Calibre switch

Navy joe · February 21, 2002, 01:12 AM

With a sported up Jap type 38, what calibers can anyone think of that I can convert to and maintain the current bore? As in similar case head size to feed properly, ream chamber to new size and headspace and shoot. 6.5 Jap ammo has been a little expensive lately.

George Stringer · February 21, 2002, 09:26 AM

That's a tough one. Most of the calibers with the same bullet diameter are also obsolete. I would slug the bore and measure the groove diameter. You might be able to use a .264" diameter bullet. If so then the field opens up but I can't think of any that wouldn't require opening the bolt face a little. George

bcp · February 21, 2002, 11:33 AM

Many were converted years ago to a wildcat made by necking up the 257 Roberts to 6.5. This is almost a duplicate of the European 6.5 x 57.

Bruce Pryor

Jim Watson · February 21, 2002, 12:36 PM

That would be the thing to have if you were a handloader (and didn't want to just reload the 6.5 Arisaka.) Frank deHaas said that in spite of the slightly larger head size and longer case that it fit the bolt face and magazine without alteration.

It looks to me like a .260 Remington reamer would clean up the chamber and provide .264" bullets in factory ammo. But deHaas said that reboring or rebarreling them to .300 Savage or .308 required magazine work, so I would expect the .260 to, also.

James K · February 21, 2002, 11:24 PM

I tend to agree with Jim W. that if you are going to reload anyway, why not just buy some Norma ammo, and reload the 6.5 Jap. It is capable of some pretty good performance when loaded hotter than the military round (though it can't match the 6.5x55), and you can load it hot in the Arisaka action.

It is a puzzle why the Japanese produced one of the world's strongest rifles, and then used one of the world's most anemic cartridges in it.

Jim

February 21, 2002, 01:12 AM	#1
Navy joe Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2001 Location: VA, USA Posts: 1,804	Calibre switch With a sported up Jap type 38, what calibers can anyone think of that I can convert to and maintain the current bore? As in similar case head size to feed properly, ream chamber to new size and headspace and shoot. 6.5 Jap ammo has been a little expensive lately. __________________ FY47012

February 21, 2002, 09:26 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	That's a tough one. Most of the calibers with the same bullet diameter are also obsolete. I would slug the bore and measure the groove diameter. You might be able to use a .264" diameter bullet. If so then the field opens up but I can't think of any that wouldn't require opening the bolt face a little. George

February 21, 2002, 11:33 AM	#3
bcp Member Join Date: October 24, 2001 Location: SW WA Posts: 30	Many were converted years ago to a wildcat made by necking up the 257 Roberts to 6.5. This is almost a duplicate of the European 6.5 x 57. Bruce Pryor

February 21, 2002, 12:36 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	That would be the thing to have if you were a handloader (and didn't want to just reload the 6.5 Arisaka.) Frank deHaas said that in spite of the slightly larger head size and longer case that it fit the bolt face and magazine without alteration. It looks to me like a .260 Remington reamer would clean up the chamber and provide .264" bullets in factory ammo. But deHaas said that reboring or rebarreling them to .300 Savage or .308 required magazine work, so I would expect the .260 to, also.

February 21, 2002, 11:24 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I tend to agree with Jim W. that if you are going to reload anyway, why not just buy some Norma ammo, and reload the 6.5 Jap. It is capable of some pretty good performance when loaded hotter than the military round (though it can't match the 6.5x55), and you can load it hot in the Arisaka action. It is a puzzle why the Japanese produced one of the world's strongest rifles, and then used one of the world's most anemic cartridges in it. Jim