Hi, I'm new to these forums. I collect Military Rifles from World War 2, my latest Rifle is an M38 Vintovka Mosina, the ones I own now are:
U.S. Springfield '03
Japanese Arisaka 99 Type
German Mauser 1939 Karabiner 98k (Restored)
and the M38 Vintovka Mosina

Does anyone have an Arisaka aswell? If you've taken it to the firing range how happy were you with it? I've tried to find resonable ammo, but all I've found is a box of 20 for over $40. The last 3 rifles I'm looking for are a Lee-Enfield No4 MKII, an M1 Garand and an M1 Carbine. My Grandfather brought back the Arisaka and the Mauser during the war while he was a B17-26 Radar Spotter.

Welcome, they're fun to shoot aren't they? Best part of old military guns is that no one is going to notice one more dent in the stock.

Yeah, I think denting in the stock gives the gun character, instead of being one of thousands. The first time I fired the Springfield, my dad said I wouldn't like it because of that jackhammer kick it has, proved him wrong, he even dared me to hit a bowling pin downrange, "See if you can hit that bowling pin, no, you can't hit that." got it on the last shot with those open sights at 150 yards, I like to brag about that one hehe.

Friend was given a 7.7jap..it came my way in exchange for a new prop for his old Johnson 5.5HP. Pretty good condition externally (although the type 99 at best still looks like a rush job) and a good bore (chrome lined).

They tended to cut big chambers (not just the 7.7, but the 6.5mm type 38 as well)...not really caring about reloading life nearly as much as getting a jungle-green corroded round to chamber. The expensive Norma ammo works fine, and while the cases are made to the smae specs. as military ammo, thye are too small and swell a good bit just a head of the solid web. Can be reloaded, but CAN'T be full length sized if you want any kind of case life for that expensive brass.

Have seen (and used) cases formed from 30-06...it swells about like the Norma rounds...in my case, used them with light lead loads, but was never real comfortable about it and soon stopped.

Now the 7.7 is listed as having a .471" head and the .30-06 (and it's kin( have a .471" head....but the 7.7's chamber was .479"-.480". .008" of swelling (call it .004" per side...but gravity always makes the round lay in the bottom, so the welling is nearly always on one side) doesn't sound like a lot, but it pretty well is.

Now....that rifle is not with me, it's been ojn extended loan doing duty in a fishing boat (kind of limbering up sharks before they take them on board)...but I'll borrow it back and try making cases from 6.5X55 brass. Will probably come up a tad short-necked, but the .476" head may be worth the effort.

Well the 303 Mark 4can be fun to shoot and if you can find one with a good bore they shoot quite well.
Another rifle that I am very fond of is the 6.5x55.S
I have a model 38 made in 1942.You can load for wood chucks and up with the 160 Rn to down a moose. Recoil is very mild. My wife love this gun and shoots it off hand very well.

Find the .303's to be a lot of fun, not just with the military ball loads or the factory hunting loads, but with lite-loads using the various .32 pistol bullets.

For dirt cheap, hard to beat the current 8mm Mausers and the mass of surplus ammo...most of it is not the most accurate ammo in the world, but it makes for a fun afternoon. You have that base covered.

The world never seems to run out of 7.62X54R Russians and some of the surplus ammo is quite good, and you seem to have this base covered as well.

Seems to me you've listed one rifle from 4 of the major players (the '03 got some WWII use)...could continue on with the theme. Could use a good example from the English, French, Italians , and go on from there.

We got back from the ranger earlier today, the Mauser outperformed the Springfield in better grouping, I only wish we could have brought more 8mm (Like my Signature?), and I seem to have lost my ability to shoot 22 Rifles, their too light compared to the Mauser and the Springfield. We also get to pick up our Mosin Nagant M38 tomarrow, there were two M44s at the range when we got there, one guy had an M1 Garand, but was VERY unhappy with it, said it was unreliable and didn't chamber well (But that trademark 'ping' sound it makes when the clip ejects is priceless).

Hi, I'm new to these forums. I collect Military Rifles from World War 2, my latest Rifle is an M38 Vintovka Mosina, the ones I own now are:
U.S. Springfield '03
Japanese Arisaka 99 Type
German Mauser 1939 Karabiner 98k (Restored)
and the M38 Vintovka Mosina

Does anyone have an Arisaka aswell? If you've taken it to the firing range how happy were you with it? I've tried to find resonable ammo, but all I've found is a box of 20 for over $40. The last 3 rifles I'm looking for are a Lee-Enfield No4 MKII, an M1 Garand and an M1 Carbine. My Grandfather brought back the Arisaka and the Mauser during the war while he was a B17-26 Radar Spotter.

If you like the Arisaka, it's worth it to load ammo for it. It's the strongest of the bunch you listed - strongest Military Bolt action rifle ever made according to Chuck Hawks.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/7-7mm_Jap.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/6-5x50.htm

GOOD LUCK!