308 and the 7.62

[Diesel40]

can the 7.62 be fired from a handi in 308???

[SHOOTALL]

7.62X?

[Diesel40]

? I don't know that much about the 7.62x???  I just have heard that the military rounds can be found cheaper.

[SHOOTALL]

Winchester offered the 7.62 X 51 as the 308 , 2 years before the military adopted it . The main difference that i have found is the case may be thicker , primer is harder and some ammo is steel jacket  . Some say that commercial rounds should not be used in a M1-A or like action because of a commercial primer being softer . The firring pin will indent a primer when bolt goes forward into battry. This is normal . If you buy a new Springfield Armory M1-A it comes with a study for the "slam fire " . What it found is a dirty chamber, bolt face or stuck firring pin not ammo as the cause .
Not sure the BBL. steel in your gun would stand up to steel jacket ammo . It may , If I had a tack driver Steel jacket ammo would be the last thing i would shoot . If it were a fun gun for pl inking why not .

[quickdtoo]

You mean 7.62x51, aka: 7.62 NATO. A waste of time and money from most reports, use the ammo for which the rifle was intended and you'll be happier.  Look back a few pages, the same discussion was just made concerning the 223/5.56 and the 308/7.62.

Tim

http://www.smellysmleshooters.net/ammopressure.htm

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/7_62vs308.htm

http://www.fulton-armory.com/308.htm

[SHOOTALL]

.223 and 5.56 chambers differ don't they ?

[Diesel40]

Thanks guys, that's all i needed to know.

[mcwoodduck]

Shootall,
5.56 Nato is 223 on the outside.  Internal it is a little higher pressure.  Shoot a 5.56 in a T/C contender and you will see the pressure problems.
7.62X51 / 7.62 NATO is 308 win. on the outside. I think 308 is loaded to higher pressures.
30 Gov't is 30-06.
30 US is 30-40 Krag.

[bluebayou]

Not that you will probably find it anymore, but I fired 7.62 NATO ADI ammo in mine when I had it.  ADI is Australian, so technically it wasn't NATO ammo.......but you know what I mean.  It was surplus 7.62x51 ammo with 147 grain FMJ if I remember right.  It is great ammo.  Still have some for my 2A Enfield.

You can get German and something else from different online vendors right now.  I would steer you away from the Wolf 308 as it has been inconsistent and higher charged than other 7.62 ammo. 

Like Quick says, you are better off with new, commercial ammo most of the time.  If you can find it, the Remington UMC 308 was pretty good in my Handi if I remember right.   Was awhile ago. 

Looking online, AIM Surplus has South African for $60/140 round battlepack.  Great ammo at .42 plus shipping.  I figure that anything cheaper than .50 is a good buy right now.

[petemi]

I bought 400 rounds of 7.62 x 51 Belgian Nato ammo years ago, two 200 round battle packs.  I still have about 200 rounds left.  It's junk.  I shot a coyote once at about 200 yards who was dumb enough to cross my range while I was setting up.  The rest of it gets shot into gallon plastic jugs at 2 or 300 yards.  I wouldn't shoot my mother-inlaw with it if I had one to shoot and had to do it.  I guess I'd have more respect for her and the rifle.

[Tallwalker]

Many commercial rifles in .308 Winchester actually have the 7.62 Nato chamber, and it would be safe to fire the military loads in those rifles. If in doubt, call the manufacturer of your rifle, and ask. I think the main difference is a larger chamber throat, and neck area. Too bad they do it in a way because it just makes the cases soot up easier with cast bullet loads, etc.

[SHOOTALL]

Was asking about the .223 vs. 5.46 because a friend has an AR marked 5.56 and it has trouble feeding .223 marked commerical ammo . His son has same brand AR marked .223 REM. and it eats anything . He called the factory and they said the chamber was different .

[Badnews Bob]

The chamber is just slightly diffrent on the .223 than 5.56, mostly in the shoulder and neck area, usually not making a diffrence.

[Dixie Dude]

Don't get the 7.62 x 51 mixed up with 7.62 x 39.  The 51 is basically a .308.  The 39 is for SKS and AK-47 rifles.  I've shot 7.62 x 51 in my L1A1 and my bolt Ruger with no problems.  As well as standard .308.  I am now concerned about slam fire from the L1A1 if I load quick with standard .308.  However, I was told when reloading, use CCI primers as they are harder than other brands, but not as hard as military, and I wouldn't have any problems.

[rex6666]

Is the L1A1 the same as the springfield SOCOM?
was thinking very serious about buying a socom i have been looking at
but will lostly use com. ammo.

[SHOOTALL]

nope !

[Badnews Bob]

No not hardly a SOCOM its not even a M1 A , L1A1 is a FAL made in Australia, Fine rifles BTW.