Banzai! Try This with Your Arisaka (UPDATED)

by Robert W. Hunnicutt • October 21, 2011 • 17 comments

(Updated 10/21/11 with video footage.)

Dave Fortier was hanging around a gun show when a passing seller offered up a pair of Type 38 Arisakas for $100 apiece. Fortier’s not a Japanese collector, but the price was irresistible, so he took the better-looking of the two.

It had an unusual crest that research indicated was the “concentric circle” mark of the Kempetai secret police. Dave decided to bring it along to the IMO editorial roundtable to show it to his fellow writers and give them the chance to shoot it.

I suggested a friendly competition, which idea quickly mushroomed to a full-fledged match. As Hornady provided the ammo, it became the Hornady Arisaka Challenge.

Course of fire was miss and out on steel torso silhouettes offhand at 150 yards, with the tie-breaker at 200 yards. The Arisaka’s 9-pound trigger made it plenty sporting, but just to make it more interesting, all firing was with fixed bayonet.

My guess was that it would take less than two boxes of ammo, and that proved right. Of 20 shooters taking part, eight managed a hit at 150 yards and only one, SGN contributor Jim Tarr, scored a hit at 200.

Fortier is giving the rifle and a “meatball” flag signed by all the competitors to a gunsmith friend who is an Arisaka devotee.

What other guns do you think would be interesting selections for this sort of match?

IMO president Jeff Paro took a traditional stance when taking his shot at 150 yards.

 

Wildfowl editor and Gallery of Guns TV expert Skip Knowles went with the flat- palm hold.

 

Guns & Ammo executive editor Payton Miller found the Type 38’s length of pull more comfortable than did taller shooters.


Craig Boddington of Petersen’s Hunting normally calls for a left-handed bolt- action, but can work with the starboard bolt handle when he has to.


Dave Fortier started things off with a solid hit at 150 yards, but couldn’t ring the 200-yard gong.


Banzai! Participants in the Hornady Arisaka Challenge celebrate the win by SGN contributor Jim Tarr (holding rifle), who showed trigger control is all in the mind.

 

In Featured, Long Guns • Tagged ,

17 Responses

  1. skipper

    What a riot…best part was Hunnicutt yelling "You missed! Now do the honorable thing…"

    On August 25, 2011 at 7:51 pm • Reply
  2. Roland Millington

    Three words. S. K. S.

    On August 25, 2011 at 8:23 pm • Reply
  3. bradley sandberg

    any of those old war clubs are great to shoot, usually after youve worked on the bore till your arms ready to fall off. but its worth it. thats all i hunt with and always will. you have a big piece of history in your hands. it just takes balls to squeeze one off if your used to pleasure rifles.

    On August 25, 2011 at 9:11 pm • Reply
  4. Alan Adolphsen

    trapdoor Springfield, Lee Enfield no4 mk1, the Mosin Nagant and Dave's favorite, the Lebel carbine in 8mm

    On August 25, 2011 at 10:19 pm • Reply
  5. Pat McHenry

    Enfield mk1 was my first thought, but then I remembered the Tokarev SVT-40… it has the same exotic draw as the Arisaka I think.

    On August 29, 2011 at 9:25 pm • Reply
  6. Jim Culberson

    30/40 Krag-Jorgensen or 45/70 trap door Springfield

    On August 31, 2011 at 9:42 pm • Reply
  7. JG

    Swiss K31. Just move it out a couple hundred yards :-)

    On August 31, 2011 at 9:53 pm • Reply
  8. sdsalor

    My Dad brought back a Arisaka from Japan in 1942.In the early sixtys I had it rechambered to 6.5X257. Converted to cock on open and had a butter knife bolt handle and mounted a scope on it and glass bedded the action and Barrel.

    Shot 1/2 min group at 100 yds.

    It was stolen the lat 70's

    On August 31, 2011 at 11:37 pm • Reply
  9. George G. Hruby

    I'd just like to see you complete what you started, and do

    the same thing with a 7.7mm version, a type 44, and then top it off with a similar competition with the nambus and revolver.

    On September 1, 2011 at 12:27 am • Reply
  10. bradley sandberg

    any of those war clubs are are fun to target shootand just as much for hunting.just gotta man up and do the long sqeeze.unless its a 6.5×55, 7×57 ,7.5×55 or the no.4 mk.3 sniper. thatll spoil ya! the Berg

    On September 1, 2011 at 3:37 am • Reply
  11. L Coleman

    I can think of several that might be of great interest. How about a series of the basic issued weapons of WWI and II Enfields, Mausers, Nagants, Arisakas, Styers, MAS, Lebel's from the major nations? How about Swede 94 and 96Mausers? You could go a very long time without repeating the same weapon or even using the most recognizable ones. I'd sure enjoy such a series and I can't help believe many others would too given all the interest in programs on TV such as "Top Shot", "Sons of Guns", and the programs sponsored by G&A abd the NRA.

    On September 1, 2011 at 4:22 am • Reply
  12. B Mahoney

    I agree with Mr. Coleman. Swede 96 and a 400 yard gong.

    On September 2, 2011 at 12:36 am • Reply
  13. Tom Philo

    Yes start with the Spanish American War and work your way up with the various weapons.

    A true marksman can fire any weapon -not just their own tricked out version – this would prove it!

    On September 2, 2011 at 2:41 am • Reply
  14. HOWELL CLARK

    I HAVE AN 8MM LEBEL FROM NORTH AFRICA OPERATION TORCH LIBERATED BY MY DAD ALONG WITH FROG AND BAYONET. BEYOND FIFTY YARDS ITS A DEFINITE MISS.

    On September 3, 2011 at 3:26 pm • Reply
  15. Ken Boyer

    I have several old war veteran guns and they are all a riot to shoot–most are very impressive–the accuracy of the Arisaka is impressive, as is the SMLE.

    On September 4, 2011 at 2:27 pm • Reply
  16. Bill Poole

    As a collector of each rifle issued to all participants of past wars, starting with the Civil War, I would love to see an elimination competition involving these types of rifles. Beginning possibly with an 1863 Springfield against a comparable Russian or British issue. The winner of an accuracy match would go up against another in its class until the overall winner of that level would then have to go up against one in a higher level (cartridge loaded). This could continue on through each advancement in rilfle manufacturing, where the competition pits a Trapdoor against a bolt fed, against an automatic. At some point we might see an 03 challenge a Johnson light rifle and see which might go against a Garand, This could be set up with weight given to accuracy versus speed. Many options are possible and to witness some rifles being fired in competition would be exiciting to many enthusiasts.

    On September 5, 2011 at 8:24 pm • Reply
  17. LeePalmer

    I have my Dad's bringback Type 99 7.7 and fireform 8mm cases w/.303 pulled bullets for it. It's a hoot to shoot. Our local group, the Louisiana Tigers, is going to have a "Battle of Stalingrad" shoot in the spring. Bring your K98 and Nagant and we'll see who's the best at 100yds. 10 shots from behind a rubble pile prone supported at an NRA 100yd highpower bull. Best score (out of 100 possible) wins. We just don't know what to give as a prize. Bottle of Vodka or Schnapps perhaps? Try a US Military Longarms of the 20th century shoot. Krag through M-4.

    On January 4, 2012 at 4:53 pm • Reply