Arisaka Type 99 - First trip to the range.

[paulleve]

I picked up an Arisaka Type 99 through on online auction recently, and took it to the range for the first time today. It's a Nagoya Last Ditch rifle made toward the end of 1944. The rounds I shot were hand loads made using Hornady 174 gr FMJs over a relatively light charge of IMR4895 in PPU cases. (This is one of those calibers that you can save a lot by reloading!)

The Last Ditch rifles have very simple sights on them. The front sight is a pointed post that can be drifted side to side allowing for windage adjustments, while the rear is a fixed aperture with no means to adjust elevation. I took the rifle to the long range, and at 200 yards it was hitting about 12" high. Once I figured out where to hold, it wasn't too hard to get hits on a C-zone silhouette at that distance. I got one hit at 300 using the same sight picture, but that was followed by some misses. Without a spotter to help figure out point of impact I decided to not waste ammunition beyond 200.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Nice, Enjoy.

 

[knucklehead]

Steinel makes loads for Type 99's if you're looking for something other than PPU.

 

[paulleve]

Steinel makes loads for Type 99's if you're looking for something other than PPU.

They have a nice selection - 8 types of 7.7x57 all around $2.50 per round, and packaged in what looks like PPU brass. I can reload these for around $.82 for FMJ and closer to $.90 with Sierra Match King BTHPs. 7.7 uses the same bullets as x54R and .303, so I can invest in larger lots when they show up on sale. Plus I am one of those guys who loves to spend time at the work bench making my own!

 

[Maninblue1861]

One I removed from the Japanese artillery shell crate a gi sent home in (now sold) , was a track driver at 200 yards.

 

[chris_1001]

Norma does or did make some 7.7... I bought some years ago off Target Sports.

I've shot mine once. Put a few rounds down range and tossed it back in the safe...

 

[mac1911]

I picked up an Arisaka Type 99 through on online auction recently, and took it to the range for the first time today. It's a Nagoya Last Ditch rifle made toward the end of 1944. The rounds I shot were hand loads made using Hornady 174 gr FMJs over a relatively light charge of IMR4895 in PPU cases. (This is one of those calibers that you can save a lot by reloading!)

The Last Ditch rifles have very simple sights on them. The front sight is a pointed post that can be drifted side to side allowing for windage adjustments, while the rear is a fixed aperture with no means to adjust elevation. I took the rifle to the long range, and at 200 yards it was hitting about 12" high. Once I figured out where to hold, it wasn't too hard to get hits on a C-zone silhouette at that distance. I got one hit at 300 using the same sight picture, but that was followed by some misses. Without a spotter to help figure out point of impact I decided to not waste ammunition beyond 200.

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IIRC the “battle zero” for the type 99 and 7.7 ammo was 300M
So it will shoot high
Have to look at the ballistics to get a better idea but 12” high from point of aim
Remember they are aim basically at your belt line if possible and from 0-500 yards you have a chance at a hit…

Last Ditch Rifle heck your lucky it was even close or went bang at all.
That fixed rear peep and front sight where slapped on fast and tossed into the supply chain…

I have a few Arisaka T99/ and they all ahoot about as well as any issued rifle should

 

[paulleve]

IIRC the “battle zero” for the type 99 and 7.7 ammo was 300M
So it will shoot high
Have to look at the ballistics to get a better idea but 12” high from point of aim
Remember they are aim basically at your belt line if possible and from 0-500 yards you have a chance at a hit…

Last Ditch Rifle heck your lucky it was even close or went bang at all.
That fixed rear peep and front sight where slapped on fast and tossed into the supply chain…

I have a few Arisaka T99/ and they all ahoot about as well as any issued rifle should

I ended up running some tests through a ballistics calculator, and based on matching the results I got at 25 and 200 yards it seems like the rifle most likely has a 300 meter zero. Pretty impressive given the fixed rear sight and December-ish 1944 build time. Although elevation seems pretty good, it's hitting about 2 MOA to the right. Now I could try to drift that front sight a little, but I think I may just leave it as is and know I should shoot it in a 10 mph right to left crosswind for best accuracy!

 

[mac1911]

I ended up running some tests through a ballistics calculator, and based on matching the results I got at 25 and 200 yards it seems like the rifle most likely has a 300 meter zero. Pretty impressive given the fixed rear sight and December-ish 1944 build time. Although elevation seems pretty good, it's hitting about 2 MOA to the right. Now I could try to drift that front sight a little, but I think I may just leave it as is and know I should shoot it in a 10 mph right to left crosswind for best accuracy!

I would suggest a long soak in kroil before trying to move the front sight. I made a halfass sight pusher for one of mine and it did not want to budge.
I got it dialed in for cast loads

 

[KMM696]

I got a couple Arisaka rifles recently, and have no idea what I have. Looking for any good information sources on them - they are in good shape, hate to mess them up.

 

[mac1911]

I got a couple Arisaka rifles recently, and have no idea what I have. Looking for any good information sources on them - they are in good shape, hate to mess them up.

Some info here

Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II

Post some pics

 

[Mountain]

I picked up an Arisaka Type 99 through on online auction recently, and took it to the range for the first time today. It's a Nagoya Last Ditch rifle made toward the end of 1944. The rounds I shot were hand loads made using Hornady 174 gr FMJs over a relatively light charge of IMR4895 in PPU cases. (This is one of those calibers that you can save a lot by reloading!)

The Last Ditch rifles have very simple sights on them. The front sight is a pointed post that can be drifted side to side allowing for windage adjustments, while the rear is a fixed aperture with no means to adjust elevation. I took the rifle to the long range, and at 200 yards it was hitting about 12" high. Once I figured out where to hold, it wasn't too hard to get hits on a C-zone silhouette at that distance. I got one hit at 300 using the same sight picture, but that was followed by some misses. Without a spotter to help figure out point of impact I decided to not waste ammunition beyond 200.

View attachment 909692

View attachment 909693

That appears to be the nicest example of a 'last ditch' that I have ever seen.

 

[paulleve]

That appears to be the nicest example of a 'last ditch' that I have ever seen.

It looked nice in the online auction pics, and I was happy to see it is just as nice in person! And thanks to a guy spotting for me the last time I was at my club's long range, I can hit a c-zone torso target at 300 yards - by aiming 18" low and a foot to the left! I just loaded another 50 rounds last weekend, so planning to get this to the range a few more times before winter.

 

[mac1911]

It looked nice in the online auction pics, and I was happy to see it is just as nice in person! And thanks to a guy spotting for me the last time I was at my club's long range, I can hit a c-zone torso target at 300 yards - by aiming 18" low and a foot to the left! I just loaded another 50 rounds last weekend, so planning to get this to the range a few more times before winter.

If you shoot it in freezing cold weather , prone in the snow it will shoot dead on nuts accurate!