7.62x51 vs .308 Winchester Comparison

7.62x51 vs .308 Winchester Comparison

If you're a firearms enthusiast, you've probably encountered 7.62x51mm NATO and .308 Winchester ammunition. At first glance, they may appear identical, but are they? This blog post will dive into the histories, similarities, differences, and ballistics of both calibers to provide a clean comparison. Without further ado, let’s compare the 7.62x51mm NATO and .308 Winchester cartridges.

What is 7.62x51mm?

Derived from the same T65 series of experimental cartridges as the .308 Winchester, the 7.62x51mm NATO entered service in 1954. The cartridge’s shorter overall length when compared to something like the .30-06 Springfield makes it well-suited for use in semi-automatic rifles. Reliable function in semi-automatic firearms was a major focus during the cartridge’s development in the 1950’s. Following adoption by NATO, the 7.62x51mm NATO has been utilized in battle rifles, marksman rifles, assault rifles, and machine guns. Notably, firearms such as the HK G3, FN FAL, M14, and M60 light machine gun have been chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. The cartridge is often abbreviated as 7.62x51mm or 7.62 NATO.

What is .308 Winchester?

The .308 Winchester is an American cartridge that was introduced in 1952. The cartridge served as the basis for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The .308 Winchester is derived from the .300 Savage and was designed to provide ballistic performance similar to the .30-06 Springfield in a smaller package. Both the .308 Winchester and subsequent 7.62x51mm NATO were designed with a length conducive to reliable cycling in autoloading mechanisms. This made the cartridge well suited for use in everything from rifles to machine guns. The cartridge is often denoted as .308 Win or simply .308 for simplicity’s sake. Purchase 7.62x51mm NATO Ammo

Potential for Interchangeability

The potential for interchangeability exists between the 7.62x51mm NATO and the .308 Winchester. Firearms chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO should only be used with 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition, never with .308 Winchester ammo. This is because .308 Winchester ammunition yields higher pressures than 7.62x51mm NATO ammo does. Conversely, .308 Winchester chambered firearms can shoot both .308 Winchester ammunition and 7.62x51mm NATO ammo. This is due to the fact that .308 Winchester chambered firearms are designed to handle the higher pressures of their caliber.

Quick Ballistic Data

7.62x51mm

• Muzzle Velocity: 2,580 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,648 ft-lbs

.308 Winchester

• Muzzle Velocity: 2,600 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 2,670 ft-lbs

Of course, these figures are just general values which can differ based on a variety of factors. Things such as barrel length, altitude, and traits of specific loadings can contribute to the actual, achievable velocities and energies of these cartridges.

What is 7.62x51mm NATO Used For?

Shooters employ 7.62x51mm NATO for a wide range of use cases and purposes. Plentiful ammo stocks and cheap 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition make the cartridge well-suited to plinking and training. This is especially relevant when considering surplus ammo offerings. Simply put, affordable ammunition is conducive to many well-spent days at the range. Shooters can easily employ 7.62x51mm NATO recreationally or to develop their skills. The cartridge is also well-suited to battle rifle and military surplus shooters. The aforementioned surplus ammo offerings in addition to modern production offerings allow an end user to acquire authentic loadings. Loadings of this type, such as M80 ball offerings, are well-suited for use in FAL, G3, and M14 style firearms to name a few. The 7.62x51mm NATO can also be employed in hunting applications. Medium sized game such as deer are just some of the prey hunters can ethically pursue with 7.62x51mm NATO ammo. Due to its similarities with .308 Winchester, the 7.62x51mm NATO is capable of taking the same game. As always, one should employ appropriate firearms, ammo, equipment, and practices while on a hunt. By doing so, one ensures that their hunt will be both ethical and optimal.

What is .308 Winchester Used For?

Shooters employ .308 Winchester for a wide range of use cases and purposes. Plentiful ammo stocks and cheap .308 Winchester ammo make the cartridge well-suited to recreational shooting and training. Simply put, the cartridge is appropriate for a wide range of shooting such as plinking and precision shooting. Shooters can easily employ the .308 Winchester recreationally or to help develop their skills. The .308 Winchester is also commonly employed in competition and match roles. These types of matches range from rapid fire multigun competitions to long range precision-oriented matches. .308 Winchester ammo of all types is utilized in this type of use case. Everything from ball ammunition to specialty match grade loadings are employed in matches depending on the course of fire and requirements of the event. Many hunters also employ the cartridge in pursuit of various game. The .308 Winchester is commonly employed in hunting applications and is capable of dispatching medium and larger-sized game with the right loads. Game such as hog, whitetail deer, elk and even some types of bears at the right ranges and with proper loadings can be ethically taken with .308 Winchester. As always, use appropriate ammo, equipment, and practices to ensure an optimal and humane hunt. Purchase .308 Winchester Ammo

Availability of Ammunition

At this point in time, there are more companies producing .308 Winchester ammunition than there are producing 7.62x51mm NATO ammo. This is to say that one will encounter .308 Winchester ammo a lot easier than they will encounter 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. The .308 Winchester cartridge is supported by a wide range of ammunition manufacturers such as Federal, Winchester, Norma, and Remington. These offerings can be had in a variety of specialized loadings optimized for use cases such as hunting, target shooting, competition, and even defensive and tactical applications. This is not to say that 7.62x51mm ammo offerings are impossible to find, one will just simply have fewer options to consider. Companies such as Aguila, Vairog, Saltech, and PMC produce 7.62x51mm ammunition in bulk ammo and individual box forms. Additionally, shooters can still find military surplus 7.62x51mm ammunition which is good for building ammo stocks and saving money. In short, the .308 Winchester beats out the 7.62x51mm in terms of ammo availability.

Availability of Firearms

At this point in time, there are more options in the way of .308 Winchester chambered firearms than there are 7.62x51mm NATO offerings. This is due to the fact that the .308 Winchester cartridge is simply more plentiful in the United States than its NATO counterpart is. As far as 7.62x51mm only firearms go, shooters will find that these types of firearms are imported in nature, are built from old parts kits, or are military surplus firearms. Shooters will find that there are many firearms chambered in .308 Winchester to choose from, with options like AR-10s and bolt actions catering to users of all types. As with ammunition availability, the .308 Winchester wins out and dominates the 7.62x51mm NATO.

Conclusion

And there we have it. Both the 7.62x51mm NATO and .308 Winchester cartridges are well-known and employed by shooters of all types in the United States for various purposes. One cannot go wrong with either cartridge as long as they are using them for their appropriate use cases. Shooters with .308 Winchester chambered firearms benefit from being able to access an ammo pool of both calibers. We here at True Shot Ammo carry both 7.62x51mm NATO ammo and .308 Winchester ammunition for sale in our large inventory. Whether you want to buy 7.62x51mm ammo or purchase .308 Winchester ammo, we have you covered. Regardless of whether you want to buy bulk ammo or individual boxes of either caliber, we can help you get stocked up. As always, happy shooting.