C96 bolo relining or rebarrel

mccaslyn · 11-22-2021, 09:22 PM

Hello I recently got a bolo c96 and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for a reline or rebarrel to 9mm .30 Mauser is just to expensive these days. I know lugerman does this but was wondering some opinions on his work or if anyone knows another source with a reasonable turn around time that does good work. thanks guys.

Major Tom · 11-24-2021, 08:09 AM

I enjoy my 30 luger caliber. I bought 200 new brass casings and about 700 .309 bullets for it a couple years ago. I load Bullseye powder for it. I also bought commercial loaded ammo got it too. It is not any more expensive to reload for than any other caliber, but with the ammo and reloading componets hitting sky high costs it is expensive today.

conehammer · 12-18-2021, 04:21 PM

I'd think twice about getting it relined to 9mm. Just MHO. witha supply of Starline brass, appropriate bullets and the usual primer, powder you can reload quite reasonably. I use Lyman molds for years to cast hard lead bullets that worked great. I used to shoot my first broomhandle every weekend for years. Hardly every had a feed issue. All of the 9mm versions I've had, to my knowledge originals all were finicky. I'd stay with the original 7,63mm if it were me.

It is your pistol so do what works for you but consider the original round.

Jerry

mccaslyn · 01-18-2022, 08:52 AM

Well would you even reline it to 30 perhaps? It pretty much keyholes and I'd obviously like to have it shoot straight or just save the money and buy stuff to reload? I do currently reload 9 and 38\357

sheepherder · 01-18-2022, 11:58 AM

Just IMHO but the 30 Mauser barrel is too thin to reline. During WW I, the Germans re-barreled the C96 to 9mm. Their method was similar to the pics below. (In the third pic, you can just barely see the join line, which happens to be where the C96 barrel 'step' is located).

Also IMHO, the 'Bolo" is not worth re-barreling. Trade/sell it for a decent C96, in 30 or 9mm.

DonVoigt · 01-18-2022, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccaslyn

Well would you even reline it to 30 perhaps? It pretty much keyholes and I'd obviously like to have it shoot straight or just save the money and buy stuff to reload? I do currently reload 9 and 38\357

I don't know if Redman's is still in the broomhandle relining business or not- but they were the only one left doing it since a few years.

No sensible way to reline a .30 to 9mm; as Rich says, the barrel is just too thin.

When .30's were converted to 9mm during the heyday of imports, they were bored and re-rifled; not relined.

The method shown by Rich is a good way, but likely to be too costly today.

mccaslyn · 01-18-2022, 06:31 PM

Hm alright lugerman offers the service for a reline of either 9mm or 30 but we'll see I may just shoot it for what it is sparingly

sheepherder · 01-18-2022, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccaslyn

Hm alright lugerman offers the service for a reline of either 9mm or 30 but we'll see I may just shoot it for what it is sparingly

You may be surprised; some of these old sewerpipes shoot surprisingly accurately...

mccaslyn · 01-20-2022, 07:58 PM

Oh well It cycles perfect I've shot maybe 100 rounds but it keyholes at 5 yards pretty bad lol

Kiwi · 01-21-2022, 08:50 AM

Keyholes are nice for uninvited house guests

DonVoigt · 01-21-2022, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccaslyn

Hm alright lugerman offers the service for a reline of either 9mm or 30 but we'll see I may just shoot it for what it is sparingly

Yes, but just because it is "offered" doesn't make it a good idea! JMHO

Relining an occasional shooter does not make much sense to me, and I'd be interested to know what the cost of a LM reline is.

mccaslyn · 01-26-2022, 01:06 PM

Approx 230$ or so. So you think I'd be better off either buying a Mauser with better rifling or just getting 230$ worth of ammo lol

schutzen-jager · 01-26-2022, 02:52 PM

i had one rebored to 9mmP + shot it regularly for decades without any problems -

DonVoigt · 01-27-2022, 08:41 AM

"Re-boring" has been done for years and to probably 1000's of imports- no doubt it works; but
the question was about "re-lining" to 9mm.

Does anyone still do "re-boring" to 9mm ?

