Weapon 308. 308 Win: world recognition

Now it is difficult to prove the connection between the active lobbying by the United States of a new military cartridge 7.62x51 for adoption by the NATO bloc in 1954 and the “release” of its commercial version on the civilian market two years earlier. If such information is available, then it is not yet available for research, not only for reasons of protecting trade secrets, but also for political reasons. What is certain, however, is that the introduction of the civilian cartridge .308 Winchester served as yet another pro in favor of the adoption of the live cartridge by the Alliance. The subsequent development of both "partners" - commercial and military - took place in parallel, at almost the same pace. The Winchester company, which became one of the main manufacturers of military and civilian ammunition, did not remain in the “lose bag”. The popularity of the commercial version of the 7.62x51 cartridge called .308 Winchester is hard to overestimate. It can be argued that currently .308 Win is perhaps the most common sports and hunting ammunition in the world.

As we have already noted, the commercial career of the 7.62x51 cartridge began somewhat earlier than the military one. In 1952, Winchester, part of the Olin Corporation, officially introduced this ammunition for sale on the civilian market under the commercial designation .308 Winchester. The main competitor of the new cartridge at that time was the old army .30-06 Springfield. Soon many hunters and shooters felt the benefits of the .308 Win. Compared to the 30-06, the new compact ammunition had less recoil, and the weapon under it had a shorter bolt stroke. In addition, 7.62x51 was a little cheaper. A significant advantage of the old cartridge was the versatility of reloading, because. its sleeve allowed loading with the widest range of bullets weighing up to 14.3 g. However, at present, a wide variety of equipment options have been developed for the .308 Win, and this caliber is produced, probably, by all cartridge companies in the world without exception. Thanks to this, with the help of .308 Win you can catch medium and, with some reservations, big game, and when using light shell bullets, you can shoot a wolf, a fox and even a bird. On animals of medium size. 308 Win is most effective at distances up to 200 m. Cartridges of factory equipment have bullets weighing from 9.6 to 13 g and an initial speed in the range of 745-880 m / s. Cartridge .308 Win gained a reputation as an accurate sniper cartridge, thanks to the participation of weapons of this caliber in a number of competitions in varminting, benchrest, CISM competitions, etc. For target shooting, many companies produce special cartridges of increased accuracy. For example, high-precision cartridges of the Diamond Line series by the Swedish company Norma have a molybdenum-coated bullet, which reduces wear on the rifling of the barrel bore.
Unfortunately, the scope of the journal article does not allow for a detailed analysis of commercial options for .308 Win. Let us dwell only on some manufacturers that have gained popularity in our market. This short review, of course, it is worth starting with the Winchester company, which “released to the people” the cartridge .308 Win. This manufacturer currently offers a wide range of load options in this caliber. In the Supreme Elite and Supreme series, the .308 Win cartridges are available with 9.72g E-Tip polycarbonate ballistic tip full-pack bullets, 9.72g XP3 polycarbonate ballistic tip bullets, semi-jacketed lead core bullets with a lead core and a polycarbonate ballistic tip Ballistic Silvertip weighing 9.72 and 10.89 g and the famous Sierra Match King BTHP bullets weighing 10.89 g. 9.72 g Power Max Bonded headstock, 10.89 g Power Point protruding lead core bullets and 11.66 g Silvertip aluminum alloy ballistic lead core bullets. bullets FMJ weighing 9.52 g.

Another equally well-known American company Remington also offers a wide range of cartridges. 308 Win: with half-shell bullets with a lead core that fills a small hole in the Premier Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded tip weighing 11.66 and 9.72 g; with half-shell bullets with a lead core and a plastic ballistic tip Premier Accutip (manufactured by Hornady) weighing 10.69 g; bullets with a thick-walled jacket of variable section with a lead core and a plastic ballistic tip Premier Scirocco Bonded weighing 10.69 g; with 9.72 g Premier Copper Solid ballistic-tipped solid-pack bullets and 11.66 g semi-bore blunt-pointed Core-Lokt Soft Point bullets. For target shooting and various shooting competitions, Remington offers .308 Win cartridges, loaded jacketed bullets with a small hole in the Premier Match tip (Sierra Match King bullets) weighing 10.81 and 11.34 g.
Among the European manufacturers of this caliber, RWS holds a special place. The line of their bullets has long been a classic in the world of cartridges. For .308 Win, the German company offers equipment options for ID Classic bullets weighing 9.7 g, KS weighing 9.7 and 10.7 g, DK weighing 10.7 g, HMK (H-Mantel) weighing 11.7 g, Uni Classic weighing 11.7 g and Evo (Evolution) weighing 11.9 g.
The Czech company Sellier & Bellot produces a very practical range of cartridges. 308 Win. Basic equipment options include four types of bullets: semi-shell SPCE weighing 9.7 and 11.7 g, the classic SP weighing 11.7 g, and the HPC bullet weighing 11.7 g with an expansive hole closed with a brass ballistic tip. In addition, S&B offers bullet options in this caliber with improved ballistics and expansion, all weighing 11.7g: XRG (with solid brass body and expansive bore closed by an aluminum cap), Nosler Partition (half-shell with split core), Sierra SBT GameKing ® (tapered back half-shell) and PTS (tapered back half-shell with plastic ballistic cap). Cartridges for target shooting are equipped with jacketed bullets with a cone of the rear part FMJ weighing 11.7 and 9.55 g. For match cartridges HPBT bullets weighing 10.9 and 11.7 g with a hole in the tip are used.

