6.5 Jap
- Thread starter nam72
- Start date
I would start at 31.5gr of 8208 with a standard LR primer. Bullet seated off the lands at least a few thousandths.
You do, of course, know how to tell a late war Non shooter from an early war shooter right? The Jap action was a pretty strong design. Tests conducted by P.O. Ackley showed it to be more than strong enough, as long as it was early to pre war production. I would hate you hear that you blew your self up sir
A friend of mine owns perhaps one of the rarest 7.7 japs in existence. A very late war, in near to pristine actual condition, that is "a shooter". Meaning the materials were high enough quality for it to be safe to shoot. Given that they *MOSTLY transitioned to the 7.7 mid to late war, your 6.5 is more than likely to be GTG. Still worth it to make sure before you jump into shooting. Mine had a bulged chamber, but still shot relatively well.
Sorry to burn your ear about safety. I personally like the Jap, just a few little things to know first is all. Like, they had a penchant for Swapping Out Bolt assy's, "For good luck" or some such... So excessive head space could be present ect...
I will be awaiting range reports of 1 moa or less ;D
Happy shooting,
Gary
You do, of course, know how to tell a late war Non shooter from an early war shooter right? The Jap action was a pretty strong design. Tests conducted by P.O. Ackley showed it to be more than strong enough, as long as it was early to pre war production. I would hate you hear that you blew your self up sir
A friend of mine owns perhaps one of the rarest 7.7 japs in existence. A very late war, in near to pristine actual condition, that is "a shooter". Meaning the materials were high enough quality for it to be safe to shoot. Given that they *MOSTLY transitioned to the 7.7 mid to late war, your 6.5 is more than likely to be GTG. Still worth it to make sure before you jump into shooting. Mine had a bulged chamber, but still shot relatively well.
Sorry to burn your ear about safety. I personally like the Jap, just a few little things to know first is all. Like, they had a penchant for Swapping Out Bolt assy's, "For good luck" or some such... So excessive head space could be present ect...
I will be awaiting range reports of 1 moa or less ;D
Happy shooting,
Gary
Nam 72 -
Howdy !
THe 6.5 Jap case is a tad longer than a .35 Rem, but have similar diameters.
Hogdons' website has 8208 load info for .35 Rem, albiet with heavier bullet wt.
None-the-less, it might give you a ball-park idea on a safe starting out load for your 6.5 . Heavier bullet weights used in .35 Rem will tend to keep charge weights low compared to weight of charge useable w/ lighter bullets in 6.5 Jap.
This should help keep things conservative.
Regards,
357Mag
Howdy !
THe 6.5 Jap case is a tad longer than a .35 Rem, but have similar diameters.
Hogdons' website has 8208 load info for .35 Rem, albiet with heavier bullet wt.
None-the-less, it might give you a ball-park idea on a safe starting out load for your 6.5 . Heavier bullet weights used in .35 Rem will tend to keep charge weights low compared to weight of charge useable w/ lighter bullets in 6.5 Jap.
This should help keep things conservative.
Regards,
357Mag
Thanks for the reply Gary.I've been working and loading these rifles a long time. I've used about every combination out there.Both calibers are good.
The T-38 is the one I like most.As the bullets are plentiful and accurate.
The rules I have to use are (1)Using the 6.5 Jap,with 120
gr.N bt.(2).The chamber can be changed to another cartridge.
(3) I have to use 8208 powder.(4) I have to shoot under 1 inch@100 yd.(5) I have to shoot 5 shot strings in the ten ring.(6) I can mount a scope(7) I can change the stock.
I think this can be done but my friends dont think so.They dont have much faith in the old girl. O ye , of little faith.
The T-38 is the one I like most.As the bullets are plentiful and accurate.
The rules I have to use are (1)Using the 6.5 Jap,with 120
gr.N bt.(2).The chamber can be changed to another cartridge.
(3) I have to use 8208 powder.(4) I have to shoot under 1 inch@100 yd.(5) I have to shoot 5 shot strings in the ten ring.(6) I can mount a scope(7) I can change the stock.
I think this can be done but my friends dont think so.They dont have much faith in the old girl. O ye , of little faith.
It looks like what I thought. Around 32 to 35 gr.sounds good.
I'll load up 5 @ 32gr.and 5 @ 33 and so on . Thanks a lot guys.
Also ,I want to extend the COL as long as I can. Try to get closer to the lands. This throat is looonng.
That's the reason I was thinking of changing to another cartridge. Say, 6.5X55 or 6.5X57 or even 6.5/06.
Any thoughts?
I'll load up 5 @ 32gr.and 5 @ 33 and so on . Thanks a lot guys.
Also ,I want to extend the COL as long as I can. Try to get closer to the lands. This throat is looonng.
That's the reason I was thinking of changing to another cartridge. Say, 6.5X55 or 6.5X57 or even 6.5/06.
Any thoughts?
