I just bought a arisaka Type99, These rifles are new to me since i only collect and shoot Mausers. How do i determine if its Mid war, late war, Last ditch rifles? Or which year and factory produced it.
Wheres the best place to buy 7.7x58MM Jap ammo?
If anybody has any good info about them feel welcome to tell me since i dont know nothing about them.
It appears to be a early transitional Type 99 - it retains some early features, but also some of the material/cost saving modifications. It was never made with a dust cover, monopod, or AA sights.
If you put up a clear photo of the symbols on either side of the serial number on the left side of the receiver, we will be able to tell you where it was made, and in what Series. Japanese rifles weren't dated, but we can give you a rough time frame of manufacture from the maker and Series mark.
I own two Type 99s and hand load for both. Norma and Hornady make new ammo, but it is very costly. Norma and Grafs make brass (buy Norma if you can find/afford it - Grafs brass is soft). A cheap/easy way to get usable brass is to resize new 8mm Mauser brass, then you don't have to worry about cutting down .30-06 cases. These things have Metford rifling, which prefers flat base bullets.
Unfortunately, your rifle has some issues. The stock appears to be sanded and varnished, and the bolt has been polished - both of which will affect value.
Here's my two to compare.... Yours will sit in between these in terms of production features and date of manufacture.
A Nagoya Series One - c.1941
and a Toyo Kogyo Series 34 - c.1944