308 Win. vs 7.62mm NATO

The issue of interchangeability of 7.62 mm NATO and .308Win cartridges. still remains one of the most controversial. There is an established belief that commercial and military cartridges are NOT interchangeable due to the difference in maximum pressure in the chambers of commercial and military weapons with a difference of about 12,000 PSI (12,000 psi). It is believed that the maximum working pressure for commercial weapons is 62,000 PSI, and for the military - 50,000 PSI. Let's repeat: we are talking specifically about pressures in the chambers of weapons, and not in cartridge cases. Based on these data, a popular judgment was born that, for safety reasons, it is not recommended to fire military cartridges with commercial cartridges. It would seem that everything is clear and understandable. However, it is worth considering in more detail the sources of data on pressure values ​​and, most importantly, the methods for measuring their numerical values.

There are two main organizations that develop technical requirements and standards for commercial weapons and ammunition. Is it the American SAAMI - Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (Institute of Sports Weapons and Ammunition Manufacturers) and the European CIP - Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes? Feu Portables (Permanent international commission testing firearms). These are civil organizations that develop various specifications for the needs of their own associative members. Other market participants may use the specifications of these organizations or adhere to their own standards. Previously, all military and civilian organizations used one general method , based on measuring the deformation of a copper ball under the action of powder gases in the chamber of a weapon. This technique was called the Copper crusher method, and the standard units of pressure measurement in it were Copper Units of Pressure (copper units of pressure), abbreviated as CUP. Currently, the more accurate Piezo method (piezoelectric method) is used to measure pressure in the chamber, in which quartz crystals are used instead of a copper ball. By this method, pressure is measured in pounds per square inch - PSI (pounds per square inch). SAAMI and CIP have been using the Piezo method, measured in PSI, for a long time. The US military and the NATO alliance use their own, different from each other, technical requirements and testing methodologies. NATO uses a special system of versatile testing using tools and computer technology EPVAT (Electronic Pressure Velocity and Action Time - electronic pressure velocity and action time), which captures measurements in PSI units. The US Army takes pressure measurements using the old method in units of CUP. Such a difference in methods and methods of measurement, of course, creates confusion when comparing data, a striking example of which is the issue of interchangeability of .308 Win cartridges. and 7.62 mm NATO. Even when comparing the seemingly identical measurement systems SAAMI and CIP in PSI units, there are some differences in the final data due to the different methodology for placing pressure sensors in the chamber. Measurement techniques in the US Army are based on a completely different method with CUP units that are not equal to PSI units. In the case of the 7.62x51 cartridge, this difficult situation with measurements was aggravated by a banal error, in which the value of the maximum pressure of 50,000, expressed in CUP units, migrated from the old American army technical manuals to the new ones (for example, TM-43-001-27), but already in PSI units. And if earlier the military indicator of 50,000 CUP was approximately equal to the commercial indicator of 60,000 PSI, then after an error in units of measurement, the notorious 12,000 PSI differences appeared out of nowhere. Of course, the actual difference in military and commercial pressure figures exists, but does not exceed 2000 PSI. This value is not so significant, because such deviations of the actual pressure value can be observed even during measurements due to natural causes, for example, in hot weather. Finally, in the mid-1990s, the Americans raised the maximum pressure threshold for the cartridge with the M118 LR sniper bullet to 52,000 CUP, thereby equaling it with the commercial 62,000 PSI.

In addition to the maximum pressure value, other criteria for the interchangeability of cartridges are the dimensions of the chamber and sleeve. The difference in chamber size specifications between SAAMI and the US Army is so small that it is no more than 0.013″ (0.005 mm). Thus, it does not affect the type of ammunition used - whether commercial in army weapons, or vice versa. Geometric dimensions of cartridges.308 Win. and 7.62 mm NATO are almost identical and differ mainly within the technological capabilities of each specific manufacturer. Army ammunition only has shells with thicker walls and, accordingly, a smaller internal volume, but this is due to the need to create a margin of safety and increase the level of reliability and safety when used in automatic weapons.

Born in USSR

The history of the appearance of the domestic cartridge 7.62x51 is rather vague, which, however, is quite a common situation for most domestic ammunition. There is a legend about a high-ranking leader of the USSR who was presented with a carbine chambered for .308Win, and a personal need for cartridges of this caliber led to the highest order to develop a domestic analogue. Now it is difficult to guess who this mysterious "high-ranking leader" was. It is only known that in 1967, the writer Sholokhov presented General Secretary Brezhnev with an American carbine model 88 from Winchester for his 60th birthday in this caliber. Later, Brezhnev, an avid hunter, also had other samples of the sub.308th, which, perhaps, served as the main impetus for the start of domestic production of the 7.62x51 cartridge, and subsequently his own samples of hunting weapons in this caliber - high-class self-loading carbines MC -125 and fishing "Bear-3" and "Moose-4".

However, in the design of a new ammunition Soviet designers go your own way. In the absence of technological drawings of cartridges and chambers for rifles of foreign caliber, it was decided to measure several samples of weapons and cartridges available and, based on the data obtained, develop our own technical documentation. The result was a cartridge that differed from both the military 7.62mm NATO and the commercial .308Win. In addition to some minor geometric deviations from the basic samples, the main difference was a smaller powder charge, which did not allow the use of foreign cartridges in domestic carbines, which developed a greater pressure of powder gases in the bore.

