7.62x39 is .308?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Y

younganddumb

Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
281
Location
pasadena md
I am confused I tought a 7.62x39 was a .308 or is it just that a .308 bored rifle can shoot a 7.62x39

I need clarification please
 
7.62x39 is a '30 caliber' cartridge, but the Soviets used a .311" bore instead of the US standard .308" bore. The .308 Winchester also uses a heavier bullet, larger case, and more powder than the 7.62x39. The 7.62x39 is essentially a mid-powered carbine round whereas the .308 is a full-powered rifle round.
 
.308 is 7.62X51 you may be confusing it with 7.62X54R shot by most of the soviets in WWII. While technically they are the same size bullets the case is not. Which makes it impossible to shoot out of the same gun.
 
Not quite, but they're very, very similar, to the point where 7.62x51 can be fired from any .308 chambered rifle, and a tightly-chambered 7.62x51 rifle can safely fire .308 Winchester.
 
I have both and, trust me, the 7.62x39 is NO .308. ROFL! The xxx BY xxx caliber notation thing is a European deal and when NATO standardized the 7.62x51 NATO, they used the Euro designation, not Winchester's commercial designation of ".308 Winchester".

Can't remember the case length of the .30-06, 63 mm isn't it? That would make it a 7.62x63 in Eurospeak. The last number is case length in millimeters. I THINK (really should look this up before I type it) the .30-30 case is 53 mm or 55 mm, but lets just say for argument it's 53. That would make the .30-30 (or .30WCF) a 7.62x53R.....the R meaning it's a rimmed case.

So, to avoid all this BS, just don't be so tacticool and call the .308 a .308. It's the American way! :D
 
Can't remember the case length of the .30-06, 63 mm isn't it? That would make it a 7.62x63 in Eurospeak. The last number is case length in millimeters. I THINK (really should look this up before I type it) the .30-30 case is 53 mm or 55 mm, but lets just say for argument it's 53. That would make the .30-30 (or .30WCF) a 7.62x53R.....the R meaning it's a rimmed case.
Click to expand...

30-06 is 7.62X63
30-30 is 7.62X51R i believe

but as said. in NO WAY are 7.62X 39 and 7.62X51 (.308) the same, interchangeable, or otherwise compatible.
 
matter of fact i believe
7.62X63 (30-06)
7.62X51
are both .308 diameter

where as
7.62X54R ( SVD & Mosin Nagant)
7.62X39 ( AK47)
7.62X25 ( TT33)
and probibly
7.62X38r ( Nagant revolver)
are actually .311 diameter

so even the bullet has limited interchangeability
 
This isn't the caliber you were asking about, but it's more information about caliber interchangeability -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5.56x45mm_NATO

Specifically, this is about shooting .223 in a barrel marked 5.56 NATO, or 5.56 ammo in a barrel marked .223. As the two are similar but not identical, a dangerous condition can arise with 5.56 ammo in a .223 barrel, whereas the first combination can simply be inaccurate.

The safest thing to do is to match the ammo to the chambering exactly. There really isn't any "well that looks close" permitted.

Here's a link to an article written by M.L. McPherson which is a rather comprehensive list of what happens when you chamber the wrong ammo. I didn't see the 7.62x39, so I'm guessing it is too new to be considered with all the common hunting calibers.

http://www.levergun.com/articles/wrong.htm

Anyway, if you read up on reloading, you'll eventually encounter the term "headspace" and the reason why it's important. Excessive headspace can result in case head separation (and dangerous gas in your direction) even with the correct ammo in the chamber!

Think of caliber mismatches as really bad excessive headspace, and you'll be there.
 
matter of fact i believe
7.62X63 (30-06)
7.62X51
are both .308 diameter
Click to expand...

AHHH!

But so are 7.5x54 MAS and 7.5x55 Swiss

And then there's .303 brit which is actually of the larger .311 variety of 30 cal OH and don't forget 7.7x58 Jap it also shoots these projectiles

Confused yet?
 
AHHHH 7.5mm - 7.62mm - 30 Caliber >>> numbers numbers!!!:banghead:

Sorry, I feel better now.... I do understand your confusion but don't feel bad because a lot of rounds are named incorrectly anyway. Once you think you have it figured out you find something else that doesn't make sense. LOL
 
It depends on how you measure. Some rounds are designated by the width across the grooves, others the width across the lands, and some measurements are just picked as being close enough.

Actual measurements

7.82mm = 0.308 inches
7.7mm = 0.303
7.62mm = 0.300
7.5mm = 0.295
 
Keep in mind also, that the MM/inch math doesn't always work because some are measured at the lands, and others at the grooves...

Clear as mud, right?
 
FWIW, and to add to the confusion, my older Mini 30 is a 7.62x39 but it uses .308 bullets as it has a .308 bore.
 
Winchester came out with the commercial version of the 7.62x51 nato. They called it the 308 winchester. Thats why there might be some confusion. The same round that goes by 2 different names. The .308 is just the commercial version of the 7.62 nato. The 7.62x39 is a totally different animal.
 
seafarer12 thank you that helps answer my question at hand i'm just trying to get this straight before i get hurt thanks guys
 
I always find it helpful to equate things to rifles that shoot them.

7.62x51 = 7.62NATO = M14

7.62x54R = M44

7.62x39 = AK47
 
The bullet diameter or caliber is .311/.312 instead of .308. Also.

they do make a adapter to shoot 7.62x39 in a rifle chambered for .308
Click to expand...

Not that i have ever seen or heard about.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
T/C G2 Gurus I need your help in a decision
Replies
1
Views
251
my762buzz
M
Y
  • Locked
bbl inserts
Replies
2
Views
575
Reloadron
Reloadron
A
  • Locked
7.62x39 out of a .308
Replies
15
Views
1K
Kendal Black
Kendal Black
303 hunter
  • Locked
7.62x39 saiga
Replies
12
Views
885
SSN Vet
SSN Vet
K
  • Locked
7.62x39 in a 7.62x51 Nato Civil Guardia ???
Replies
15
Views
2K
mustanger98
M
Back
Top