Type 99 7.7 Sporter - Ideas?

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M5-Shogun

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Hey guys!

I may have the opportunity to take in a used-abused Type 99. I already have a decent condition one in original condition. This one has been... well, mutilated. The old stock is gone. Sporterized cheapo in its place. Still has the 'mum, but the barrel has been set back some and the bluing is entirely worn off.

Clearly, this would cost way too much to return to original condition, and it's pointless as I have a much nicer one in better shape for that.

That being said, the guy is letting it go for a song. I'd like to possibly do something fun with it, because they're strong actions, and good shooters usually.

I had a few ideas:

1. Pay a gunsmith to ream the chamber to a magnum chamber like .300 win mag (This was done for a mosin and it survived fine) and handload .311-sized bullets into the case (I'm not a professional handloader or anything, but I have basic experience and access to some very nice handloading equipment).

2. Scope it and keep it in the original caliber, and just suffer paying 1.20-1.50/round and handloading.

Thoughts? Should I just abandon idea 1?
 
I've had a few sporterized t-99s, still got my 6.5-284.

somethings of note

unless the bolt handle has been well forged, or replaced, scope mounting will be problematic.

The action/mags too short for 06 (standard) length cartridges, and too long for .308 (short) cartridges, so modifications to function with "common" cartridges maybe necessary.
on the same note for any magnums, while I'm positive the action will take them, getting them to work would be problematic at the least.

the only modern replacement stocks available are from boyds, or Richards microfit.
old stock fajens, or bishops are still available from time.to time and are what I prefer.

with an intact mum and no holes in the receiver, that's a restorers (day)dream gun.

honestly suggest passing unless you REALY want a project.
 
If the reciever is in more or less original condition I recommend buying it and keeping it the way it is. Arisaka's, just like all mil surps, are very rapidly rising in value. As for shooting it, the 7.7 jap cartridge is a fine cartridge and brass is readily available so no need to change it unless you really want to. Check to see if it was already rechambered to 30-06, that was very commonly done back in the 50's and 60's on war bring backs.
 
I have several original 99 rifles in 7.7 Japanese and hunt them, killing deer with a 174 gr 311-312 bullet at 2400 fps. that load seem to duplicate the Japanese service load and shoots to original sights.
 
the barrel has been set back some

I wonder why. There were Arisakas converted to .300 Savage and .308 by setback and rechambering.

There were Arisakas converted to .30-06 for the ROK, I wonder how they got around the "too short" bit.

Agree with the posts that say the action alone, with mum, without superfluous holes, is worth a bit.
 
M5-Shogun,
Type-99 Arisakas can be good shooters if their bore is not severely corroded. I have both original condition and sporterized, like you do. I found that glas-bedding the action and knox form then leaving the barrel free floated really improved the sporter's accuracy. 7.7 Jap ammo is easy to make from .30-06 brass or Graf & Sons offer new, unprimed PPU brass for about 60 cents apiece. Lee makes dies for a very reasonable price, and .311 diameter bullets are quite available. Mine shoots .314" diameter cast bullets very accurately but is also a real tack-driver with the Hornady .312-174 grain round nose bullet. The 7.7X58mm round easily duplicates .308 Winchester ballistics.
 
There were Arisakas converted to .30-06 for the ROK, I wonder how they got around the "too short" bit.

either @tark, or @boom boom, would have better information than I do.
I believe they notched the receiver, and used a lengthened magazine. in stock form the t-99 will take up to a 3.1-3.2ish coal.
this makes them a perfect length for the Mauser family cartridges, and for the long 6.5-284 which is why I chose that one.

The taper of the mag box also works well with the Mauser family. My 6.5-284 feeds reliably with no modifications, but that was pure luck. I had one in 6-284 that I ended up fitting a Savage centerfeed box into so that it would feed reliably, as I'm not knowledgeable enough to start messing with magazine dimensions and feed rails.

For rounds shorter than the 7.7, and with less taper like the .308 or similar, again sometimes they work fine, sometimes they don't. I cant run any of the shorter rounds thru my 6.5-284, but again another sporter, still in 7.7 will.
 