In the early 1970s the production of pilot batches of the new cartridge was established in Klimovsk, and by 1975 the cartridge was finally standardized in GOST 21169-75, and its gross production began at the Barnaul Machine-Tool Plant (BSZ, since 2003 - CJSC Barnaul Cartridge Plant). The new cartridge received the domestic designation 7.62x51A, where the letter "A" denoted the equipment of the cartridge with a semi-shell bullet (SP - Soft Point) with a lead core protruding by 3.7 mm. The letter "B" denoted cartridges with a shell bullet (FMJ). However, serial cartridges with a bullet "B" were not produced, just like the flanged versions of the cartridge with both types of bullets worked out at the same time. Semi-shell bullets weighing 9.7 g were initially loaded into brass cases, and a little later - into lacquered steel. It is noteworthy that on the bottom stamps of the cartridges, in addition to the designation of the caliber 7.62x51, there was no branding of the manufacturer, because cartridges were intended only "for supplies to the domestic market." A charge of gunpowder brand "VT" (or brand "OSNF 38 / 3.77") weighing 2.95-3.01 g created an average pressure of powder gases in the bore of 3100 kgf / cm2. The length of the semi-shell bullet in the tompak shell was 24.8-25.1 mm, and the total length of the cartridge was 72 mm. One more distinctive feature new ammunition became the actual diameter of the bullet according to the "Western" model - 7.83 mm, in contrast to Soviet standards, in which bullets with a nominal caliber of 7.62 mm had an actual diameter of about 7.92 mm.
After the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s. Russian manufacturers of the 7.62x51 cartridge were faced with the need to “fit” the domestic cartridge to Western CIP and RMK standards, which in the future opened up great commercial opportunities for the cartridge industry former Union. In this regard, the overall length of the cartridge was reduced, and the design of the sleeve was modified to take into account the possibility of using a charge that developed pressure in the bore up to 3600 bar. A new primer-igniter KV-27N of a larger diameter - 6.47 mm was adopted for the cartridge instead of the old "revolving-pistol" KV-26 with a diameter of 5.0 mm. The upgraded cartridge in a lacquered steel case received the designation 7.62x51M, and its production was continued at the BSZ. The base model of the 7.62x51-9.1-PO cartridge had a slightly shortened semi-shell (SP) bullet in a bimetallic jacket weighing 9.1 g and a total cartridge length of 68 mm. Since the mid-1990s, BSZ began producing cartridges with jacketed bullets (FMJ) weighing 9.4 g with indices 7.62x51-9.4M-O (in lacquered steel case) and 7.62x51-9.4-OB (in steel brass sleeve). Later, the production of cartridges with galvanized sleeves was launched, as well as with bullets with a tapered tail - FMJBT (10.9 g) and SPBT (10.9 g). Since the middle of 2009, BPZ has been offering a series of cartridges under the common brand name "Centaur" (Centaur), with polymer-coated cartridge cases and bullets from the American company Hornady Manufacturing Co. - shell FMJBT weighing 9.7 g and semi-shell SPBT weighing 10.7 and 11.7 g. Currently, sports and hunting versions of the 7.62x51 cartridge are also produced by the Novosibirsk Low-Voltage Equipment Plant (since 2003 - Novosibirsk Cartridge Plant CJSC) and Tula Cartridge Plant OJSC. Novosibirsk cartridges are produced with a wide range of "bullet + cartridge case" combinations. Brass and bimetallic cases can be loaded with FMJ and SP bullets weighing 9.2-9.4 g in tombac and bimetallic jackets or FMJ high-accuracy bullets weighing 12.0 g in tompak jacket. It is interesting to note that since 2008, NZVA has been producing 7.62x51 cartridges in bimetallic cases with annular knurling in the lower part of the case above the annular groove. This structural element is designed to compensate for the deformation of the locking unit due to the "straightening" of the knurling during firing. This improves the extraction of the sleeve, excludes transverse ruptures of the sleeves and increases the reliability of the weapon as a whole. The manufacturing technology of knurled cases was developed and experimentally verified by the well-known Soviet author of the basics of designing weapons and cartridges, Professor, Major General of the ITS V.M. Kirillov. First practical use this technology for the production of sleeves was found back in the 1970s. in the development of experimental rifle and machine gun cartridges 6x49, but only in recent times turned out to be in full demand in the production of Russian commercial cartridges 7.62x51 at the refinery and .30-06 at the BPZ.
Of the modern Russian military developments, we can mention the new 7.62x51 RS-51 cartridge with an increased penetration bullet, mastered in the early 2000s at the Barnaul Cartridge Plant as a promising export model. The design of a bullet with a heat-strengthened core weighing 9.45 g is similar to the design of a bullet from the Mosinsky cartridge 7N13. Distinctive features of the new ammunition are the purple lacquer coating of the junction of the bullet and the cartridge case, as well as the circular 4-segment crimp in the primer mount. The marking on the sleeve remained standard commercial - the factory logo (BARS) and the cartridge type designation - 7.62x51M. A cartridge with a tracer RS-52T bullet with a green bullet tip was also worked out.

Based on .308

Cartridge .308 Win served as the basis for the development of various conversion models aimed at satisfying the ever-growing demand for cartridges for special tasks. The fate of the "clones" has developed in different ways - some of them have "taken root" and conquered their segment of the international shooting market, others have found only local application.
The first such cartridge was .243 Winchester, developed in 1955 primarily for shooting all kinds of rodents at long distances - varminting. Thanks to a number positive properties, such as flatness of the bullet trajectory and its high speed, the cartridge quickly conquered the market and is successfully produced by almost all the world's largest ammunition manufacturers. The release of the cartridge has also been established in Russia at the Barnaul Cartridge Plant in two versions of equipment with bullets in the Hornady tombac shell - full-shell (FMJBT) weighing 5.8 g and semi-shell (SPBT) weighing 6.5 g. In the Barnaul catalog, the cartridge is additionally indicated in metric system - 6.16x51. The second sample, created on the basis of the .308 cartridge case in the same 1955, was the .358 Winchester cartridge, which served as a kind of replacement for two older samples of a similar caliber - the .35 Remington and .348 Winchester cartridges. A fairly popular cartridge. 35 "Remington" was less powerful, and a welted one. 348 "Winchester" was produced for only one rifle model - Model 71, produced from 1936 to 1958. However, the cartridge did not receive more distribution, except in the United States. The same limited distribution was received by two other "Winchester" cartridges based on the .308 Win sleeve, created in 1982 in a welted version - cartridge .307 Winchester and cartridge .356 Winchester. The cartridge, recompressed to caliber .307, has become quite popular in Spain, moreover, as an equivalent to the .308 Win ammunition, banned in this country for civilian circulation due to the identity of its dimensions with the military 7.62x51 NATO. The .356 Winchester cartridge was a welted version of the .358 Win. cartridge, designed as a more powerful round for big game hunting, replacing the .30-30 Winchester and .35 Remington cartridges. Both cartridges were intended for modified versions of the legendary Browning rifle Model 1894 - Winchester Model 94 Angle Eject. In 1987, the release of rifles for these calibers was discontinued. Between 1983 and 1986, Marlin produced 2441 Marlin 336ER (Extra Range) rifles in .356 Winchester, but this was more of a tribute to the competition. One way or another, the .307 Winchester and .356 Winchester cartridges did not receive further development and distribution.

