sudes wrote:Just checking I have this right...
You can fire 7.62x51mm NATO rounds in a rifle chambered for .308...
But you can *not* fire a .308 cartridge in a rifle chambered for 7.62 NATO because the .308 cartridge generates more pressure?
Right or wrong?
It is not simply about pressure, but that is the main reason when you talk about old 93 mausers, #4 enfields etc etc. but 7.62 x 51 military chambers are oversize to allow for mud, poor cleaning, extended firing, automatic operation etc.
7.62 military brass has a thicker case to compensate. If a thin walled .308 is fired in a 7.62 chamber then case seperations are more likely. This is a known fact.
Simply downloading .308 may not be enough to be safe unless you have checked the headspace as well.
You may have a nice strong K98 Israeli in 7.62 x 51, it may even have matching numbers BUT:
Have a look at the guage differences:
308 Winchester Gauges
GO - 1.6300"
NOGO - 1.6340"
FIELD - 1.6380"
Military Gauges
GO - 1.6350"
NOGO - 1.6405"
FIELD - 1.6455"
Pretty scary.........................
I haven't been down this path for a while so any corrections would be appreciated.