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Also how do you know the barrel was set back?
I think he ment cut back, I can't see the barrel being set back without all the other little doodads being done at the same time.

oh another thing I forgot to mention is that the while the head and rim of the 06 is supposed to be slightly larger than the 7.7, from what I measured they are nearly always noticeably smaller than spec. So rechambering to 06 without setting the barrel back leaves enough space for the cases to expand and come out looking funny..... probably not safe to push it really hard either.
 
a unaltered Japanese 7.7 rifle magazine with take a fully loaded 3006 factory shell, the tip of the bullet with lightly touch the front of the magazine and if the bullet is seated a little deeper it will not not touch the front of the magazine when loaded and if a lighter weight bullet (150 gr other than a 180 gr bullet) no problems will be incountered., I know from first hand expearence.
 

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a unaltered Japanese 7.7 rifle magazine with take a fully loaded 3006 factory shell, the tip of the bullet with lightly touch the front of the magazine and if the bullet is seated a little deeper it will not not touch the front of the magazine when loaded and if a lighter weight bullet (150 gr other than a 180 gr bullet) no problems will be incountered., I know from first hand expearence.
what brand of bullets are those? most of the 06 I've got on hand is 3.3ish and won't go into my t-99s without hanging up. I've got mostly 165 and 180s tho.
my handloads are all longer pointier bullets loaded at 3.4+ so those arnt an option.

but if there's a brand that fits in the t-99s mag and they eject, it should feed them just.fine.
 
gi ball 69 HXP will not fit, i think is,s 155 gr. but if you seat the bullet a little deeper in the case(I/8") they would feed well. I,m not a fan of rechambering the 7.7 to 3006, but if you already have one it can be made to feed loaded 3006 with very little work.
 
Have a chamber cast made, just in case it was rebored. Saw a 99 in a gunshop that someone had done it to and a new owner tried to run 7.7 through it with unfortunate results. Other than that, I'd turn it into a faux jungle carbine like I saw in a magazine a few years back.
 
two 69 HXP GI ball(155gr I think) and a factory norma 180 gr bullet. top regular hxp gi ball, middle xhp gi ball with bullet seated deeper in case and will feed tru a Japanese 7.7 rifle, bottom a factory norma 180 gr bullet(bullet tip mushed by recoil in Japanese service rifle). I have fired regular 7.7 ammo thru a conferted 3006 Japanese rifle, by feeding a round up from the magizing with no problems as the extractor held the case back against the bolt face and the fired case looked like a very short necked 3006. now if the shell is just dropped into the chamber and not held against the bolt face you will have a major head space problem, maybe harming both the rifle and shooter, a big NO NO!
 

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gi ball 69 HXP will not fit, i think is,s 155 gr. but if you seat the bullet a little deeper in the case(I/8") they would feed well. I,m not a fan of rechambering the 7.7 to 3006, but if you already have one it can be made to feed loaded 3006 with very little work.
Great info for the guys that already have them! If the chamber can take the increased dia could probably run round nose .311s also.....not sure why I never thought about it.

only down side to pushing bullets back, is if it's a longer than normal projectile or already hot ammo you might have pressure issues.
 
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both thinks are true, if I had one rechamered I would not use any loads even close to max, I know that my load for a regular 7.7 rifle non rechambered is under max as I want the loads be close to factory POI for the sights..
 
You can probably get a used 30-06 for the price of the gun, conversion, and mount. That would be better in every way than a 99 that was butchered and ruined more than it already was. Why waste that money? Just keep it original.
 
both thinks are true, if I had one rechamered I would not use any loads even close to max, I know that my load for a regular 7.7 rifle non rechambered is under max as I want the loads be close to factory POI for the sights..
Good point on the sights.
Im sure your loads are perfectly safe.
It's not a solution that ever occurred to me (I have that goofy 06 chambered t99, that became my x284) and I'm not really sure why, but it's a simple fix for the issue. It's also a safe option as long as the loader understands what they are doing.
 
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