Remington participated in the creation of two more variants of cartridges based on the .308 Win cartridge case. The first is the 7mm 7mm-08 Remington cartridge, developed by Remington in 1980 for active promotion with several models of rifles of its own design. Ammunition enjoys a certain popularity among fans of accurate shooting at long distances from a benchrest. The second ammunition - .260 Remington, was created in 1997 by recompression of the muzzle of the .308 Win case to cal. 6.5 mm. It is interesting to note that in 1996, the American company A-Square submitted specifications to the SAAMI organization for a cartridge of a similar design of its own production called 6.5-08 A-Square. The differences in case sizes between the two firms were very small, but SAAMI for some reason accepted Remington's specifications, even though they were filed a few months later than A-Square's specifications. This is where the double designation of this cartridge comes from, sometimes used in various sources - .260 Remington and 6.5-08 A-Square.
Of recent developments, it is worth noting the 2006 model - cartridge 338 Federal. positive traits new cartridge are power, the ability to use heavy bullets of different designs and the compactness of the weapon used. Popularization of this caliber in the commercial market is carried out with the Finnish rifle Sako M85.
Here is a summary of all the information on the .308 Win cartridge today. Of course, the cartridge industry does not stand still, and soon we will be able to observe and even actively use new modifications of this famous ammunition or its “clones”. Maybe the history of 7.62x51 will be as long as that of the famous 7.92x57 Mauser. Time will tell. At the very least, the constant innovation in the development of new materials, structural elements and powders in the modern cartridge industry indicates that the career of the .308 Win is far from over.

Mar 20, 2013 Andrey aka Pulkin Donets and Dmitry aka Treshkin Adeev official IAA members

Caliber- 7.62 (.308 Win)

Chuck length, mm - 71.05

Sleeve length, mm - 51.18

Cartridge weight, g - 3.5 - 16.1

bullet weight, g - 6.54 - 10.2

Powder charge weight, g - 3.1

muzzle velocity, m/s - 840 - 950

muzzle energy, J - 3600

Cartridge caliber 7.62x51 developed in 1947 on the basis of the American cartridge T65 (T65EZ), which in turn appeared as a result of a reduction in the dimensions of the cartridge case from the cartridge .30-06 Springfield.

In 1952, in the United States, this cartridge was adopted under the designation 7.62x51 NATO.

At the same time, after the Second World War, in many countries, developments were carried out on the subject of an intermediate cartridge. In the west, the greatest successes were with the British (cartridge .280 British) and the Belgians.

But, as often happens, political considerations won out, and in 1954, the adoption of the 7.62x51 cartridge for service in other NATO member countries began.

The 7.62x51 bottle-shaped cartridge case does not have a protruding flange. At the bottom of the cartridge case, the NATO trademark is placed - a cross in a circle, which means the interchangeability of ammunition (there is no such marking on commercial cartridges of the same types).

Bullet shell with a lead core. The shell of the bullet is bimetallic. The cartridge is equipped with all conventional, tracer, armor-piercing, etc. bullets acceptable for military purposes. The material for the manufacture of the sleeve is brass, sometimes steel is used.

As an army intermediate cartridge, it turned out to be too powerful, because many samples of army weapons, which were originally created for it as automatic ones, were later used mainly as self-loading ones (the American M14 Springfield rifle, the Belgian FN FAL and others).

Currently, the 7.62x51 cartridge is in service with NATO member countries and many other states as ammunition for single machine guns and sniper rifles (a special sniper version of this cartridge is produced in the USA under the designation M118).

In automatic handguns, the 7.62x51 cartridge is almost everywhere superseded by the 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. The nomenclature of 7.62 mm NATO military ammunition includes all standard bullet options (conventional, tracer, armor-piercing incendiary, etc.).

In 1952, Winchester released this cartridge for sale to the civilian population under the name .308 Win.

The main competitor was the old army cartridge .30-06 Springfield. Hunters and shooters tried the new cartridge and found some advantages in it. Firstly, this is a smaller return compared to .30-06. Secondly, the shorter stroke length of the shutter. Thirdly, the cartridge itself is slightly cheaper.

On the other hand, cartridge .30-06 is more versatile for independent reloading: it can be equipped with bullets weighing up to 14.3 g without any problems due to the larger volume of the sleeve.

Despite this, .308 Win can not be called non-universal. Over the years of its use, a large number of types of equipment have been developed. Perhaps not a single cartridge company in the world ignores this ammunition. V.308 Win uses almost all types of bullets currently existing in the world.

Thanks to this, with the help of .308 Win it is possible to extract medium and, with some reservations, large game, and when using light shell bullets, shoot a wolf, a fox and even a wood grouse.

For animals of medium size. 308 Win is most effective at distances up to 200 m. Factory equipment has a bullet weight from 9.6 to 13 g, the initial speed lies in the range of 745-880 m / s. Muzzle energy is approximately 3200-3500 J.

