Type 38 in 7.62x39mm

[jmoore]

Some more photos:








Note the "build number" on the tang of my old rifle isn't but 55 off of m4a3sherman 's. But the handguard lengths and barrel band placements are quite different.

Contrary to the belief that the chambers were sleeved and the japanese barrels were then merely bored out and rerifled, both of these examples retain only the Arisaka barrel stub. The stub was bored out and a new or recycled barrel was press fit into place, then cross pinned- much like an AK:


AK barrel above for example.

When I first Bubba'd the "Asian Bubba Rifle" I tried a spare (at the time...) M16 barrel, but that was just not working out well:


M16 barrel remnant above.

, so eventually an SMLE barrel was sacrificed. Shortened in the rear just enough that the old .303 chamber now serves as a 7,62x39 chamber with a too long neck area. Fired brass looks fine!