Author Topic: Arisaka rechambered to 30-06 is this safe? (Read 4776 times)

jh45gun · « **on:** December 30, 2004, 07:43:49 AM »

Local sport shop has a Jap rifle It must have been a 7.7 rechambered to 30-06 using the origional barrel. Just wondering is this a safe conversion and if it is would'nt you have to use over size bullets? Jim

Shorty · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2004, 02:04:16 PM »

NOT safe! Although thousands of rifles were altered in this way, the cartridge base of the .30-06 is somewhat smaller than that of the 7.7. Case heads can rupture when fired in these rifles. Also, the magazine probably won't feed .30-06 cartridges. The bullet diameter is the least of the worries.

RB Rooson · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2004, 02:48:46 PM »

Put the gun down.....and slowly back away!!

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #3 on:** December 30, 2004, 02:50:45 PM »

That is why it is for sale,dangerous.

jh45gun · « **Reply #4 on:** December 30, 2004, 08:20:59 PM »

I kinda figured that and to be honest I really had no interest in it as first of all the safety does not work on it. I just was curious if it was a safe conversion or not. Since 7.7 is bigger than 3006 I figured it would be like the 06 Mosin conversions of years past as they were not safe either. Jim

Japlmg · « **Reply #5 on:** December 31, 2004, 05:21:31 PM »

There is nothing bad or dangerous about rechambering a Japanese T99 to 30-06. Heck, the US Government rechambered about 50,000 T99's during the Korean War to arm Korean troops.
I have made many hundreds of 7.7x58 Japanese cases out of 30-06 brass, and never had a single one rupture at the base. I now make 7.7x58 cases out of 8x57 Mauser brass, only because it is less work.
Unless you hand load your own 30-06 ammo, and seat the bullets deeper into the case, you will have problems getting a 30-06 cartridge into the T99 magazine well. But any decent gunsmith could lengthen the magazine well to handle a factory loaded 30-06 cartridge.
Now I peronally hate to see any Japanese rifle "sporterized", but if Bubba has already gotten to a Japanese rifle, there is no harm done by finishing the job, and making a decent hunting rifle out of it.
Also note, 7.7 Japanese ammo is now being imported by Graf's, at less than $20 a box retail (and in the $16 per box range if bought directly from Graf's). Brass is also available for reloading, so there is no real reason to make a cartridge conversion any more!
The 7.7x58 cartridge will do anything the 30-06 will do.
Regards, Gregg

Gun Runner · « **Reply #6 on:** December 31, 2004, 06:33:53 PM »

Back in 56 I had one with a weaver K-4 scope(I think) ( this combo made me a member of the 1/2 moon cresent club). Only fired a couple of rounds and an old gunsmith we had said "GET RID" of it. Think I traded it for 2 tires that still had some tread on them for my 41 chevy.

Gun Runner

txpete · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2005, 04:31:47 AM »

I am a avid T99 7.7 reloader and have 2 of them.I read a article as I was getting into reloading the 7.7 jap.
they did a blow up test 03,K98 and a T99.the T99 made thru the test and the other 2 didn't.it stated the the T99 is one of the strongest military actions.I am sure they weren't talking about the "last ditch" T99's but early war rifles.
I have used 30-06 brass and 8MM mauser to form cases but that was years ago and never had a problem.they were used for my cast bullet loads.
between grafs and norma brass out there today I am sure they will be alot more jap T99"s at the range.

Robert357 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2005, 11:04:22 AM »

I'll toss in my two cents.

I have shot jacketed remington 180 grain bulk 0.308 bullets in a Russian 7.62x54 R MN rifle, which has roughly the same 0.311 bore that a Jap 7.7 mm rifle has, with absolutely no ill effect. In fact the accuracy loss at 100 yards has been minor (say 4 inch group of 5 shots rather than a 3 inch group).

While I have not converted 30-06 to 7.7 Japanese ammo, my understanding is that the 30-06 round needs to be shortened considerably (which is why some folks like using the 8x57 Mauser round, as it is shorter). If that is the case then I would anticipate a problem if you just chambered a 30-06 round in a 7.7mm Japanese rifle.