Also, the .308 Win cartridge has managed to gain fame as an accurate sniper cartridge, thanks to the participation of weapons of this caliber in a number of competitions in varminting, benchresting, CISM competitions and a number of other disciplines.

Suffice it to say that the 7.62x51mm cartridge is standard sniper ammunition for most Western armies. The existing army standards provide for the defeat of a chest target from a distance of 600 m, and a growth target - at least 900 m.

For target shooting, many companies produce special cartridges of increased accuracy. For example, the Swedish company Norma manufactures a series of high-precision Diamond Line cartridges with a molybdenum-coated bullet, which provides reduced rifling wear.

In the 1970s, the 7.62x51 cartridge appeared in the USSR. The history of the emergence and adaptation of the American cartridge 7.62x51 to the conditions of the Russian market was far from triumphant. There is a legend among specialists that after the signing of the SALT-1 treaty in 1973, the US President presented L.I. Brezhnev hunting carbine "Winchester-308" with a set of cartridges. The General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, who knew a lot about hunting, appreciated the gift and ordered the production of such weapons in the USSR.

An order was immediately received at TsNIITochmash for the development of a 7.62x51 cartridge with a semi-shell bullet. And when the "order of the party" was fulfilled, then, to load the created production capacities, Izhmash began to produce the Medved-3 and Los-4 hunting carbines.

In the 90s, when foreign-made hunting carbines chambered for such a cartridge began to arrive in Russia, it turned out that their chambers did not correspond to Russian cartridges. At present, Izhmash produces 7.b2x51M.308 WIN cartridges, adjusted to Western requirements.

Barnaul Cartridge Plant

Bugs have been fixed, weapon and ammo designs have been adjusted. Izhmash mastered the production of the Los-7 carbine, OJSC BSZ began to produce cartridges 7.62x51M .308 Win meeting the requirements (CIP).

In 1995 JSC "Molot" in the city of Vyatskiye Polyany masters the production of carbines "Vepr-51" through the modernization of combat RPK machine guns chambered for the Barnaul cartridge 7.62x51M .308 Win with an SP bullet, the length of which is 68 mm.

It should be noted that the cartridge 7.62x51A and 7.62x51 M not interchangeable for "Los-7" carbines, as well as for a number of early series of "Vepr-51" carbines.

Weapons of caliber .308 Win are produced by almost all weapons companies in the world.

Caliber 308 belongs to a large group of combat and hunting cartridges, which has a very wide scope and application. This group includes a number of ammunition varieties very similar in their technical characteristics, developed on the basis of 30-caliber cartridges used in the US Army at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Caliber 308 is versatile and suitable for both the needs of the army and for hunting. This cartridge is produced by almost all major companies in the world. There are a huge number of different modifications of cartridges for 308 caliber weapons, which differ in the characteristics of the bullet, which have an impact on the scope and ballistic data. The range of hunting rifles and military weapons using this caliber is very wide and includes, among other things, domestic developments. This caliber is optimal in many ways, including shot accuracy, less recoil, lighter weight of the weapon chambered for this cartridge, and extensive reloading automation capabilities. Domestic manufacturers of hunting weapons have long used the potential of the 308 caliber and offer a wide selection of 308 caliber ammunition at affordable prices, as well as developing new versions of carbines in line with the most current trends unification of hunting weapons, including options with interchangeable barrels and bolt larvae.

Predecessors of the thirtieth caliber

The history of the American .30 caliber goes back to the "government cartridge" 45-70 Government, which began production in 1873.

It was a heavy and low-power ammunition for a single-shot army with the following characteristics:

1. Caliber - 11.63 mm.
2. Powder charge - 4.54 g.
3. Bullet weight - 26.2 g.
4. Power - 3000 J.

It was a cartridge of the transitional era, when black powder was replaced with smokeless pyroxylin types. Its ballistic characteristics and stopping effect are very close to those of a 16-gauge smoothbore shotgun. At the turn of the century, the American army needed a new cartridge, lighter, for smokeless powder and a smaller caliber for repeating rifles. So in 1892, the 30-40 Krag cartridge appeared for Krag-Jorgensen rifles. It was the earliest representative of the family of American .30-caliber cartridges, which had a classic bottle-shaped case. The main difference between this cartridge and subsequent developments is the protruding flange at the rear end of the sleeve. Its characteristics were as follows:

1. Caliber - 7.8 mm.
2. Length - 78.5 mm.
3. Bullet - 6-13 g.
4. Initial speed - 883-820 m/s.
5. Muzzle energy - 2529 J.

It was a sharp jump towards increasing the range and accuracy of fire. At a distance of 200 m, when shooting along a flat trajectory, the bullet goes down by 2 cm. For military purposes, this cartridge was not used for long, but it is still used to hunt large animals up to 250 kg.

The main representatives of the American thirtieth caliber

All cartridges in this family have the same bottle case shape as the 30-40 Krag, but they do not have a raised flange.

The main representatives of the thirtieth caliber were developed as a small-caliber class of ammunition for handguns. These cartridges differ in the length of the sleeve, which affects the amount of gunpowder, as well as the shape, weight and design of the bullet. The cartridge case without a protruding flange is a German development and is intended for rifles with a box magazine type Mauser M 98. The first representative of the classic range of cartridges of the American thirtieth caliber was ammunition for Springfield rifles, which are copies of the aforementioned German rifle with a box magazine and free-sliding rotary bolt. At the beginning of the twentieth century, two such ammunition appeared. These are calibers 30-03 and 30-06 Springfield. Both cartridges differ from each other in the size of the sleeve and the shape of the bullet. Caliber 30-06 has a shortened case by 1.77 mm, but the most significant difference is the design of the bullet. Caliber 30-03 has a heavy bullet weighing 14.3 g with a round head. This bullet didn't get enough high performance in terms of flatness of shooting, but it has excellent stopping properties. These characteristics were the reason for her short military career and the rapid transition to the category of hunting ammunition. The last two digits in the designation of the caliber indicate the year in which these cartridges were adopted by the US Army. Caliber 30-03 - 1903 Caliber 30-06 - 1906 Adoption of a new cartridge of the thirtieth caliber in just three years was due to a bullet. The Germans began to make pointed bullets for their magazine rifles, which were lighter and more accurate. In the United States, they immediately responded to the German innovation and adopted their own version of the cartridge with a pointed full-shell bullet weighing 9.7 g. This is how the caliber 30-06 appeared, which is still used as military ammunition, it is considered the most common hunting cartridge in the world.

