Author Topic: 6.5 Jap to 6.5 Swede (Read 947 times)

james · « **on:** July 12, 2005, 11:10:54 AM »

I found a sporterized 6.5 M38 Jap with good walnut stock and a nicely polished and blued barrel. I have heard they have been rechambered to my favorite round - a 6.5x55. Can this be done with just a reamer or will the barrel have to be removed? I don't want to mess up the nice bluing job. Any one have any thoughts on the conversion? .. thanks
james

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2005, 05:04:17 AM »

james - I'm not so sure of that but I'm not the expert here. I believe the rim on the 6.5 Arisaka is larger than on the Swede and the Arisaka round is about 50mm long, maybe 51 or 52mm and the Swede is 55mm long - so although you might be able to convert one I'm not sure it would function properly for you.

You can now purchase the correct ammunition for the Arisaka and it is an OK 6.5mm round. However, if you want a 6.5 Swede I would suggest either a Mauser Model 96 or a 38. You may even be able to find an original 96 or even a 98 Sporter (by Husquarvarna - not a sporterized mil-surp) in 6.5. You might spend less finding a Swede than having the Arisaka converted. JMHO. Mikey.

longgun · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2005, 08:21:56 AM »

I just went out and measured some 6.5 jap brass. The head size of the rimmed brass measures .471" which is the same as 308 brass. The sweed brass is a tad larger in diameter, about .475". This should not be a problem with the claw extractor on the arisaka. Where you may have problems is where the sweed brass is " fatter" than the jap brass. This can be corrected if it is a problem. Other problem may be whether the loaded sweed round will feed through the magazine or not. If not this too can be fixed but takes some cutting and rigging. Japanese loaded their rounds with a very long round nose bullet. Do your home work and check reloading manuals to base a decision. But to answer your question the chamber can be cut without removing the barrel from the action. Don

Lone Star · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2005, 09:09:31 AM »

According to SAAMI specs the Swede case is larger than the Ari in all dimensions, so the chamber should clean up completely with the Swede reamer. Another option is the .260 Remington, although it may be dicey in the neck/shoulder junction. Still, that long throat may cause issues if it is oversize - shoot the rifle first to see if it is even worth the trouble of rechambering.

The Ari operates at lower pressures (40,000 cup vs 46,000 for the Swede), but the M38 is know to be plenty strong if in good condition. You could just increase your loads for the Ari until you found the typical high pressure signs then back off a couple grains, this would be a lot cheaper than a rechamber job, and you'd likely get within a few hundred fps of the Swede. Your choice.

james · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2005, 11:49:09 AM »

Thanks for the ideas guys. The only reason I would consider going to the touble of rechambering is.., I think I can pick up this rifle up for a little over $100. I could spend another $75 to ream the chamber and have a nice Manlicher style carbine. I have M38 and M96 Swedes (matching #s), a Kimber sporterized Swede, and an Encore barrel in 6.5x55. I will only buy this rifle if I could turn it into my favorite round.
Thanks all
James