7.62x51mm NATO vs .308 Winchester

[ChCx2744]

Please clear this up for me. I have searched the forum and the search queries I receive are still quite vague to me, because they explain things like 7.62x54 and 7.62 NATO (But not specifically 7.62x51mm NATO).

I am aware of the whole .223 Remington vs 5.56x45mm NATO debate and, in reference to that, the 5.56x45mm NATO's dimensions are slightly larger than the .223 Rem and is loaded a bit hotter, therefore some firearms can use both, some can not, specifically, some chambered in 5.56 or 5.56/.223 can fire both, while those in .223 can only fire .223.

My question is, what is the difference with the whole 7.62x51mm NATO vs .308 Winchester thing? Is it the same as the latter, in regards to the NATO round being a bit bigger in dimensions and loaded hotter, or is the 7.62 just bigger or is it just loaded hotter or is it both? Can someone please clear this up for me?

 

[jonnyc]

Both of you really need to SEARCH a lot better. Both of these issues, especially the 7.62/.308 have been done to death.

Short and sweet...if you do not reload or shoot machine guns...factory .308 and 7.62 Nato are the same round.

 

[jpwilly]

Dear CZ-75BD, Thread jacking is frowned upon round here feel free to make your own post in the Handgun forum.

7.62x51 Nato spec chambers are usually loose compared to 308 Win also the brass is thicker than the 308 Win. Both are loaded to nearly the same pressure and will shoot the same in most firearms but could be bad juju to shoot 308 win in a NATO rifle.

 

[deadeye1122]

I've run about a 100 rounds of British Radway green (7.62x51) surplus thru my Rem 700 Tac with out any problems. Not a expert but I don't think there is the pressure issues that some say with the 5.56/.223. 7.62x54r has the same bullet size but a different case. You will get more expert info from other members soon. deadeye

 

[jpwilly]

I've run about a 100 rounds of British Radway green (7.62x51) surplus thru my Rem 700 Tac with out any problems. Not a expert but I don't think there is the pressure issues that some say with the 5.56/.223. 7.62x54r has the same bullet size but a different case. You will get more expert info from other members soon. deadeye

You can shoot 7.62x51 in a 308 no problem and most of the time visa versa. The 7.62x54R is a russian caliber that has a .311" bullet not a .308" of the 7.62 NATO and .308 win...the bullets are not the same, not even close.

 

[deadeye1122]

I stand corected jpwilly you are right. As posted not a expert. deadeye

 

[USSR]

Search is your friend, ChCx2744. This subject has been covered ad nauseam.

Don

 

[Double Vision]

I have fired 308 Radway Green in my M1A with no issue so far.

 

[db_tanker]

more to the point, I have shot with no ill effects, 308 Winchester 150 gr. PP ammo in my FAL.

Pressure is actually a tad higher in the 308 Winchester (civvy version) than 7.62x51 (mil-spec). The case dimension difference is for the most part INTERNAL, not external. Any major dimensional differences will be in the CHAMBER you have. Civilian rifles will have a SAAMI spec chamber for an off the shelf rifle. Battle rifles will have looser chamber dims due to battlefield conditions. Bullet diameter for the two are the same or as close to the same as you can get.

As has been stated, this subject has been folded, spindled, mutilated, reposted, and rehashed. But hey, I guess my dad was right in that the only silly question was the one left unasked.

D

 

[Robert]

308 and 7.26x51 are nearly identical. The confusion comes from SAMMI using one method to measure pressure and the .Gov using a totally different method to measure pressure. One can not compare, or really convert, PSI to CUPS or vice versa.

 

[ball3006]

Buy a reloading manual. It is spelled out for you in there......chris3

 

[merlinfire]

I understand that people should use the search function. What you have to understand though is that threads like this create CONTENT. Content that gets picked up by search engines and drives more people to the site.

This thread has no fewer than 2 people chastising the OP for not using search. If I was googling for "why don't you use search?" I'm sure that THR would be a top hit!

 

[ChCx2744]

To those who helped answer my question, thank you. To those who keep advising me to "use the search function," sweet free addition to your post count just to tell me something you could have kept to yourself, PMed, or allowed a moderator to advise me on. I apologize if it's such an inconvenience that I bumped the thread one line ahead, but there's no reason to bark "USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION" at me repeatedly, I know it's there, I have used it and the results that were offered to me did not outline the specifics, which is why I was confused and sought out a more detailed explanation.

 

[Mags]

USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION

Herre are 3 threads I found for you.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=365079

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=183162

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=100910