.308 Win vs 7.62x51 NATO

IrvJr · November 13, 2008, 05:55 PM

Hi All,

I am buying a commercial bolt action rifle in .308 Win. I plan on reloading for my rifle, but I also plan on trying some commercial .308 Win factory loads.

I've read that it is not recommended to fire a commercial .308 Win cartridge in a rifle chambered for 7.62x51 NATO. However I was wondering if it is safe to fire a 7.62x51 NATO cartridge in a .308 Win rifle?

I'm thinking that it should be OK since the max pressure of the 7.62x51 NATO is lower than the .308 Win, and since the brass for the 7.62x51NATO rounds are thicker than the .308 Win commercial cases. If the 7.62x51 NATO round can be chambered in the .308Win rifle, is it safe to shoot?

Thanks!

Tom

Average Joe · November 13, 2008, 07:35 PM

Yes, I fire Nato surplus 7.62x51 in my Remington 700 (chambered for .308 win) all the time, and have been doing so for years with no ill effects.

j.chappell · November 13, 2008, 07:36 PM

deleted

J.

IrvJr · November 13, 2008, 08:10 PM

Thanks all for the replies! This is a very helpful forum!

j-chappell, regarding the max pressure for the NATO vs commercial ammo, I believe the max pressure of the commercial .308Win ammo is spec-ed higher than the max pressure of the NATO standard ammo. Ammo makers do not necessary load their commercial .308Win ammo to these pressures, but if they do, their ammo would still be in spec with the commercial standards (yet they would exceed the NATO ammo max pressure).

I've read that the max pressure for the NATO ammo is 50000 PSI, while the max pressure for commercial .308 is 62,000 PSI. also, the proof loads that are used to test a NATO chamber is 67.5k PSI, while the equivalent proof loads for a commercial .308 is something like 83k to 89k PSI.

Thanks again for the replies! I am not planning on loading surplus .308 in my bolt gun, but I was just curious if I could do it safely (for example, if I find a good deal on non-corrosive surplus ammo).

j.chappell · November 13, 2008, 09:26 PM

IrvJr,

Thank you for the correction as I must have read incorrect information. I never pass anything along that I do not believe to be true, thank you.

J.

The information I have is correct I simply recalled it incorrectly, boy I feel like an ass.

J.

Wyngnut · November 14, 2008, 12:30 PM

j.chappell,

I for one, and no doubt many viewers, certainly appreciate all the info you have contributed, in all the forums. Your not an ass, especially in correcting a mistake. Thank you, and keep up the good work man.

IrvJr · November 14, 2008, 12:56 PM

Hi J Chappell - no problem on the correction. I appreciate your posts and the many other helpful posters on this forum. It's been a great help to me on many occasions! It's a great reference source for the rifle novice.

j.chappell · November 14, 2008, 03:33 PM

Thanks guys.

J.

November 13, 2008, 05:55 PM	#1
IrvJr Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2004 Posts: 199	.308 Win vs 7.62x51 NATO Hi All, I am buying a commercial bolt action rifle in .308 Win. I plan on reloading for my rifle, but I also plan on trying some commercial .308 Win factory loads. I've read that it is not recommended to fire a commercial .308 Win cartridge in a rifle chambered for 7.62x51 NATO. However I was wondering if it is safe to fire a 7.62x51 NATO cartridge in a .308 Win rifle? I'm thinking that it should be OK since the max pressure of the 7.62x51 NATO is lower than the .308 Win, and since the brass for the 7.62x51NATO rounds are thicker than the .308 Win commercial cases. If the 7.62x51 NATO round can be chambered in the .308Win rifle, is it safe to shoot? Thanks! Tom

November 13, 2008, 07:36 PM	#3
j.chappell Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2008 Posts: 1,125	deleted J. Last edited by j.chappell; November 13, 2008 at 09:27 PM. Reason: The information that I submitted was pointed out as incorrect. Thank you for the correction.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

November 13, 2008, 07:35 PM	#2
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,325	Yes, I fire Nato surplus 7.62x51 in my Remington 700 (chambered for .308 win) all the time, and have been doing so for years with no ill effects.

November 13, 2008, 08:10 PM	#4
IrvJr Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2004 Posts: 199	Thanks all for the replies! This is a very helpful forum! j-chappell, regarding the max pressure for the NATO vs commercial ammo, I believe the max pressure of the commercial .308Win ammo is spec-ed higher than the max pressure of the NATO standard ammo. Ammo makers do not necessary load their commercial .308Win ammo to these pressures, but if they do, their ammo would still be in spec with the commercial standards (yet they would exceed the NATO ammo max pressure). I've read that the max pressure for the NATO ammo is 50000 PSI, while the max pressure for commercial .308 is 62,000 PSI. also, the proof loads that are used to test a NATO chamber is 67.5k PSI, while the equivalent proof loads for a commercial .308 is something like 83k to 89k PSI. Thanks again for the replies! I am not planning on loading surplus .308 in my bolt gun, but I was just curious if I could do it safely (for example, if I find a good deal on non-corrosive surplus ammo).

November 13, 2008, 09:26 PM	#5
j.chappell Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2008 Posts: 1,125	IrvJr, Thank you for the correction as I must have read incorrect information. I never pass anything along that I do not believe to be true, thank you. J. The information I have is correct I simply recalled it incorrectly, boy I feel like an ass. J.

November 14, 2008, 12:30 PM	#6
Wyngnut Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 89	j.chappell, I for one, and no doubt many viewers, certainly appreciate all the info you have contributed, in all the forums. Your *not* an ass, especially in correcting a mistake. Thank you, and keep up the good work man.

November 14, 2008, 12:56 PM	#7
IrvJr Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2004 Posts: 199	Hi J Chappell - no problem on the correction. I appreciate your posts and the many other helpful posters on this forum. It's been a great help to me on many occasions! It's a great reference source for the rifle novice.

November 14, 2008, 03:33 PM	#8
j.chappell Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2008 Posts: 1,125	Thanks guys. J.