7.62 in a .308 rifle?

[MuayThaiGuy]

My brother in law has a Remington 700 in .308 and is wondering if it is safe to shoot surplus 7.62. I have found a lot of conflicting opinions and "facts" on whether or not this is safe.

So, can anyone provide/link to some definitive information or have any first hand experience?(Yes, I realize I'm asking this on the internet)

 

[42769vette]

7.62xwhat

 

[HavokCycle]

SAAMI rates 7.62 NATO as 50000psi max chamber pressure while 308 is rated at 62000.
if you can spec what you're shooting I can give you data, but the consensus i know says .308 commercial is able to take NATO rounds. the reverse is true for 5.56/.223

 

[Que]

I've mistakenly shot 7.62x54 out of my .308. The brass would not eject, but the round went down range.

 

[indykid]

Yes, not a problem shooting 7.62 NATO in a rifle marked .308.

It's enough to drive you crazy as it is the opposite of not shooting 5.56x45 in a barrel marked .223, but .223 in a 5.56x45 barrel is ok.

 

[MuayThaiGuy]

7.62xwhat

7.62x51

 

[sloughfoot]

7.62x51

Not a problem. No worries.

Yes, I have personal experience. Thousands of times.

 

[42769vette]

7.62x51

then you are good to go.

7.62x39=no
7.62x51=yes
7.62x54=no

 

[sig1473]

The only problem I've encountered was when I shot some 7.62x51 surplus out of my old-school Remington 788. The Nato surplus ammo has a tar-sealant around the primer which can gum up the bolt after firing. It was less then pleasant trying to cycle the bolt. Just a heads up.

 

[semiautosniper]

LMT MWS 308 is marked 308 but British units shoot 7.62 NATO through it as a DMR. So no problem.

 

[Vic_Mackey]

I've mistakenly shot 7.62x54 out of my .308. The brass would not eject, but the round went down range.

WHOA! Lol that is pushing it, man. Was there an audible or felt difference?

 

[biggen]

I've mistakenly shot 7.62x54 out of my .308. The brass would not eject, but the round went down range.

Considering that the case of 7.62x54 is nearly .100" longer than the 7.62x51/.308 and that the 7.62x54 shoots a .311" diameter bullet vs. a .308" dia. in a 7.62x51/.308

I can hardly see how the bolt closed on a 7.62x54.

It would seem to me that your asking for an "out of battery experience".

Which could in turn lead to an "out of body experience"

 

[USAMP1980]

Shooting 7.62x51 NATO through a barrel/chamber rated .308 WIN depends on three things:
1)How sturdy is your barrel, chamber, bolt
2) How tight the tolerances are on your .308 WIN chamber
3) How much risk are you willing to take.

I've had to ask this question before on a REM 700, and I called Brad and Superior Tactical. He was able to tell me on a specific weapon.
But asking a general question can only elicit a general response.