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The 7.62x51mm NATO, often just called the 7.62 NATO, was developed in 1954. The 7.62 NATO round was first fielded by the United States military for use with the M14 and M60 light machine gun. Like the name suggests, the round was adopted by NATO and used in a variety of iconic arms throughout history. Prolific battle rifles such as the FAL and G3 and various machine guns such as the M240 have utilized the 7.62 NATO. Since the cartridge’s inception in the mid-20th century, the 7.62 NATO has been utilized by militaries, law enforcement agencies, and shooters of all types.
Presently, one will not encounter a significant number of firearms chambered specifically in 7.62 NATO. A majority of the firearms specifically chambered in the round will be of the surplus variety. These firearms can be found in the form of readily available milsurps or in the form of parts kit builds. While the market does not host a variety of 7.62 NATO chambered firearms, one will find many firearms which accept the round. This is because firearms chambered in .308 Winchester can accept 7.62 NATO ammo. All in all, one can easily find a firearm capable of accepting 7.62 NATO if they so desire.
An example of interchangeable calibers comes to us in the form of the .308 Winchester and 7.62x51mm NATO. The .308 Winchester cartridge features a higher pressure than the 7.62x51mm NATO. Due to this fact, one can safely and reliably shoot 7.62x51mm NATO out of most .308 Winchester chambered firearms. Conversely, one should avoid shooting .308 Winchester out of firearms chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO as the increased pressure can lead to potentially catastrophic damage to the firearm or user.