The problem of choosing a weapon of the thirtieth caliber

The fact is that there are two main and most common options for thirtieth caliber ammunition with almost the same ballistic characteristics, but they require two different chamber designs and action sizes. This weapon is for caliber 30-06 and caliber 308 win. Novice hunters constantly face this problem, since they are offered almost the same guns for cartridges with the same ballistics, but the binding to a certain type of ammunition depends on the choice of weapon. To make this circumstance less embarrassing, you need to tell why this problem appeared at all. The American military is to blame for everything, since both cartridges were developed for the US Army.

The 308 caliber cartridge is a shortened version of the 30-06 caliber. A shortened version appeared after the Second World War, when a new intermediate cartridge with a weaker recoil was needed for military needs, on the basis of which new systems could be developed. The shorter sleeve makes it possible to create compact automation due to the short stroke of the bolt group, and muzzle energy creates even greater prerequisites for reducing the weight of weapons. In the early 1950s, the caliber 308 was adopted by the US Army and other NATO member countries. This cartridge is still used for submachine guns, machine guns and sniper rifles in the West. The change in the dimensions of the 30-caliber cartridge of the 1906 model had practically no effect on the weight and ballistics of hunting weapons. That is why there are two cartridges of the same caliber, under which almost identical guns are made with different stroke lengths of the bolt group.

What is the difference between caliber 308 win and caliber 30-06 for hunting

Caliber 30-06 sample 1906 has the following characteristics:

2. Chuck length - 84.84 mm.
3. Sleeve length - 63.35 mm.
4. Possible bullet weight range - 6.54-16.2 g.
5. Initial speed - 820-976 m/s.
6. Range of muzzle energy - 3200-4126 J.
7. The ability to manually load the cartridge with the desired bullet and necessary quantity gunpowder.

Caliber 308 win has the following features:

1. Caliber - 7.62 mm (practical caliber - 7.82 mm).
2. Chuck length - 71.05 mm.
3. Sleeve length - 51.18 mm.
4. Bullet weight range - 6.54-13g.
5. Initial speed - 800-950 m/s.
6. Muzzle energy - 3600 J.

Minor differences and price difference

This cartridges have close technical specifications, and their ballistic performance is almost the same. Caliber 30-06 has the ability to be equipped with heavier bullets, but the advantages over 308 caliber in muzzle energy are only possible with the appropriate barrel length with the appropriate twist and the use of special slow-burning powder. The most significant difference between these ammunition is their cost and availability on the Russian market. Imported 308 caliber for hunting will be cheaper than 30-06. But domestic cartridges of both calibers, which are much cheaper than imported ones, differ greatly in quality. According to the hunters, the caliber 30-06 manufactured in Barnaul with a steel sleeve has a lot of complaints about the accuracy of shooting, the number of delays in firing and the likelihood of jamming the shutter. But domestic caliber 308 has far fewer quality issues. When choosing weapons for the thirtieth American caliber, one should take into account the large difference in the price of ammunition that exists between high-quality imported 30-06 caliber cartridges and domestic 308 caliber cartridges, also of quite acceptable quality. In both cases, the difference in ballistic characteristics will be insignificant. Under a shortened version of the American cartridge of the thirtieth caliber, there is a wider selection of weapon models on the hunting ammunition market.

Ballistics

Ballistics 308 caliber has some specifics. The loss of 308 caliber and its displacement relative to the horizontal plane depend on the weight of the bullet, its type and the capabilities of a particular cartridge. The following table shows the comparative ballistic characteristics of different cartridges when firing at a distance of 200 meters and a twist of 12 inches.

The above table shows that the ballistics of 308 caliber cartridges from different manufacturers can differ significantly due to the different weights of the bullets used, their different shapes, as well as the different quantity and quality of gunpowder. The ballistic characteristics of caliber 308 cartridges of domestic production are somewhat inferior to imported cartridges, the data on which are given in the table.

Advantages of 308 caliber hunting weapon systems

Hunting carbines 308 caliber can be either multi-shot, automatic, semi-automatic, as well as single-shot and combined, with several barrels of different calibers. Self-loading and automatic carbines for a shortened thirtieth caliber hit more accurately due to less recoil. The 308 caliber hunting carbine has a number of other advantages. Single-shot carbines have a lighter bolt with a short stroke, which makes it possible to reduce the length and weight of the weapon without compromising shooting accuracy. The 308 caliber cartridge is universal. Under it, you can find single-shot guns with both horizontally sliding bolts and vertically sliding bolts. The 308-caliber bolt-action carbines are especially compact, lightweight and silently reload without delay, and their shock spring can be in the form of a brace instead of a coil, which makes these systems trouble-free. There are other advantages that the caliber 308 has. Hunters' feedback indicates that if the magazine fails, these cartridges are easier to load into the chamber manually, one at a time, and with longer cartridges, such as caliber 30-06 and others, this technique is not as effective or at all impossible due to length. And one more advantage. In magazine shotguns for long cartridges, the soft shell of the bullet is much more likely to deform when automatically moved into the chamber, which affects the accuracy of the shot. The caliber 308 has much less complaints in this regard. Reviews of experts positively evaluate the 308 caliber in this regard, rather than the longer versions of the 30 caliber.

