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sclaf99 · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject: 7.62x39 .308

Okay, the other day I was on the dpms forums and some one on there said that the 7.62x39 will also shoot the .308 but the .308 will not shoot the 7.62x39 can anybody out there confirm or deny this for me

analog_peninsula · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

There's no way you can safely load a .308 round in a 7.62x39 chamber. You might be able to stuff a 7.62x39 round in a .308 chamber, but it's clearly an unsafe situation.

They probably meant that you can load a 7.62x51 round in a .308 chamber. The 7.62x51 NATO is the military designation of the .308 Winchester. The two are one and the same.
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hawgman · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:27 am Post subject:

I've heard of this also, you where supposed to be able to shoot 7.62x51(.308) in 7.62x39 sks or aks but not the other way around but I ain't heard of it in years. Don't think I'd try it though
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Austin · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

The case on a .308 is about a half inch longer than that of a 7.62x39. It wouldn't even fit, much less shoot.

Burt · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:41 am Post subject:

.308 Winchester on the left, 7. 62 x 39 on the right:

Also notice the bottom end of these rounds.
The .308 Winchester has a larger diameter on the bottom.
Fire the smaller 7.62 x 39 in a .308, and the extractor will probably
not grab and pull the fired round out of the gun...and there
might be other problems caused also.
Before firing a 7.62 x 39 in a .308, make sure your health and life
insurance policies are paid up and current.....

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edro20 · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:58 am Post subject:

You're not going to try that, right?? <shudder>
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hamourkiller · RESPECTED MEMBER Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Posts: 160

I believe the question refers to the diameter of each round.

The .308 round uses our common .308 inch dia projectiles.

The Russian round uses .311 diameter (European - British) profectiles.

A .311 projectile loaded into a .308 bbl might give you some pressure problems.

A .308 projectile fired in a .311 bbl will be OK on pressure and OK on accuracy as it will bump up and seal the bore.

People have shot .311 projectiles in our .308 bbls before and report it swages down in the throat, but I would not recomend the practice.

Trying to fire cartridges in the wrong chamber Shocked

well just eat your .38 and make it a cleaner demise!

Burt · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:30 am Post subject:

Two different issues. Bullet diameter is not the same, but might
be close enough in this instance to work - as far as that goes.

BUT - the big difference in the actual cartridge case is the real problem.

When a rifle is fired, the powder burns at about 2,500 degrees Shocked

The internal pressures can range from 40,000 to 65,000 pounds per square inch Shocked

And that's under NORMAL conditions.

Under normal conditions, the cartridge case acts as a high pressure
seal. That seal channels the hot gas under high pressure down the barrel,
which of course pushes a bullet from zero to 1,500 miles per hour
or more in less than 2 feet of barrel.

NOW, if the case does not fit the chamber closely, you'll get very hot gas
under very high pressure blowing out anywhere it can find a path....which
many times ends up hitting people in the face and eyes.

What's worse than firing a 7.62 x 39 in a .308 ?
Firing that 7.62 in a .243 Winchester. ( Which is a .308 Winchester necked down )
I know of an actual instance that took place some 6 years ago.
The guy that made that mistake lost an eye, the rifle blew up like a grenade.
His left hand was pretty much hamburger meat also.
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hogcaller · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

I thought the 7.62 uses the .310 diameter bullet?
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Burt · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject:

The 7.62 x 39 uses the .310 diameter bullet.
The .308 Winchester ( aka 7.62 MM NATO ) uses a .308 diameter bullet.
Confusing to some extent, but that's the way it is.
Actually, I have no idea why they didn't call the 7.62 x 39 a 7.65 x 39....
Oh boy..... Confused

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hogcaller · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject:

I have heard where folks reload 7.62X39 using the .308 dia bullet and had accuracy problems. I use the .310 soft points (which is what the manual calls for). The 7.62X54 also uses the .310 but you can use the .308. If I recall correctly the .303 british shoots .311 dia bullets and .308 diameter bullets are used in most, if not all, 30 caliber rifles (30-06, 300 win mag, 30 carbine, 308 win, etc, etc)

On the other subject about if the 7.62X39 and 308 win win shoot in each weapon......well, that's pretty crazy! Won't work at all....do not try it! Like Burt and others have said, wrong diameter and length of case AND, for accuracy's sake....wrong diameter bullet. Wink

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blacksunshine · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

TomR · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:25 am Post subject:

Thank goodness we don't have a reloading/ ammo forum here. Wink

This discussion brings out the basics of reloading information as well as the variances in barrels. The Russian designed cartridges were designed for a .311" diameter bullet as was the Britiah .303. The US cartridges that are "30 caliber" are designed for a .308" diameter bullet. (Bullet weights may vary.)

There are exceptions to this rule. Ruger's Mini 30 uses a .308 diameter bore. (More bullets to select from.) It also will handle the .311 diameter ammo, maybe not just as accurate.

Manufacturing qualities being what they have been for many years, you can slug your barrel (drive a soft lead plug thru the barrel and measure it) and find that your bore may run from a tight .307" diameter to as much as .312" diameter for a US made rifle, let alone a foriegn rifle. In some barrels you will find that the bore diameter may vary in diameter along the length of the barrel. An early '70's Lyman reloading manual listed a .311" diameter .303 British bullet as the most accurate bullet in their 30-30 test rifle (which had an oversized bore.)

This is one of the reasons that you may own the same rifle make, model and chambering as I do and they might each require different loads/ bullets to shoot accurately. It is also the reason that the ammunition industry established pressure standards that should work safely in all weapons of a specific cartridge.

The discussion can go on much longer, but I'll stop here and allow Burt to continue if he wants. Rolling Eyes

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Burt · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:58 am Post subject:

I already developed carpal tunnel from typing in this thread as it is. Shocked

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hogcaller · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject: