Ram Rod

How much reading would you like to do?
.308 Win vs 7.62x51 NATO

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shooterX

Very informative, thanks for the post.

Thanis

I read through the link.

I've come two options.

A
To safely interchange 7.62x51mm NATO & .308 Win you need the .308 Win chambered firearm.

or

B
You should only fire 7.62x51mm NATO in a 7.62x51mm NATO firearm. You should only fire .308 Win in a .308 Win firearm.

A or B?

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Ram Rod

I choose option 'A'. I've shot Berdan primed, brass cased 7.62x51mm in my Savage 110FP.

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bh153dc

Just when I think I got it! Ok, I have a SOCOM 16 and on SA's website it calls the SOCOM 16 a 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 WIN ) caliber????????? So should I shot .308 WIN in my SOCOM 16 or not?

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Rob72

First, know your source- in this case a surplus (specifically bolt action) rifles forum. IOW, they are talking about using modern .308 Win (high pressure) in an 1890's receiver that is only surface hardened. It has nothing to do with semi-autos made in the last 40 years (aside from possibly some surplus M1A kit guns).

In practical terms, the difference is more in which chamber will allow which round(s) to chamber fully. In a US-made weapon, if you intend to strictly shoot US made factory ammo(shooting for accuracy), look for "Match chambered"; if you want to shoot surplus/whatever you have(accuracy is necessary, but less critical than being able to shoot something), get "mil-spec" or 7.62x51 N.

This is really the key point from RR's link:

Darth AkSarBen

On my Saiga .308 it has both .308 Win and 7.62 x 51 stamped on the right side. Even though it is primarily a .308 Winchester chamber, it should also feed and fire safely the lower pressure 7.62 x 51.

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tankdriver

Read a reloading manual. Same powder same load. Same thing.......

From DSA who makes the FN FAL's in the US

8- Should I use .308 win ammo or 7.62 nato in my FAL?
It is ok to use either type as the difference is only approximately .003" chamber dimension.

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HotGuns

For years I have heard it both ways.

I been using both, interchangeably for about 40 years with no issues.

Most chambers aren't even chambered close enough to matter. Take two identical rifles and you'll get several thousandths of difference on both head space and even diameter due to different reamers being used.

Does it matter in print? Many would say so.
Does it matter in real life? Many that have used them both would say no.

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Mr. Habib

There is a lot confusion about chamber pressures when comparing .223 vs 5.56 x45 and .308 Win and 7.62 x 51. SAAMI measures chamber pressure at the midpoint of the case, the military measures at the case mouth. The readings are NOT directly correlated or interchangeable. Just because the SAAMI max pressure is higher or lower than the military pressure doesn't make one combination safe or unsafe. Other factors like freebore length have to accounted for.