Cost to restore Japanese Type 99 rifle
I've had a Type 99 barreled receiver laying on the bench for a while now. The barrel is junk, but the receiver is still in good shape.
What would it cost to rebuild this rifle, piece by piece? I need a complete bolt, stock, handguards(s), barrel, etc. Basically everything but the receiver and sights. Don't need real nice parts, just something to build it back into a shooter.
Thanks for the help.
What would it cost to rebuild this rifle, piece by piece? I need a complete bolt, stock, handguards(s), barrel, etc. Basically everything but the receiver and sights. Don't need real nice parts, just something to build it back into a shooter.
Thanks for the help.
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My guess is more than it is worth. 0 -
Unfortunately building one from that starting position will end up costing you more than just going out and buying one. Best bet is sell the reciever and just buy one somewhere. It is sort of like WWII Garands, the sum of the parts is usually worth more than the rifle if sold whole. Many nice Garands have been "parted out". 0 -
Agree w/the above. Not worth the expense & trouble. 0 -
Mr Classic,
Did you ever polish a turd?
No matter how much you spend & how good a job you do, ya still gotta' turd!
Same with the rebuild you suggest.
Jim0 -
quote:Originally posted by 35WhelenClassic
I've had a Type 99 barreled receiver laying on the bench for a while now. The barrel is junk, but the receiver is still in good shape.
What would it cost to rebuild this rifle, piece by piece? I need a complete bolt, stock, handguards(s), barrel, etc. Basically everything but the receiver and sights. Don't need real nice parts, just something to build it back into a shooter.
Thanks for the help.
It would be cheaper (not to mention easier) for you to simply buy an entirely separate gun than to try to rebuild this one from parts.
Except in unusual circumstances, when you part out a gun, the parts generally cost more separately than the gun by itself, and that's even more true of milsurp guns like thi sone.
The only way this is going to be cost effective is if you find a number of absolutely trashed guns dirt cheap then re-assemble them, and its pretty unlikely that you are going to do that.
I hate to say this, but you're probably best off just junking this thing.0 -
A rose by any other name is still a rose.
Believe Cussedemgun's words.
List it on parts for sale and be happy with what you get.0 -
I'm no expert...I'm here reading posts to acquire some advice myself...But will be happy to share my experiences when I was faced with the exact situation.
My FFL dealer came across a Jap 99 receiver/barrel via one of his customers who knew I restored several old military rifles. He gave me the receiver/barrel. Mum was intact, rifling was great, as are many chrome lined barrel rifles, but that's all I had to start with.Like most here have said,after checking part costs, I would have had twice as much into the rifle than I would have just buying a decent one at gunshow or auction. I set it aside, but still watched the auctions and gunshows. About 6-8 months later, I spotted a 99 on this or another auction site...The seller said the barrel was pitted and worn,but it was not a "last ditch" model...I got it for $75 which included shipping...Stole all the parts and stock off it,cleaned them and buffed them, used my FFL dealer gift receiver/barrel when reassembling it and the completed project cost me just at $100 and about 12 hrs of my time. I'm proud to say she is a dream to shoot !
Keep looking and be patient..There are still a lot of them out there in decent shape for parts. The trick is finding one that has not had the stock butchered and cut..e-gunparts have reproduction stocks for them, but that'll affect the collector value and they are pricey...about $150 if I recall...Also,in my case, the bolt from the 99 I already owned when I got the FFL gift receiver/barrel did not fit the "gift" receiver..I was told there was a lot of hand fitting on the earlier models..The parts rifle bolt did not fit either. I had to swap it for another bolt,with a serial # closer to the serial # of my receiver/barrel. I was lucky to find a dealer at a gunshow willing to do that for me. I was sure to check the head space before shooting it the first time...Good luck.
Irish51
P.S.- Anyone can buy new...takes patience and skill (and a bit of insanity...:)to restore.0 -
Well we all tilt at windmills on occasion. Google Numrich or Gun Parts Corp and they should have a listing of the parts you need. Have your calculator ready. Bear in mind that from that starting point you might want to consider a sporter/hunting rifle instead of a restoration..... 0 -
35WhelenClassic,
I agree with Irish51. Be patient and keep looking. You never know what's around the corner. A lot of sporterized milsurp rifles have a complete stock sitting somewhere in a closet. I've seen a number of them at garage sales. When you find them, you might find other parts. As ern98 said this may itself be a better sporter. None of the serial numbers will match and it won't end up worth much to a collector when you're done. What it will have is the value that you put together a good milsurp shooter that you enjoy. Not pristine but certainly a good example of that type.
Along that line I whole heartedly disagree that this is a turd. And, if you polished it up and put parts on it, it would still be a turd. Somebody said that about my old VZ-24 when I built it into a sporter. I now have his money from a bet we made as to who shot the best at 500 yds. A lot of WWI and WWII era actions are outstanding in their workmanship. They have a lot of metal to work with too so you can rebuild them. They certainly aren't the pinpoint specifications of todays newer BR action but they are accurate enough still to be competitive at longer ranges if put together right. And if you put a milsurp back together there is a certain satisfaction in shooting within the parameters of what the rifle was designed for.0
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