Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Arisaka or Mauser

My dilemma is that I have to choose between one of the two below...Any recommendations?

1. Arisaka 6.5x50 Type 38 GI bring-back, mum intact

2. Mauser 1914 with chromed-over blue w/ 300 rounds of 32ACP

The details of the deals work out to even $, but I'm having a hard time making a choice. #1 will require dies, brass, etc. to get set up. #2 is chromed over and I'd rather have the original blued version, but it's till in good shape.

Pass

Pass +1

Why do you have to choose between the two? Inheritance? Gift?

IF the type 38 is minty and 100% original with all parts intact, it is the one to pick as it's worth a ton more money.

Move on.

The Mausers actually seem easier to find these days. Do you reload? That Arisaka has a somewhat crude look in comparison to what most of us see as a neat bolt rifle, but is a very strong action and the 6.5 cartridge, especially with the modern bullets, can be a really good shooter. And, the Japanese chromed many of those barrels, so that one may be in great shape. A buddy near here sees a lot of coyotes from his truck and keeps a 6.5 Arisaka in the cab. Not an expensive or pretty rifle, but deadly.

Who did you piss off?

I would save my money and move on, neither is worth much nor are they good shooters. If I HAD to take one it would be the Mauser as it uses a common cartridge, easily obtainable OTC the world over.

Bear

Neither. Just my .02 cents worth.

hard to think of two things that go bang I would just walk away from, but those are two. can you pick something else, like whatever is behind door number three?

Arisakas are fun.

And the 38 carbines are really really fun.

I take it that this isn't a carbine and if so will be heavy and unwieldy for what it is. There is always the ammo problem too.

BCR

I have a carbine that was re-chambered to 6.5X57.It has a Timney with a safety and I restocked it a couple of years ago. It's a fun little antelope killer.

Bet it is. That would be a sweet little machine.

BCR

Does the Arisaka have the chrysanthemum on it??? If it hasn't been ground off, it could have some decent collector value.

What's choice c)???? (If it's keeping your money in your pocket, I'd pick that.

Yes, the mum is intact. They're a choice of inheritance items - the equal $ was the cost of driving out and picking one up.

I wasn't expecting much in terms of responses, but with exception to a couple of worthwhile posts, many of the comments have hit a new low in value added to a discussion.

I would take the Arisaka.

If it's got the mum, and those are your choices, the Arisaka by a mile.