Guys are FALs chambered for .308 Nato or .308 Winchester?

[Guinny_Ire]

and is there much of a difference? I thought they were chambered for .308 Nato but I've seen threads talking as if they're chambered for .308 Winchester. I'm confused

[smittylite]

I'm pretty sure they are chambered in 7.62x51 NATO, what you list as .308 NATO.

[Guinny_Ire]

Thanks

[awp101]

As I understand it there is a slight difference between commercial .308 Win and 7.62X51 NATO.

I don't know what the difference is, but that's what they tell me...:eek:

[bsims]

As noted, there really is no such thing as .308 NATO...

They're chambered for whatever you want, since you're essentially the person that headspaces them through the use of different sized locking shoulders. The only difference between 7.62x51 NATO and commercial .308 win is really a slight difference in minimum and max headspace ranges - .308 win is just the commercial equivalent of 7.62x51 NATO, just like .223 is the commercial version of 5.56x45 NATO. Actually, there really isn't much of a "standard" with 7.62x51 - if you read Duff's M14 book you'll find that the acceptable headspace range for 7.62x51 has changed throughout the years. .308 Win range is 1.630" min, 1.638" max. IIRC, 7.62x51's current accepted headspace range is 1.6315" min, 1.640" max. As you can see, there's a headspace range that should work just fine for both - if building your own, just shoot for that. I've done two so far, and went for 1.632". If its already built, changing your LS to set it yourself is no big deal.

Other than that, mil brass is usually thicker, but you really won't have to worry about that unless reloading, where you are dealing with differences in case volume.

Brian

[Guinny_Ire]

Thanks, Got 2 kits on order. Never done this before.

[Schuetzenman]

Bsims has it 95% right. What he didn't mention is that the .308 ammo loaded to SAAMI specs can be higher pressure than 7.62 Nato. The FAL is probably the best suited to deal with this extra pressure of all the military battle rifles. You can dump most all the gas pressure with the gas adjustment nut on the front sight. Then close it a notch at each shot until you get reliable cycling. This should prevent any battering of the receiver, locking shoulder and bolt carrier group.

[SalBO]

just popped in to learn a little......thanks guys........:)