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Sporterized 6.5mm I-rifle

This is a 6.5mm sporterized Japanese "Type I" (capital I, not the number one) rifle, meaning it was made in Italy for the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. The gun has an Italian M1891 action, modified to take a Mauser (Arisaka design) magazine chambered for the 6.5mmx50SR (SemiRimfire) Japanese cartridge. About 60,000 of these Italian rifles were ordered by Japan's navy in 1937 when all of Japan's Type 38 Arisaka rifles were reserved for the army. More than 60,000 Italian rifles were delivered but many were warehoused unused or were lost on IJN ships. Those captured or surrendered at the end of WW II were in very good condition. Produced primarily by Beretta, the rifle was designated by the Italians as the "Beretta Fucile Tipo I per L'esportazione," which, roughly translated means "Beretta Rifle Type I for Export." The serial number of this particular gun is F7821, the F prefix identifying it as having been made by Beretta at Italy's Gardone Arsenal. Students of both Italian and Japanese World War II rifles have found much to admire in the Type I, noting that the chambers were cut to much closer tolerances, making the gun more accurate than the Japanese-made Arisaka. Another plus, the action is a full inch shorter and lighter than the Japanese adaptation of the Mauser design, with a fit and finish conforming to the highest standards of pre-war Beretta workmanship. This rifle does not have its original military stock but a sporterised one of quality wood with a recoil pad. It makes for a fine hunting rifle on deer-sized game. The gun comes with a complete set of RCBS reloading dies, including shell holder, and four boxes of ammo, two with 139gr Norma boattails and two with 140gr Hornady SP. Bullet weights for the 6.5mm (.264 inches) range from 120gr SP to Norma's 156gr round nose "Alaska." But most reloaders believe 156gr is too heavy for the 6.5mm round, favoring weights between 129-140 grains.

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