6.5 jap sporter

[wonderwolf]

Got a 6.5 jap carbine (type 38) last weekend and using the group buy mold from awhile back I plan on working up some loads for it. I don't have any brass just yet but I plan on making brass from 22-250 as well as .270 winchester range pick up brass. I'll turn down the "belt" i get after running them through a die on the lathe so it should be a pretty clean case. Somebody recommended rechambering it to 6.5-06 but the rifle being a carbine I think I'll hold off on that for now. Though I would like to barrel one of my Mauser actions in 6.5-06 but thats down the road some.

Anybody have 6.5 Jap dies that are collecting dust they might be willing to sell before I bite the proverbial bullet and buy lee dies from midway?

[bruce drake]

I own a couple of type 38s in 6.5 Jap. The easiest brass to convert is 220 Swift. Its just a neck up and a trim to length. Another cartridge is 35 Remington. It is a two step neck down operation .35-.30-.264 and the brass is the right length. Only problem I had with this brass is that the REmington brass I used bulged more than I liked with full loads.

HTH

Bruce

[skeet1]

Is your 38 original or has it been to the butcher shop. If original I would like to encourage you to keep it that way. Original military weapons of that erra are becoming more valuable and scarce every day. I agree with Bruce use Swift brass.

Skeet1

[wonderwolf]

The stock has been cut up bad and the mum along with the majority of the markings have been ground off.

[snowtigger]

https://www.grafs.com/metallic/705
Graf's has it listed at $39.99 a hundred, primed or not.

[Dutchman]

I have a ~representative~ Type 38 long rifle. Bought a single box of Norma ammo so I could say I fired it and had the first-hand experience. Interesting rifle. A loooong rifle.

So after shooting I'm looking at the target thinking, dang, that thing put three slugs right next to each other twice. How cool is that?

When I got home it occurred to me that *one* bullet keyholing looked just like 3 bullets side by side.

I'm going to try the Lee 170gr .267" and see what it does.

Dutch

[Shooter6br]

First deer rifle my father converted used a Herter stock metal painted flat black I was 12 now 52. It had a 16 in original barrel. Weaver 2.5 scope. Crude but effective. Cant find a Lee mold for it!!! I use Norma cases (about 40 yrs old) or simply make out of 220 Swift brass A varmint wildcat uses a 6.5 jap case necked to 6mm I forget the name but very efficent case for a 6mm about 3650 fps with a 70g bullet.

[junkbug]

Midsouth Shooters Supply has the Lee 6.5mm "Cruise missle"; Lee does not sell it retail. It only cost a dollar or so more than any other Lee single cavity rifle mold.

Sometimes Midsouth is back-ordered. People complain about that alot. When I was looking for one, it was backordered. I simply ordered it, and waited less than a month.

They may now even offer it in a two cavity, I'm not sure.

Sean

[Shooter6br]

Mid south doesnt know about the Lee 6.5 mold Got a number? Rick

[wonderwolf]

Sizer, gas checks and dies are on their way....

[Dutchman]

Mid south doesnt know about the Lee 6.5 mold Got a number? Rick

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.co...u=000066.5SWED


Mine should be here tomorrow. Yes, its a 2 cavity.

Dutch

[Shooter6br]

Have Midsouth e mail me when the Lee Cruise Missle is in stock. Midsouth did not know what I was looking for Thanks for the link. Now I need some loads without GC. I will try Unique red dot etc I guess Rick

[wonderwolf]

Brass is primed and ready, bullets are gc'ed and lubed...I need a fireforming load for 2400 or unique even for the 129gr group buy mold. I need to just blow the shoulder out a little bit on the modified 22-250 cases. Lyman book says 14gr of 2400 but I'm thinking 10 or so as its a carbine and i just need to fireform cases first

[techlava]

MidSouth Shooters Supply got the DOUBLE CAVITY REPRODUCTION 6.5MM SWEDISH 170GR MOULD again in stock.

[TCLouis]

Since it has long since been modified I would suggest 260 or 6.5X257. Many have really poor chambers and eat expensive brass.

Check the 260, I think it will clean yp the 6.5x50 Chamber.

[StarMetal]

Since it has long since been modified I would suggest 260 or 6.5X257. Many have really poor chambers and eat expensive brass.

Check the 260, I think it will clean yp the 6.5x50 Chamber.

Trouble with the 260 is it's a much stubbier and fatter cartridge then the original 6.5 Jap and it takes extensive work on the feed rails to get it to feed right, alone even hold more then 3-4 cartridges. I would suggest redoing it to 6.5x55 Swede.

Joe

[wonderwolf]

Heh, Old thread, I've been making brass now for my 6.5 out of 270 win, easy to do with a lathe and some time. yes there are cases I could use that I wouldn't have to lathe turn some but I don't have massive amounts of those on hand. 270 win I pick up a few hundred a year at the range and use it for such projects like this.

[riceone]

I have re-chambered several 6.5's to 6.5x57 and you don't have to touch the feed rails. All you have to do is run 7x57 brass or 8x57 through a 6.5x57 die and you are ready. riceone.

[madsenshooter]

I have 2 that have been rechambered to 6.5x257. They feed better than an original I have. I can see why the japanese in the movies were always fussing with the bolt in their rifles. Mine would have got a soldier killed while trying to chamber a round.

[bruce drake]

MS.

Regarding your rechambered 6.5x257 rifles, how many of those fit in the magazine?

Never mind. I used some 257 Roberts cases I have in the ammo box. The magazine fits 5 easily.

Bruce