Hi guys , new friends or whatever. This is my first post. I `ve been following CGN for quite a while now and I find it an incredible source for milsurp information. I`m 50 years old and not quite computer savy just yet. I don`t have pictures of the rifle but here goes- awhile ago I bought a Japanese Arisaka Type 38 (not full length but 6" shorter) . It was a spur of the moment deal and I really didn`t check it over as I only paid $200 and it is in great condition ( I bought it at the Woodstock Ontario gun show). I noticed it had been re -chambered , the gunsmith said it was 7.7 Jap not the usual 6.5 Jap.Also noticed the bore is chrome lined . Does anyone else have one , or how common are they ? Thanks for your interest.
arisaka type 38 converted to 7.7 jap
- Thread starter ctmm
- Start date
I don`t think so as the characters read type 38 . The character number `8` I guess is notched out slightly to allow for the larger round (notched like a Turkish Mauser 1903/380) . I have another type 38 and side by side they are pretty much the same except for the re-chambering.
You may want to get that chamber checked first, especially if you think it's a Type 38 action.
Many of those were converted by Thailand to 30-06 and they had the shortened barrels. They also have a stamped, sheet metal front sight protector fitted.
There were also a bunch of Type 99 rifles that were converted to 30-06 for South Korea.
Both the Thai and Korean rifles are easily identified by the cut out on the top of the receiver ring to accept the longer cartridges.
It's quite possible your rifle is one of the Korean models as the bore is chrome lined. All they did to those, was open up the magazine well, mill out the receiver ring and rechamber the .311 diameter(7.7 Jap) barrels with a 30-06 reamer.
Many of those were converted by Thailand to 30-06 and they had the shortened barrels. They also have a stamped, sheet metal front sight protector fitted.
There were also a bunch of Type 99 rifles that were converted to 30-06 for South Korea.
Both the Thai and Korean rifles are easily identified by the cut out on the top of the receiver ring to accept the longer cartridges.
It's quite possible your rifle is one of the Korean models as the bore is chrome lined. All they did to those, was open up the magazine well, mill out the receiver ring and rechamber the .311 diameter(7.7 Jap) barrels with a 30-06 reamer.
I've seen the Thai T38 6.5 to 30-06 conversions and all had the receiver notched. Is the rest of the rifle in original & unmodified condition or has it been shortened and new sight protector (stamped) installed?
The rifle has been shortened 6" , sight now has stamped sheet metal protector . It still is in original condition except for the notch in the receiver ring and lengthening the magazine well. I chambered a couple of 30.06 rounds and the cycle flawlessly. I imagine if the bolt closes on the 30.06 round that`s probably it as I don`t think it would close if it was chambered for 7.7 jap (30.06 being longer)
YES!!! That`s it. Overall , exactly the same. Mine does`t have any Thai stamps or calibre stamps only the original Japanese markings. The mum has been neatly zipped off. Thanks very much for sending pictures- I`ll get the hang of posting pics soon. Thanks again
You have rather an unusual conversion on your hands, friend.
Without Thai markings, I would guess it as one of the Korean ones mentioned, especially as it will now chamber a .30-06.
If it were mine, I would measure the diameter of the BORE.
Given that you have the chrome liner in the barrel, it SHOULD be a .303 bore and a .311 groove diameter. This could mean that you won't get the accuracy you want with regular .30-06 ammo, which has a .308" slug: 3 or 4 thousandths too slim to perfectly seal the bore. You MIGHT need to handload your .30-06 ammo with .311" bullets.
Sounds like a Fine Toy!
Welcome aboard!
Without Thai markings, I would guess it as one of the Korean ones mentioned, especially as it will now chamber a .30-06.
If it were mine, I would measure the diameter of the BORE.
Given that you have the chrome liner in the barrel, it SHOULD be a .303 bore and a .311 groove diameter. This could mean that you won't get the accuracy you want with regular .30-06 ammo, which has a .308" slug: 3 or 4 thousandths too slim to perfectly seal the bore. You MIGHT need to handload your .30-06 ammo with .311" bullets.
