Question about Savage 308

mirado5631 · Sep 14, 2012

So I recently received this gun as an early birthday gift from my family. Now my brother who is the Marines wants to send me bulk ammo for it, but I have heard from a few people that the military casings are just a tad bit wider and wouldn't work in my gun since it is bolt action. Is this true? And if so, is there any way without harming the gun and making it so I cant use store bought in it safely to use both?

Mark W. · Sep 14, 2012

Military ammo will work just fine

Darkker · Sep 14, 2012

7.62 Nato is the same thing as 308Win.
CAN the brass be just a wee bit different? Yes, but so can any brass from a different brand, or lot. The dies are all the same, the load pressure is the same.

mirado5631 · Sep 14, 2012

I know they are supposed to be the same thing. The brass is what I meant by casing and that is the part I was told by W.R.C.C. that would not work well, or at least without possibly damaging the gun.

GFO · Sep 14, 2012

Nato brass has thicker walls but the outside dimensions of the case are the same. Good to go!!!

mirado5631 · Sep 15, 2012

So, I went out today with a friend who had a bunch of the Nato rounds. I tried about 6 different rounds. When I went to lock the bolt in place it goes all the way towards the barrel, but when you start actually locking it in place it doesn't want to go all the way. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be having to use a hell of a lot of force to lock it in since all the other rounds I have put through it so far have been a breeze.

GFO · Sep 15, 2012

Please make sure, by looking at the markings on the barrel, that it is indeed a 308win rifle. 300 Savage round is VERY close in dimensions. With that said, looking at load data in reloading manuals I have, all dimensions of the 308win and 7.62x51 NATO rounds are exactly the same. Maximum Case Overall Length (C.O.L.) is 2.800 (2.6000 for 300 Savage) if those are reloads its posible the bullet is not seated deep enough.

GFO · Sep 15, 2012

Since this type of round headspaces on the shoulder of the case(the angled portion) and the difference in the length to the shoulder between the 300 Savage and a 308win is only 0.061" it would be possible, with force, to close the bolt on a 308win loaded into a 300Savage chamber. You could cause you and your rifle a lot of damage if you fired it though. Thats the reason I brought up the 300 Savage round .

Look at the photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.300_Savage

mirado5631 · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks for the advice. I will verify when I get home. I got the gun brand new and it did say it was the 308 though. So we shall see.

GFO · Sep 15, 2012

Since its new, I doubt its a 300 Savage.

jonn5335 · Sep 15, 2012

It is very dangerous to fire military ammo in a sporter rifle send it to me and I will dispose of it for you. I'm being sarcastic it should be perfectly fine but if you don't want to fire it I will

clambo · Sep 15, 2012

Please ask your brother to stop stealing USMC ammo and sending it to you.

jonn5335 · Sep 16, 2012

clambo said:
Please ask your brother to stop stealing USMC ammo and sending it to you.

Just because his brother is a marine does'nt mean he is stealing ammo have you looked online there is a pretty big supply or military ammo :s0155:

The military does destroy perfectly good ammo as they have a constant rotation it is possible his C.O. gave him permission to take some ammo.

mirado5631 · Sep 16, 2012

He gets a military discount at a surplus store down in CA where he lives. Apparently after the discount he only pays about .35 a round. Not even reloads!

clambo · Sep 16, 2012

I stand corrected, foot in mouth. I apologize. I just couldn't figure out why it would be cheaper for him to buy and ship to you as opposed to you buying it and having it shipped to you. Yes, I know there is tons of military ammo floating about and no doubt it's mostly legitimate. Sorry for being a douchebag. Ready, fire, aim has never served me well.

Mecanik · Sep 16, 2012

I've never seen a properly chambered .308 that wouldn't chamber 7.62 nato rounds. If your chamber is on the tight side and the ammo is on the larger spec side of it's tolerances it's possible it will be snug but I've never seen it happen. Have a gunsmith check the head space. It's quick and easy.

das_napeth · Sep 21, 2012

The brass that W.R.C.C uses is not for bolt guns for some reason. It is the 175 grain correct? They tell you outright not to use it in a bolt gun(or should have, didn't tell me) the other grain from them should function fine.