.308 question please

Robin

March 11, 2002 11:53

Please excuse my ignorance about asking this question as most of what little I know about firearms is mostly about shotguns.I have been told that a .308 and 7.62 X 39 are very similar chamberings. Are they exactly the same? If they are the same chambering, why are the same style and brand of rifle (Mini 30's) seen in .308 and in 7.62 x 39? I would guess the .308 is the measurement in .000 of an inch and have seen posts stating the 7.62 bullet typically measures .310 or .311. Is this true? If a 7.62 x 39 cartrige can be chambered and fired in a .308, wouldn't the slightly larger bullet cause excessive wear on the gun's barrel over a period of extended use? I was looking at a .308 today and the owner stated the availability of cheap ammo for the rifle was a great thing but I don't want the rifle if a lot of improper ammo has been run through it. Thanks to all of you for straightening me out on this issue. Robin the confused

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Worry is the interest humans pay on the debt of miscalculation.

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  ATF

  March 11, 2002 12:09

  No,they are not the same the .308 is 7.62X51. If you want to shoot the cheaper 7.62X39 buy an SKS or an AK-47. The dia. of the bullet is not too far off it's the length of the case.I have never heard of a mini 30 .308X51.

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  ATF[This message has been edited by ATF (edited 03-11-2002).]

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  Robin

  March 11, 2002 13:03

  ATF,I haven't heard of the mini 30 in .308 either but saw it mentioned in a post on www.rugerforum.com. I don't know if the fellow knows what he is talking about, it confused me. Thanks for the helpful information

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  ATF

  March 11, 2002 15:21

  I think,what you read refers to the bullet dia.I have heard that the older Mini 30s had a smaller bore than .310 ??

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  ATF

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  rsnyder55

  March 11, 2002 18:07

  We went through this a few weeks ago and several of us called Ruger. The 7.62X39 has a .311 bullet. Per Ruger, it will handle this round as well as the 7.62X39 with the .308 bullet.The .308 Ruger was the XGI that was never produced even though Ruger had started advertising it.

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