7.62 NATO vs 308 win

[s&wtoter]

Jose,

The .308 Win has a thinner case, so with the same amount of powder charge, as a reloaded 7.62 it will develope lower chamber pressures. However, most commercial .308 Win makes more chamber pressure than a 7.62 Nato, even though both bullets are .308 diameter. It gets confusing, sometimes.

So, I have rifles chambered for .308 Win and another chambered for 7.62 x 51 (Nato). I will shoot both rounds in the .308 Win rifle, but only 7.62 Nato in the rifle chambered specifically for that particular (7.62 Nato) round.
So, to state it plainly:

A rifle that has a .308 Win chamber can safely shoot both rounds.
A rifle that has a 7.62 x 51 Nato chamber should only be used with 7.62 x 51 Nato.

Mike

Just the opposite of the 5.56x45!

[ArchangelCD]

I agree, the relationship between the .308 and 7.62X51 NATO is the direct opposite relationship of the .223 and the 5.56X45.

[s&wtoter]

I guess the original designers were just trying to give the little .223 Remington a little more umph. The .308 Winchester really has all what it needs.

[phonejack]

The only real difference is the 7.62 chamber has a longer throat (leade,freebore) so mill-spec ammo will reliably chamber in a full-auto rifle or machine gun.

[PhantomF4E]

You will find the 7.62 Nato less accurate than .308. Some German Nato is suppose to be very accurate. .308 FMJ by Fed/Rem/Win are for plinking only.
Good Luck