Ok here is what I have:

Type 99 Japanese action
Barrel action registration marks line up
Shoulder on the barrel is standard size
Barrel is 31 caliber
Barrel and action have been finished and blued
Good Receiver sight installed
7.7 brass is about 1/2 inch too long

Ain't made a cast yet!

Any bets, ideas, suggestions, hints, WAGS, SWAGS, plain old guesses, etc??
LouisB

Can you post a pic or email one to me & I'll post it here?

We're SWAGgin' it here! I know I'm going to look like a fool when it turns out you have a mud dauber nest in there, but possibly have a type 38 6.5mm barrel on it? Or one of those chamber inserts in it to shoot 308 ammo? Have you tried coating a round with soot and see where it rubs?

some of them had been rechambered to .300 Savage

Likely .308. That was the smart and popular conversion for the Jap.

The service 7.7 round was too large in the base for .30-08 based cases. The answer was to set the barrel back and rechamber to .308. Properly done and loaded with bullets to fit the bore it worked fine.

I'd try a fired .308 to see if it chambers. Then I'd strip the bolt and shim the base of the fired case with a bit of electrican's tape to see if there is a little resistance. That will rell you if it is .308.

Once you've established that, you need to have the headspace checked properly before you fire it. Some of those conversions are pretty rough and ready.

Thats why I would like to see a pic posted. So I might see if the barrel has been set back.

Thanks, GSF.

.300 Savage had not dawned on me, but the .308 did not come out until the mid 50s. Any earlier conversions would have likely been to .300 Savage. It was popular enough so there would have been reamers around.

.300 Savage would be a stroke of luck since it's a decent cartridge in itself and since it can be readily rechambered to .308 if need be.

[ 11-19-2002, 19:00: Message edited by: Leftoverdj ]

I'll go look again to be sure, but the shoulder on the barrel and registration mark lead me to believe the barrel was NEVER set back.
I guess I will have to get off my lazy behind and do a cast.
So many roundtuits and so little time!

Ok where in the heck is that Cerro-safe?

LouisB

Has the magazine been blocked for a shorter cartridge?

NO block in Magazine.
Smith did great work, really nice stock and Receiver sight.

Guess it is truly cast time.

Yes to those who are wondering I have dropped a bunch of different brass down there!

Wow, maybe a prize to the one who guesses the correct answer . . . . Heck right now I am even in the running!

Great balls of fire!

I just remembered seeing ads years ago for Arisakas converted to 7.62x39 by the North Vietnamese.

I'll try that (7.62X39) but from what I remember they used Arisaka Type 38s, rebored and rifled the barrel to clean up years of abuse with corrosive powder.
That would thrill me if it is like my other 99 which has such a "tight" barrel that I get my best shooting with .308 bullets in the 7.7X58 chamber.
LouisB