Maccaslyn,
Up to you - will you shoot it enough to be "worth" it to you?
The $230 sounds like a real bargain price for the work involved!

schutzen-jager · 01-27-2022, 12:11 PM

most reputable barrel makers can rebore , rifle , + rechamber one - gunsmith in FL. that done mine passed on + i do not know if anyone took over his business - Keng's in Atlanta + Federal Ordnance used to do them - Keng's is still in business -

mccaslyn · 01-27-2022, 08:53 PM

this is true don honestly i cant say that its something ill shoot more then a handful of times a year at most. I will have to think on it if i decide to do it ill definately post here to let you know how process went

11-22-2021, 09:22 PM	#1
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	C96 bolo relining or rebarrel Hello I recently got a bolo c96 and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for a reline or rebarrel to 9mm .30 Mauser is just to expensive these days. I know lugerman does this but was wondering some opinions on his work or if anyone knows another source with a reasonable turn around time that does good work. thanks guys.

11-24-2021, 08:09 AM	#2
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 481 Thanks: 531 Thanked 226 Times in 123 Posts	I enjoy my 30 luger caliber. I bought 200 new brass casings and about 700 .309 bullets for it a couple years ago. I load Bullseye powder for it. I also bought commercial loaded ammo got it too. It is not any more expensive to reload for than any other caliber, but with the ammo and reloading componets hitting sky high costs it is expensive today. __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

01-18-2022, 11:58 AM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	Just IMHO but the 30 Mauser barrel is too thin to reline. During WW I, the Germans re-barreled the C96 to 9mm. Their method was similar to the pics below. (In the third pic, you can just barely see the join line, which happens to be where the C96 barrel 'step' is located). Also IMHO, the 'Bolo" is not worth re-barreling. Trade/sell it for a decent C96, in 30 or 9mm. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-27-2022, 08:41 AM	#14
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,346 Times in 2,038 Posts	"Re-boring" has been done for years and to probably 1000's of imports- no doubt it works; but the question was about "re-lining" to 9mm. Does anyone still do "re-boring" to 9mm ? Maccaslyn, Up to you - will you shoot it enough to be "worth" it to you? The $230 sounds like a real bargain price for the work involved! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-27-2022, 12:11 PM	#15
schutzen-jager User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: peoples republic of New Jersey Posts: 187 Thanks: 208 Thanked 187 Times in 86 Posts	most reputable barrel makers can rebore , rifle , + rechamber one - gunsmith in FL. that done mine passed on + i do not know if anyone took over his business - Keng's in Atlanta + Federal Ordnance used to do them - Keng's is still in business - Last edited by schutzen-jager; 01-27-2022 at 12:21 PM. Reason: addendum

12-18-2021, 04:21 PM	#3
conehammer User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 114 Thanks: 1 Thanked 55 Times in 21 Posts	I'd think twice about getting it relined to 9mm. Just MHO. witha supply of Starline brass, appropriate bullets and the usual primer, powder you can reload quite reasonably. I use Lyman molds for years to cast hard lead bullets that worked great. I used to shoot my first broomhandle every weekend for years. Hardly every had a feed issue. All of the 9mm versions I've had, to my knowledge originals all were finicky. I'd stay with the original 7,63mm if it were me. It is your pistol so do what works for you but consider the original round. Jerry

01-18-2022, 08:52 AM	#4
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Well would you even reline it to 30 perhaps? It pretty much keyholes and I'd obviously like to have it shoot straight or just save the money and buy stuff to reload? I do currently reload 9 and 38\357

01-18-2022, 06:31 PM	#7
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Hm alright lugerman offers the service for a reline of either 9mm or 30 but we'll see I may just shoot it for what it is sparingly

01-20-2022, 07:58 PM	#9
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Oh well It cycles perfect I've shot maybe 100 rounds but it keyholes at 5 yards pretty bad lol

01-21-2022, 08:50 AM	#10
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 291 Thanks: 198 Thanked 412 Times in 162 Posts	Keyholes are nice for uninvited house guests

01-26-2022, 01:06 PM	#12
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Approx 230$ or so. So you think I'd be better off either buying a Mauser with better rifling or just getting 230$ worth of ammo lol

01-26-2022, 02:52 PM	#13
schutzen-jager User Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: peoples republic of New Jersey Posts: 187 Thanks: 208 Thanked 187 Times in 86 Posts	i had one rebored to 9mmP + shot it regularly for decades without any problems -

01-27-2022, 08:53 PM	#16
mccaslyn User Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	this is true don honestly i cant say that its something ill shoot more then a handful of times a year at most. I will have to think on it if i decide to do it ill definately post here to let you know how process went