whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

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12-13-2004, 10:33 PM

#11

adkfreeridex

Join Date: May 2003

Location: Schenectady, NY

Posts: 249

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

is it possible that the worlds most popular cartridge aside from the 7.62x39 (AK round) would be the 308, or 7.62 NATO? kind of like how the .22lr is the most popular here, followed by the '06?

12-14-2004, 08:21 PM

#12

CanWoodsman

Join Date: Oct 2004

Location: Southern Ontario, Canada

Posts: 287

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

[quote]ORIGINAL: Nomercy

No, these two rounds are in NO WAY the same, nor interchangeable.

100% Correct

[quote]
The 7.62x39mm is a soviet cartridge that fires a 0.311" bullet.

Wrong it is 7.62 mm or 30 cal. or 0.308"

[quote]
The .308Winchester is interchangeable with the 7.62NATO, which are essentially identical in specs

True

[quote]
and is an american derivative of the .30-06 based around a .308" bullet...

Wrong again. Both the 30.06 & the .308 fire the same .308" diameter bullet.

7.62 x 39mm = 123g. at 2300 fps muzzle vel.
.308 = 7.62( NATO) x 51mm = 150g. at 2800 fps muzzle vel.
30.06 = 7.62 X 63mm = 150g. at 2900 fps muzzle vel.

Stats. are from Federal Ammo. site based on simular common rounds.
Note: only one round aval. for 7.62 X 39mm

12-19-2004, 08:22 PM

#13

jritswet

Join Date: Jun 2004

Posts: 12

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

For what it's worth: The 7.62 X 39 is on par, power wise, with the .30-30 Winchester. Both are way behind the .308 and way, way behind the
.30-06

12-20-2004, 06:25 AM

#14

Charley

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: S Texas

Posts: 1,037

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

European cartridge designation makes more sense than the US designations, which don't mean anything. European designation is bullet diameter and length, expressed 7.62x39 (nominal .30 caliber bullet, case length is 39 mm). 7.62 Nato, AKA .308, is 7.62x51. the 7.62x54 noted above is actually 7.62x54R...the "R" designates a rimmed cartridge.
Just a quick look at the two cartridges in question will point out the different case sizes.
7.62x39, and 7.62x51.

01-02-2005, 08:09 PM

#15

texhookem

Join Date: Nov 2004

Location: houston texas

Posts: 298

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

the 308 still sucks, very accurate, but for hunting why not use a 30-06 if you want a 30 caliber bullet

01-02-2005, 08:13 PM

#16

texhookem

Join Date: Nov 2004

Location: houston texas

Posts: 298

RE: whats the difference between .308 and a 7.62mm X 39mm, or are they the same?

the 7.62x39 does fire a .311 bullet.....

The 7.62x39 Soviet (Model 43)
By Chuck Hawks

This attenuated .303 cartridge (bullet diameter is .311", not .308" like true 7.62mm rifles) has had one of the most infamous careers in the history of firearms. It was designed during the Great Patriotic War (World War II to those of us in the Free World) for use on the Eastern Front against Hitler's Wehrmacht by Stalin's Communist hoards.

(rest of article) http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache...B7.62x39&hl=en