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308 Ammo
About 308 Ammo and 7.62x51 AMMO
First introduced in 1952, 308 ammo is a rimless, bottle-necked rifle cartridge, similar but not identical to the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.
Both the 308 and 7.62x51 are considered the standard hunting caliber throughout the United States and are widely used for target shooting, police, military, and personal protection applications globally.
Although very similar to the military 7.62×51 NATO specifications, the 308 cartridge is not identical and special considerations may apply when mixing the two cartridges. Their interchange is, however, considered safe by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI).
Common Names for 308 / 7.62x51 Ammunition
Since their initial production over 65 years ago, 308 Ammo and 7.62x51 Ammo have had many different name variations. Some of the most common include:
| • 308 Ammo | • .308 Ammo | • 308 Win Ammo |
| • 308 Winchester Ammo | • 7.62x51 Ammo | • 7.62 NATO Ammo |
Regardless of your preferred terminology, 308 and 7.62 NATO Ammo have gained massive popularity over the years and are available in the lineup of every significant American ammo manufacturer.
What Guns Shoot 308 Ammo?
| Smith & Wesson | Ruger | Savage Arms | Daniel Defense |
| M&P-10 308 Rifle | Ruger American 308 Win | Savage 110 Predator | DD5V4 |
| M&P10 Sport 308 Rifle | Ruger Precision 308 Win M-Lok | Savage 110 Tactical | DD5 V3 |
| Ruger Predator 308 | Savage 11/111 | ||
| Ruger M77 | Savage 12 |
308 Ammunition Benefits
308 ammunition is known for its good accuracy, making it a popular choice for target shooting and long-range hunting.
The .308 cartridge delivers good stopping power, making it an effective choice for hunting medium to large game.
308 ammunition is designed to work in a variety of firearms, including bolt-action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, and even some handguns.
Regarding performance, 308 / 7.62x51 ammunition is renowned for its accuracy (although this is also largely dependent more on the shooter's skill).
Additionally, both ammunition's offers low recoil compared to other cartridges without sacrificing penetration power.
308 ammunition is available in a wide range of bullet weights and types, including full metal jacket (FMJ), soft point (SP), and hollow point (HP), among others. This allows shooters to choose the best type of ammunition for their specific needs and preferences.
In many ways, gun enthusiasts and avid outdoorsmen consider 308 and 7.62x51 ammo the standard hunting caliber throughout the United States and the ammo is widely available by most manufacturers at gun stores.
308 / 7.62x51 Ammo FAQ
What is 308 ammo?
When someone refers to 308 ammo, they're referencing the 308 Winchester rifle cartridge.
Released in 1952 for the Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifle, the round quickly gained popularity for hunting medium to large game.
Today, 308 ammunition is one of the most popular hunting rounds in the United States for white-tailed deer, elk, and many others.
What are the different types of 308 ammo?
In today's market, owners can choose from a wide variety of 308 ammunition, ranging from the traditional full metal jacket (FMJ) to hollow points used for hunting.
In addition, pointed soft-point (PSP) cartridges offer greater accuracy over longer distances, and specialty ammo like polymer-tipped is also available in 308.
Lastly, most 308 Winchester ammo will have brass or steel casings that house the bullets and weigh between 100 and 200 grain.
What caliber is a 308 Winchester?
Caliber is the technical term for a bullet's diameter. The caliber of the 308 Winchester cartridge is 308-inch.
Features include a projectile that sits in a rimless, bottlenecked casing and a total length of 2.800 inches.
What is the difference between 308 Winchester and 7.62x51 Ammo?
While the 308 Win and the 7.62x51 ammo cartridges look alike, the rounds are different and the two cartridges are loaded at different pressures.
The civilian 308 round at 62,000 pounds per square inch, and the military 7.62 NATO loaded to 50,000 copper units of pressure (CUP), which equates to an estimated 58,000 psi.
Finally, we have the differences in the case thickness (with the 7.62 being thicker) and headspace (with the NATO being slightly larger).
According to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI), special considerations that may apply when mixing these cartridges with 7.62×51 NATO, and 308 Winchester chambered arms.
What manufacturers make 308 ammo and 7.62x51 ammo?
There are several manufacturers to choose from when looking to purchase 308 and 7.62x51 ammunition.
Many owners will select their ammo brand based on what activity they're doing (IE) hunting and target shooting.
At Ammunition Depot, we carry the top-name brands you trust, including Winchester USA 7.62x51 NATO, Federal 308 Winchester, Armscor Precision 308 Win, PMC X-TAC 7.62x51, and many more.
Does the military use 308 win or 7.62x51 Ammo?
The US military does not use 308 Winchester ammunition. Instead, in 1954, the military adopted the 7.62x51 NATO, a cartridge that was developed from the 308 Win, but has significant differences.
The civilian round is loaded to a higher pressure than the military round, and the parent case features a smaller headspace and thinner casing than the NATO cartridge.
What is the best grain for 308 ammo?
The best 308 ammunition weight depends on the shooter’s specific needs, including the environment they’re hunting in, the distance of their shots, and the game they’re trying to harvest.
The most popular 308 rounds have bullet weights of 150 grain (gr), 165 gr, and 180 gr, both in commercial ammo and handloads and can all be used for hunting. Generally speaking, as the .308 bullet becomes heavier, it decreases in velocity and increases in muzzle energy.
