broomhandle range report

[paradox998]

Took my restored 1896 Broomhandle Mauser to the range today. After tweaking a few thing (like realizing that the mag spring could only handle 6 rounds) it worked pretty well.... except..... all the round keyholed. I was shooting Privi Partizan mauser 7.63 at 85gr FMJ. Why does a round keyhole? Can I do anything abou it? The barrel is new.

 

[CWL]

Keyholing occurs when the rifling fails to stabilize the bullet, usually because of rifling wear or wrong twist to bullet weight. Strange since you are firing the proper 7.63x25 85gr (86gr) Mauser cartridge.

I would have guessed that the barrel's rifling is all worn out but you state that it has a new barrel...??? Your pistol isn't actually 9mm is it?

 

[wally]

Do you have a solid backing board or stiff cardboard behind your target?

Some "keyholeing" is just the paper ripping instead of being "punched" by the bullet. Resistance behind the paper prevents this.

I see it all the time at our range once the backing boards are all shot up and due for replacement. Some papers are more prone to it than others, cheaper targets generally are more prone as the paper is thinner and lower grade.

Shooting .30Mauser in a 9mm barrel will do it too!

--wally.

 

[Onmilo]

I have worked on a few restored Broomhandle Mausers that were relined.
The muzzles were not properly faced and recrowned.
You may take a look there.

If the gun is not relined and the rifling is still sharp, check the muzzle for nicks, dings, dents especially in the bore area.
This can be corrected by again, refacing and recrowning the muzzle.
Worse case scenario the muzzle needs to be back bored.

If the rifling is worn to the sewer pipe look, or nonexsistent, then you may want to consider relining the barrel to use as a shooting gun.