The .308 vs 7.62x39 debate has been going strong for decades now. The Soviet 7.62x39 mm and the American .308 Win are great cartridges and similar in caliber as well as popularity. Both these cartridges stood the test of time and are still widely used on the global scale.
But is one better than the other? With each of these cartridges having its respective fanbase of millions, the best route to picking a winner is a detailed comparison. So keep your eyes focused and keep on reading.
TL;DR: .308 Winchester vs 7.62x39mm
7.62x39 mm | .308 Win |
|---|---|
Pros | Pros |
Powerful .30 cal with a compact size | Versatile and powerful round |
Suitable for medium game at medium range | Long-range accuracy and widely used for it |
Inexpensive and readily available | Wide range of ammo and rifle options |
Cons | Cons |
Significant drop beyond 300 yards | Ammo is comparatively pricey |
Not usually known for its accuracy and range | Wears out the barrel pretty fast |
Best For | Best For |
Recreational shooting and hunting medium game within 300 yards | Hunting medium/big game, long range shooting, and tactical use |
Comparing the 7.62x39 mm with the .308 Win feels like comparing the Soviet AK-47 with the American AR-10. Both are great cartridges and similar in caliber as well as popularity. Both these cartridges stood the test of time and are still popular globally.
But is one better than the other? With each of these cartridges having its respective fanbase of millions, the best route to picking a winner is a detailed comparison. So keep your eyes focused and keep on reading.
Image Credit: Sportsmans
History of .308 vs 7.62x39
The Soviet Army developed the 7.62x39 mm during the final years of WWII. They wanted an intermediate cartridge that could be used across various weapons. The AK-47 and SKS rifles brought this cartridge to fame. This cartridge is undoubtedly the most popular in use today with many militaries and militias around the world.
The biggest contributor of its popularity being the reputation of the AK-47 and easy availability of cheap ammunition.
The .308 Win was a civilian adaptation of the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge and succeeded on the market as a popular hunting round and high-power multipurpose cartridge. It is insanely popular among hunters because of its exceptional stopping power, which can bring down anything from small to big game with the right bullet loads.
Additionally, .308 Win is also revered by many police departments and some military units as a respect sniping round.
Dimensions of a .308 vs 7.62x39
The .308 Win is longer in size and carries more powder and heavier bullets when compared to the 7.62x39 mm. Interestingly, the 7.62x39 mm uses a marginally thicker bullet; however, it is no match for the higher pressure, longer range, and more hitting power of the .308 Win.
The 7.62x39 mm case is almost 0.5 inches shorter than .308 Win in overall length; however, both these rounds fall into the category of short-action cartridges. While the 7.62x39 mm bullets are primarily available in 123 and 124-grain weights, the .308 Win offers a versatile range of 110 grains and up to 220 grains.
Ballistics of a 7.62x39 vs .308
The .308 Win has an average muzzle velocity of 2,650 fps (feet per second) and an effective range of about 1,000 yards. In comparison, the 7.62x39 mm has an average muzzle velocity of 2,250 fps and an effective range of about 500 yards.
The .308 Win drops about 56 inches at 500 yards, whereas the 7.62x39 mm drops 123 inches at the same distance. The .308 Win is a flatter shooting round suitable for medium to long-range engagements. In comparison, the 7.62x39 mm works best for ranges up to 300-350 yards unless you want to make significant azimuth adjustments.
Pic Credit: Ammo.com
Barrel Life Comparison
The heavy chamber pressure of the .308 Win will quickly eat up your barrel lining; even the best barrels with chrome lining will last up to 7-8,000 rounds. The 7.62x39 mm, with its lower pressures, is easy on barrels and will make them last for 20,000 rounds or so. However, it requires more rifle cleaning due to the Berdan primers and corrosive powder of commonly used spam ammo.
Ammunition Selection
The .308 Win is a famous hunter’s cartridge in North America and the rest of the world. A wide range of selections includes many bullet weights and designs (FMJ, BTHP, etc.). The 7.62x39 mm is comparatively cheap but with very few ammo options. This makes it less versatile for applications, which we’ll elaborate on in the coming sections.
Rifle Selection
There are a ton of options for rifles chambered in the .308 Win. Some popular ones include the AR-10, Remington 700, Tikka T3X, Browning X-Bolt, and Savage 110. You can pick among semi-auto and bolt-action options and even full-auto if you have the appropriate documents and a load of money to spare.
On the other hand, the 7.62x39 mm is primarily famous because of the AK-47 and SKS rifles. While more than 30 rifle options are available worldwide, the AK-series and SKS are the most readily available.
