.308 & 7.62 for Dillon -are they different?

[Damn the Man]

I have a Dillon 550 that I reload with. I'm getting an FAL in .308 that I will want to reload for. Why are the conversion kits from Dillon different? I thought both calibers were the same, no? I've been picking up both 7.62 and .308 brass thinking they're the same. Which caliber will I be shooting out of this FAL, and what brass should I be collecting?

 

[Archie]

Now I'm curious.

7.62x51 NATO and .308 Winchester brass and ammunition are identical in terms of physical size. (Military - 7.62 - chambers are typically cut a little 'larger' to allow functioning in dirty conditions.)

The only real difference is in loading data, 7.62 gas operated guns have a specific pressure curve to operate the action without damaging the mechanism. (It's a fairly broad curve, but normally requires bullets of less than 175 grains and fast to moderate speed powders.)

The only reason for different sizing dies might be 7.62 brass fired in some military weapons could be 'oversize' and require a slightly wider opening to allow brass to be resized. Also, some die manufacturers have made a 'small base die' to fully resize the base and web area to insure positive chambering in semiautomatic weapons.

Anyone from Dillon want to comment?

 

[Sunray]

"...Which caliber will I be shooting..." You'll be shooting .308" bullets. 7.62/.308 are the same thing. Despite what you see on the Internet.
Reloading for a semi-auto requires full length resizing only or you'll have no end of feeding issues.
You'll need to inspect any milsurp 7.62 brass you've collected for crimped primers. The primer crimp must be removed to re-prime the cases. The brass is a bit thicker too, so you have to reduce the load by 10%. Keep the milsurp brass separated from any commercial brass. Other than that, they're loaded exactly the same way.

 

[loadedround]

Does Dillon offer two different shell plates and two different die sets? I also load 308's on my 550B for match shooting in my M1A. I use both LC Match brass and Federal commercial and have had no trouble loading either using my Redding dies. I also purchased a Redding small base sizing die but have never needed to use it.

 

[Futuristic]

There AREN'T Two Different Conversions

At least, according to Dillon's website. (Soon to be new and upgraded, FYI.)

The only conversion kit for the RL550B which addresses these calibers is listed as:

RL 550B Conv Kit .308 Win/7.62 NATO 20130 39.95

Note the .308 Win/7.62 NATO on one line with one part number, 20130. Did you perhaps mistake the 7.62x39 Russian conversion for the 7.62 NATO conversion?

Futuristic

 

[def4pos8]

.308 Winchester and 7.62 NATO cartridges ARE NOT IDENTICAL -- but the difference is so subtle that in MOST instances it is irrelevant. The difference is in production tolerances. 7.62 NATO has only NEGATIVE tolerances in body diameter, length and other major dimensions. My guess is that this is to allow for fouled chambers.

This only becomes a problem if a shooter discharges so many .308 Win cartridges in a 7.62 NATO chamber (or a "tight", .308 Win "match" chamber) that fouling increases chambering friction to the point at which an unsupported ignition occurs.

I have observed this. Fortunately, when the bolt departed the receiver, it passed over the shooter's head.

 

[ranger335v]

SAMMI tolerances for all chambers is 0"+. For all ammo, it's 0"-. Otherwise we would have the potential for cartridges that wouldn't chamber but would get stuck while trying.