Gun Thread

[Rider]

I'd like to buy some cheap 7.62 for plinking with my .308, but I heard that the 7.62 military surplus rounds are not good for .308 Win rifles even though a .308 is = 7.62mm.

Anyone know if this is true.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Rider

I'd like to buy some cheap 7.62 for plinking with my .308, but I heard that the 7.62 military surplus rounds are not good for .308 Win rifles even though a .308 is = 7.62mm.

Anyone know if this is true.

There are three 7.62 rounds. 7.62x.51 and 7.62x.39 and 7.62x.54

7.62x.51 is a .308 winchester, 7.62x.54 is a thirty odd six

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Inferno

There are three 7.62 rounds. 7.62x.51 and 7.62x.39 and 7.62x.54

7.62x.51 is a .308 winchester, 7.62x.54 is a thirty odd six

Yes but a 7.62 x 51 is not exactly the same as a .308 from some of the gun forums I've been on. I've heard that damage could be done to your rifle using the surplus 7.62.x 51 rounds in a .308 rifle. Is this in fact true or is it safe to use them?

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Rider

Yes but a 7.62 x 51 is not exactly the same as a .308 from some of the gun forums I've been on. I've heard that damage could be done to your rifle using the surplus 7.62.x 51 rounds in a .308 rifle. Is this in fact true or is it safe to use them?

I've never seen surplus 7.62 x 51. I've seen lots of 7.62 x 39, which is what the AK shoots.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Mikey

I've never seen surplus 7.62 x 51. I've seen lots of 7.62 x 39, which is what the AK shoots.

They have them here. In white unmarked boxes. Usually in boxes off 100+.

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Rider

They have them here. In white unmarked boxes. Usually in boxes off 100+.

Wierd, since we don't have a lot of weapons that use that round anymore. I think the M14 still uses it, as does the M240B, and the M60 used to. With the 240 and the 60, though, the ammo would be linked, which doesn't translate well to surplus sales.

[Rider]

Originally Posted by Mikey

Wierd, since we don't have a lot of weapons that use that round anymore. I think the M14 still uses it, as does the M240B, and the M60 used to. With the 240 and the 60, though, the ammo would be linked, which doesn't translate well to surplus sales.

It's still used as a sniper round.

['73 H1 Triple]

Originally Posted by Rider

Yes but a 7.62 x 51 is not exactly the same as a .308 from some of the gun forums I've been on. I've heard that damage could be done to your rifle using the surplus 7.62.x 51 rounds in a .308 rifle. Is this in fact true or is it safe to use them?

Although the dimensions of the 7.62 x 51 NATO round are virtually identical to the .308 Winchester round, the 7.62 x 51 are loaded to a higher SAMMI spec ( chamber pressure )

What kind of firearm are you thinking of shooting the 7.62 x 51 round in? What kind of shape is it in?

[Rider]

Originally Posted by '73 H1 Triple

Although the dimensions of the 7.62 x 51 NATO round are virtually identical to the .308 Winchester round, the 7.62 x 51 are loaded to a higher SAMMI spec ( chamber pressure )

What kind of firearm are you thinking of shooting the 7.62 x 51 round in? What kind of shape is it in?

Fairly new Savage rifle model 11. Probably had 3-20rd boxes fired through it.

[fnfalman]

This is my personal experience, so take it for what it is.

I have yet to have successfully blasted 5.56/7.62NATO ammo (not reloads) through my .223/.308 rifles. Every time I tried, within a round or two possibly three at most, the brass would swell and stuck in the chamber. I literally had to kick the bolt handle back to extract. This happened with good quality surplus GI ammo or First World surplus ammo and not Russian/Chinese steel case ammo.

.223 and .308 on the other hand; even reloads (quality reloads from people who knew what they're doing), went through my military semiautos just fine.