.308 Winchester
| .308 Winchester | ||
|---|---|---|
 The 7.62 x 51 mm NATO is similar in appearance to the .308 Winchester. They are not, however, completely interchangable. |
||
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | ||
| Production history | ||
| Designed | 1952 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .300 Savage | |
| Case type | Rimless, Bottleneck | |
| Bullet diameter | 0.308 in (7.82 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | 0.343 in (8.71 mm) | |
| Shoulder diameter | 0.454 in (11.53 mm) | |
| Base diameter | 0.470 in (11.94 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | 0.473 in (12.01 mm) | |
| Rim thickness | 0.050 in (1.27 mm) | |
| Case length | 2.015 in (51.18 mm) | |
| Overall length | 2.80 in (71.12 mm) | |
| Rifling twist | 1/12 | |
| Primer type | Large Rifle | |
| Maximum pressure | 62000 psi (~427 MPa) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 150 gr Nosler tip | 2820 ft/s (~860 m/s) |
2648 ft·lbf (~3601 J) |
| 165 gr BTSP | 2700 ft/s (~823 m/s) |
2671 ft·lbf (~3633 J) |
| 168 gr BTHP | 2650 ft/s (~808 m/s) |
2619 ft·lbf (~3562 J) |
| 175 gr BTHP | 2600 ft/s (~793 m/s) |
2627 ft·lbf (~3573 J) |
| 180 gr Nosler partition | 2740 ft/s (~835 m/s) |
3000 ft·lbf (~4080 J) |
| Test barrel length: 24 in Source: Federal Cartridge Co. ballistics page |
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.308 Winchester is the commercial name of a centrefire cartridge based on the military 7.62 × 51 mm NATO round. Two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO T65 in 1954, Winchester (a subsidiary of the Olin Corporation) cunningly branded the cartridge and introduced it to the commercial hunting market as the .308 Winchester. Winchester's Model 70 and Model 88 rifles were subsequently chambered for the new cartridge. Since then, the .308 Winchester has become one of the most popular hunting cartridges available. It is also commonly used for civilian target matches and police sharpshooting. The relatively short case makes the .308 Winchester especially well adapted for short action rifles and is easy to reload.
The .308 Winchester and 7.62 x 51 mm cartridges are not identical, there are minor differences in their case dimensions, maximum pressure performance and chambering specifications that should be noted. The 7.62 x 51 mm is smaller by a few thousandths of an inch in some external dimensions but internally the case wall is of a thicker brass.[1] Excessive chamber pressures are possible if a .308 Winchester cartridge, loaded to the maximium, is fired in a 7.62 x 51 mm chamber. However, the opposite can also present problems when handloading a 'hot' load. It is not safe to mix .308 Winchester and 7.62 x 51 mm ammunition [2], problems can be encountered due the maximum pressures developed while firing and this is compounded by the different headspace requirements for each. So be careful, use the correct ammunition in the correct chamber.
Several more cartridges have been developed using the .308 Winchester as a parent case, some becoming very popular for hunting, particularly in North America. These would be the .243 Winchester, the .260 Remington (aka 6.5-08 A-Square), the 7mm-08 Remington, the .338 Federal, and the .358 Winchester (aka 8.8x51mm). In 1980, two rimmed cartridges based on the .308 Winchester were introduced for use in the Winchester Model 94 XTR Angle Eject rifle; the .307 Winchester and the .356 Winchester.
As a hunting cartridge, the .308 Winchester is powerful enough for all North American game. When used for hunting dangerous game or animals with tough hides, the hunter should use an appropriate bullet. The Nosler partition bullet and Barnes solid copper bullets are popular choices for dangerous or tough game.
References
- ^ Barnes, Frank C.; McPherson, M.L.: Cartridges of the World, 9th Edition, Krause Publications, 2000, ISBN 0-87341-909-X p.90 and p.345
- ^ Tempest in a Cartridge Case - No, Virginia, .308 Win. and 7.62mm NATO Are Not Identical
See also
External links
- .308 Winchester Cartridge Guide by AccurateShooter.com
- .308 Videos by StoppingPower.Info
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