Running .308 rounds in a 7.62x51 NATO chamber

[Maggot]

Ello all.

This one keeps coming up, good to see someone found the thing about it on the accurate shooter site.

The NATO 7.62 spec from memory, aside of a lower pressure, has a lightly longer headspace (to account for general grot, heat, and slight changes between the various machines making the stuff).

I have put some quite naughty loads up my poor old M67 Kongsberg (when I started out), it could take it, but some rifles may not so it is probably best to avoid hotter .308 loads on older 7.62 proofed rifles.

I may be wrong (Steve E will as likely shed light on this) but I am pretty sure that some of the early 7.62x51 re chambered target rifles that were chambered for the earlier 146 (?) grain RG offerings were made tight bored to allow for the bullets being approx .306".

I would suspect that a hot, true .308 load (Like RUAG ONO) may not be the best thing for them.

Also, there is a reasonable ammount of 7.62 that is not NATO standard and could have just about anything in it

Funilly enough I have just got hold of 20 GGG rounds to try in my M67 as a plinking round as it works out cheaper than hand loading for the occasional Fig11 beasting session.....

[huntervixen]

Ello all.

This one keeps coming up, good to see someone found the thing about it on the accurate shooter site.

The NATO 7.62 spec from memory, aside of a lower pressure, has a lightly longer headspace (to account for general grot, heat, and slight changes between the various machines making the stuff).

I have put some quite naughty loads up my poor old M67 Kongsberg (when I started out), it could take it, but some rifles may not so it is probably best to avoid hotter .308 loads on older 7.62 proofed rifles.

I may be wrong (Steve E will as likely shed light on this) but I am pretty sure that some of the early 7.62x51 re chambered target rifles that were chambered for the earlier 146 (?) grain RG offerings were made tight bored to allow for the bullets being approx .306".

I would suspect that a hot, true .308 load (Like RUAG ONO) may not be the best thing for them.

You might just be very pleasantly surprised by the GGG, its really good quality stuff!

Also, there is a reasonable ammount of 7.62 that is not NATO standard and could have just about anything in it

Funilly enough I have just got hold of 20 GGG rounds to try in my M67 as a plinking round as it works out cheaper than hand loading for the occasional Fig11 beasting session.....

[huntervixen]

Thats odd...post disappeared! Meant to say, you might just be very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the GGG

[HALODIN]

It's in his quote.

Thats odd...post disappeared! Meant to say, you might just be very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the GGG

[froggy]

I didn't realise this was a long running debate albeit in a smaller caliber

There is indeed but a lot of rifles sold as 223R are actually 5.56 chambered. That is the case any way with my AR made by SDI, meaning I can fire safely both 5,56 surplus military and civilian 223R ammo.

[HALODIN]

It's good to have the flexibility of different standards.

[HALODIN]

If anyone's interested, this was a casual 10-12 shot group with GGG milsurp @ 100 yards with the LDT-M14. It can obviously do better than this according to the Visier article, but this one is 2 MOA if you exclude the pulled shot on the right or 2.5 MOA if you include it. It also wasn't properly bagged at the back which probably explains the vertical stringing, so I could probably improve on this with the GGG as well. Once I bag some match .308 Hornady I'll post another. I'm not proud...

[Steve E]

If anyone's interested, this was a casual 10-12 shot group with GGG milsurp @ 100 yards with the LDT-M14. It can obviously do better than this according to the Visier article, but this one is 2 MOA if you exclude the pulled shot on the right or 2.5 MOA if you include it. It also wasn't properly bagged at the back which probably explains the vertical stringing, so I could probably improve on this with the GGG as well. Once I bag some match .308 Hornady I'll post another. I'm not proud...

I know a good many shooters (self included)who shoot better groups than that off hand with no scope just proper sights on their .303s. From a rested rifle using a scope that is not very good shooting.

[HALODIN]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

I know a good many shooters (self included)who shoot better groups than that off hand with no scope just proper sights on their .303s. From a rested rifle using a scope that is not very good shooting.

[Steve E]

Thanks for the words of encouragement.

I know a good many shooters (self included)who shoot better groups than that off hand with no scope just proper sights on their .303s. From a rested rifle using a scope that is not very good shooting.

I am not trying to be negative here but perhaps you may need to work on your technique. Quite often when shooting off a bi-pod and a bag at the back the groups can become erratic. If your technique is not perfect the result at the target is often not what you hope for. Every shot you fire should be the best that it can be. Do not force yourself to fire a shot because it is only practice. In practicing you should shoot every shot as if it were the one that means the difference betweening winning or losing a match. In other words only fire good shots do not fire bad shots.