I keep seeing a reference of 7.62mm to the .308 win.  It is the same round?

Like .223 is the same as 5.56mm?

So will a FAL .308 win shoot a 7.62mm round from an AK47?

Or is there different 7.62mm rounds?

Thanks!

.308 Winchester is the same as a NATO 7.62X51.

Don't confuse it with the two Russian 7.62 rounds:

7.62X54 for the Dragunov
7.62X39 for the AK & SKS

Edited to add: What Doublefeed said!

Thanks!

From the little bit of knowledge that I have gained from the ammo faq
.223 and 5.56mm are not the same thing.
As far as the FAL, no it won't shoot a 7.62x39.
The fal shoots a 7.62X51, the 30-06 is a 7.62x63(i believe can anyone confirm that?) The 7.62 is the diameter of the bullet, the ak 7.62 round, at least loaded in russia uses a .310dia bullet, but here in the states most use a .308dia bullet for factory 7.63x39 loadings. I am by a long shot no ammo expert and I know that someone else can answer your question a lot better, but i hop it helps a bit.

on edit- wow there wer no responces when i started writing, now thers like 3-4 man ya'll is quick!

.223 is the same as 5.56

Not according to winchester http://www.winchester.com/law/news/news.eye?storyid=11

223 Rem VS 5.56mm
There are a lot of questions about these two cartridges. Many people think they are identical - merely different designations for commercial and military. The truth is that, although somewhat similar, they are not the same and you should know the differences before buying either cartridge.


But like I said I'm no expert, I just going by what I read in a couple different places, this being one of them.

Technically speaking.....

No.  A .308 Winchester round is slightly different than a NATO spec'd 7.62X51 round.  A .223 Remington round is slightly different than a 5.56 NATO round.

When you purchase your first(or second, third, fourth AR, depending on your level of sickness) you should always opt for a 5.56 NATO chamber.  This will allow you to safely shoot both 5.56 & .223 rounds.

This pretty much goes for any 7.62 rifle as well; SR-25, FAL, HK91, etc... these rifles are specifically chambered for 7.62 NATO brass.  They will fire .308 as well. I would not hesitate to load a full power NATO headstamp round in a .308 Winchester chambered rifle. I have friends that have fired surplus ammo (NATO stuff) for years in their Hunting rifles with zero problems.  

As long as your chamber is with in spec(headspace spec that is) you should be fine.

If I can find the website with the specs I will post it.

FWIW,

-Fujimoto

found it:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/shooters/7_62vs308.htm

Another link:

http://www.smellysmleshooters.net/ammopressure.htm

What Troy posted is correct.  Since the .308 is such a popular hunting round, some non-military loads are quite hot.  

Pressure for safe use is in the 55-65000 psi range for NATO spec'd rifles.  Hot hunting loads can exceed this level substantially.  Sometimes as high as 80-85000 psi.  This could result in a chamber explosion and injury.  Bolt-action hunting rifles usually have very heavy, strong actions to handle the absence of recoil reducing gas systems.


-Fujimoto