type 99 in '06

[444ttd]

i just got a sporterized type 99 in '06 with the serial # 25XXX. i paid one ben franklin for it. i know nuthin about the type 99 but it is a mauser derivative. i've read(briefly) that after the US defeated Japan, that the type 99 was captured. we didn't have the capability to produce 7.7 jap so we put them in warehouse. then the Korean war happened and then we still don't have a 7.7 jap, but we do have a '06 case and '06 barrels galore. so we said " 'merica " and we 'merica the type 99 and they were sent to South Korea.



i do have question, you notice my thumb is pointing to a half peep sight hole (i don't know the name of it). i don't know name of the manufacturer, but it could be redfield? anyway, does anybody know what you put into the half peep sight hole?



numrich has the 7.7 jap barrels and i'll buy 7.7 jap reloading dies. i have cases of '06, could you reform the '06 to the 7.7 jap?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

If I recall correctly, the rifles were already there in quantity as the Japanese had conquered and ruled Korea for 50 years prior to the war. An entire Japanese occupation army surrendered there at the end of WW II, and the rifles were repurposed for the new S. Korean army. The S. Koreans merely ran a .30-06 chambering reamer into the 7.7mm chambers. The '06 reamers lengthened the chambers but did not completely erase the diameter of the 7.7mm round and extraction was sticky with the occasional ruptured case. Your thought to replace the barrel with a 7.7mm barrel is the way to go. Yes, 7.7mm can be made from .30-06.

DG

[flintlocke]

I'm certainly no authority on the subject, but I would be very surprised if you have a SAAMI .30-06. Some slugging, chamber casting, measuring, and fired brass will likely show you have a .303-06, which should be called a .312-06...which is perfectly acceptable. If you fire .308 dia bullets in the .312ish barrel, you will probably not be winning any trophies at Camp Perry.

[Texas by God]

The half pipe rear sight piece was probably made by the same guy that rasped a valley into the comb of the stock......
Great actions, the Arisakas. I'd try it first as a 31-06- if it needs rebarreling, I think I'd go with a new barrel instead of a surplus one.

Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[Eddie2002]

That looks like fun, I have two model 99's in 7.7 and have been reloading for them for over 25 years. I would just get a .311 inside neck resizer and use it with a 30-06 set of dies to start with. Slug the bore first, even with a chrome molly bore they can still get wear in the throat. Any 32 caliber cast boolit in the 100 grain range works great out to 50 yds over five or six grains of Bullseye, just aim a little high. I don't shoot heavier cast boolits but I'm sure others will chime in with other loads.
For 7.7x58 brass any 30-06 or 270 case works but needs trimming. 8x57 Mauser just needs a neck resize but is a little short. I would keep it in 311-06 if it looks like a Korean War conversion. Even then getting it back to original wouldn't be worth it, enjoy it as it is.
For condom bullets a .311 slug would work using 30-06 data reduced by 10% to start with. It's a strong action but light rifle so heavy condom loads will give a goodly recoil. For the price you did just fine for a shooter.

Here's just about all the information you will need to find out what it started as.
http://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html

[444ttd]

thanks eddie!!!!!

i did the receivers mark too.

7.7 Caliber Japanese Rifle Receiver Markings
http://www.castle-thunder.com/model.htm

its an early type 99 with a nogoya barrel series # or mark 7.

[abunaitoo]

After many, many years of looking, a friend found one in original military condition.
Had to hand load for it using .311 bullets.
It shot well.