7.62 NATO loading in FAL?

[eldon519]

I've been reloading for several years now, but I'm just recently getting into bottleneck rifle rounds, so I'm a little unsure of some of the finer details. I'm mainly familiar with loading handgun rounds and rimmed rifle rounds like .22 Hornet and .45-70.

I'm going to start off loading 7.62 NATO for a DSA StG58 rifle. I went ahead and got the RCBS X-Die Full Length Sizer because I read it does well with semi-autos since it limits case growth. For now I will be using factory .308 Winchester brass.

I'm kind of hesitant to jump in and start loading though because I know that the dies are meant for .308 brass, and there can be some differences in headspacing between .308 and 7.62 NATO. If I follow the die directions for .308 setup, do I risk creating an unsafe headspace situation or wearing out my brass prematurely? Are there any other concerns I need to address?

Thanks,
Cory

 

[USSR]

eldon519,

The difference between .308 and 7.62x51 is in the chambers, not the cartridges. Follow your die instructions and you will have no problems.

Don

 

[GunTech]

308 should be no problem in your FAL. Keep in mind that the FAL was designed for 7.62x51 NATO. Load to service rifle pressures, not barn burners. PMAX for 308 is 60,191 PSI (4150 bar). PMAX for 7.62x51mm NATO is 55114 PSI (3800 bar).

Winchester brass is my favorite commercial brass for semis. Remington brass is thinnner at the case head, and I've had more than a few case heads rip off when shooting remington brass in my FAL. I broken shell extractor is something you should have for any semi-auto (except maybe an AK).

If you get a chance, and aren't loading to gnat shooting accuracy levers, pick up some Lake City brass. You can get it cheap and it really holds up well. It has less case capacity than commercial stuff, but is much thicker at the case head. It also can frequently be had cheap. Just reduce loads by about 10 percent when using military brass.

Good luck.

 

[W.E.G.]

If you are reloading bottleneck rifle cartridges, you are negligent unless you use an RCBS Precision Mic or some similar tool to make sure you set the shoulder to the correct location.

I find most factory ammo, whether it be .308 Win. or 7.62 NATO, to measure somewhere real close in the neighborhood of 1.627 (base to datum-line on shoulder). SAAMI spec on .308 Winchester is 1.630 for "GO" gage. Spec on 7.62 NATO is 1.632 for "GO" gage. I'm speaking of CHAMBER specs - not ammo specs. As I noted, factory ammo tends to spec the same, whether its .308 Win. or 7.62 NATO, when you measure base to datum-line on shoulder.

Get the RCBS Precision Mic. Its a relatively inexpensive tool, and it will save you much headache and heartache.

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/Product.asp?manufacturer=RCBS&model=PRECISION+MIC

 

[USSR]

If you are reloading bottleneck rifle cartridges, you are negligent unless you use an RCBS Precision Mic or some similar too to make sure you set the shoulder to the correct location.

Get the RCBS Precision Mic. Its a relatively inexpensive tool, and it will save you much headache and heartache.

+1.

Don