6,5 Japanese Arisaka

The Japanese army adopted this chambering in 1897 but the rifle in which it was originally chambered was proven unsafe. That gun was replaced in 1905 with the Model 38 Arisaka, which has proven to be one of the strongest guns ever adopted by any government for military use.

The European designation, 6.5x50R, indicates that this is a (semi) rimmed case and that it is also the shortest of the many 6.5mm military chamberings, all dating from the end of the 19th century. Limited powder capacity results in somewhat limited ballistic potential for this chambering. However, since the action of the Arisaka is so strong, this case can be loaded to its full potential. This allows this diminutive case to produce surprising ballistics and it is a very good choice for use on lesser to medium-sized game animals.

Currently, Norma is the sole producer of cases for this chambering.