.38 ACP Broomhandle Problems, Help!

TomIAm · 10-06-2010, 04:54 AM

I am the proud new owner of a M-30 Broom, which a previous owner has had relined and chambered to .38 ACP (Note NOT .380 ACP)! I replaced the recoil and main spring with a Wolff kit and cleaned and lubed it. I noticed that the forward portion of the firing pin was slightly bent, so I carefully tapped it straight, and reassembled the weapon with the old firing pin spring. I pulled the bullets from a box of .38 Super ammo (exact same dimensions as a .38 ACP, but much hotter load), and reloaded the cases with 5.1 gr of Unique under a 115 gr Montana Gold JRN at an OAL of 1.260 in. So far, so good.
It shot OK, but I had several jams. I think the extractor is worn, as the jams were mostly due to the fired case failing to clear the chamber, and the extractor claw feels somewhat worn, (although I don't have another Broom to compare it to). While the primers were only slightly flattened, they did have a very large dent in them, far deeper than it should be (they were not blown through, nor was there any sign of leakage around the primer).
So, will someone please tell me how to properly fit a firing pin spring? How far should the pin protrude when the hammer is pressed tightly to it? The original spring seems to have been reamed out or filed where it screws onto the firing pin, that is, the cross-section of the spring wire for the first 1/8 inch or so isn't round, it's been slightly flattened. Is that correct? Should I just shorten the firing pin?
Finally, I also think some of my jamming problems are due to the rounds being too long. I bought some 90gr JHP bullets, and I'm thinking of going with 4.8 gr of Bullseye under the 90 grainers and reducing the cartridge AOL to 1.125 in. According to the .38 super reloading chart, that should be well under 17,000 CUP. I read somewhere that the max pressure for a .38 ACP is 23,000 CUP, so I should be safe (this pressure level is also well under that of a 9mm Luger, which the Broom is obviously designed to take).
What say the experts? Where should I go for a new extractor? Help!

10-06-2010, 04:54 AM	#1
TomIAm User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	.38 ACP Broomhandle Problems, Help! I am the proud new owner of a M-30 Broom, which a previous owner has had relined and chambered to .38 ACP (Note NOT .380 ACP)! I replaced the recoil and main spring with a Wolff kit and cleaned and lubed it. I noticed that the forward portion of the firing pin was slightly bent, so I carefully tapped it straight, and reassembled the weapon with the old firing pin spring. I pulled the bullets from a box of .38 Super ammo (exact same dimensions as a .38 ACP, but much hotter load), and reloaded the cases with 5.1 gr of Unique under a 115 gr Montana Gold JRN at an OAL of 1.260 in. So far, so good. It shot OK, but I had several jams. I think the extractor is worn, as the jams were mostly due to the fired case failing to clear the chamber, and the extractor claw feels somewhat worn, (although I don't have another Broom to compare it to). While the primers were only slightly flattened, they did have a very large dent in them, far deeper than it should be (they were not blown through, nor was there any sign of leakage around the primer). So, will someone please tell me how to properly fit a firing pin spring? How far should the pin protrude when the hammer is pressed tightly to it? The original spring seems to have been reamed out or filed where it screws onto the firing pin, that is, the cross-section of the spring wire for the first 1/8 inch or so isn't round, it's been slightly flattened. Is that correct? Should I just shorten the firing pin? Finally, I also think some of my jamming problems are due to the rounds being too long. I bought some 90gr JHP bullets, and I'm thinking of going with 4.8 gr of Bullseye under the 90 grainers and reducing the cartridge AOL to 1.125 in. According to the .38 super reloading chart, that should be well under 17,000 CUP. I read somewhere that the max pressure for a .38 ACP is 23,000 CUP, so I should be safe (this pressure level is also well under that of a 9mm Luger, which the Broom is obviously designed to take). What say the experts? Where should I go for a new extractor? Help!