Relevant Characteristics: .308 Win vs 7.62x39mm
.308 Win | Specs | 7.62x39 mm |
|---|---|---|
 Pic Credit: Wikipedia | Cell |  Pic Credit: Wikipedia |
2,800 ft/s (w/ 150 gr FMJ) | Velocity (at muzzle) | 2,350 ft/s (w/ 123 gr FMJ |
2,648 ft-lbf (w/ 250 gr SST) | Energy (at muzzle) | 1,580 ft-lbf (w/ 123 gr FMJ) |
2.8” | Overall Length | 2.2” |
60,191 psi | Maximum Pressure | 45,010 psi |
150-180 gr | Common Bullet Weights | 116-123 gr |
1,000 yards | Maximum Effective Range | 400 yards |
Key Differences Between 7.62x39 mm and .308 Win
The 7.62x39 mm and .308 Win are comparable due to their dimensions and caliber. However, a few key differences can let you choose one over the other. Let’s take a look at these differences and their importance:
Accuracy and Range
As discussed in the previous section, the ballistics of the .308 Win is a far match for the 7.62x39 mm. While the diameter of the bullets for both these cartridges is almost the same, the .308 Win is comparatively more predictable, flat-shooting, and accurate.
The 7.62x39 mm is suitable for medium range and has the capability to strike down targets like hogs within 300 yards. However, it can never match the accuracy and ballistics of the .308 Win, often used as a sniper rifle round by many police departments and SWAT teams.
Stopping Power of the 7.62x39 vs .308 Win
The .308 Win is the clear winner when comparing these two rounds on the grounds of stopping power. If you are not aware, stopping power refers to the ability of a bullet to incapacitate or kill a target as quickly as possible.
The .308 Win carries about 1,100 fpe (foot-pounds of energy) at 300 yards, whereas the 7.62x39 mm carries only about 600 fpe at the same distance. While 600 fpe is more than enough to incapacitate a human, it requires at least 1,000 fpe to hunt big game effectively.
The 7.62x39 mm is not an excellent big game hunting cartridge because of its lower stopping power. Whereas the .308 Win is widely used for hunting big games like Elk and Moose, it is reasonably accurate over long distances, making it suitable for mountain hunting.
Photo credit: gundigest.com
Advantages of 7.62x39 mm
- Short cartridge, lightweight (carry more), and deadly at short to medium range
- Larger diameter bullets can create a slightly bigger wound
- Comparatively lesser overpenetration.
Advantages of .308 Win
- Better in speed, energy, range, stability, and hitting power
- Versatile round suitable for medium to long-range use
- Suitable for bolt-action as well as semi or full auto.
Use-Case Comparison: 7.62x39 mm vs. .308 Win
Both these rounds have a huge fan following across the globe. Let’s compare their effectiveness under different use cases and try to choose the winner for each.
Hunting
The 7.62x39 mm is a powerful cartridge that musters enough force to easily down a hog or deer within 200 yards. However, it still needs to be a trendy hunting cartridge. Do you know why? That’s because many different .30 cal options are better than it. Some notable names include the .30-30 Winchester and .30-06.
On the other hand, the .308 Win is a great hunting cartridge and the first choice of many seasoned hunters. It can topple down a deer at 300 yards and stop an elk in its tracks from 200 yards. The .308 Win is often called one of the most versatile hunting cartridges on the planet.
Winner: .308 Win
Competitions / Long Range
The 7.62x39 mm does not have the ballistics to maintain its trajectory properly beyond 300 yards. Whereas the .308 Win’s max effective range is 1,000 yards, it also stays supersonic at that distance.
The 7.62x39 mm was never designed to be a long-range round, so this comparison may seem futile. However, the 7.62x39 mm cannot beat the .308 Win for anything concerning accuracy and range.
Winner: .308 Win
Defense / Recreational Shooting
Since both are rifle rounds, they cannot be deemed fit for home-defense purposes. However, if you choose between these two for close-range defense, the 7.62x39 mm is better.
Talking about your Sunday shooting sessions at the range, the 7.62x39 mm will put a smaller hole in your wallet than the .308 Win.
Winner: 7.62x39 mm
Final Thoughts: 7.62x39 mm vs .308 Win
The 7.62x39 mm is a powerful and inexpensive round perfect for close-quarter and medium range engagements. Although it can work wonders as far as 500 yards in the right hands, it is mostly fit for medium game hunting and range use for civilians. However, it is still the round of choice for most militaries and militias in the world with the venerable AK-47.
On the other hand, the .308 Win was the West’s answer to the Soviet invention of the 7.62x39 mm. The .308 Win is the civilian version of the 7.62x51 NATO rounds and is widely used for big game hunting, long range shooting, and also for tactical applications with police and military units.
People Also Ask!
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about these cartridges.
7.62x39 vs 308 For Deer?
If we compare these two cartridges, the .308 Win is undoubtedly the better choice in terms of range, accuracy, and stopping power. However, you can also go for the 7.62x39 when hunting deer with 150 yards.
Is 308 and 7.62 ammo the same?
If you are talking about the bullet diameter, it is almost the same. However, .308 Win and 7.62 family of cartridges are different in terms of dimensions and ballistics.
