some time ago I bought a type 38 arisaka that was a pacific bring-back. I found a box of hornady custom to run through it. It jad a propensity for bulging cases alsmost ad if it had been rechambered, but none of the dimensions worked for anything. so, being as it was all original and un-ground it got put up. Here recently I bought another type 38 to have one I could shoot. lo and behold it bulges cases just like the other one. A friend offered me a douglas match grade barrel blank for $50. the sporterized arisaka is getting it. I think I'll avoid 6.5 Jap... the other two choices that look good are 6.5-08 with an Ackley shoulder or 6.5x55 Swede. any thoughts?
6.5 choices/Arisaka rebarrel
- Thread starter heviarti
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I'd like to try some different stuff, but the hornady custom is the only thing I've found. I have a friend who loads it, but I'm not asking him for his good match brass so I can transform it into dookie. amazingly the hornady appears to be russian made.
gvnwst
Member
IIRC, it is a special thing done with grafs.com, using Hornady quality and bullets...i think Privi Partisan was the actual people loading it.
Jim Watson
Member
You could have the one rechambered and the other chambered for 6.5 - 257 Roberts (= 6.5x57, pretty much) as was done to a lot of first go-round Arisakas.
either of my other choices are easier to make/buy. I did a bit of research on the 6.5-257 initially as that was a possible thing that it might have been rechambered for. it looks more like 22-250/250-3000 in the taper... but the diameter toward the base is too large and the OAL too short..
Have you tried comparing the dimensions of your fired brass to the dimensions of your buddies?
It seems unusual that you would have two rifles with the same problem, especially when you consider that type 38's weren't shoddy last ditch builds.
It seems unusual that you would have two rifles with the same problem, especially when you consider that type 38's weren't shoddy last ditch builds.
jim in Anchorage
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Keep it original! They are not going to make more. I had the same problem with a 38 30 years ago with Norma ammo. Safe Queen-I have lots of other rifles. If you must shoot it,consider setting the barrel back a thread and rechambering to the same caliper
rangerruck
Member
you should be able to get some 6.5 jap at gunshows, or at places on the net such as ammunitiontogo.com, or other places. I love the 6.5 jap round, it is like a shorter 6.5 swiss, or a
skinnier 260 remmy. since 260 ammo costs an arm and two legs, if you wanna switch cals, do either a 6.5 swiss, or a 7.08 , or even a 7x57.
skinnier 260 remmy. since 260 ammo costs an arm and two legs, if you wanna switch cals, do either a 6.5 swiss, or a 7.08 , or even a 7x57.
The bulging base of the case of the 6.5 Arisaka is normal for those rifles. I was concerned with this and submitted the problem to the below forum. You might search the forum for the discussion.
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forum/view/id/74
http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforums.yuku.com/forum/view/id/74
Jeremy2171
Member
If you mean a slight "bulge" down near the base....that is normal as the cases are made to SAAMI specs....but guess what?? The Japs made the rifles BEFORE SAAMI was adopted so the chamber dimensions don't match. Norma who makes GREAT brass makes it to SAAMI specs and they bulge...even JAP WW2 ammo bulges somewhat. Honestly it's not a big deal.
I have gotten around that when I have free time... I made my own cases out of .308/.260 brass. They are larger at the base and I had to swage them down creating the jap "semi-rim" in the process. THOSE cases did NOT bulge at all but they were labor intensive to make. A few months later GRAFs got in both 6.5 and 7.7 jap and I haven't converted another cases since and thats been 5+ years ago...
Shoot it and don't worry! JMHO
I have gotten around that when I have free time... I made my own cases out of .308/.260 brass. They are larger at the base and I had to swage them down creating the jap "semi-rim" in the process. THOSE cases did NOT bulge at all but they were labor intensive to make. A few months later GRAFs got in both 6.5 and 7.7 jap and I haven't converted another cases since and thats been 5+ years ago...
Shoot it and don't worry! JMHO
JGS Weapons
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- Nov 27, 2009
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Type 38 Brass Problem
I also have a Type 38, that has a similar problem with brass bulge. On the other hand it also key holes at 15m. I am also thinking about putting a new barrel on it so it will be a shooter again. I know that many were reamed and re-chambered for popular calibers post WWII. my 6.5x51mm brass fits well but the bore is very dark and dirty. I think the rifling is used up. Does anyone know who makes the best reproduction Type 38 barrels?
I also have a Type 38, that has a similar problem with brass bulge. On the other hand it also key holes at 15m. I am also thinking about putting a new barrel on it so it will be a shooter again. I know that many were reamed and re-chambered for popular calibers post WWII. my 6.5x51mm brass fits well but the bore is very dark and dirty. I think the rifling is used up. Does anyone know who makes the best reproduction Type 38 barrels?
I am right in the middle of a Arisaka build myself. I have one my dad cut the barrel down and reshaped the stock on back in the 60's. B-square used to make a scope mount to replace the rear sight, but I coldn't find one online or at gun shows. I spent a good number of lunch breaks building one in the machine shop at work, put a Leupold scout scope on it, and got 2 boxes of the Hornady ammo just to find out it keyholes at 25 yards. I too have the bulge on the end of the case. I have read that the chambers were cut this way due to some variation in the rifle round and the machinegun round.
I too want to rebarrel mine. I am thinking about 6.5x50 Jap since my gunsmith actually has a reamer for it and since I have 2 boxes of shells and reloading dies. The other caliber at the top of my list is .260 Remington. Other choices (some not as popular as others) are 6.5 Rem. Mag, 6.5x284 Norma, 6.5x55 Swede, and .264 Winchester. Good Luck With The Build!
I too want to rebarrel mine. I am thinking about 6.5x50 Jap since my gunsmith actually has a reamer for it and since I have 2 boxes of shells and reloading dies. The other caliber at the top of my list is .260 Remington. Other choices (some not as popular as others) are 6.5 Rem. Mag, 6.5x284 Norma, 6.5x55 Swede, and .264 Winchester. Good Luck With The Build!
Maverick223
Member
If you want 6.5mm, then I would go with .260Rem (wouldn't go with AI, but that is just me) or the 6.5x55Swede.
I have a type I Arisaka that does the same thing. I read once that reforming cases from .35 rem (I think) greatly reduced this problem due to a slightly large base diameter and thicker walls. Supposedly the japs liked the chamber a little sloppy so a little corrosion wouldn't shut them down.
rangerruck
Member
try some milsurp arisaka ammo, and some norma first. but I hope you just plan on either hunting only , or handloading, because this ammo is about as expensive as Wetherby ammo...
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