Sounds like a Fine Toy!
Welcome aboard!
Green, I think the Chinese made the Arisaka rifles in both models in Manchurian factories specifically chambered for the 7.92x57 round. To my knowledge, they didn't bother with conversions. The Chinese are very practical. Why tear down perfectly good rifles when it's just as cheap and easy to make the ammo, which the Japanese also left behind the tooling for.
The Chinese supplied a lot of Type 38 and 99 rifles to North Korea in all three calibres. There were also a lot of Arisakas used in Viet Nam as well as all through the far east.
There are two different stories about the Thai rifles. One is that they cut set back the original 6.5 barrels and rechambered them. Personally, I don't believe that. The 6.5 barrels have to slender a profile for such a conversion.
The other story is that new barrels were made up and installed with a similar profile to the actions when the conversions were done. From my rifle, that's what it looks like.
ctmm, as mentioned, your rifle has a chrome lined bore. Mine doesn't. Mine has a very well cared for bore that is in 99% condition though and measures out .308 diameter.
I also have a Korean conversion. It was definitely a Type 99 at one time in 7.7 Jap. The chamber was opened up to take the 30-06 cartridge as was the magazine and the receiver ring. It also has a chrome lined bore. There is also a slight ring, where the shoulder of the Japanese chamber was. Either that or it was done with a damaged reamer. It still retains its original front sights.
The Chrysanthemum has been ground off, which is normal.
It will not shoot 308 diameter bullets. It doesn't even like 311 diameter bullets. It will just shoot .312 diameter bullets into around 6 inches at 100 yards.
I had some sixties made CIL bullets that were made in 313, 314 and 315 diameter. That old girl loves the 314 diameter bullets. So, now it is relegated to 315 diameter cast bullets with gas checks. It shoots them well.
I mentioned the CIL bullets for a couple of reasons. One, they were very serious about getting the Lee Enfields to shoot well in those days. More than a few hunters used the P14, No1 and No4 rifles on a steady basis as their prime hunting rifle and 6-8 inch groups weren't good enough.
As most know, war time expedients allowed barrels with bores that measured from 308 to 315 to be acceptable for assembling a rifle. I suspect, the extremes were more common than most believe. It is really to bad that those same bullet diameters aren't still being made today.
Every once in a while, those large diameter bullets show up at yard sales, estate sales, on some old timer's gun room shelf and even at gun shows. I usually snap them up every chance I get. Sadly, there aren't enough of them left to satisfy a decent shooting regimen.
Those Korean conversion Arisakas will shoot very well with proper sized bullets.
I also have a Korean conversion. It was definitely a Type 99 at one time in 7.7 Jap. The chamber was opened up to take the 30-06 cartridge as was the magazine and the receiver ring. It also has a chrome lined bore. There is also a slight ring, where the shoulder of the Japanese chamber was. Either that or it was done with a damaged reamer. It still retains its original front sights.
The Chrysanthemum has been ground off, which is normal.
It will not shoot 308 diameter bullets. It doesn't even like 311 diameter bullets. It will just shoot .312 diameter bullets into around 6 inches at 100 yards.
I had some sixties made CIL bullets that were made in 313, 314 and 315 diameter. That old girl loves the 314 diameter bullets. So, now it is relegated to 315 diameter cast bullets with gas checks. It shoots them well.
I mentioned the CIL bullets for a couple of reasons. One, they were very serious about getting the Lee Enfields to shoot well in those days. More than a few hunters used the P14, No1 and No4 rifles on a steady basis as their prime hunting rifle and 6-8 inch groups weren't good enough.
As most know, war time expedients allowed barrels with bores that measured from 308 to 315 to be acceptable for assembling a rifle. I suspect, the extremes were more common than most believe. It is really to bad that those same bullet diameters aren't still being made today.
Every once in a while, those large diameter bullets show up at yard sales, estate sales, on some old timer's gun room shelf and even at gun shows. I usually snap them up every chance I get. Sadly, there aren't enough of them left to satisfy a decent shooting regimen.
Those Korean conversion Arisakas will shoot very well with proper sized bullets.
