I have an Arisaka, and found it to be a fun little rifle. I used mine to hunt hogs in the coastal marsh. I figure if the jungles of Burma and the South Pacific couldn't hurt it, then a little marsh water wouldn't do it any harm.
PO Ackley wrote of the excellent strength of the receiver. The safety is hard to work with a scope mounted, but I found I could manage it by pushing and turning it with just my thumb. An after market trigger with an intregal safety is a good idea. Makes life easy.
There is a wide variety of 6.5mm bullets. The 160 grain round nose bullets will do rude things to big swamp hogs. That is a great 150 yard bullet. Penetration is off the charts.
The Arisaka is not a slick action for a custom rifle, but it is as reliable as an anvil. It is also a piece of history. Use it and have fun with it. Makes the best foul weather rifle I can think of. It sure is a conversation starter. You will be surprised at how many guys will tell you their father had one as a war souvenir.