I would be tempted to do a 6.5x55 BJAI...Bob Jourdan Ackley Improved. He throats for a 120gr bullet normally. Not sure he would take on a jap, but he certainly knows the 6.5x55 AI, as he is the guy who invented it. He chambered my Savage for it. Very nice cartridge over all. Should clean up the chamber quite nicely.
Then again, if your current chamber is relatively decent I would at least try it first. You never know, it may turn out nice. You have slugged the bore? You may end up having to use a Cast bullet to get the accuracy you need, but I am very unsure about cast bullets and 8208
I will be keeping an eye out on this to see what you come up with.
Have fun!
Gary
Then again, if your current chamber is relatively decent I would at least try it first. You never know, it may turn out nice. You have slugged the bore? You may end up having to use a Cast bullet to get the accuracy you need, but I am very unsure about cast bullets and 8208
I will be keeping an eye out on this to see what you come up with.
Have fun!
Gary
Dirial, I was thinking that way too, but on another forum , someone said it's difficult to ream the 6.5X55. Didn't ask why. I was looking at all the different cartridge diagrams and the most probable to work .I'm trying the 6.5 jap first to see what happens.
I'll pick up the gun from gunsmith tomorrow and maybe on the range in about a week. I hope ! I had it d&t to mount a scope and welded the bolt handle.
By the way ,I loaded some 140 Nosler comp.bullets to carry with me .Just in case I can't get it to shoot with the 120's.
I'll pick up the gun from gunsmith tomorrow and maybe on the range in about a week. I hope ! I had it d&t to mount a scope and welded the bolt handle.
By the way ,I loaded some 140 Nosler comp.bullets to carry with me .Just in case I can't get it to shoot with the 120's.
I believe that the jap will do ok with a 120gr load. A couple things to think about is the wide variation in chamber size, and also a good bit of variation in bore size. The bore size is the real accuracy Ass Kicker. The thing to do is to use an oversized lead bullet to Slug The Bore to determine what SIZE bullets you will need. Hell my friend with that 7.7 also has a 6.5 jap that has a bore so over sized it can just about take a .270 bullet rather than a true 6.5 bullet. I have read others say that they had bores that were real tight, thus something like a Lapua bullet that runs a slight bit small would be the way to go. Details and more Details. But that is part of the fun. But, yeah, slugging the bore will be one of the best things you can do to start out. Hell you might end up re-chambering to a 6.8 SPC hahahahaha
Good luck,
Gary
Good luck,
Gary
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
nam72,
I can't help you with the 6.5 jap but I have a 7.7 jap that will shoot under a minute out to 400 yds with a williams peep sight. The bolt has been repositioned it has a custom walnut stock and the factoy trigger has been tuned down to about 4 lbs from probably 15 lbs the creep is terrible the chamber and barrel are factory but it flat out shoots. Give the old 6.5 a try the way it is it might surprise you.
Wayne.
I can't help you with the 6.5 jap but I have a 7.7 jap that will shoot under a minute out to 400 yds with a williams peep sight. The bolt has been repositioned it has a custom walnut stock and the factoy trigger has been tuned down to about 4 lbs from probably 15 lbs the creep is terrible the chamber and barrel are factory but it flat out shoots. Give the old 6.5 a try the way it is it might surprise you.
Wayne.
Thanks all for this discussion.I've been working on jap rifles for a few years. I have the 7.7 inside of MOA but these friends of mine don't think I can do it with the 6.5.Go figure?
They say the barrel was cut down to 20"and the chamber is a little bit large. But I've loaded for this gun for a long time . You get about 4 loads with Norma and 6 or more with yugo NNY. They will work a little longer but I dont go very far with Norma. Had case seperation @ 7 reloads. The chamber is about .005" large but works good.
I loaded 10 rds @ 34gr. and 10 @ 35gr. . I brought the COL out to 3.050". The bearing surface of the bullet is about .130" It should be good.I'm not worried about pressure.This action will take it.I checked all the rds. with my Hornady Concentricity device.Love the thing.It also puts me closer to the rifling. A very long throat.
I'll take some 140gr. Nosler Comp. rds. to get me on paper.
I just got the gun from the smith. Now I can mount the scope and dial it in.(Davy Crocket style).
What ya think? Sounds like a good start,right?
They say the barrel was cut down to 20"and the chamber is a little bit large. But I've loaded for this gun for a long time . You get about 4 loads with Norma and 6 or more with yugo NNY. They will work a little longer but I dont go very far with Norma. Had case seperation @ 7 reloads. The chamber is about .005" large but works good.
I loaded 10 rds @ 34gr. and 10 @ 35gr. . I brought the COL out to 3.050". The bearing surface of the bullet is about .130" It should be good.I'm not worried about pressure.This action will take it.I checked all the rds. with my Hornady Concentricity device.Love the thing.It also puts me closer to the rifling. A very long throat.
I'll take some 140gr. Nosler Comp. rds. to get me on paper.
I just got the gun from the smith. Now I can mount the scope and dial it in.(Davy Crocket style).
What ya think? Sounds like a good start,right?
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