My first center fire rifle, bought in 1958, was a 6.5X50 Arisaka. Following my gunsmith's advice, I had the barrel shortened to 24" and supplied with a ramp and Sourdough front sight, the action fitted with scope blocks and receiver sights, the bolt handle altered to clear a low mounted scope and the barrel rechambered using a .243 Winchester reamer with a .264" pilot attached. The existing neck in the chamber obviated the need for a neck reamer.

I used the it as both a deer rifle and a varmint rifle, until graduating to a .22-.250, also built on an Arisaka action. I had read Ackley's book and was greatly impressed with the strength of the action, plus the rifles were cheap to buy, even by '50's standards.

My wildcat cartridge anticipated the .260 Remington by several decades.