I need some suggestions on reloading this caliber in a sporterized rifle with the barrel shortened to 24". I am just begining to look into this, so any info is good. Thanks

DGK

Depending on your barrel, you may be able to use .308 bullets in your gun. I use them now, but used to use 0.310 (.311?) 150 grain Hornadys.<br />4895 ended up being the powder of choice for about 2700 fps.
LouisB

I also have a 7.7Jap. It's got a fairly nice sporter stock, been drilled & tapped for scope mounts, bolt altered for scope and reblued. No, I didn't do all of that. I got it that way. Anyhow, I just can't bring myself to spend the money for reloading dies and brass. Those 7.7s just don't ring my bell.

Hornady is making ammo for the 7.7 it's $20 a box, brass is $26 a 100.

That's interesting, Norma's prices for loaded ammo or brass are quite a bit higher. If I could get 100rds. of brass and haunt the gunshows for a set of used 7.7 dies I might dust off the old club. The rifle really isn't that bad, if you tunr off the lights. Pete

The 7.7 Jap has a .311 bore, not a .308 so shooting a .308 bullet will give you no accuracy. If there is a doubt then have the bore slugged. I can't remember my load off the top of my head but when I get back from deer hunting I'll post it for you.

Yes, 7.7s are .311 dia. However I once had a 7.62Russ. that the barrel slugged .311 but would shoot .308 bullets into 11/2ins. at 100yds. I also have about 3000--.223 dia. 45gr. Speer seconds. In a Hart barreled 222Sako they shoot under a 1/2in. I paid $2.00 a hundred for them. Their my #1 ground squirrel bullet. Guy at speer tell me the powder/gases upset the base of the bullet(expand it for a better fit). I ask them if there was any harm to the barrel and they claim no.

By the way, my 7.7 Jap tunred out to have the barrel set back and is chambered for the 300 Savage case. I fired sevreal rounds and the cases look fine. Pete

Pete - What I do with a cartridge I don't want to invest much money messing with is get a cheap set of Lee reloading dies. I think a 2 die set is around $10 or $12 bucks. It's been awhile, but they are plenty servicable for such loading. Get their shell holder too, of course.

Just a thought.

You should not need to buy a set of dies for the 7.7. I would just root through my die collection to find one that will necksize. .308 Win oughta do that just fine. Buy a .311 expander ball if you are the fussy sort.

Hey guys,
You won't believe this but a friend gave me 40rds. of 300 Savage brass as he dosn't reload. I thought great, I've got a set of old 310Lyman dies in 30/06 along with a .311 expander plug(neck size only) and an adopter to fit my 7/8-14 reloading press. All set, not. The 300Sav. cases were fired in a M99 lever action and need to be full length sized to fit the 300 Sav. in the Jap.
I'll haunt the gun shows, etc. and find a pair of used dies. Sometimes in a junk box I've seen just one die for sale. If you look long enough a gun shows, pawn shops, etc. you can find just about anything. Pete

I have a 7.7 Jap that I bought in a little store in Arkansas 20 years ago for $25. I needed something to hunt hogs in some river bottoms and didn't want to worry too much if I dropped it in the mud. At the time the ammo cost more than the rifle. I still got it... shoots incredibly good for a rifle that looks like a true POS! I use 150 gr Hornadays over 46 grns of IMR4895. I have come to love this ugly duckling. It just hits where you aim with no fuss.