type 99 series 20

[remus]

I have a shooter type 99 rifle that was manufactured in the 20th series in just about the middle of the of the run, 49825.

Does anyone know the year or years of the 20th series?

Thanks,

[remus]

I forgot to mention that it was the Kokura arsenal..

[psteinmayer]

Kokura Arsenal produced Series 20 through 25, starting in 1939. If yours is a series 20, then it was most likely manufactured between 1939 and 1940. Below are two web sites that will help with identifying the particulars of your Type 99.

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

http://www.gunboards.com/sites/banzai/DataSheets/M99/M99Data.htm#Model_99

[Guamsst]

I am not aware of any info on exact production times. I would say 1939. Generally the fit and finish tells the rough production time of the rifles and that's as good as it gets.

[remus]

Thank you for the information. Mine is a shooter, the stock has seen rough service. Isn't broken or cracked but has some suspicious gouges on it and a lot of dents and scrapes. The wood fits the metal well, the screws aren't all buggered up. The somewhat flat black finish is gone on the extended part of the barrel, the receiver has some finish but looks like it spent some time in the weather. Has Aircraft sights, no monopod or dust cover or cleaning rod.

I got brass from Graf & Sons and load a 150 grn fmjbt .311 bullet with win. lg. rifle primers, and varget. Between 39 and 41 grns of Varget. It shoots really well with this load. I wish the trigger wasn't so heavy and stiff.

Again, thank you for your knowledge.

[psteinmayer]

The Arisaka Type 99 is recognized as one of the strongest rifles made, and with a barrel that is usually very accurate. Although your rifle does ok with the .311 bullet, the standard 7.7X58 MM load is a 174 grain boat tail FMJ in .312 diameter. Does your 99 have a chrome lined barrel? You might try the 174 grain .312 (standard to the 7.7x58 and the British .303) and see how your 99 does with that. Hornady makes these and they are readily available (current shortages notwithstanding).

Also, just out of curiosity, does it have the mum, or is it ground? How about posing some pictures?

[remus]

Yes, it is chromelined. I have shot the 174, .312 bullets out of the rifle. It does just as well as the 150's with a little more recoil. Bottom line though is cost. The 150's do the same job(plinking)as the 174's at about six bucks per hundred rds. cheaper from Graf & Sons. I use the same bullets and primers, and amount of the same powder in three different rifle calibers. .303, 7.65 Arg. and the 7.7 Jap. The 7.7 seems to have the best accuracy of the four rifles in those three calibers. All this with a really heavy trigger. I really like all the metric calibers. .303, 6.5x55, 7.65x53, 7.7x58, 8x57, 7.35 Italian, 7.62x54, 7.62x39. Probably a couple more but they are all fun.

[TDP0311]

I also have a Kokura 20 Series Type 99.... Mum intact, AA Wings intact, cleaning rod present, but is missing the dust cover and monopod. I picked it up a month ago very, very cheap, and have been busting rust trying to get it back in shape since. It definitely saw heavy usage and lots of weather during it's time on the line. Serial number is 80481. I will post some pictures of it later!

[Deano41]

In checking the "estimated production charts" in "The Japanese Type 99 Arisaka Rifles" by Don Voigt, the Series 20, Kokura rifle was made from the second quarter 1941 to the second quarter 1942.

[TDP0311]

Some photos of my Kokura Series 20

[psteinmayer]

TDP, your series mark looks more like a 22 than a 20 to me. Also, Monopods and Action Dust Covers (both original and aftermarket) are available. Not a bad looking 99 though... and with a full mum to boot!

My Toyo Kogyo Series 31 has the mum, along with the Dust Cover, Monopod, Chrome Bore, Anti-Aircraft sight, etc. The only thing I'm missing is the sling. My Nagoya Series 7 is ground and sporterized into a hunting rifle... but still shoots awesome!

[TDP0311]

It very well may be a Series 22... the symbols are pretty similar, and I just sorta guessed as to which one I thought it looked like the most! The barrel on mine is pretty rough though... and I haven't made my mind up if I want to shoot it yet or not- which hasn't been too much of an issue since I have yet to be able to find ammo for it.

I picked it up for $150 a month ago, so if it ends up just being for show that is fine with me. I'll eventually pick up a monopod, and keep my eyes open for a leather sling as well...

[Deano41]

"TDP, your series mark looks more like a 22 than a 20 to me." PS I think you are right. In that case it would put production at IV of 42 to II of 43.

[psteinmayer]

Those Arisaka Series markings a sometimes a pain to decipher!

Have you tried to scrub the bore? Run a 32 caliber brush soaked with Hoppes No. 9, and give it a good scrubbing. Arisakas have pretty good steel, so the barrel should clean up enough to regain some accuracy. As for ammo, you can always order Norma 7.7 Jap ammo from Cheaper Than Dirt or Midway. Also, you can order Norma brass from Cheaper Than Dirt and load for it. Standard 7.7 x 58 mm ammo uses a .312 dia 174 grain boat tailed FMJ bullet (same bullet as the .303 British). Most loading manual will have load data for this.

[remus]

My wood has about the same coloring that yours has but mine is quite a bit scratchier. Yours is prettier. I've got two bayonets but no cleaning rod. Would like to get a rod for it, don't really know why, but I would. Mine shoots really well with either bullet and about 40.0 grns of varget give or take a little.

[Guamsst]

Standard 7.7 x 58 mm ammo uses a .312 dia 174 grain boat tailed FMJ bullet (same bullet as the .303 British). Most loading manual will have load data for this.

I have a friend that loaded almost exclusively for .303 and 7.7 because he could use the same projectiles and load data for both.

[TDP0311]

Deano41- I see you are in San Clemente, I gotta say, I definitely miss my time living there with 5th Marines. Very nice little surf town!

[TDP0311]

On the left side of the rifle, it looks like there was possibly some or of writing, almost like Japanese characters... kinda interesting.