7.62x51 NATO ammo ok in DPMS .308?

[Bidah]

I would expect that it has a match chamber as well.

-Bidah

[billt]

The thing that usually forgets to get mentioned in the .223 / 5.56 MM comparison, is the fact the difference between the two is in the chamber dimensions, not the cartridge itself. The 5.56 MM chamber has more freebore than the standard .223 chamber does. Yes, the 5.56 case is slightly thicker, but that can be said for most all military cases. All the freebore accomplishes is it allows the round to be loaded slightly hotter for more velocity, without increasing pressure to dangerous levels. Weatherby has done the same thing for years in all of their Weatherby Magnum calibers.

This all means very little today simply because most all ammo today has been downloaded because of this interchangeability. So it is "protection" for a non existent condition. For example Weatherby calibers are now being chambered in non Weatherby makes like Remington. They don't freebore their rifles like Weatherby does, so to safely compensate for this they download the ammunition so it is safe to fire in any chamber. This also holds true for the .223 / 5.56 MM. While the 5.56 MM might be a little hotter, it isn't enough to create any danger. A lot of this is due to the "advancement" of the legal profession. In other words we have too many lawyers in this country. Compare a loading manual from the 50's or 60's to a manual copyrighted today and you will see what I mean. All of the "maximum loads" are much less in todays manuals. Bottom line, you won't get into any trouble shooting 5.56 in a .223, or 7.62 NATO in a .308. I've been doing it for years, and have never seen any issues of high pressure in either caliber in literally dozens of rifles.  Bill T.

[bobodean]

So I should be ok then? I still have a large quantity of this NATO ammo, and I'd rather not give it away.
Could the problem possibly have been a combination of dirty chamber, insufficient lubrication, and new gun(less than 200 rounds fired)?

[tombogan03884]

 I would hold off on shooting that particular lot of Surplus until you have talked to DPMS.

[billt]

I would give them, (DPMS), a call. If they say you are good to go, then give the gun a good cleaning, especially in the chamber area, and see if any problems persist. Take along some ammo you know works. That way you can isolate the problem. If it is the ammo, you'll know for sure.   Bill T.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

Before I bought my 7.62 I talked to DPMS on the phone.  I can't remember everything he said, but he assured me that I could use both .308 and 7.62 with no problem.  When I got the gun the barrel is stamped 7.62.

Warning - this part is from my feeble old memory

I belive he told me all of their .308's will take the 7.62 unlike the .223/5.56 issues.

However, regardless of what the website, catalog, gun dealer, us on here or the barrel stamp say, I would call DPMS.  They are great people, and I have always found that it is like talking to an old friend when I visit with them.

[Robert Black]

I just bought a new DPMS  Oracle the barrel is stamped 7.62x51 the receiver is stamped .308 Win. I am REALLY confused after reading the other posts so I believe I'll call DPMS and see what the manufacturer says and post their answer

[billt]

I just bought a new DPMS  Oracle the barrel is stamped 7.62x51 the receiver is stamped .308 Win. I am REALLY confused after reading the other posts so I believe I'll call DPMS and see what the manufacturer says and post their answer.

It's very simple. Go by what's on the barrel. If the barrel is stamped 7.62 X 51, then that is all you should use. If the barrel is stamped .308, you can use both. It's the opposite of the .223 / 5.56 MM. In .30 cal. the higher pressure cartridge is English, (.308). In .22 cal. it's the opposite. The metric designation, (5.56 MM), is loaded to higher pressures than the English designation, (.223). Which is why 5.56 MM chambers are freebored.