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Arasaka Sporter 25-35 Caliber?
TWalker
Member Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭✭✭
Picked up an Arasaka Model 38 sporter at an auction. It has an old Winchester 94 barrel that appears to be .25 caliber. On it is" Nickel Steel Barrel Especially for Smokeless Powder" and " Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co, New Haven, Conn, USA" No caliber is listed. The stock is a nice walnut sporter with a buttplate labeled WIN AMER CO, Weseco Minnesota USA. The trigger is a Timney. Obviously this is a custom rifle made a long time ago. Workmanship is excellent. However I don't have a clue about the caliber. Japanese 6.5 ammo won't chamber but will feed through the magazine to the point where the action begins to cock. A 6.5 Japanese bullet only goes a very short distance into the barrel at the muzzle. Do you think it could be chambered in 25-35 caliber or 250 Savage. Thanks for any replies.
Comments
My guess 257 Roberts, with luck Ackley Improved.
Could be anything, a chamber cast would be the best bet to actually find out. Perhaps it was a shot barrel that has been re-rifled or even lined. Back in the day people used cheap military action to make sporters. Some even learned gunsmithing by making up stuff with free parts.
My guess 257 Roberts, with luck Ackley Improved.
+1, For the chamber cast. Only safe way to actually no, what it's chambered for.
Very common to rework Japanese rifles into sporters. Back in the day. The Winchester barrel, is definitely a oddity though. Rebarreling and rechambering, a Winchester lever action barrel, for a Arisaka type 38. Was way beyond the skill level, of most hobby gunsmiths.
Most of the Type 38's that were reworked into sporters, that I ran across. Were rechambered for a wildcat round. That was a .257 Roberts, that was opened up to take a 6.5 diameter bullet. This was the easiests ,way to get around the unavailability of 6.5 Arisaka brass. RCBS use to have the custom dies, for reloading this wildcat.
You can use Bondo or a firm wax to make a chamber cast. Accurate enough for what you are trying to determine.
If that doesn't tell the story then I'll do the chamber cast. ( or pick up the pieces)
I recall one Gun Digest writer who said he might not have the only Mauser with an octagonal barrel, but he was sure he had the only one with Savage High Pressure Steel.
Good luck with your rifle and I hope you have fun with it.