7.7 Japanese Ammo

Common 7.7 Japanese Ammo Uses

The 7.7mm Japanese, also known as the 7.7x58mm Arisaka, was adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The Japanese chose this cartridge to replace the previous 6.5mm round and compete on a more level footing with the 8mm Mauser used by the Chinese.

In ballistic terms, 7.7x58mm Arisaka ammo is very similar to .303 British. Most 7.7mm Arisaka ammo is rimless, although a rimmed version was made for use in machine guns; the rim serves primarily to prevent the "hotter" machine gun load from accidentally being used in a rifle.

7.7mm Japanese ammo typically fires a heavy 175 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of about 2,440 feet per second. While this does not produce the flattest of trajectories, it generally results in very strong penetration against most medium and large size game. Felt recoil is considerable but not as punishing as that of the .30-06 or magnum rounds.

Since this caliber is rather suitable for hunting, some manufacturers produce soft point ammunition for it. These include Hornady and Norma. Soft point loads maintain strong penetration without destroying excess meat, making them ideal for sporting purposes.