.308 and 7.62 headspace.

[saltydog452]

Recently I saw a post where the the owner of a Main Battle Rifle mentioned that the headspace was adjusted to accomodate both .308 and 7.62.

How is this possible? And, would it make any practical difference?

The original poster was, if I remember correctly, a retired US Military MTU armorer. I can't find the original post.

salty.

I don't know if this belongs in 'Rifle' or 'Gunsmithing'?? Mods, feel free to move if required.

 

[Eightball]

simple: .308 winchester can chamber both that and 7.62 NATO; 7.62 NATO CANNOT SAFELY TAKE .308 WINCHESTER ROUNDS!!!! Very, very minor headspace differences, but it's doable.

With .223, it is opposite: 5.56NATO chamberings can take .223, but 223 cannot safely take 5.56 NATO.

 

[USSR]

Recently I saw a post where the the owner of a Main Battle Rifle mentioned that the headspace was adjusted to accomodate both .308 and 7.62.

How is this possible? And, would it make any practical difference?

saltydog452,

It's a simple process. A 7.62x51 headspace simply has slightly larger parameters that are acceptable. If gunsmith does a good job, he can chamber it so the dimensions fall within both the .308 and 7.62x51 parameters. Would it make a difference? As long as you can chamber all the ammo you intend to shoot, a tighter chamber is a good thing.

Don

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If you reload, 308 and 7.62x51 brass is interchangeable. The same bullets and same overall length are used.

Kind of adds to the confusion about the differences between the two, doesn't it?

 

[saltydog452]

Thank you.

salty.