If you first bored out the chamber to lengthen and reshape the chamber, then I would anticipate you wouldn't have a problem with the 30-06 as stated by others; unless your exceeded maximum powder recommendations or unless you reloaded to the point of case head failure and ignored looking for the signs of case head failure in your reloading process.

My feeling is that you own a piece of history and probably shouldn't rechamber it. If you do decide to rechamber it, then you should at least go to the trouble to do a quality customization job, which would involve a new stock and a barrel of correct diameter so at to maximize accuracy.

jh45gun · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2005, 03:09:32 PM »

If you read the post it has allready been done I was just wondering if it was a safe conversion as the Mosin ones were not.

270Handiman · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2005, 02:04:18 AM »

Does anybody have any links to sites that sell brass for the 7.7? I went to Graf's site and couldn't find anything. I need some brass bad. We have a rifle we can't shoot!!!!!!!!!! It's a completely original gun.

Help,

270

Japlmg · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2005, 10:45:28 AM »

Graf's has brass, around $30 per 100.
Regards, Gregg

earschplitinloudenboomer · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2005, 03:14:20 AM »

PROPERLY chambered and PROPERLY headspaced 99's are very strong, however, bubba can break anything.
Attention should always be paid to groove diameter, the alternatives just aren't worth it.

curator · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2005, 02:48:33 PM »

I had a M99 rechambered for .30-06 and used in the Korean war. It shot fine with LC ammo we used to get from the old DCM. It wouldnt give the fine groups that my '03 Springfield could. Once I figured out how to reload it with .311 Sierra 180 grain flat base bullets it began to out shoot the '03 almost every time! The bulge at the base was about the same as GI ammo gave in my M1 and '03---not a big deal. It was such a good shooter I eventually let one of the guys at the club talk me into selling it in a moment of financial need. Arisakas may look rough but they are well made and reliable rifles. The chrome lined bore on mine hardly ever need to have the copper removed to retain accuracy---unlike any of my other .30 caliber rifles.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2005, 04:35:19 PM »

The T99 makes a very nice lamp. I have two of them that where made into lamps in Japan 1951. I need to re-wire them and get them back in the living room. My father-in-law was an American Army Officer in Japan at that time. They are nickle plated. I was very impressed with the lamps the first time I saw them. Along with the Eagle over the fire place. I thought the guy had the makings of a great father-in-law.

Turn out to be a good hunting partner also.

jh45gun · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2005, 06:45:56 PM »

I never saw one but heard of Remington Rolling Block guns made into lamps. Wish I had a couple just to try to resurrect the guns back to usefull besides lighting up some ones life.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #16 on:** January 10, 2005, 06:21:35 AM »

As I recall these rifles were late war production and not considered safe. The only way to get them back "legally" from Japan at the end of the war was to turn them into lamps. For a sargent in the National Guard who stood guard on possible Japanese landing sites in the San Francisco area on December 7, 1941, to the jungle fighting of New Guinea, and later the battle for the Philipines. He became a Mustang officer before being sent to the Pacific, and retired as a Lt. Colonel. He earned his lamps the hard way.

TomD · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2005, 07:11:05 AM »

I have an Arisaka M38 that was sporterized & reamed from 6.5 x 50 to the 6.5 x 55 Swede.

It's very accurate with my 140gr & 160gr handloads. I keep it in TX and use it for Hogs.

patrick dennis · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:01:47 AM »

From everything I have ever heard about the Arisaka rifle it seems as though that particular rifle was never really considered safe even in it's original chambering.

jh45gun · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2005, 09:27:31 AM »

Quote from: patrick dennis

From everything I have ever heard about the Arisaka rifle it seems as though that particular rifle was never really considered safe even in it's original chambering.

I never owned one but that was just considered for late war guns the action is one of the strongest from what I have heard and based on a Mauser action so it cannot be all bad.