6.5 Japanese Mauser to 6.5 creedmor?

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nch_2018

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Can it be done? What would need to be done and how much would it cost?
 
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GEM
 
I'm sure it could be done with a new barrel, also depends what you're looking for. if you want to keep it looking original but in a readily available caliber it'd be difficult to fake japanese finish and mount the sights just right. if it's a sporter then that's no problem.

the overall length differences are miniscule so you wouldn't have to block the magazine. the case is based on a 308 so it should be close enough in width that it would still feed from the original mag and follower without losing any of the 5 shot capacity.

you have a slightly smaller rim on the creedmore so you may have to get a custom extractor made but since I've stacked 6.5 jap in 308/30-06 stipper clips I'm guessing they are close enough that you wouldn't have to modify the bolt... untold dollars there.

the actions on arisakas are considered to be pretty strong but I would probably have yours looked over by a gunsmith before you go buying parts... no doubt the creedmore is a much higher pressured cartridge.
 
I guess I have to ask the actual intent. If keeping the original barrel, the conversion should involve nothing more than running in a reamer, though I would want to check further if I were actually doing it. The 6.5 Creedmore reamer should clean up the 6.5 Arisaka chamber.

But the original barrel has Metford rifling, known to be subject to erosion, so perhaps not the best choice for a high velocity bullet, so rebarrelling should be considered. And, when all is said and done, you would still have an Arisaka. They are good, strong rifles, but cock on closing, are hard to convert to scope use, replacement trigger options are limited (Timney only?), the safety is good but "different", etc.

Further, if the rifle is still original, altering it would reduce the value of a gun that is increasing in value.

Jim
 
true on all counts jim
I personally love the arisaka safety, nearly idiot prood when you get used to it, I have been seriously tempted to buy some arisaka sporters just cause they kept the arisaka safety instead of the bubba'd reductions.
 
You got me curious, so I tried a fired .308 case in my Type 38, and it does fit under the extractor.

It does look like, in theory, that you could just run a reamer and be done with it.

Aside from the downsides Jim mentioned, it would also have a straight bolt.

In other words, you probably can, but I have no idea why anyone would want to.
 
Yea, you could probably do it. The Arisaka receiver shouldn't have any problem with handling the pressure. Have a couple of type 38 arisakas and both still have their military 6.5 barrels and they were rechambered to 257 Roberts. So, I have two 6.5x257R rifles, AKA, 6.5x57. Don't know about how well the 6.5 creedmore will feed from the magazine.
 
What James K said.

Only reason to buy or pay money to improve an Arisaka, other than in original form for shooting as is and for historical enjoyment, is if you think you might be absent minded enough to ream a 6.5 chamber with a .30-'06 reamer, thinking it's a 7.7 Arisaka, and want to live (this actually happened).
 
Rebarrell, sure.

Rechamber, I don't think so.
The Creedmoor is a 6.5x48, the Arisaka a 6.5x50.
The Creedmoor neck diameter is .2969", the Arisaka's is .289."
This means you will have about 2mm (actually .064" if Wiki has the numbers right.) of a smaller diameter neck left out in front of the Creedmoor chamber. The OAL of the Arisaka is also greater which means it will likely have a long throat.

It would probably shoot and not blow up, but accuracy might not be outstanding. I think the good old 6.5 Roberts would be a better choice.
 
Anything with a .308 based case is a feeding problem in Arisakas. It usually becomes a "One in the chamber, two in the box" gun. With a lot of work to make that happen. I find the safety the fastest (Other than the MAS36) on a military firearm when you get used to it. It is one of the easiest military guns to mount a scope on, because you do not have to modify the safety. However, all guns have limitations when it comes to change overs. I would load up some empty .243s just to get an idea how the feeding would go.
 
Many years of experience. It is not uncommon for Type 38's to have feed problems using 6.5x50 ammo, let alone something with a .308 case. To be fair, I don't think anyone loads the original long bullets in 6.5x50 ammo. Having a mixed parts gun (T38) does not help either. Type 38's were more of a "Hand fit" affair than the Type 99, but they (T-99) feed .308 cased ammo like crap too.
 
Of course it can be done- the original chambering is close so the elephant in the room question is -why? Cost would be significant but I'm sure money has been spent worse although this would rate right up there! Post up your groups.
 
I'm just speaking from limited experience with other 6.5 arisaka models but my Type I and type 44 both feed fine, as does my type 99 in 7.7. I've personally fired 308 from the 7.7 albiet under very strange circumstances which are almost as unusable as "proof" as not having done it.
 
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