what to do with type 99 arisaka

[mvmtoys]

I must admit I know very little about arisaka rifles but I had one given to me without a stock and I am not quite sure which way to go with it. Here is my delima from what research I have done it is a type 99 and the mum is intact, here is the problem someone at some point had the barrel changed out to a 308 and it has been drilled and tapped on one side of the receiver for a scope. Is it possible or worth trying to restore this rifle or should I just slap it in a sporterized stock and use it as it is. The blueing is in pretty pore shape and the bolt appears to of been polished. Sorry for the dumb question just really not sure which way I should go, showed it to a buddy and he went nuts that the mum was intact, so it made me start thinking. the nice thing is I am into this rifle for nothing.

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[burb1989]

The mum doesn't mean squat on a messed with barreled action IMO. If the action hadn't been messed with (correct caliber, receiver not drilled/tapped, bolt bluing left alone, etc.) then a good restoration would be the way to go. Since the caliber was changed and the receiver drilled and tapped your best bet is to get a sportered stock and use it for hunting. It's not worth much as it is ($25-$50) but if you put it in a nice sportered stock and get a nice scope for it then it'll be a cheap hunting rifle with a tiny bit of history to it you can enjoy without ruining a collector's piece.

[mvmtoys]

Thank you for the response that makes me feel a lot better. My thought was that all the collector value was probably destroyed by who ever converted it. Lucky for me I will only have what ever the cost of a stock is in it. I just wanted to get some others opinion before I proceeded one way or the other.

[Aragorn243]

Yeah, this is one not worth the effort. Can't reverse the drill and tapping. And all you really have is a receiver, if it has a scope, bolt was probably bent. I've seen some really nice Arisaka hunting rifles, that's the way I'd go with it.

[Calif-Steve]

Try to find a cheap stock and slap it on. Dumb idea to barrel it into .308. It was issued with a good 7.7 cartridge. You have a bolt there and guys pay money for the bolt. Just find a cheap stock and go hunting.

[earlwb]

I would just get a sporter stock for it and finish it up as a sporting rifle. Nothing wrong with it as a sporter. The action on the Arisaka is very strong and it would work well as a .308 hunting rifle.
Years ago I converted a Type 99 to a .22-250 Ackley Improved cartridge for varmint hunting. It turned out quite well and shoots like a tack driver.

[mvmtoys]

Thank you all for the input. Will be finding a stock for it soon