type 44 arisaka (6.5x.257 roberts)

[chack]

I picked this up at a gunshow this weekend, I thought it was in the original 6.6 arisaka and was pretty excited to get the type 44, RCBS dies, 40 R-P unprimed sized brass, and 20 6.5 bullets for $175.

It has been sporterized by removing the bayonet and lug, bending the bolt handle, replacing the rear sight with a notch style rear sight that has a 2mm aperture that swings up, locking elevation adjustment, and micrometer adjustable windage. The upper hanguard had to be inlet for the sight to fit.

The front sight has also been replaced with a more narrow ramp style front sight too.

While the trigger isn't light, it is quite crisp with no creep or take up.

It has evidence of some old pitting on the outside of the barrel bands, but the bore is bright with strong rifling. I can smell the cold bluing.

The stock is in great shape but the sling indents were filled and the stock has been refinished.

IT HAS A PERFECT, UN TOUCHED MUM,
It was only after made the deal that I noticed that the dies were marked 6.5-257 roberts and realized that it wasn't in 6.5 arisaka. I was in a hurry so concluded the deal quickly. I was thinking that I could restore it to original condition and get a $600 rifle cheap, but no such luck.

Still though, I think I did OK and am looking forward to loading up a few rounds (the sellers load data was in the box) and seeing how accurate it is.

I a pretty sure the seller bought it with the intention of buying ammo to hunt with it and found out later it wasn't that simple so bought the dies but decided not to start reloading. I'm sure he just wanted to unload it.

Did I do Ok?
Is a rifle in 6.5 roberts worth keeping?
Should I consider trying to restore this rifle either fully or partially?
what's it worth as is vs in original condition?
Does it still qualify as C&R?
Pictures tomorrow...

 

[hoghunting]

You did better than you thought. The RCBS 6.5x257 dies are no longer a production item and have to be custom made at a price of $150 - $175. I used a sporterized type 38 in that same caliber and was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy. Just run the .257 Roberts brass in the sizing die and it will expand the neck.

I used Hornady 129 gr Interlocks with IMR 4831, and with a pitted barrel, it still shot 0.5 MOA groups. It took out many hogs and a few deer.

 

[chack]

I counted the brass, it's 100 pieces of trimmed and sized brass, most of it looks virgin. There were only 20 bullets though, all 120 gr.
Still working on pictures...

 

[GeauxTide]

Great cartridge. Stick with the 129 Hornady SP that was suggested.

 

[chack]

I'm thinking that it would be too much trouble and expense to try to restore it to it's original configuration or anything close to it, but it is really tempting. I'd like it alot more if it was unmolested.

I was even thinking about if it would be possible to find one as a parts gun or fabricate reproduction parts for it. I wonder if a M44 mosin nagant bayonet lug and bayonet could be welded to the stock end cap...

I was thinking of converting an old beat up M44 mosin into a M38 mosin configuration then rebluing it and refinishing the stock. I could use the leftover bayonet as he source to rework it into the type 44 bayonet.

I know, alot of work for something that isn't that awesome, but if it looked more like an original military rifle without costing an arm and a leg I'd like it more and the awesomeness quotient would be significantly higher for me...

 

[publius]

You have a good deer rifle. It would be a mistake to try to restore it to original. I think the type 38 was the only 6.5x50, I think the rest were 7.7?

 

[chack]

the type 44 was based on the type 38 and was designed and produced as a carbine rather than the extremely long rifles that were typical for that era. This one way have been used in the russo-japanese war or any of the other wars Japan fought prior to the US convincing them to become pacifists with a couple of atomic fireballs in '45.

I'm looking forward to what kind of accuracy I can get from it, I suspect that it will be quite good.

 

[publius]

I am frequently wrong, and am again. I forgot the carbine version had a different model number. I do know that you have a great deer rifle there. It is a shame that someone did that to a rifle with the mum. I killed a couple of pigs with my type 38 last year, DRT.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"This one way have been used in the russo-japanese war"

Nope. The Type 44 was adopted in 1911 and entered service in 1912.

The Russo-Japanese war ended in 1905.