7.62 NATO vs 308 win

[joselectrician915]

I am a new fan of long guns and my knowledege and experience is limited at this time (but I am learning).

I have a question for the members with more experience and knowlege then me. I just purchase my first semi-automatic rifle.
I was thinking I had a 308 since the lower reciver is stamp CAL 308 and LR 308 but I notice that the particualr model I have is only chamber for 7.62.

I was wondering if it was safe to shoot 308 win. I have shoot 40 rounds of 308 with no problems but since I found out that my barrel could be 7.62 I have stop.
I will contact the manufactured to find out since I can not find any stamps on the barrel. Any replies would be apreciated.






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[RDLouks]

A 308 Winchester is the 7.62x51 Nato. It would still be best to contact the manufacturer to confirm.

to the Forum from Michigan.

[mmitch]

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

[azmick]

Not going to swear to it but I think NATO requires the use of a tougher primer (not hotter but a bit harder the ignite). I'd have a hard time figuring that would be an issue with any modern firearm and certainly not your.
Nice rifle BTW, care to expand on it (if it's black, got a pistol grip and made for a full magazine of 20 or more, the liberals hate it, I love it)

[USAMP]

Well I am just gonna confuse you more...

7.62 NATO is what we use in the military. Lake City Arsenal (Army specific) loads rounds to the highest SAAMI specs, uses hard primers, and lacquers rounds at both ends....some folks tell me that 7.62 won't fit in .308 chambers, and I can't tell you if they do. I do have rifles in 7.62 and I can use military surplus as well as off the shelf .308, so I won't argue or tell you any different. My knowledge is limited to talking with the engineers at Lake City who tell me that basically, and that is basic only, all military ammo is loaded to full SAAMI specs in order that it will go bang when we pull the trigger and that along with the proprietary powder and lacquer is about the only difference. We also contract with Winchester and Federal....my M4 (not AR) is chambered for 5.56 NATO and it fires military surplus as well as civilian made .223 with no issues.

[Injunbro]

I've noticed some of the 7.62x51 has a slightly longer overall length & won't feed right in some commercial .308's but chambers allright when single fed. Don't mistake 7.62x54 for 7.62x51, they are similar but not the same.

[ibewbull]

I've noticed some of the 7.62x51 has a slightly longer overall length & won't feed right in some commercial .308's but chambers allright when single fed. Don't mistake 7.62x54 for 7.62x51, they are similar but not the same.

We have two Savage bolt actions one is a Heavy BBL Tactical it eats anything. The other is a newer wood stock classic. The classic will not work with military
7.62 NATO the bolt won't close with normal pressure. I think the rim may be thicker for MG use. Also the reason for the hard primers is for MG use also.
Some MG's use open bolt and it prevents premature ignition before it is completely in battery.

[neorebel]

hear this a lot. It is safe to use either.

The difference is that 7.62 can be loaded to higher pressures just like 223 or 556. 556 is a hotter military round (40,000 cup compared to 50,000 cup.) I have a AR-15 stamped 5.56 it will not function with .223 (Stove pipes, double feeds like I've never seen!) It functions perfect with 5.56.

I also have an FN FAL. DSA, who made put my FAL together with a new barrel says you can shoot both...and if they say it then it can! They wouldn't say it if it wasn't true for liability purposes believe me!

Have fun and be safe

[neorebel]

Oh one more thing..the should angle is slightly different but it is so small it's not worth mentioning.

[neorebel]

Sorry.....Shoulder angle....