Yeah. My Arisaka. Originally, a type 99, sporterized at some point with a nice Fajen stock and a crappy Lyman sight. It had the straight bolt handle when I got it, but it had been broken off. Probably the reason I ended up with it. Anyway, I knew little about it.
So I took it to the Man. Harry McGowen, a riflesmith of some repute. Harry may be the Harry Pope of his day. He makes some dang nice barrels, or I should say his sons do now, and good lord, they’re good.
Anyway, Harry tells me this is an arisaka which was rechambered to accept 30-06 rounds. The barrel is big, (7.7 instead of 7.62) and standard ammo won’t be as accurate, and the original cartridge, being bigger, allows the 30-06 cartridge to balloon out somewhat. Harry says the Arisaka he had, some 50 years ago, he put a piece of cellophane tape around the cartridge and that prevented the balooning, and used handloads with the .303 bullet, which fits the bore better. So I’ll run some ammo through it, (it has a nicely chromed barrel) and collect the brass, which I’ll resize neck only and use 30-06 loads with .303 bullets. I’m so excited! Then I need to get some decent sights and refinish the stock, and this puppy will be ready for some deer.
Oh, and hary’s boys put a down bent bolt handle on it. It looks as though it grew there. And so does the spot in the stock where they inletted it. It’s pretty as can be, and I cannot WAIT to shoot it. Damn. And that little tag? it has my name written on it by harry himself. A little thing, a paper tag on a rifle. Still, people would pay a lot for a tag signed by Harry Pope. I have a feeling this one will carry some weight some day too.
wow. i still love my 250 swift (my great grandfathers gun), and my 300 savage (16th birthday present). i haven’t been hunting in sooo long.
here in maryland, they only allow rifles in western md. you have to use a shotgun. so my rifles are still at my dad’s house in texas.
have fun man.
Dude, get those rifles where you can shoot them. I can’t hunt with high powered rifles in Indiana,either, but I can dang sure take them to the range every weekend.
Keep ’em in the X ring..
Mark
Suh-WEET! I’m a sucker for the old guns, especially the bolt action ones.
The girlfriend’s brother loaned me their father’s old WWII rifle. 1903A3, chambered in 30-06 Springfield. It’s a joy to shoot.
Best part about this one, Dave, is the chrysanthemum hasn’t been ground off- which means it was an issue rifle captured in battle, most likely. I bear no animosity against japanese people, these days, but the Japanese soldiers of the time were pretty brutal. Congrats on the 03A3, I must say I’m quiote jealous.