[arisakadogs]

We often go through the same ol threads of turning staked screws, moving sights or doing other things that change the original condition of these rifles. I think what it comes down to is are you a shooter, collector or both? To me the collector aspect of all this outweighs the shooting. Don't get me wrong I do love to shoot these rifles - safely. Still, if you have a scarce variation, or a significant transition piece couldn't you shoot another example (maybe one that Yoda or Riceone have previously handled & damaged ) if you feel the need to turn the screws just to make sure it's safe?

 

[bones92]

Both, though my frequency at the range would betray this half of the claim.

Collecting, studying, comparing and admiring is great. But shooting them, even if only once, is still what makes this the passion that it is.

 

[Richard in NY*]

"To me the collector aspect of all this outweighs the shooting... if you have a scarce variation, or a significant transition piece couldn't you shoot another example..."

A-Dog:

Well said. Count me a an ardent "purist" who believes that some fine examples deserve not to be shot when there are so many "shootable" examples readily at hand.

 

[Leaf]

I am both. I wont turn staked screws unless they are ruin by the pervious owner trying to remove them then I usaully have to change them. which is rare. I have not shot any of my Arisaka yet but I do have 200 rds that I am looking foward to blasting off. I want to bring one of my last ditch and one of my early models. I do want to shoot my 7th series

 

[Bill In Indiana]

... To me the collector aspect of all this outweighs the shooting....

+1

 

[arisakadogs]

Absolutely! I love shooting these rifles as well but crap, if you need to go under the wood to feel safe about it do it with one that has already been opened up.
I really like finding primo pieces with the screws still peened in place.

 

[03man]

I collect most of them and shoot a few. I really like shooting the T97s with my modern scope adaptor. It does not require modification of the original rifle, nor taking a chance on firing a $1500 scope.

 

[HI SALENITY]

The ones that I normally shoot are the highly modified modern rifles . But I have many other rifles I have never shot .

 

[arisakadogs]

I collect most of them and shoot a few. I really like shooting the T97s with my modern scope adaptor. It does not require modification of the original rifle, nor taking a chance on firing a $1500 scope.

Yeah, seeing those specks suddenly appear on a Kokura T-97 scope I had sickened me

 

[albacore]

I too have many rifles that I've never shot. I love shooting, but I enjoy hunting down and finding rare or scarce variations more. Argh, and considering the price of ammo, shooting isn't a very good investment anymore.

 

[Dieter]

Both, though my frequency at the range would betray this half of the claim.

Collecting, studying, comparing and admiring is great. But shooting them, even if only once, is still what makes this the passion that it is.

Same here!

 

[vintagemc313]

I mostly collect when it comes to military bolt actions. I wish I could own the best example of each, but I'm proud when I look at my battle worn rifles, and imagine the history behind them.

 

[GUNHEEP]

WITH THE PRICE OF AMMO RISING THE LAST FEW YEARS...I FIND MYSELF BECOMING MORE OF THE COLLECTOR..I MAINLY SHOT MY MG's ANYWAY...SO I REALLY COULDN'T CONSIDER MYSELF A TRUE SHOOTER...MORE OF A COLLECTOR... A MINT PIECE SHOULD BE KEPT AS MINT AS IT CAN BE...DO NOT SHOOT IT...UNLIKE THE GUY WHO SHOT THE 1 MILLION DOLLAR LUGER ON TALES OF THE GUN A FEW YEARS AGO...I CRINGED WHEN HE SHOT IT....AND IF IT BROKE? I GUESS IT WOULD BE ONLY WORTH 500,000.00...HAVING TO BEEN REBLUED AND REPAIRED...I WOULD HAVE LAUGHED, IF IT WOULD HAVE BROKE...IDIOT

MERRY CHRISTMAS
ANDY

 

[BIG ED]

Both. But I limit my type 99 shooting to my more common variations after all they were designed to be used. I'm getting into CMP shoots now as my club sponsors them. Nothing wrong with getting trigger time on '03 or Garand, It might come in handy some day LOL. My goal in 09 is to bust the 250 score. I just can't get 3 good scores in the same match. I drop low on one leg every time. ;>(

 

[JarrodM]

i am a collector first, and a shooter second. i have lots of rifles that have never been fired by me. most all of my pistols have never been fired by me as well. i dont collect mismatched guns so it makes it hard to shoot something that is in great condition with matching numbers.

i have fired my 99 sniper, just to see what it is like.....now it will rest in the collection to never be fired again. and my 99 long is a dream to shoot! i often make the argument that firearms need to be shot to be enjoyed, but when i walked into my gun room with rifles all over the walls and floor, i found that i could enjoy them that way as well.

 

[arisakadogs]

I like shooting these rifles as well. And the T-99 long is a favorite.
I'm just saying that if you have to turn staked screws in order to feel safe about shooting a rifle, why not pick another one that already has the screws turned.
That's the beauty of the 6.5mm rifles & carbines - turn all the screws you want (cause they ain't staked) - especially on any that came from China! Some of these have sabatoge done to them.

 

[CptEnglehorn]

I always thought they were one in the same. collector and shooter.

 

[03man]

No, some folks are just collectors; ultimate 'collector' may be those who buy commorative weapons and never unwrap them.

 

[bones92]

I'm just saying that if you have to turn staked screws in order to feel safe about shooting a rifle, why not pick another one that already has the screws turned.

I think most of us would agree. I certainly do.

 

[shenessee]

Guess I am more a shooter..

I guess I am more of a shooter. I have 5 Type 99s and 2 Type 38s. They are all mismatched and nothing remotely rare. I did "de bubba" 3 of the Type 99s stocks by grafting back on fore ends from other busted stocks. I like to keep them as historically accurate as I can....but the matching numbers and intact mum just do not mean much to me...not criticizing..just not that important to me. I enjoy the learning process of getting them back together (all of these rifles were either highly "bubbad" or Frankenstein resurrections from misc parts that I ran across) and then shooting them. All that being said, I have a number of other weapons that I rarely shoot. I like to put one mag through them to ensure functionality and then only very rarely shoot them. One of the attractions to me of mil surp is the low cost factor for a lot of the "uncool" guns. When you look at the price for a run of the mill Mosin Nagant and the price for a run of the mill Garand...that is the reason I have not gotten a Garand yet!!