Japanese Series 38

lawrencewendall · Oct 11, 2009

I have a Japanese carbine series 38 that I need to have spec'ed out by a gunsmith. It was originally a 6.5x50 but I've read that a lot of these were re-worked to fit US ammo. Any suggestions for a local gunsmith to give me the real specs on this gun? In the Glen Burnie area. Thanks.

WSM · Oct 12, 2009

Post in the Curio & Relic board...you may have better luck.

boule · Oct 12, 2009

There are a bunch of Arisaka rifles that have been bubba'd over the years and not properly marked afterwards. Most conversions were carried out in the 70's when ammunition was not sold commercially. Some rifles can now be found in 6.5-257 (6.5x57), basically a necked-down 7mm Mauser case. Another popular rechambering is to the .30-06 round, usually together with a sporterization.
There is anectodal evidence that several batches of rifles were rechambered in China to either 8mm Mauser or 7,62x39 by both sides during the chinese civil war.

You could probably just do a cast of your chamber and measure that to see what caliber you have. Otherwise someone would have to break out chamber gauges and I do not know who might have one for the 6,5x55.

Jerry M · Oct 18, 2009

Scott's gunsmith should be able to do a chamber cast for you. Very smart move to check it before you try and fire it.

Good luck

Jerry

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