Type 38 Arisaka

257x6.5 wildcat calibre

The is one of the nicer sporters I have found. It started life as a Japanese Arisaka Type 38, Koishikawa arsenal, early production. It had been updated with a wonderful sporter stock, a beautifully sculpted bolt handle, a Redfield reciever peep-sight. The barrel had been chopped to 22 1/4" and then rechambered to the wildcat .257x6.5 round (a necked up .257 Roberts case). The gun was priced at $120 at a Dayton gunshow, along with 2 boxes of formed brass. Someone on the collectors list was kind enough to donate a set of RCBS dies in this caliber (Thank you sir!). I found a stash of 100 once fired .257 Roberts brass in a local store (Aumillers in Westerville if I recall) for $15. I worked up some loads (I found that case capacity is right inbetween 6.5x57 Mauser and 6.5x55 Swedish) based on my favorite 6.5 Swede loads. With 85gr Sierra bullets, the bullets seemed to disintegrate about 10 feet from the muzzle. Scratch that load., the 100 & 120gr bullets were on the paper at 100 yards but shot something on the order of 7 MOA. The sweet spot was found when I used Hornady 160gr (and 140gr) round nose bullets. I suspect that the larger bearing surfaces are what are making the differents. The Sierra 140gr Matchking bullets were a disappointment, makings 4 MOA at best.

I am not used to using a Redfield peepsight, but this rifle is so nice looking, light and handy that I would love to hunt with it. For spending $120 for the rifle, free dies (Thank you!),   $15 for a lifetime of brass , I think this is one of the nicest, most troublefree deals I have ever gotten on a sporter.

Here is an oblique view of the rifle.

The cheekpiece here is very comfortable, just the right height for the peepsight.

Here you can see where the gunsmith who did the conversion to 257x6.5 crudely electropenciled the calibre into the barrel shank.

This gun will not shoot well with anything other than Hornady 160gr. RN bullets. I may try oversized lead bullets next.

This is a 50 yard shot.