[Tower06]

I know this subject has belabored over and over again, but I wanted to get some opinions. I know there are pressure differences and minor case size differences between the two but does anyone know of any commercial .308 that comes close to NATO specs for case type and pressures. I have a Ishapore 2a that I am going to hunt with, and want to use the right ammo.

Also, does anyone know if the Long Range NATO Sniper Rounds with the open tips that are popping up on the market recently are any good for hunting?

Any help would be appreciated.

[MCgunner]

Speer #11 manual says they're one in the same and the Max SAAMI pressure is not to exceed 52,000 CUP.

Don't use military ammo for sporting use. Buy commercial sporting ammo, loaded for the purpose. I like premium bullets and roll my own, but even premium bullets are available commercially now in stuff like Federal Premium. Bullet performance is VERY important on game. Military ammo, by treaty, must not expand. And, just how much of it are you going to shoot? Hunting is not a game of firepower. If you're tacticool, think sniper, one shot one kill. So you guy a couple boxes of Federal Premium, you sight in with it, you tote it all deer season and fire two shots for two deer. Ain't gonna break the bank as I see it. And, for .308, it ain't like you can't find it at your local Wallyworld, the stuff is everywhere.

I love the .308 as a hunting round and the cheap military brass don't hurt for my reloading. .308 in a nice little light rifle like my sub 7 lbs Remington M7 short action stainless rifle with Weaver 2x10 is handy, easy to tote, and 1 moa accurate and has enough power and range to take anything in the lower 48 that I'll ever chase. It's an awesome stand gun, short, not clumsey to handle in a box blind and it is a sledge hammer on hogs and deer. I've taken coyote right out to 350 yards with it.

[Tower06]

Have you heard anything about the surplus M118 HPBT longe range ammo? I have been seeing a lot of it for sale lately.

[MDig]

WWB ( Wichester White Box ) has a 7.62/308 NATO.
FWIW NATO ammunition is spec'd at lower pressures, the weapons are not. The weapons have to meet a High Pressure Test that well exceeds the Civilian .308 Win pressures.

[Tower06]

See that is the other thing. Some info I have found states NATO is spec'd higher and commercial lower. Then there is cup vs. psi. I just wanna make sure I use the appropriate ammo without potentially causing injury.

[Jimmy Newman]

Everything I have heard says that .308 has higher pressure specs than 7.62 NATO and that it is always safe to shoot 7.62 in a .308 but not necessarily the other way around. The place you may have heard the opposite is with .223/5.56. 5.56 NATO has a higher pressure rating (and slightly different dimensions) than .223. It is not always safe to shoot 5.56 in a .223 rifle.

[Art Eatman]

Given the potential for tort liability lawsuits, I really doubt there's much "buyer beware" ammo available in the US.

Don't use these military "hollow points". They're similar to the hollow-point match ammo; accurate, yeah, but they don't expand properly to be used as a hunting bullet.

SFAIK, the Ishapore would work fine with most any factory 150-grain deer load.

Art

[Tower06]

Any ideas on pressures of the 150 gr deer loads Art?

How are things out in Terlingua. I have some property out that way, been meaning to come for a visit.