,308 loads in 7.62 CETME brass

[medicstimpy]

Just wondering if anyone knows if it is safe to load 7,62 CTEME to .308 loads safely?

I have some old 7.62 CETME ammo where the powder is gone but the primers are still good. Plan to change the powder and shoot it out of a M1A-S and a .308 Bolt gun.

If not, the price was well worth it for just the bullets if you guys don't recommend changing the powder (H4895) and re-assembling the stuff.

[Starvingboy]

Pardon my lack of knowledge, but doesn't a Cetme chamber 7.62 nato (.308)?

[nalioth]

There is no such thing as 7.62 Cetme.

Treat whatever brass you have just like any other military brass.

[medicstimpy]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Yes, I was told, too, that the CETME will chamber in the .308 just fine.

I was just wondering since the CETME is a lower pressure/charge and was curious if I could give it the higher load & pressure of a regular .308 since it's not going in one of those CETME rifles.

Being a mil-spec case it probably won't hold the same volume of powder as a commercial case but I'll give it a try once I get it home and start pulling bullets.

[nalioth]

The Cetme was designed to use 7.62 Nato.

The case you're referring to is most likely 7.62 Nato from the Santa Barbara ammo plant.

Not sure what "low pressure" cartridge / loading you're talking about unless you're just comparing the 7.62 Nato to commercial .308 pressures.

[totalloser]

It is important to reduce the charge at least 5% (speer load manual #13) if it is true military brass. The thicker case cuts down the capacity, and creates a faster burn, possibly a compressed load. Just a heads up to avoid an overpressure.

[B. Lahey]

There is no such thing as 7.62 Cetme

There most certainly is.

It's similar to the 7.62x51 round but used a lighter projectile. As I understand it, some of the rifles chambered for it were eventually modified to fire the normal NATO 7.62 round that we all know and love.

Dunno about the safety of using the brass, but I wouldn't take safety advice from somebody who has never heard of the round being discussed.

The Cetme was designed to use 7.62 Nato.

Nope. The CETME-A and B models were both chambered for 7.62 CETME. They didn't switch over to 7.62x51 until the C model.

http://www.pmulcahy.com/battle_rifle...tle_rifles.htm

[nalioth]

Originally Posted by B. Lahey

There most certainly is.

It's similar to the 7.62x51 round but used a lighter projectile. As I understand it, some of the rifles chambered for it were eventually modified to fire the normal NATO 7.62 round that we all know and love.

Dunno about the safety of using the brass, but I wouldn't take safety advice from somebody who has never heard of the round being discussed.

Nope. The CETME-A and B models were both chambered for 7.62 CETME. They didn't switch over to 7.62x51 until the C model.

http://www.pmulcahy.com/battle_rifle...tle_rifles.htm

Oh, I've heard of it.

It's a standard 7.62x51 case with an aluminum cored projectile and a reduced powder charge.

I've got some (It's from the Santa Barbara facility in Spain).

As I said above, treat it like any NATO brass.

It is not a distinct round, it's just a 7.62x51 with a different projectile and powder charge.

If y'all are at a fun show and come across 20 round cardboard boxes with strangely light .308/7.62x51 ammo with a Santa Barbara headstamp, this is most likely your "7.62 Cetme". If it's a good price, buy it - it shoots very comfortably in bolt action rifles.

[Dave R]

I have shot my reloaded ammo in my CETME, mostly just to say I've done it, and see if it works. So far, so good.

Speer's reloading manual has some loads that they say approximate 7.62 NATO, and I used one of those loads. Wanted to make sure my pressure stayed somewhat close to what the gun was designed for.

After the brass has been through the fluted chamber, twice, it makes interesting patterns.

I wouldn't use commercial brass, I'd use NATO brass. I don't trust the thinner commercial brass in the fluted chamber.

[Loader9]

The CETME round was loaded to 2500'ps with a 112 gr bullet. The idea was to have a full auto weapon capable of being fired accurately via reduced recoil. As stated before, it is a 7.62x 51 size case. Because you are wanting to use the brass at full or normal 308 loads, I wouldn't do it. I have a sub-sonic 308 that I load for and the brass is not made the same on the inside. The case walls are thinner and these have a balloon head. Because this ammo was made for a much lighter pressure, you could end up with blown cases or worse, a blown rifle. If you want to use this brass for reduced loads, I's say go it. But avoid the standard pressures of a 308.

[2002gti]

the reduced charge for NATO cases is a little vague to me :

when reducing the .308 load data charge for 7.62X51 brass ive heard to reduce by 5%, 10% and 2 grains - what is the standard rule of thumb?

also when using the reccomended .308 starting load data do i need to reduce it as well?

[nra_guns_winner]

Reduce one grain. Two if your cheap. I reload military brass for my model 700. I also only neck size after shooting the originally loaded shell.

[T. O'Heir]

"...There is no such thing as 7.62 Cetme..." Yes there is. The 7.62 Cetme was developed by Spain for use in their old 1893 and M1916 Mausers. Runs at about 38,000 PSI vs the 50,000 of the 7.62/.308 with a 112 to 125 grain bullet. Same case as a .308/7.62 though.

[nalioth]

Originally Posted by T. O'Heir

Yes there is. The 7.62 Cetme was developed by Spain for use in their old 1893 and M1916 Mausers.

No sir, you are mistaken.

The 1916 Guardia Civil and the FR-7 Spanish Mausers were rebarrelled and approved for 7.62 Nato ammunition.

"7.62 Cetme" is a myth that keeps on keeping on due (among other reasons) to the myth that Spanish steel sucks.



The Spaniards came up with this aluminum bullet and reduced power loading (the mythical '7.62 Cetme') so that they could run their Cetme rifles like an 'assault rifle' and not have their soldiers shooting the sky at the end of a mag dump (like the M14 does on full auto).