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.308 / 7.62 NATO

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.308 Winchester ammo and the 7.62x51 cartridge are very similar to one another but are not technically identical. Despite the minor differences, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute has deemed the cartridges safe to use interchangeably.

The commercial load, .308, is an incredibly popular round among recreational shooters and hunters in the United States. Widely used to take down game such as whitetail deer, .308 with a specialty bullet can also be used to take down much larger game like caribou or black bear. Look for a number of soft point and expanding bullets available to hunters looking to use .308 in the field. Among these, Hornady's Interlock, Remington's Core-Lokt and Federal's Fusion line-up are extremely popular .308 cartridges for sale.

7.62x51 NATO, the military round, was actually derived from .308. 7.62x51mm ammo offers similar ballistics to 30-06 rounds but does so with a case that's slightly shorter, allowing less brass to be used in the manufacturing process and permitting military members to potentially carry more rounds at the same weight. Look for both 7.62x51 ammo and .308 Winchester ammo in stock in the following bullets or categories:

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What is the Difference Between the .308 Winchester and the 7.62x51 NATO?

In short, not much. The .308 is the civilian version of the 7.62x51, so these two cartridges have practically the same specs, with only slight variations in a few areas. They both have bullets measuring .308 inches in diameter and case lengths of 2.015 inches. The differences are minimal: for example, the .308 Winchester has a neck diameter of .3433 inches, while the 7.62x51 NATO has a neck diameter of .345. The overall length of the .308 Winchester is 2.8 inches, while the 7.62x51 NATO measures 2.75 inches. Looking at the two cartridges side-by-side, it takes an experienced, knowledgable eye to tell the two apart.

Can You Interchange the .308 with the 7.62x51?

Yes, although it depends on the firearm. First of all, let’s acknowledge the fact that these two cartridges do indeed have slightly different dimensions. However, these differences are so insignificant that, at least for loading, chambering, and firing, everything fits. The only major problem is shooting .308 Winchester cartridges from a firearm meant for the 7.62x51 NATO. The .308 Winchester has a stronger maximum pressure, so guns made for the 7.62x51 NATO may not tolerate the higher pressure, leading to failure. However, all guns that are made for .308 Winchester will take, and should safely fire, the 7.62x51 NATO. As always, speak with a gunsmith or consult the manufacturer before interchanging rounds.

What Type of .308 Cartridge Should I Choose for Hunting?

Generally the best hunting cartridges will be expanding rounds, which deliver larger wound channels for a fast, humane kill. This means you will want jacketed hollow points or soft nose bullets. Generally, full metal jackets are not recommended for hunting.

What Type of .308 Winchester Cartridge Should I Choose for Target Practice?

If you use the .308 Winchester or 7.62x51 NATO for target practice or competition, you will want jacketed hollow points. These rounds are ideal for high-volume target shooting with a semi-automatic rifle, as they allow for smooth feeding and less fouling in the barrel. To lower costs, you can choose lead round nose, although the feeding will not be as reliable and barrel fouling is more likely.

Is Steel-Cased Ammo a Good Choice?

Because this is a high-volume cartridge meant for semiautomatic weapons (and fully automatic in the case of the military), the cartridge can often be found in steel cases, which can be cheaper than brass cases. However, there is some concern about these products. Modern steel cases generally work well in semiautomatic weapons, and while steel itself tends to jam easier than brass, many steel cartridges have a coating that increases the smoothness of feeding. The steel ammunition that you find today is extremely reliable and will not harm your firearm outside of the typical wear that you’d have from any cartridge- steel, brass, or otherwise.

.308 / 7.62 NATO

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