I have a Remington 700 SPS in .308 is the 7.62x51 the same and safe to shoot through my rifle? Rather be safe than sorry!

They are not the same but firing 7.62x51 in your modern rifle chambered in 308 will almost 99.9% be safe. You should check the head spacing to be 100%.

Welcome to the Remington Owners Forum Sarge !!

Here are the similarities and differences in the two calibers explained...I would strongly recommend using the ammo the rifle is labeled and chambered for....period !!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.308_Winchester

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62%C3%9751mm_NATO

Here is the most important quote taken from one of the above links: "Although not identical, the 7.62×51mm NATO and the commercial .308 Winchester cartridges are similar enough that they can be loaded into rifles chambered for the other round, but .308 cartridges are typically loaded to higher pressures than 7.62x51mm cartridges....."

The fact that they are not identical lies mostly in the interior dimensions of the cartridge, not the outside. They both fit and interchange externally as far as chambers go. The military 7.62x51 case has thicker walls so the interior volume is lessened, and that means less powder is filled in order for pressures to remain safe during firing.

If anything, 7.62x51 is slightly DOWNLOADED from commercial .308 Winchester ammunition. The reason for this is that M14 Service Rifles have gas operated valve and piston systems which must have the correct (safe) pressure behind the bullet as it passes the gas port to initiate the op-rod sequence.

7.62x51 ammo has a powder charge of the weight and burn rate to safely be fired in M14s (and also M1A Rifles) without risking damage to these op-rods that are so critical to proper and safe operation.

Also, 7.62x51 bullet weights are almost universally between 145- and 150-grains with the most common being 147-grains. You will see .308 Winchester ammo with bullet weights all over the spectrum, with published velocities that are pretty damn fast and are excellent in strong bolt-action rifles. There are some 7.62x51 military grade sniper rounds loaded with bullets heavier than 147-grains but the powder charge has been adjusted downward to be safe in gas-operated M14/M1A rifles.

Your 700 can safely handle 7.62x51 that is factory loaded by any reputable manufacturer with ease and never risk any wear or damage.

Sometimes, shooting .308 Winchester in a NATO chamber can have issues, but its rare. One thing I know for sure is that the 7.62 NATO brass has thicker walls than the .308 does. I have heard of case ruptures with .308 brass in a NATO spec chamber, but it is rare.

Yes, it would be extremely rare. Actual ruptures?

I have shot both in my Ruger American in .308 with no issues

My pre-64 Winchester Model 88 has never had anything in its chamber except Remington Express Core-Lokt 150 & 180 grain pointed soft points with the exception of some Federal Premium Gold Medal w/ 168 grain Sierra Match King bullet. They are a little slower out the tube with a tad less energy, but they are no more accurate than the Remington Core-Lokt, even out to 600 yards except if the wind is variable or I'm out in the "Wild West Texas Wind." That's when the boat-tails win over the Remingtons. 150 grain at the range and on the range for animals up to about 500 lb. Above that or for dangerous game, it gets the 180 grain. That includes Wild Boar in West Texas. When too many boar get too close in aggression, it's .357 MAGNUM fun & excitement... 200 grains at a time!!! They're fast little buggers when they charge you, kinda like a fast-paced shooting gallery, except "They'll get ya!" Pulled a 3-1/4" tusk out of my 6-ply jeep tire one time.

nitesite wrote:Yes, it would be extremely rare. Actual ruptures?

A friend at work had it happen in his FN-FAL. Did not damage the rifle, but his face got some minor burns.

Rick 51/ R51 wrote:My pre-64 Winchester Model 88 has never had anything in its chamber except Remington Express Core-Lokt 150 & 180 grain pointed soft points with the exception of some Federal Premium Gold Medal w/ 168 grain Sierra Match King bullet. They are a little slower out the tube with a tad less energy, but they are no more accurate than the Remington Core-Lokt, even out to 600 yards except if the wind is variable or I'm out in the "Wild West Texas Wind." That's when the boat-tails win over the Remingtons. 150 grain at the range and on the range for animals up to about 500 lb. Above that or for dangerous game, it gets the 180 grain. That includes Wild Boar in West Texas. When too many boar get too close in aggression, it's .357 MAGNUM fun & excitement... 200 grains at a time!!! They're fast little buggers when they charge you, kinda like a fast-paced shooting gallery, except "They'll get ya!" Pulled a 3-1/4" tusk out of my 6-ply jeep tire one time.

That is just CRAZY TALK.

Seriously, I like Core-Lokt ammo, so you are in my camp on that point.

Done hunted pigs that sported tusks. It can be a bit frightening. Charcoal and wood smoke eased that anxiety!

Just for what it is worth and for full disclosure:::

I have never in my life taken a 500~600-yard shot at a hunted game animal.

nitesite wrote:Just for what it is worth and for full disclosure:::

I have never in my life taken a 500~600-yard shot at a hunted game animal.

I've drawn a bead to view some long distance game, but my longest shot on game was 350 yards. That's about as far as I'm willing to chance. Too many things start to happen beyond that, not to mention energy loss. There are some folks who will shoot at anything at any distance, so I tend to stay away from some public hunting lands. I think my limit with 150 gr .308 WIN is 400 yds at a 400-500 lb animal. Above that weight, it gets hit with 180 grains. Of course, this is for North American game. Africa is quite another caliber's job, however, I don't have any plans to go on an African hunt. Now, give me some paper to punch holes in and I'll shoot at it as long as I can see it.

nitesite wrote:Just for what it is worth and for full disclosure:::

I have never in my life taken a 500~600-yard shot at a hunted game animal.

Me neither. The only buck I got was at about 75-80 yards, with a Model 88 in .308 Winchester. It was my dad's gun, and I was only 17 at the time. My dad took a nice buck at just over 400 yards one season, with a Model 700 in 7mm Magnum. He had a nice scope on that rifle, I had irons.

remingtontoter wrote: Me neither. The only buck I got was at about 75-80 yards, with a Model 88 in .308 Winchester. It was my dad's gun, and I was only 17 at the time. My dad took a nice buck at just over 400 yards one season, with a Model 700 in 7mm Magnum. He had a nice scope on that rifle, I had irons.

Most of my shots on White-tail deer in South Texas has been between 175 and 250 yards. My longest shot was on a 245 lb Red Russian Boar on a gusty day during a Nilgai hunt on Kenedy Ranch Laguna Madre shoreline (formerly part of King Ranch). That was 350 yards and I had to make quick work out of it as those 3 hogs were about to go over the dune and they were running. It was a hard choice to pull the trigger on such a low percentage placement, but that one shot shattered the heart and he dropped on impact. That was with my pre-64 Winchester Model 88, .308 with Remington 150 gr Core-Lokt PSP ammunition.

By the way remingtontoter, which Model 88 do you have? Pre-64? Carbine? Post-64? Mine is not a carbine and was built in 1958. I've never chambered any 7.62x51 in it... always used factory ammunition.