Japanese Arisaka Type 99 Rifle in 30-06?safe?

[Jghoat]

 Is a Japanese Arisaka type 99 (eary not last ditch) in 30-06 a good rifle and safe to shoot?(in general, I will take to a Smith) I was looking at a mauser but ran across the Japanese Arisaka and I like it's feel and it's a easy round to get around here. I would hunt and shoot with it not to collect.
The #s match and the barrel is stamped US 30-06. Is there a site with info on the coverions and what to check? I was able to get some info on the last ditch guns and that some type 99s are converted to 30-06, but no info on how well they did as a 30-06.
Thanks
  John G
 Old goat

[Victor3]

 It's about the strongest milsurp bolt action available and does just fine in that caliber.

[kwells2006]

my brother has one he's wanting to turn into a 308 but an -06 would be better

[coyotejoe]

The Arisaka is a strong action. When P.O. Ackley did blow-up tests on military actions he could not blow the Arisaka. He finally loaded a round so hot it squirted the barrel out the front of the receiver but the action was still serviceable. If the barrel and chamber are properly fitted and headspaced it will be a very safe rifle to shoot. The Arisaka has a very awkward safety mechanism for a hunting rifle and I don't know what can be done about that but otherwise it is a fine action.

[kwells2006]

i thonk one of the aftermarket triggers comes with a rem 700 style safety

[mauser98us]

Timney still makes triggers for both Japanese rifles.As to the conversion to  ought-six,many were sloppily done to move surplus rifles off the rack. Also the 7.7 is bigger in the web area than an ought-six. Many smiths that I know said these were unsafe conversions. Be careful

[jdt48653]

i would leave it a 7.7 it is in the same class as an 06.

[S.S.]

I don't think I would want to fire one too many times!
Actually the 7.7 is more like a semi-rimmed 303 British in power.

[Rex in OTZ]

Is this particular rifle you mention a rebarreld one or is it a original Jap barrel with reamed out chamber?
I used to have a Argentine Mauser 1909 that had the chamber reamed out to 30-06 but had bad accuracy due to the oversize bore on on the Mauser.
the Arisaka is like the Argentine Mauser its orginal bore is not condusive to great accuracy so you would be shooting a .308bullet out a bore suited for a .311 bullet diameter.
It would be a great custom rifle to have rebarreld

What is interesting is that in the Military surpluse rifle arena the
                                        .303 Brit uses .311" as a starting size bullet
                                         7.62x54R Russian uses a .311" as well
                                         7.65Argentine uses .311"
                                         7.62x39ComBlok uses .311"
                                         7.7 Jap also .311"
In the end if it isant obviouse its a rebarrel I would suggest slugging the barrel to make shure you need 30-06 ammo or reload to make it a 7.7-06, kinda like the ream outs of war surpluse rifles that had the chambers lengthened out kinda like they did with the Mauser in 8mm-06 and soforth.

[Jghoat]

  I had a better look at the rifle the rifling was almost gone and the crown had a grove about 7oclock. I must have been star struck not to notice the first time I took a look. The local Smith has not call me back on rebarreling it. I think thats his way of saying it to much trouble. I'll probably pass on it.
Thanks for all the good info.
  I going to keep looking for a 7mm or 8mm mauser.
Thanks
John G.
Old goat