308 caliber in weapon systems with interchangeable barrels

The 308 caliber cartridge has always been in line with modern trends in the development of hunting weapons. Getting more and more popular universal systems, which can use several of the most popular calibers and their varieties. There are samples that can be modified in the field even into a 308 caliber carbine, even into a 30-06 caliber carbine, as well as change the barrel caliber. For example, the Browning MARAL system kit includes interchangeable barrels and bolt larvae. Its mechanism is very similar to the AK mechanism, but there is no venting device. This moment of reloading is carried out manually by pulling the bolt carrier back and forth. Among domestic developments with interchangeable barrels and bolt larvae, one can name an automatic carbine manufactured by VPO Molot. This unique Russian-made hunting weapon is a fully automatic magazine carbine with a gas-operated mechanism that can work as a 308 caliber rifle, as well as a 223 Rem and 20X76 carbine. This is both a gun and a carbine of two types in one system, issued for one license.

Optimal twist for 308 caliber

There are several twist barrel options available for .308, from 10" to 14" barrel lengths. Twist is a complete revolution of the bullet around its axis, which it makes when moving in the bore. Accordingly, the twist of 10 inches is the full rotation of the bullet in the barrel, which the bullet makes after passing the ten-inch run along the barrel. The heavier and longer the bullet, the shorter the twist should be. To determine the optimal twist for a 308 caliber, you need to know the type of bullet that will be predominantly used in hunting. The standard bullet weight of 168 grains can be considered optimal for 308 caliber. Reviews indicate that for such a bullet the minimum possible twist will be 14 inches. Lighter bullets with this twist will be restabilized, but their ballistics will remain within tolerance. The heavier .308 bullets already need a shorter twist. Many hunters say that 308 requires 12 twists. For example, 550 caliber 308 in various modifications is often cited as an example. Czech rifles are distinguished by a universal bolt for various lengths of 308 caliber cartridges, which in itself is quite massive. To reduce the weight of the weapon, Czech gunsmiths use a special technology for the production of thin-walled barrels, which greatly affects the ballistics due to the instantaneous overheating of the barrel. For commercial hunting, you need a thick barrel, a simple sight when you can quickly catch a target with a fly, a trouble-free mechanism and a bolt for the cheapest cartridge of 30 caliber, which is 308 caliber. The twist must be calculated for the maximum weight and length of the bullet. With all the pros and cons, 308 caliber hunting rifles should be chosen with a 12-inch twist, which will provide a reliable shot for domestic ammunition equipped with domestic bullets. The 308 has more choice in bullet weights at an affordable price, so the 12 twist is more of a weapon's potential.

The benchmark for precision - Remington 308 caliber

Hunting weapons for 308 caliber from the company "Remington" has the richest line of model options. The sliding action of the main models of single-shot and repeating rifles of this company is structurally based on the Mauser rifle of the early 20th century. 308 caliber allows you to create wide range weapons, ranging from sports models to commercial weapons, typical for hunting in the northern regions of the American continent. The accuracy of .308 Remington rifles is unsurpassed. Under $3,000, you can find a .308 Remington rifle for almost any civilian use, including hunting, sports, and defense. High accuracy is explained by the reliance on American weapons traditions and meets the requirements for military weapons NATO, where the 308 cartridge is one of the main ammunition for both machine guns and machine guns. A shortened sleeve without a flange for 30 caliber provides excellent opportunities for developers to create weapons of high reliability and accuracy, focusing on the needs of the civilian sector. Cheaper versions of domestic 308 caliber cartridges with ballistic characteristics similar to Western counterparts increase the undeniable advantages of 308 caliber for hunting in Russia. Weak recoil, high accuracy and more reliable performance for the reloading mechanism make 308 caliber indispensable in all areas, including not only hunting, but also defense and security.

The main feature of each type of weapon is the difference between ammunition, their type and caliber. The cartridge 7.62x51 mm (or .308 win) is used to hit the target with rifle and machine gun weapons. According to official data, the cartridge of this caliber was produced in 1947. From that year to this day, it has been improved several times.

The 7.62x51 bullet is a modified and improved version of the 7.62x63mm cartridge used during World War II. By reducing the size of the cartridge and the use of modern gunpowder, it was possible to achieve high ballistic performance. The country of manufacture of the cartridge is the United States. A few years after the appearance of ammunition, in 1954 he received the official designation T65 and was adopted by NATO member countries. For the most part, the 7.62x51 mm cartridge is made of brass, less often of steel. Most compare this ammunition with the Russian counterpart 7.62x54 mm. Today you have a great opportunity to order .308 win cartridges completely legally and at a nice price in the Derzhava online store!

The use of cartridges 7.62x51 mm at the present time

Cartridges .308 are found in service with NATO member countries. America is the official supplier and manufacturer. The cartridge can be used all approved for use in war time bullets, including tracer and armor-piercing. Each type of cartridge of a given caliber has its own designation. Despite the serial production of ammunition for the NATO army, it is possible to buy 7.62x51 mm bullets legally for use in hunting weapon, others. The online store site invites all site visitors to get acquainted with a large assortment of goods for ammunition equipment. Right now you can order a set of bullets with encapsulated cases .308 win. The presented product is not a combat unit, which allows it to be purchased by all interested buyers who have reached the age of 18 years or more.

Cartridges .308 win, which you can buy even with delivery, may be of interest to fans of reloading and manufacturers of cartridge models. This training kit, consisting of components, refers to training cartridges. They can be used for blank loading of cartridges, which is not prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation, or act as a model of ammunition, decorating your personal collection of military antiques.

