Is it ok to shoot .308 in a rifle chambered for 7.62x51mm?

[robmkivseries70]

Nathan,
I would NOT fire commercial .308 in an Ishapore 2A1.
Best,
Rob

 

[rust collector]

My theory is that this confusion began with the 308 CETME, which had dimensions similar to NATO 7.62x51 but was loaded quite a bit lighter. Many small ring Spanish mausers were chambered for that round and the early CETMEs used it exclusively. Later versions were designed for the NATO round, and of course recent military arms are generally overbuilt for reliability.

I am sure that many of those old mausers have been fed a steady diet of 308 win or 7.62x51 NATO, but the fact that they don't fail catastrophically doesn't mean it is a wise practice.

I don't think the Enfields were ever designed for the CETME round, so the margin of safety should not be so slim.

 

[jonnyc]

"I would NOT fire commercial .308 in an Ishapore 2A1."

Good idea! There is ABSOLUTELY no reason not to shoot .308 in a 7.62x51 2A1, so you only leave more for us who understand the issue and DO happily shoot .308 in our Ishapores.

 

[kanook]

Good idea! There is ABSOLUTELY no reason not to shoot .308 in a 7.62x52 2A1, so you only leave more for us who understand the issue and DO happily shoot .308 in our Ishapores.

I'll stick with x51, you can have all the x52 you want

 

[jonnyc]

Ooops, got all excited and forgot to proofread!

 

[lobo9er]

I'll stick with x51, you can have all the x52 you want

i'm pretty sure they are the same size. I have never heard of some one having a problem only heard people talk about the possiblity. I could see the argument about older guns not being meant for modern ammo, but if you feed it modern nato 7.62, modern 308 win should be fine.