old girl.

Generally good advice. If the charge is underpowered the worst that can happen is the cases don't eject. No sense risking damaging a valuable old timer using hot powder loads.

P.S. Winchester 231 and HP-38 are the same powder.

 

[Brassman66]

Use the starting load for the lighter bullet. I usually work up until I have cases ejecting every time and stop. No since play with max loads in such an old girl.

Yea that's probably what I will do, may even reduce by a Grain for a start.
Since I have a small Harem of those "old Girls" and don't want to break any of them, I think I try the first few rounds out of my least expensive one which is a Bolo with non matching numbers. If the Cycle then it will be good enough otherwise I increase 2/10 of a Grain at a time.

Thanks & Cheers

 

[dan belisle]

Use the starting load for the lighter bullet. I usually work up until I have cases ejecting every time and stop. No since play with max loads in such an old girl.

Good advice. - dan

 

[KotKotofeich]

Do you have original springs or wolff replacements in it? (you should get the replacements) When I was load developing I found that it took more powder to cycle the c96 with the wolff springs than it did the TT and it was a very painful development process - cycling load was VERY far from the starting load.

 

[can14]

Don't they sell commercial shells for mauser's?

 

[dan belisle]

Don't they sell commercial shells for mauser's?

30 Mauser is pretty hard to find. The Soviet cartridge that will chamber is way too hot for these old guns. Better to handload to a minimum operating pressure. - dan

 

[AntiKhaos]

Don't they sell commercial shells for mauser's?

PPU? I think does runs of it every five or so years. It doesn't last long whenever it does show up.

 

[Brassman66]

Do you have original springs or wolff replacements in it? (you should get the replacements) When I was load developing I found that it took more powder to cycle the c96 with the wolff springs than it did the TT and it was a very painful development process - cycling load was VERY far from the starting load.

Out of Curiosity if I ever( or anybody else on here with a C96) decide to buy wolff Springs.
Do you still have the Data on you Development when she started to cycle reliable ?

I used 4.6 Grain Red Dot in the Bolo which cycled reliable and nothing unusual I know of happened !

Cheers

 

[rm_rang]

I bought the wolf mainspring and bolt return spring. Followed the above load data for unique, went with 5.8, 6.0 and 6.2 started at 5.8 because that's the range I've been hearing starts to cycle the gun. Unfortunately I didn't check for ejector marks, only for primer signs. Turns out even with the wolf springs the 5.8 load alone was too hot, the ejector ####ed the brass good. To top it off,now I need a new barrel extension, the bolt stop slot has started to stretch.

Maybe the old lyman manual used a different powder called unique?

Be very careful, I'm lucky I didn't get a bolt to the face

 

[rm_rang]

Prior to firing I checked for proper locking of the bolt and I couldn't open it when gripped by the barrel and bolt which is good so I don't think it's a "blowback" situation, just too powerful ammo or weak springs, though as mentioned they were allegedly the wolf replacements

 

[KotKotofeich]

Out of Curiosity if I ever( or anybody else on here with a C96) decide to buy wolff Springs.
Do you still have the Data on you Development when she started to cycle reliable ?

I used 4.6 Grain Red Dot in the Bolo which cycled reliable and nothing unusual I know of happened !

Cheers

I'm using win 231 / hp38 which I have a good supply of... but it's been discontinued so I expect this data won't be any good to many... I'll have to figure out what I'm switching to when I run out...

(sorry, moved my office and my reloading bench - misplaced my notebook in the move and it took me a bit to find it O_O)

With hornady 90 gr xtp and 86 gr sprn bullets. 4.6 and 4.9 gr respectively. These loads are quite high going by manual (Lee data sheet included with the dies) data and I would extrapolate to be in the 'never exceed' range, but I can't compare since those bullet weights are not quoted in the manuals. I'm not seeing any pressure signs though and this is just barely enough to get the action to cycle.

I think Unique and win231 are similar and red dot is more powerful... so 5.8 of red dot is A LOT!