Buy components 7.62x51 mm for reloading

In our online store you can buy high-quality ammunition equipment, rare components and other tools that allow you to practice your favorite hobby at the professional level. To buy 7.62x51 mm cartridges, use the one-click purchase or order delivery directly to your home by contacting a consultant at the specified phone number. We provide our services absolutely legally, without breaking the law, just like our customers. To purchase this kit, you do not need permission, as the cartridges are not loaded with gunpowder, and are training. Please contact us for other reloading accessories. We are always happy to help!

Bahing308 09-12-2010 01:01

Good day.
I decided to check the accuracy of domestic 308 caliber cartridges.
I bought Barnaul's cheapest floor buckets.
and several boxes of Novosibirsk ordinary and increased accuracy.
Gun tiger, distance 100 meters, no wind, temperature +15, lying position from the stop.
Barnaul gave a spread of 15 MOA.
Novosibirsk and those and others 4 MOA.
I still do not understand why increased accuracy is better than ordinary ones.
But during the shooting in the opiku, I see that all the same, the barrel sways a little.
I decided to check the accuracy by eliminating the wiggle.
I attach a laser, put a video camera aimed at the target and shoot everything.
Repeated shooting.
I pulled out photos from the received record. I catch the last frame and laser dot, at the moment
shot, it disappears, after 4 frames a hole appears in the target. I combine both photos and measure
distance and direction from the laser dot to the hole. And so every shot.
The results obtained are somewhat better.
Barnaul gave a spread of 14 MOA.
Novosibirsk and those and others 3 MOA.
What is wrong with Barnaul.
I decided to weigh them on electronic scales (accuracy 0.01 g)
The lightest weighed 21.83, the heaviest 22.28. Why are they so different?
I dismantle five rounds of cartridges and weigh separately a bullet, gunpowder, and a cartridge case.
Gunpowder is very accurate for everyone. The sleeve walks + - 0.03 gr. The rest of the imbalance falls on the bullet.
If the whole problem is only in the pool, then you can sort them without parsing.
I find 2 dozen which weigh exactly 22 grams.
I repeat shooting with a laser and a video camera.
The result amazed me at 1.5 MOA. Everyone lay down in a circle of 4 centimeters from a distance of 100 meters.
Just like a cool imported cartridge.

Mikhail74 09-12-2010 09:07

those. did accuracy improve on the same cartridges from 14MOA to 1,5MOA?
We need to outweigh ours, though 7.62x54R.

Bahing308 09-12-2010 09:45

14 MOA turned out because individual bullets flew haphazardly and out of the target

Bahing308 09-12-2010 09:59

By the way, at the expense of 54 rounds. You need to know exactly the barrel cutting step - sometimes 240 and sometimes 320. If cutting is 240, then you need to use an army cartridge, a 13gr bullet, the departure speed is 760 m / s. If step 320 then it's under hunting cartridge~10 gr. speed 850 m/s. If you confuse it, then there will be no accuracy. In one case, the bullet is not twisted, it starts to chat. Otherwise, twisted, the gyroscopic effect will begin to lift the nose of the bullet up.

Bahing308 09-12-2010 13:11

I'm interested too.
I bought scales in a hunting shop, electronic.
Something like a cell phone, very convenient.

sbekin 10-12-2010 13:00

An interesting note. I will think and weigh!

Bahing308 10-12-2010 19:04

I will be glad if someone helped.

boss 10-12-2010 19:35

I didn’t weigh it, I won’t lie, I have these increased accuracy in Browning Bar Match, every fifth one does not reload a cartridge. I don’t know whether it depends on the weight of the sleeve or something else, I refused it. Centaur is fine.

Bahing308 14-12-2010 09:15

My barnaul misfired. 2 rounds. When reloaded, they fired normally. All the same, barnaul is barnaul. You can't make a Mercedes out of a Zhiguli.

yag mort 27-03-2011 11:01

My 5 kopecks. I have been using this selection for many years, I practice TPZ. In the store I still sort by appearance and quality, it’s true that those around me squint, but I’m not up to them. Caliber 223 rem. Bullet weight 4 gr. This is relevant in the regions. The best group was 17 mm. Regards A.

bagrov 02-04-2011 16:50

I want to try to select the centaur 308 in the same way. I outweighed two packs, it turned out that only the sleeve was jumping. I sorted several groups by weight, I'll try to find the weight of the cartridge for my barrel. And then in the store, outweighing, dial two hundred pieces. Nobody tried that? By the way, as far as I remember, the 320mm step on the tiger is more suitable for light bullet 9.7g seems. And step 240 was created to the detriment of accuracy for firing heavy armored vehicles and tracers. Yes, and Barnaul in front of witnesses collected two series of five from the tiger 13mm and 18mm. They did not count on the Hansa because there were stickers on the target.

Bahing308 16-04-2011 23:16

There is an idea to disassemble and reassemble barnaul.
But already with adjusted heap speed and bullet landing depth.

bagrov 17-04-2011 05:35

Report. the centaur was not allowed to outweigh in the store. They said buy everything. But I had an ordinary Novosib with a bimetal for 24 rubles. I am happy as an elephant. Some series turned out to be 03 MOA. Not sorted by weight. I bought 300 pieces and set up a calculator for them, I think it’s enough for hunting.

Bahing308 22-07-2011 15:24

Centaur SPBT 10.7

declared speed 814 m/s
I flew 785 m / s from a short tiger

That positively the spread in speeds from 3 shots was + - 3 m / s
At an ordinary barnaul + - 30 m / s

Poltan-off 09-08-2011 22:45

on IZH-94 under 54 cartridge, who will tell you the pitch of the rifling?

Bahing308 13-09-2011 13:32

Yesterday I shot from a standing position. open sight. Distance 100m.
Tiger 308 cal. Barnaul FMJ. Accuracy turned out to be 10 MOA.
What was most interesting was a friend from a smooth barrel lay nearby.
Also standing and from the open. 12 caliber bullet Poleva 2.
The result is the same 10 MOA.