7.62mm NATO?

[Kagnew]

This is quite possibly a stupid question, but WTH.

When I was in basic training (shortly after the Philippine Insurrection) I know that my DI (or marksmanship instructor, or somebody) said that our M14s fired the 7.62mm NATO round which was the same thing as a .30-06.

Now I read where the 7.62 NATO is same-same the .308.

So, was my dear old DI full of scheisse, or what? Does 7.62 NATO = .30-06 or .308? And if my DI was, indeed, wrong, what else did he lie to me about? Am I not really going to get to kill a Commie for Mommy?

 

[Colt556]

7.62x51= 308, 7.62x63= 30-06.

 

[RBrianHarless]

We used 7.62x54 and was told .308. But was also told that a clip was a magazine. Take it at face value.

 

[indykid]

7.62 NATO (7.62x51) is similar to .308 but not equal. It is a bit less powerful. Just like .223 Remington is similar to 5.56x45 ( 5.56 NATO) but a bit less powerful.

I don't believe 30-06 Springfield was ever designated as a NATO round.

 

[Kagnew]

So, if a guy had an M1A (or - strictly by chance - an M14) could he use .308? Or .30-06? Or would he have to stick with 7.62 NATO?

 

[possum_128]

We used 7.62x54 and was told .308. But was also told that a clip was a magazine. Take it at face value.

So you were in the russian army?

 

[DocIndy]

So, if a guy had an M1A (or - strictly by chance - an M14) could he use .308? Or .30-06? Or would he have to stick with 7.62 NATO?

There was another post here on the same topic not too long ago. You can use the .308 in the M1A. Not the 30-06. That won't work. Now the 7.62 NATO is lower pressure than the .308. The 5.56 is higher pressure than the .223.

 

[red_zr24x4]

So, if a guy had an M1A (or - strictly by chance - an M14) could he use .308? Or .30-06? Or would he have to stick with 7.62 NATO?

M1A = 7.62x51,7.62 NATO, .308 My Springfield M1a is safe for all
30-06 is for an M1 Garand
of course I've read about M1A's chambered for other calibers and I've seen M1 Garands chambered for .308

 

[The Bubba Effect]

We used 7.62x54 and was told .308. But was also told that a clip was a magazine. Take it at face value.

What rifle were you using that shot 7.62x54?

 

[CSK22]

What rifle were you using that shot 7.62x54?

Dragunov & Mosins first come to mind

 

[JeremiahJohnson]

I could be wrong, it's happened, but took an armors course in 2011 and the exact question came up in class. The instructor - an army instructor - said the .308 was less powerful than the 7.62mm and the .223 was less powerful than the 5.56mm. Simply put he said never use military ammo in civilian rifles, but either was fine in military rifles. Don't shoot the messenger - that's what he said.