for reloading 7.7 Arisaka, should I load lite and

fire-form cases then neck-size for heavier loads??

Buddy of mine, would like to go up north for deer , here in Michigan.

ANy recommendations??

Thanks.

Arisakas are reputed to be among the strongest actions made at the time. Assuming the thing is in decent condition there's no need to load light.
And neck sizing has nothing whatever to do with the load.
This is out of my old Lyman book. Suggest you use 150's for Bambi.

Bullet diameter cast and jacketed: .311" or .312".(Barrels need slugging.)
Max Case Length: 2.269"
Trim-to: 2.260"
Max OAL w. bullet: 3.150"

150 grain Jacketed
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
IMR3031 42.0 2444 46.0 2717
IMR4895 43.0 2386 48.0 2754
IMR4064 43.0 2267 48.0 2666
IMR4320 45.0 2421 49.0 2717
IMR4350 49.0 2304 54.0 2659
H380 47.0 2375 52.0 2695

Accuracy Load: 43.0 grains IMR4064 2267 fps.

180 Grain Jacketed
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
IMR3031 39.0 2202 43.0 2444
IMR4895 42.0 2304 46.0 2564
IMR4064 42.0 2227 46.0 2512
IMR4320 43.0 2302 47.0 2590
IMR4350 47.0 2207 51.0* 2538
H380 45.0 2237 50.0 2525

Accuracy Load: 47.0 grains IMR4350 2207 fps
Factory duplication Load: 44.8 IMR4895 2500 fps.
'*' indicates a compressed load.

215 grain Jacketed(Woodleigh makes 'em. Midway sells 'em.)
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
IMR3031 35.0 1992 39.0 2178
IMR4895 39.0 2127 43.0 2352
IMR4064 39.0 2053 43.0 2293
IMR4320 41.0 2178 44.0 2347
H380 43.0 2123 48.0 2352

Accuracy Load: 49.0 grains IMR4350 2375 fps.
Factory Duplication Load: 40.0 IMR4895 2197 fps.

155 grain Cast w. Gas Check
Lyman mold #311466 #2 alloy
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
Unique 11.0 1470 15.0 1739
2400 22.0 1821 24.0 1953

205 grain Cast w. Gas Check
Lyman mold #311299 #2 alloy
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
Unique 10.0 1250 14.0 1524
2400 21.0 1607 24.0 1792
IMR4227 28.0 1923 30.0 2049

213/214 grain Cast w. Gas Check
Lyman molds #311290 and #311284 respectively(Montana Bullet Co makes the 213 at least)
Powder Start Vel Max Vel
Unique 10.0 1214 13.0 1423
2400 21.0 1595 24.0 1739
IMR4227 28.0 1865 30.0 1992

Accuracy Load: 30.0 grains IMR4227 1992 fps.

^^^^Good advice^^^^
Sunray's right about them being one of the strongest bolt actions produced back then. [and the 150gr. jacketed SP for deer]
The "last ditch " models are the only Arisaka's I'd ever have any concerns over
As long as your reloads are used in just one rifle , after the initial firing of new cases I'd just neck size them .
No need to overwork the brass, it'll last a lot longer that way too.

From my experience normal cast bullets, with or with out gas checks do not work well in Japanese rifle's as the softer lead bullet does does not grip the shallow Metford rifling well. Possibly they might work okay if the lead bullet is made very hard, Ray

If the rifle is a early to mid series (not late war or last ditch) then the bore should be chrome lined, and these play very well with jacketed bullets sized .312. Even if the bore slugged .311, the .312 will still work great thanks to that chrome lining. Cleaning is also a breeze!

FWIW, my match load (for shooting in CMP Vintage Matches) is the Hornady 174 gr HPBT sized to .312, loaded with 42.0 grains of IMR-4064 and a CCI-200 primer. This is very accurate and fairly stout in the recoil dept. As others have mentioned, Arisaka's have one of the strongest actions out there... so you should be fine with what ever you choose to shoot. BTW, original Japanese ammo was loaded with a 174 gr BT bullet.

AFAIK the Arisaka's type 99 were the first military rifle with a chrome bore.

The problem with Medford rifling was with the type 38 rifles in 6.5 mm. The type 99 used standard rifling in it. The Medford rifling looks like the bore is very well worn but it isn't. The rifling looks like the lands are rounded off from a lot of shooting but it is the way the Medford rifling is. Ray is right about them not liking lead bullets.