7.7 x 58 ARISAKA ACCURACY

ENBLOC

I have an Type 99 that has been Bubba-ed The Stock has been cut, the bolt knob turned down and the mum is gone. I'm having the bolt altered for low scope mount. Will be getting scope base. Next have it drilled & tapped & base installed. Cut barrel to 22" or 24" & re-crown. I slugged barrel & I get .302 bore with .314 groove. Closest I can get to this is with .312 dia. I use in the Argentine. Will these work A-OK? 150 or 180 grain?
What can I expect in Accuracy after doing all this. Don't know if trigger replacement/re-work is possible. Any pet handloads for the 7.7 Jap?
Thx,
ENBLOC

navc130

I have shot most of my deer with a 7.7 Jap sporter, 21 inch barrel. It will consistently shoot 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. I prefer the 180 gr. roundnose bullet for Michigan hunting where most shots are under 100 yards. I used a mid-range load of IMR 4064 powder because that is what I had on-hand. The only issue I had was when carrying on the left shoulder, if the bolt handle hit against you it would spring open and dump the round out to the ground. I would prefer the 22 inch barrel for woods hunting or handling inside a confined blind.
I like the two-stage military trigger on a hunting rifle. It is very safe and positive.

Ambrose

My experience with the 7.7 goes back to the early 1960's and includes two rifles. I built the first one as a deer rifle, had the barrel cut to 18" and put a Weaver 2.5X scope on it. It turned out pretty well. I gave it to a friend around 1995 and he did quite a bit of experimenting with it. It shot about as well with either 150 or 180; 3" 5-shot groups. I acquired an as-issued rifle with the 25.5" bbl. around 1995. This one shot the 180 Sierra spitzer (2 1/2") a little better than the 150 Hornady. Brass is available from Graf but I formed my cases from .30/06. Good luck with your project!

BTW: The safety on the Arisaka is not that inconvenient but takes some practice. When applied (pressed in and turned clockwise) it locks the bolt and the firing pin. As you hold the rifle in firing position, if you press your right thumb against the right half of that knurled knob, it seems to turn to off by itself.

gruntled

I had one back in the early sixties. I found a replacement Timney trigger in a $5 junk box that fit. It made a world of difference.
Reloads using 30/06 brass were really accurate.