Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 7.62 NATO v/s 308 Win

I recently acquired an M59 Santa Fe rifle, marked Golden State Arms. It is stamped 7.62 NATO. A google search reveals a manual for this rifle, and it states this rifle has been thoroughly tested with all brands of 308 ammunition in all bullet weights.

Should I stick to shooting 7.62 NATO in this rifle, or would commercial 308 ammo work? Also, I have a couple of reloading manuals that have separate categories for 308 service rifle loads. I assume these loads would be compatible with 7.62 NATO, right?

I keep finding conflicting information on this issue. I do not want to destroy my rifle, nor myself, but would like to see how well it shoots.

If marked 7.62 NATO the 308 will pose no problem.

Go shoot.

The only difference between 7.62 NATO and 308 Win is the chamber. 7.62 NATO chambers are longer.

Assuming that your rifle was correctly marked - some businesses have used the two labels interchangeably - there is no danger firing commercial 308 Win ammunition from a 7.62x51mm chamber. The only thing that may happen is the commercial brass may stretch. It is thinner than milspec brass.

7.62 NATO chambers are approx. .010 longer. If you reload, you'll know by measuring the length of the fired case.

Thanks guys. I am going to assume most aren't familiar with this particular rifle. I understand it to be a copy of a Beretta M59. The frame and operating system is a modified M1 Garand. My main concern was bending the operating rod or something similar.

Steve, what about all of the warnings not to shoot the converted '95 Mausers w/308 ammunition? I've struggled w/this for several years. I don't own one but my Dad did at one time and after firing one commercial cartridge in one...we put it aside. There's all kinds of varying info out there. powdr

The only thing that I would say is to contact Beretta or the ammunition company. 7.62x51mm ammunition is almost the same as its commercial counterpart, but there are many different powders used in production.

I don't see a problem because mid burn rate powdets are used for 150/165 gr. commercial cartridges. Similar to 4895.

That warning is only about action strength. The 93/95 Mausers are not as robust as M98s. Regardless, many gunsmiths and commercial enterprises converted 93/95 actions to shoot more modern, high pressure cartridges. For example, the 308 Win is listed with a MAP of 62,000 PSI. Older cartridges commonly chambered in the 93/95 had a lower max.pressures.

There has been an ongoing argument for years about the steel quality, single locking lug strength, bolt lug setback with softer steels, and the age of the rifles themselves. The argument is fading however. Fewer surplus bolt rifles are available and it is pointless to rebarrel older actions with what is available today.

My personal rule is that, regardless which model of Mauser, I never shoot loads that develop over 50000 PSI. My reasons are personal. One thing is for sure, when you buy an old surplus rifle at your LGS, it hasn't been proof tested or examined by NDT (non-destructive testing) technicians for integrity.

Better safe than sorry.