The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Emergency use of .308 in 30-06 Garand?

**Mike Irwin** · March 21, 2013, 08:00 PM

"The OP's question concerned a very dangerous incompatability in cartridges."

Actually, as far as cartridge swaps go, it is not particularly dangerous.

As noted, the .308 will hold nicely into the chamber of many rifles, allowing it to be fired and extracted.

Because the .308 is based on the .30-06 case, the head is fully supported upon firing, so there's virtually no danger of a case head failure filling the action with the very angry genie that lives amongst the powder grains.

Because the .308 uses the same diameter bullet as the .30-06, there's virtually no danger of a spike in pressure bursting the action. In fact, pressure will be significantly decreased because of all of the extra space that has to be filled where there is no case at the front of the chamber.

March 21, 2013, 08:00 PM	#21
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"The OP's question concerned a very dangerous incompatability in cartridges." Actually, as far as cartridge swaps go, it is not particularly dangerous. As noted, the .308 will hold nicely into the chamber of many rifles, allowing it to be fired and extracted. Because the .308 is based on the .30-06 case, the head is fully supported upon firing, so there's virtually no danger of a case head failure filling the action with the very angry genie that lives amongst the powder grains. Because the .308 uses the same diameter bullet as the .30-06, there's virtually no danger of a spike in pressure bursting the action. In fact, pressure will be significantly decreased because of all of the extra space that has to be filled where there is no case at the front of the chamber. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.