.308 Winchester versus 7.62 NATO - I need a reminder

[ISCS Yoda]

It's been awhile since I used my .308 hunting rifle or my M1A. I know to not use .308 in the M1A; I just use NATO hardball. But can I go the other way around? Will my bolt gun be happy with NATO rounds instead of typical hunting rounds?

Thanks.

 

[Culina]

They are interchangeable. Its .223 and 5.56 Nato that are not interchangeable. Unless your rifle is chambered for 5.56 Nato, then you can fire either one.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

My civilian AR/M4 by Bushmaster is specifically designed for .223 and 5.56. But I sure thought firing .308 ammo in the M1A was a pressure issue. I was never going to do that. The key for me is that if I ever sell the M1A I'd like to use the NATO rounds in my Remington Model 788. So I guess that I can - MUCH OBLIGED!

 

[Nevada Ed]

The 308 has a much higher chamber pressure........

and the 7.62 case is a lot thicker than the 308.

So if you load the NATO for the 308..........
reduce your 308 loads for the higher pressures that will happen.

 

[gwpercle]

They are interchangeable. Its .223 and 5.56 Nato that are not interchangeable. Unless your rifle is chambered for 5.56 Nato, then you can fire either one.

And I appreciate the fact the 308 and 7.62 are interchangeable !

Since I have trouble remembering the 223 / 5.56 thing I don't own either .
Gary

 

[bigggbbruce]

The 308 has a much higher chamber pressure........

and the 7.62 case is a lot thicker than the 308.

So if you load the NATO for the 308..........
reduce your 308 loads for the higher pressures that will happen.

Also headspace on a 7.62 is slightly longer than .308. My Remington bolt gun would close on 7.62 but it was tight. Some may not..

When shooting 308 in a 7.62 you need to know headspace, at the top end of 7.62 may be unsafe for 308.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Interchangeable, NATO to 308............... sort of.

Just remember that A NATO 7.62 case, made by many company's around the world.........

and can be 10-15 thousandths longer than a Commercial 308 case
by Wichester, etc.
A W-W 308 weighs in around 163 grs while the Lake City NATO 7.62
case weighs in at +/- 183 grs.

Stay safe.

 

[LVSteve]

The 308 has a much higher chamber pressure........

and the 7.62 case is a lot thicker than the 308.

So if you load the NATO for the 308..........
reduce your 308 loads for the higher pressures that will happen.

Point #1 is a total myth.

Rant: Another gun rag gets .308 vs 7.62 NATO wrong

7.62 NATO cases do have a less volume due to the thicker web to deal with machine gun use. The rest of the case is similar.

 

[LVSteve]

My civilian AR/M4 by Bushmaster is specifically designed for .223 and 5.56. But I sure thought firing .308 ammo in the M1A was a pressure issue. I was never going to do that. The key for me is that if I ever sell the M1A I'd like to use the NATO rounds in my Remington Model 788. So I guess that I can - MUCH OBLIGED!

The biggest problem with certain .308 ammo in an M1A is the pressure curve of a lot of ammo is too long for the semi-auto system. Been there, done that with a FAL. With Wincester Red X 150 gr the heads start to tweak because there is still a bunch of case pressure when the extractor is heaving on the rim. Green box 150 gr Remington shows no issues.

 

[growr]

But, can I shoot M2 Ball in my 30-06?

 

[LVSteve]

But, can I shoot M2 Ball in my 30-06?

Yes, M2 is good to go in any rifle chambered in 30-06.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Per post #8.

308 is said to be around 60,000 psi

the Nato at 50 CUP but it works out to around 58,000 psi.

Since psi to CUP is not really possible, all we know is that they are, close.

 

[DWalt]

Peak pressure measurements of military 7.62 NATO is done by using a different method than SAAMI - therefore the peak pressure specs and results are not the same.
For practical purposes, there is very little difference between the .308 commercial and the 7.62 military.