Hi All,
About 25 years ago I picked up an Arisaka rifle from a fellow cop, paid all of $55 for it and a box of Norma ammo. The forend was all busted up and I had to cut it down to salvage it, but I left the barrel as is, goofy sights and all. I spent several years playing with it, and then moved on to other projects. But the last time I benched it, I shot a 3-shot 100-yard group of just under an inch, open sights and all. I bet I couldn't do that now with a 12X scope, my eyes have gone downhill in the last 25 years. I do remember using 4895 and Hornady 130 grain bullets, which somehow shot better than the 150 and 180 grainers. I want to give it to my son pretty soon, but I think the next time I go to the range, I'll see if I can hit anything with it.
I remember reading Ken Waters' warning about not re-forming '06 brass after I had already tried it, it never caused me any problems. He said the chamber in the Arisaka had a smaller base diameter, but mine worked fine. My gun was clearly made toward the end of WWII, wooden buttplate and very crudely finished, no dust cover, Chrysanthemum ground off. But I sure had fun with it, learning to reload!
Papajohn
