Chinese Arisaka carbine 7.62x39

I recently learned about the Chinese conversions of arisakas to 7.62x39, this has intrigued me, since I like arisaka’s but 7.7 jap ammo is so expensive.

How feasible would it be to make a clone of one of these guns using an arisaka action? Apparently the Chinese fitted sks barrels and away they went. Some of the rifles had modified magazines, some were left as is. I’ve heard some even had sks sights! My main concern is safety, is there enough material on an sks barrel to turn down the existing threads and cut ones for the arisaka? Knowing Chinese manufacturering, especially from the 50’s, just because they did it doesn’t necessarily mean it should be done.

Sam

Why not use a .310 diameter barrel and turn out a copy in correct dimension and profile. Then change all fittings over to look correct...save the cheap and leave the Simonov barrels... It'll work out in the end by ammo savings.

I have made up a couple of barrels for Type 38 Arisakas (In .308). The Type 38 breeching is very similar to the T99 excepting for the thread pitch. ( The bolt head actually projects into the barrel) It takes a little more machining than other rifles but is not hard for a machinist. The T99 threads are an odd ball pitch and can't be cut on most inch lathes.

Also, It seems like I've heard of people using 7.63 x 39 chamber inserts for this conversion using the original 7.7 barrel. ??
Salt flat

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Originally Posted by Salt Flat

chamber inserts for this conversion

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That one I could do also...easily.

Chamber inserts... now you’ve got my attention! Cheap is the name of the game on this one...

Can a T99 barrel use 7.62x39?

Sam

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Originally Posted by Rusty_Old_F250

T99 barrel use 7.62x39?

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If your bore diameter is .310 then you'll be fine. Slug your bore.

With over 300 Type 99 rifles I have never seen a bore [ groove ] as tight as .310 , average is about .313 . Also it would be the actual bore [ land ] size that would make more of a difference with an undersized bullet . I have shot a lot of .310 SKS bullets [ handloads ] in many T-99 rifles and they have shot very well .

I appreciate the information, I have one Arisaka right now, a series 11 Nagoya (11xxx serial) but she’s all original, albeit very rough, and maybe unsafe to shoot, I dunno. First two/three inches of the stock by the muzzle have been burnt, the rest looks neglected, but otherwise untouched.

I want to build the 7.62x39 arisaka from a cheap sporterized gun, going to try and find one locally.

Sam

That is a long action for the 7.62x39 case. I think one will have to work on the magazine to get it to feed properly? I know some have converted type 38 rifles to 7.62x39 but had to replace the barrel. From what I was told they work out very well and the type 38 carbine is excellent for the conversion.

From what I understand, the Chinese used a spacer in the back of the magazine and shaved the follower. Although apparently they built some with unmodified magazines, which works less than stellar. :lol:

Sam

In the late 40's to the mid 1980's the PRC seem to have never thrown any firearms away even if they were unusable by western standards. I remember one firearms references calling it a logistics officers nightmare to supply all of the weapons from enemies, allies, captured, stolen, surrender, locally produced or otherwise used by the PRC. I remember in the 80's all of stuff being sold that was imported from the PRC, mausers, broom handles, m1903s, mosin nagants, Browning Hi-Powers, revolvers, etc. Some were in good condition most were just junk that required major rebuilds or just scrap. I remember parts sets for the Chinese built Maxim guns, Thompson converted to 7.62mm Tokarov, M1919A4 converted to 7.62x54mm Russian, Colt M1911s to 7.62mm Tokarov. and many others including the Japanese Arisaka rifles converted to 7.62x39mm Russian.
I imagine an insert can be made and fireform into the chamber of the Type 99 Rifle. Of course the ejector and extractor would have to be modified for the small base diameter of the 7.62x39mm. A spacer in the magazine case and a modified follower and small leaf follower spring would be appropriate. For that matter you probably could modify an AK mag to fit if you want to be creative.

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Originally Posted by bob q

With over 300 Type 99 rifles I have never seen a bore [ groove ] as tight as .310 , average is about .313

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That's a lot, but might be OK...

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Originally Posted by Bruce McAskill

I think one will have to work on the magazine to get it to feed properly?

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I've gone cheap, just made them a single shot...

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Originally Posted by fjruple

I imagine an insert can be made and fireform into the chamber of the Type 99 Rifle.

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I guess it could but I would use a end cut mill and machine out the old chamber. I'd use a piece of barrel like Lee Enfield and sweat it in tight, face it off and cut the chamber. That's not quite all I'd do to hold it in place but will keep the rest to myself, let's just say it works...and won't move.

The several examples I have have original shortened barrels and sights. The magazines are thin steel constructs housed inside original magazine wells. Magazine feed is poor to totally not reliable.

The Chinese issued the 7.62mm Carbines to the Police. They sleeved the chambers and bored out the 6.5mm barrels, then re-blued the entire rifle. Looks very nice, but the sleeves will back out. Must be a tight push-fit, no pins. If you fire the original rifle you will have problems. I never fired my Carbine.