.308 vs 7.62
I have a tikka t3 in .308 winchester. Could I shoot 7.62 surplus ammo thru it safely (for both myself and the gun) if I had to?
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308 = 762x51 0 -
Howdy Samsdad,
Plenty on this controversial subject-- use the search mode for a slew of it.
Won't tell you what to or not to use in this world of ambulance chasers, but will say if was my own same bolt rifle, yes, I would use 7.62-NATO without a second thought.
That said, the reverse, meaning using commercial .308-Win ammo in an action chambered for 7.62-NATO, is where lay the arguments, 'specially in a semi-auto, and wouldn't even make comment or opinion upon. I know what I do and don't on that subject based on own research, and think it wise to keep it to myself, hope you understand. But, the info is out there.
EDIT Sorry, Its, beg to differ.
EDIT Keystone, 7.62x51 is lower pressure than .308-Win. Round about way, but that's what I was getting at, they being different, and you just proved it.
EDIT Hahaha,--see? a hornets nest! But you're welcome, Samsdad... you do have now the answer you asked, least in what is acceptable and what stirs up the bees bonnet.
There's more to this than what has been stated. SAAMI laboratory's won't even specifically address this in print, nor manufacture's that even produce both calibers, that I can find?
EDIT Its: "So then what is the metric equivalent of 308?" There isn't one, to my knowledge. However, if recall correctly?-- one manufacturer, at least, has ammo which is boxed with both nomenclatures on the labeling, which would most likely mean the cartridges contained within are of approximate equal to military 7.62-NATO spec's. Muddy, ain't it?
45er.0 -
I have a Super Vepr ak/rpk in 7.62x51 ...I have put 60 7.62's thru it and 40 308,s. No problems yet. Weird thing though the 168 gr black hills gold barns triple shock shot bout 3 in higher than 7.62 150gr American tactical at 200 yds., you'd think the heavier bullet would shoot lower. Maybe the powder. Anyway I have a mount from belaurs and a bushnell elite 4200 5x15x50 scope; both kinds of bullets were 1in-1 5/8 @. 100yds. But with your gun I don't have any knowledge ( my friend has a vepr he's been putting. Both thru for years) good luck 0 -
45er
Its (or is it "lts"?) is correct. You are correct. (How's that for being diplomatic?)[:D]
You were thinking pressures, while Its was giving out dimensions (used everywhere but here).
.308 Winchester is 7.62x51. 7.62 Nato is 7.62x51.
30-06 is 7.62x63. .30 Ball M2 is 7.62x63.
Joe
EDIT-thanks, lts. Changes made.0 -
Hi Joe, just put a tid bit in to stimulate the minds. I think you should have put the nato on the same line as the winchester and the '06 on the same line as ball so some don't get confused.[:)]
Another member here must be LTS and I'm the lower case version lts. Tried asking the powers that be here to put me in caps but never get a response.[8]0 -
The quick answer is that you can fire all the 7.62x51 NATO (military) style ammo you like through any commercial bolt gun chambered in .308 Winchester.
Your Tikka should be safe to fire all the military ammo you like.
However doing the REVERSE. . .that is firing the commerical .308 Winchester through a military 7.62x51 NATO gun **MAY** hurt the gun. That depends on the gun, and it depends on the load.
The quick reason is that .308 Winchester may be nominally loaded to higher chamber pressures than the NATO ammo. You probaby won't
"blow up" the gun with a few shots, but the higher pressures can potentially damage the gas-based operating systems of semi-auto guns, and it may cause lug setback in military bolt .308s (which eventually could blow up the gun).
Now in practice, many of the commercial .308 loads aren't loaded any hotter than the NATO loads, and you probably could get away with firing them in a military type gun. . .but unless you're absolutely sure about both the load and your gun, its probably better not to try this.0 -
Factoid: The European gun regulators have prohibitions against "military" calibers. So those rifles will be made in .308 instead of 7.62.
[;)]0 -
Exactly what I needed to know. Thanks Guys. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by lts
308 = 762x51
NO, 308 Winchester does NOT equal 7.62x51!
The 308 Winchester is loaded to higher pressures than the 7.62x51, and should NOT be used in rifles chambered exclusively for the 7.62x51. Although the external case dimensions are similar, chamber dimensions, and internal case dimensions are not.
Shooting 308 Winchester in gas operated rifles, can damage the operating systems. Shooting the longer heavier bullets available in the 308 Winchester, in a 7.62x51 chamber can cause extremely high pressures, causing a catastrophic failure.
You should be fine, using the 7.62 in your 308 winchester chambered Tikka.
Best
EDIT 1
quote:So then what is the metric equivalent of 308? This is giving me gas.
We could tell by your first post that you were full of something.
Please learn how to edit your post, as not to take up valuable space on a ten post limit per thread in the experts column. It is really simple.0 -
So then what is the metric equivalent of 308? [?] This is giving me gas. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by lts
So then what is the metric equivalent of 308? [?] This is giving me gas.
Actual diameter is 7.82mm. Nominal diameter (.30 cal.) is 7.62mm. The case is 51mm long just like the 7.62x51 NATO. Case weights range from 165 gr. to 190 gr. If you ever need to convert inches to metric, multiply by 25.4. If metric to inches divide by 25.4.
The idea behind the NATO designation is anyone in NATO can use anyone else's NATO ammunition. The .308 Win is a sporting cartridge popular in the U.S. It's intention was to fill a market niche in the U.S. I'm sure what happened was Winchester got the go-ahead to make the 7.62x51 a standard round at the higher pressure (.308 Win), then when other countries were being pushed to get on with NATO, they lowered the pressure. That's why the disparity.0
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