Rifle identication question...

J23 · Sep 24, 2008

Ok, I have a sporterized Arisaka that I was given. It has an old Bishop stock, and a barrel which is stamped "P.O. Ackley" and "257 Rob." Im thinking it was built... or at least the barrel anyhow, was produced by P.O. Ackely. Strangely enough, it is not 'Ackley improved.'

The gun shoots into an inch with three shots with boring consistancy using a load I worked up consisting of Nosler 100 grain Ballistic Tips and IMR4350 in +P brass. All day, every day.

Since the gun is such a good shooter, and is worthy of keeping, I wanted to replace the god-aweful Arisaka seventeen pound trigger with a new Timney unit. Ive considered Hubner, however I want a FUNCTIONAL safety [since my girlfriend will most likely use it from time to time.] Problem is, Im not sure if the action is that of a Type 99 or 38. Any way to tell, preferibly WITHOUT removing the scope bases. Action Length, serial number, ect?

Thanks guys,
Joe

35 Whelen · Sep 24, 2008

My guess is it's a 38. P.O. Ackley made a name for himself performing high quality work. And since the 99's were pretty much junk, I doubt seriously he would've used one of these.
I think that here: Surplus Rifle Forum- Jap Rifles you could find your answer.
35W

Chipperman · Sep 25, 2008

since the 99's were pretty much junk,

Late war, aka "Last Ditch" rifles were junk. Labeling all T-99s as junk is IMO not valid.

nambu1 · Sep 25, 2008

It is a type 38. Many were brought back after the war, but thw 6.5 Jap ammo was very hard to find. Many were converted to shoot the 6.5 X 257 Roberts cartridge. The type 38 and type 99 actions are strong. The "last ditch" 99's had many welded parts that were do by anyone they could get to product arms during the last days of the war to help defend Japan against the invasion that would have happened if the bomb was not dropped.

Ian · Sep 25, 2008

There's a 99% chance it's a Type 38, since those have a 6.5mm bore to begin with. But to be sure (assuming you can't read the characters stamped on the receiver

), check the number of vent holes above the chamber area. A Type 99 has one, a Type 38 has two.

BTW, it's easy to tell a last ditch Type 99 from a good-quality earlier one. By the end of the war, all the frills were dropped from the rifles, so if you see any early war features on the rifle, it's not a last ditch specimen. Features like an oval (rather than cylindrical) bolt handle, flip-up rear sight, protective wings on the front sight, fancy knurling on the safety knob, a top front handguard, metal (as opposed to wood) buttplate, monopod or monopod mounting point, or receiver dust cover.

Rifle identication question...

J23

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35 Whelen

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Chipperman

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nambu1

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Ian

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