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7.62x51 Chambered REM Short Action Rifle

47WillysGuy

Gold $$ Contributor
What’s the opinion or maybe rule as to firing .308 Win ammunition in 7.62 x 51 Chambered rifle?

Will a .308 win die work to full size 7.62 fire case back to 7.62 x 51 specs?
 
Are there chamber spec differences between the two like 5.56? I use a 308 die. I don't think the external case dimensions are different.
 
Yawn…..where’s the popcorn?

OK…I’ll start: 308 has a little more pressure. That may affect the operation in a gas gun.
Otherwise, the differences are minimal. I treat them as the same cartridge. Same dies, bullets, powders and primers.
Qualifications? It’s been 20 years since I fired a factory round in any of my 308 guns. I reload .
 
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The headspace on the 7.62 is 0.006” longer. I thinking commercial .308 win ammo could rupture because of the shorter head space.

Popcorn eaters need not reply, but if you run out, PM me and I’d bring you more. I’d like to meet you. I’m in SA area, too.
 
47WillysGuy said:
The headspace on the 7.62 is 0.006” longer. I thinking commercial .308 win ammo could rupture because of the shorter head space.

Popcorn eaters need not reply, but if you run out, PM me and I’d bring you more. I’d like to meet you. I’m in SA area, too.
Click to expand...
A difference of .006 will not cause a rupture. Just ask the Ackley Improved guys or tons of others that fireform cases.
 
Depends. If the rifle is a semi-Auto, like an M1A or any other 7.62x51 Nato rifle it's not a good idea since the chamber pressures are different. 7.62x51 also has a port pressure requirement that 308 does not acknowledge.
 
I used 5 rounds of my .308 Win loads in a friend’s gun which he said was a 308, but after shooting the 5 loads, I happened to notice 7.62 NATO imprinted on the barrel. I stopped shooting my .308 loads.

And the case head space measures out 0.006” longer than my .308s do.

My concern is his safety in that he buys .308 win loads and has a major problem.

Just wondering what you all do and think, it’s very much appreciated.

Shoot small.
 
I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that many people have shot .308 commercial ammo out of 7.62 NATO chambered rifles, and I have never heard of any problem in doing so. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but I doubt it has ever been a problem.
 
What firearm is this 7.62? Only 7.62 guns I've seen where the Rem 40x and 40xc target guns. Have you actually measured the headspace difference or are you going my the sammi spects?

Frank
 
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47WillysGuy said:
The headspace on the 7.62 is 0.006” longer. I thinking commercial .308 win ammo could rupture because of the shorter head space.

Popcorn eaters need not reply, but if you run out, PM me and I’d bring you more. I’d like to meet you. I’m in SA area, too.
Click to expand...
I have shot a lot of 7,62 ammo thru my M-1A that has a barrel marked .308. with no problems. Works the other way around also. I have a 40X marked 7.62 Nato. and it shoots .308 just fine.
 
fkimble@charter.net said:
What firearm is this 7.62? Only 7.62 guns I've seen where the Rem 40x and 49xc target guns. Have you actually measured the headspace difference or are you going my the sammi spects?

FRank
Click to expand...
It’s a Remington 700 short action with a barrel imprinted 7.62 NATO and it has a butt hook and adjustable peep sights.

I measured 4 of the 5 of the fired cases and the headspace is at 1.661” using the Hornady head space gauge C-375. About 0.005-0.006”more the my fired .308 cases .

My fired .308 win case head space average is 1.6555. Averaged 10 fired cases.

The hand loaded brass(.308) was 2.015 long. After shooting , it was 2.010”. Which the fire forming caused the shoulder move forward and case length to decrease.

I use that same gauge for .308 win brass.

7.62 x 51 was not listed in saami dated 1992.

Just a safety issue for me.
 
10XSHOOTER said:
I have shot a lot of 7,62 ammo thru my M-1A that has a barrel marked .308. with no problems. Works the other way around also. I have a 40X marked 7.62 Nato. and it shoots .308 just fine.
Click to expand...
7.62 ammo through a .308 win is not a problem for me. It is the other way that worries me.

Do you use a .308 win die to full size your 7.62 fired brass. Problems?
 
The hornady comparator is just that a comparator. It is not an exact headspace reading. You use it before firing to measure a case then after firing a case to determine the shoulder setback. Back in the 80's, the AMU was shooting m14's. They shot a lot of Federal 308 Match ammo thru them with out any problems. My match guns, M1a and 40x bolts fired both LC Match and Federal with out any problems for 16 years. That Rem 700 sounds like an old school target rifle from the good ole days. Nice that it is still getting used. Mine are collecting dust in the back of one of the safes.

Frank
 
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