Redneck with a 40
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My dad says they are interchangeable, but I know the Nato stuff runs at higher pressures. Since the Remmy 700 is built very stout, I don't see a problem, do you?
Is it safe to fire 7.62x51 Nato ammo out of my Remington 700 .308?
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alemonkey
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Other way around for .308/7.62x51. A .308 can handle the 7.62 since SAAMI standards for 308 are higher than 7.62.
For .223/5.56 it's the opposite. 5.56 is loaded to higher than the SAAMI .223 standard.
For .223/5.56 it's the opposite. 5.56 is loaded to higher than the SAAMI .223 standard.
Redneck with a 40
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Thanks alemonkey, didn't know that.
Even if it blows, (which it won't) the Rem 700 is a very safe design, protects the user well, has one of the best breech actions around.
I have seen case heads that were so expanded in a M700 bolt head, that they had to be pried out with pliers. And I could not read the letters on the case.
A M700 can be blown up, but you have to do something real stupid.
I have seen case heads that were so expanded in a M700 bolt head, that they had to be pried out with pliers. And I could not read the letters on the case.
A M700 can be blown up, but you have to do something real stupid.
Redneck with a 40
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Next question : My dad just bought an FN-AR, that is marked 7.62x51mm on the reciever, can he shoot .308 Winchester ammo in it?
Average Joe
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NO . The rule is : You can shoot 7.62 X 51 which is Nato ammo, in a military rifle, and in a commercial rifle. But, only .308 commercial ammo in a commercial rifle , like a Remington 700. The reason is that a commercial ammo like the .308 Winchester has more pressure and could cause the military rifle to explode.
nalioth
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Which is fine for 100 year old military rifles chambered in 7.62x51, but I highly doubt it's an issue in a modern (>20 years old) design.Average Joe said:
jerkface11
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100 year old 7.62x51's?? Not for a few more decades.
No doubt you will say Dough! when you remember all the rebarreled military rifles that you forgot.
Bolt rifles like Spanish M1916's converted from 7 mm to 308. Might be some M1895’s in 308. My Israeli M98 was a slave labor German M98, not quite 100 years old, but rebarreled to 308. The Nazi slaves messed with the action, it does not feed well, might be other issues that are not visible to the eye.
The greatest problem in firing high pressure commercial ammo in gas operated service rifles is going to be gas port pressure. Most of these rifles were designed to operate within a limited gas port pressure. Commercial ammo, especially the short magnum stuff, may produce a higher port pressure.
If it does, that means the operating rod/gas piston is going to be accelerated faster than what the system was designed for. The gun is going to be slammed and banged a lot harder than what it was designed for.
jonnyc
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"NO . The rule is : You can shoot 7.62 X 51 which is Nato ammo, in a military rifle, and in a commercial rifle. But, only .308 commercial ammo in a commercial rifle , like a Remington 700. The reason is that a commercial ammo like the .308 Winchester has more pressure and could cause the military rifle to explode."
Not true. Find me one instance, other than possibly a Spanish 1916, where a military rifle had a catastrophic failure with .308 ammo. This 7.62/.308 can't-fire-this-or-that-controversy is internet hog-wash. The only problem is trying to reload hot .308 loads into 7.62 military cases.
"My Israeli M98 was a slave labor German M98, not quite 100 years old, but rebarreled to 308. The Nazi slaves messed with the action, it does not feed well, might be other issues that are not visible to the eye."
Those "Nazi slaves" also had Nazi inspectors. Sabotage meant death. If the rifle has proof stamps...it worked out of the factory. The Israelis then examined and refurbbed the rifles. If yours doesn't work, it's not the "slaves" or Israeli's fault. Most-likely Guatemalan neglect.
Not true. Find me one instance, other than possibly a Spanish 1916, where a military rifle had a catastrophic failure with .308 ammo. This 7.62/.308 can't-fire-this-or-that-controversy is internet hog-wash. The only problem is trying to reload hot .308 loads into 7.62 military cases.
"My Israeli M98 was a slave labor German M98, not quite 100 years old, but rebarreled to 308. The Nazi slaves messed with the action, it does not feed well, might be other issues that are not visible to the eye."
Those "Nazi slaves" also had Nazi inspectors. Sabotage meant death. If the rifle has proof stamps...it worked out of the factory. The Israelis then examined and refurbbed the rifles. If yours doesn't work, it's not the "slaves" or Israeli's fault. Most-likely Guatemalan neglect.
punkndisorderly
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What I might do, if I wanted a definitive answer, is check out the owners manual to see if it specifies 7.62 only or if it says .308 is OK. If that doesn't answer the question, I'd contact FN.
Lone_Gunman
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To clarify that statement, the external dimensions are the same, but 7.62 brass is thicker, and thus does not contain the same volume.
Redneck,
I had a similar question when I bought my Browning BLR in 308. I called Browning and talked with one of their gunsmiths. He said it would be fine to shoot either 308 winchester or 7.62 nato in my gun. I have tried nato in my BLR without any problems.
I had a similar question when I bought my Browning BLR in 308. I called Browning and talked with one of their gunsmiths. He said it would be fine to shoot either 308 winchester or 7.62 nato in my gun. I have tried nato in my BLR without any problems.
Redneck with a 40
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I just read a test of the FN-AR in "On Target" magazine, the rifle was tested with Federal, Hornady, and Black Hills .308 Win ammo, so we are good to go with commercial fodder. The rifle delivered .5 MOA with Federal match ammo, in this test.
The rifle delivered .5 MOA with Federal match ammo, in this test.SimpleIsGood229
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As far as I know, the only difference is in the thickness of the cases and generated chamber pressure (both as previously mentioned).UnTainted said:
bigdogdman
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I hate to be the one to keep a super-old thread going, but I found this thread as a result of a Google search I did after crunching some numbers, and what I found out was the actual difference in diameter between the two rounds is less than a millimeter; .23mm, to be nearly exact. This could, in fact, make a difference in some guns chambered for 7.62 but shot with .308 rounds.
In any case, the .308 would definitely cause more barrel wear over time in guns spec'd to fire 7.62 rounds.
This then made me curious about 5.56/.223 rounds, and just as I suspected, the difference is even less substantial: .1042mm difference(more on the .223).
This means that, barring grain count/shell weight differences, you'd be better off firing 5.56 rounds out of .223 chambered guns, strictly wear & tear-wise.
In any case, the .308 would definitely cause more barrel wear over time in guns spec'd to fire 7.62 rounds.
This then made me curious about 5.56/.223 rounds, and just as I suspected, the difference is even less substantial: .1042mm difference(more on the .223).
This means that, barring grain count/shell weight differences, you'd be better off firing 5.56 rounds out of .223 chambered guns, strictly wear & tear-wise.
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Craigman
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We have more than enough threads on 7.62 vs .308, thanks.
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